The Importance of Retightenings

The key to a beautiful head of healthy Sisterlocks - regular and consistent retightenings.   At almost 6 years, my Sisterlocks remain on a 4 week retightening schedule.

I recently went 8 weeks between retightenings due to unforeseen circumstances and a winter blizzard.   Not only did my locks not look their best,  but they were susceptible to damage and even lock loss.

Here I am at about four weeks out...(still manageable)

Six weeks out, I resorted to pulling them back....(braid out)

Seven weeks out - pinning them back....(lots of new growth)

Feeling old and not so pretty.   I gave up my "no more color" vow, colored and did a twist out.  The color came out great, but now my locks are frizzy, I have "big hair" and my new growth is even more apparent.

At eight weeks, I have a small fro growing.  My locks are difficult to finger comb without snagging and they are fuzzy....(iphone pic at 8 weeks on retightening day - FINALLY!)

Feeling pretty again!!!!  I can run my fingers through my hair.  My head feels wonderful and my locks are revived!  (Post retightening)

Hair grows an average of .5 inches a month.  The more new growth the more hair that is susceptible to pulling and snagging when finger combing or pulling back.  At this point, it is very easy to snag a lock and inadvertently pull it out.

Apply the least amount of tension possible when in need of a retight. Avoid pulling locks into tight pony tails, banding or tying up tightly, etc.   This added tension causes stress on the locks and can lead to lock loss.  Finger comb gently and slowly to avoid pulling and snagging locks.

I actually lost a lock during this  retightening session.  Between the loose hair, added tension and color the new growth became fragile and broke off.

Waiting 8 weeks caused my retightening session to last twice as long and cost twice as much.  The process was uncomfortable as the new growth had to be untangled and separated.  I had a serious headache afterwards (laughing, but true).   From the Consultant's perspective, it's no joy doing those extended retights.  It is very labor intensive.

Sisterlocks are "low maintenance" not "no maintenance."  So feel confident when your Consultant reminds you of the importance of regular and consistent retightenings.  How soon we forget those weekly or bi-weekly day long camp outs at the salon for the creamy crack.  The return on your investment of 2-3 hrs a month equals a beautiful, healthy, vibrant head of hair.  You won't save time or money by extending your retightenings - but you will save your Sisterlocks.

(Click photos for greater detail.)

Retightening Firsts

I went eight weeks between retightenings for the first time ever. It wasn't intentional - life just got hectic. I will do everything possible not to let that happen again.

Another first - it took Gigi 3 hours to retightened my hair. My appointment has never lasted more than 2 hours. Another motivator to never wait that long again.

On the positive tip, my head feels wonderful and I swear it's as if I gained 2 inches of growth. I was feelin' kinda cute and sexy tonight so I took some photos.

I know that I'm out of sequence - cause I owe you Part II of "What's Blaq Been Up To." It's coming - a promise...

Not much new to report on my lock regimen. Same ole, same ole. My Sisterlocks remain healthy and strong. And, of course, I'm LOVIN' them.
I'm at a stage now where I don'tworry about them.

The style above is a week old bendable roller set. I washed.
Let partially air dry then set with Lottabody.
I sit under the hair dryer for about 3o minutes.
(Especially if I wash in the evenings.)
This ensures my locks fully dry by the next morning and provides an even longer lasting curl.
I pull up at night in a pony (I use my B-Tie. I use that thing
everyday and I only have one. I need to order more.)
In the mornings I cover during my shower,
get out, shake it like one of those
tv models, run my fingers through it and off I go!
My curls even last through my retightening yesterday.

Anyone reading this who isn't locked -
why wouldn't you want this freedom?
Come over to the natural side - afterall it's where you belong.

Peace & blessings, Blaq

18M Retightening & Tipping

I had my 18 month retightening this past Saturday. It's such a wonderful feeling to have my whole head of locks retightened at one sitting rather than doing them myself over a several day period. I envy those who enjoy retightening their own locks. But having my consultant, GiGi Johnson, retighten my hair is a luxury I afford myself. My head feels so "good" for days afterwards and I walk around with a kind of "bounce" feelin' so free and good about my naturalness especially now that I'm gaining some length and have wonderful body. I can't explain it, but you lockheads know what I mean. (The pic to the right is at Gigi's shop immediately following my retightening. I sometimes curl my hair before my appointment. That way when she's done...I can just strut my stuff! Plus I was going to a concert later that evening.)
My locks grew quite a bit in the 6 weeks since my last retightening and there is definitely a marked difference in my length. At each retightening I experience a new found love of my locks and this journey.
Gigi presented me with this beautiful basket yesterday as a Christmas and client appreciation gift for all of the referrals I've sent her way via my blog and people who inquire "who did your hair?" How thoughtful - but that's just an example of her kind spirit. I am her biggest fan and count it a blessing to have her as a consultant and a friend.

Someone on LockItUp questioned whether they should tip a consultant after the initial locking session. There were a variety of answers from "yes, she has committed 2 days of meticulous work" to "no, you've paid so much already for the installation" Here's my response:

I did not tip after my initial locking session although I was extremely satisfied with my locks and my consultant, but I was also extremely broke afterwards...LOL and really didn't know that I could have/or should have tipped. I had not discovered LockItUp at that time (a wonderful resource for asking just this type of question and a million others.)

But I tip generously at every retightening which has more than made up for my not tipping during installation. I tip at each retightening because I appreciate my consultant's professionalism and speed. When I arrive the chair and my consultant are waiting for me. She retightens me in 2 hours flat, doesn't stop for breaks or to chat on the phone or eat or any of the other things that used to drive me crazy when I would go to a regular beauty shop. My time is precious and for this I'm more than willing to show my appreciation.

I never forget the days of being held captive by a beautician for 4-6 hours - just waiting - because she double or triple booked simply to make the dollars. Or my neck aching from being left in the wash bowl while she squeezed someone else in...so for all of these reasons and more I tip generously at each retightening.

It's really your personal preference and what you can afford...sorry that I went off on a tangent there....I have horrible memories of beauty shops.

More reasons why I just love my Sisterlocks and my natural freedom and will never again be enslaved to the creamy crack or money hungry beauticians.