2 Year Growth

Muslimahlocs said...
Happy lockiversary! Your sisterlocks look fabulous. They have grown so much in the past two years. How have you grown with them?

Getting Sisterlocks have allowed me to truly fall in love with my hair. This is a feeling I never had prior to having them. As far as I can remember, I was brainwashed to believe that my was so bad that it needed to be fried, tamed and broke down to do right. I was so miseducated that I actually believed my hair wouldn't even do right when locked. That belief is one factor that played into why it took me so long to start locking in the first place. Due to reprogamming from the past two years, I accept and love my hair in all its glory. It may not be as soft as other people's, I don't care. It's not as thick as somebody else's, I don't care. I may have to go through a few extra steps for pretty curls to hold, I don't care. I am not longing for anybody else's hair texture. I love my hair for what God blessed me with.

I'm done judging and being judged. Everybody doesn't wear locks for the same reason nor do I believe they should have to. Everybody isn't going to lock their hair the same way I did and I don't feel they should have to. Am I biased? Of course!! But at the end of the day based on my circumstances from two years ago, I feel good about my hair decision to lock and how I chose to lock. Right now, nothing is broke so I don't need to fix it.

If I ever have to cut my locks off and sport my loose hair texture, I am now ready. To sum up my overall reflection of how I feel about my hair....I am at peace. This also means being tolerant of other people's hair decisons regardless of whether they are good or bad from my point of view.

So What Am I Free From?

When we all made the decision to go with Sisterlocks, I'm sure there were plenty of reasons that motivated us to do so. We wanted to be free but free from what? Some say Sisterlocks are too costly and time consuming to offer any kind of freedom. But I think until you've been in a person's situation, you are in no position to pass judgement.

But for me, my #1 and #2 reasons to go with locks and subsequently Sisterlocks was to be free from that chemical damage of the relaxer. Not because I hated wearing my hair straight. Not because I never wanted to spend another penny paying for my hair to be done. Not because I never wanted to step foot in another beauty salon. Not because I look forward to doing my hair myself. Not because I was looking for a new fad hairstyle. Not because I was looking for some inner spiritualness of being black or to be a rebel against conformity and the white man. Do I receive some of these benefits? You betcha. But they weren't my primary motivators.

I WAS TIRED OF THE RELAXER DAMAGE AND GOING BALD BECAUSE OF IT.

Some of my other motivators in order of importance are below.

3. I didn't want to deal with my hair on a day to day basis.
4. I didn't want anymore combs going through my hair.
5. I want hair that's past my shoulders, healthy and mine. Not fake, glued or sewed in.
6. The same styling versatility that I received from wearing a relaxer.

I can't speak for anybody else, but I got the freedom I was looking for and a lot more extra.

Things On My Mind

1. I just got my 4th Sisterlock journal in the mail yesterday. I absolutely love reading through the magazine. I'll probably renew my subscription with the expectation that I am being promised 4 magazines, not when I'm going to receive them.

2. This morning I noticed that a couple of my locks still look pretty fuzzy. I think they were missed since we really had to rush at the end of the session. I'll be buying a new pair of trimming scissors this week. So much for my comment to Brenda about not being a chronic groomer. I'll make the trade off for volume, just give me the perfect dreads!!! "Perfect Dreads" ---what an oxymoron.

3. The layers just aren't my friends anymore. I've reached that stage where my length feels like it's all over the place with no definite direction. Long here, short there. The grooming makes it so much more apparent. I never knew my hair grew so slow at the top. Was it always this way? Wearing that famous Halle Berry cut for so long I never noticed. Keeping the back and sides faded down was a must back then. Some bunching from those first couple months was a setback as well for growth in the top. Recall I never braided or banded.

But anyway, freestyling just isn't the same anymore and I'm not as confident about the gawking and judging. It's probably all in my head, but I can't help feeling this way. So I have to protect them. I'll be sporting a lot more hairtie and lockscrunchie styles for a little while.

4. My concessions to get my ends to seal more paid off!! The ends are so much more hard and sturdy it's a night and day difference. I will keep up the regimen a bit while more.

Cheers to the New Year

2007! I cannot remember a year where I have been so excited about starting fresh and new. This is my year to take back some of the riches that life has to offer: love, money, spiritual growth, etc. Rewind back to 2005 - I walked off my job, ended my relationship and started my Sisterlock journey.

That set the stage for 2006 being the year to regroup and get grounded again. In February I got a new job, in June I got to fellowship with a wonderful group of Sisterlocked ladies and by September I lost 14 lbs which I have kept off to date.

I am sending a special THANK YOU to Lashaune who gave me that final bit of encouragement to do Weight Watchers as soon as I got back from New York. I have always believed that God sends everybody in and out of your life for a reason. By the end of the '06, I got some loc length, a new love interest, and
re-established my trading account.

What a way to roll into 2007. My list of goals keep growing and growing - but that's a good thing. When you all set your goals for the year, make sure they are specific, measurable, and in writing.

One of my favorite quotes. "Keep doing what you've always done and you'll keep getting what you've always got."

Make that change happen!

Excuse me, Are those Sisterlocks?

Why yes they are!!! I was waiting in the customer service line at Sam's Club yesterday and a lady walked up to me. She asked if I had Sisterlocks. Inside I was doing cartwheels. I guess there really is an extra sense of elation when strangers recognize that they are Sisterlocks. And please don't misunderstand me. When folks tell me I have nice dreads or locks, I'm very modest and thankful. I don't by any means feel the need to correct them to being Sisterlocks or go off on some Sisterlocks rampage. But I coudn't help feeling overjoyed.

Photo Disclaimer: It's from when my locks were seven months. The digi needs a new battery.

Ode to the Original Rastas

I browsed through Tai's photos from his trip to New York via Brunsli's blog and I felt extremely proud for two reasons. For one, I was definitely in touch with the Ode to the OR's (Original Rastas) which made me very aware of the evolution that has taken place within the dreadlock circle. One one side of the spectrum, you have the organic locks that require no extra manipulation to the other end of the spectrum with the manicured locks, locks that are meticulously crafted to be very neat and precise. My conclusion is that up until the manicured came along, most folks are probably somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. But whatever one's style or preference, how could he or she have got there without the organics paving the way? Without Bob Marley paving the way??? So that's one major point I took away after looking at the slide show.

The other is, I'm apart of the new evolution to manicured locks. I absolutely love my locks and I wear them ever so proudly everyday. I don't regret a damn thing about my Sisterlocks decision. So for any OR's who think that these aren't real locks or not truly representing, that's a crock of you know what. I think of it as an evolution that was bound to naturally take place based on cultural and market demands. Manicured locks represent a niche that was just waiting to be tapped! Manicured is to dreadlocks what Hip-hop is to music ---> not going anywhere. I am so proud to be right in the heart of this upswing take off. Perhaps in ten years I'll be in somebody's slideshow with admirers from afar.

Finally Retightened

Whew! After an eight week stretch, I am finally glad to have my roots tightened. Thus far, this is the longest I've waited and not by choice. I got a referral from a fellow Clevelander on LockitUp. In June, I scheduled my appointment a few weeks in advance. But when it came time for my appointment, the consultant had to reschedule because of a death in the family and some other personal reasons. I didn't want to bother resheduling for a 3rd time. I really sensed that this consultant is going through some personal matters right now and not really able to take on new clients at the moment. Hopefully things will work out for her. But in the meantime, I can't stand being this vulnerable, especially now that I am truly truly in love with my hair. So what is a girl to do? Join the DIY club. Paulette told me she's going to be giving training classes very soon so I'm looking forward to taking the class within the next few months.

Where is the Customer Service

My second Sisterlocks magazine arrived last week and of course I was very pleased with it. Unfortunately, I cannot say I was happy with the amount of time it took to arrive, especially since I paid for an annual subscription in January for February. After perusing the responses on LockitUp, it turns out I was not the only one to receive my magazine late. In fact, some folks who also paid for an annual subscription were still waiting for their magazine to arrive. To add insult to injury, some people who had just ordered the 2nd magazine within the past two weeks were getting their magazines before the prepaid folks. This is no way to do business and maintain a faithful customer base.

Even if there was a problem with getting the magazines out on time, the very least Dr. Jo et al could do was use their database software to query out the prepaid folks and make sure their magazines got sent out as soon as the shipment arrived.

B vs B Part II

My BULLSHIT
Shrinkage, shrinkage and more shrinkage
Lint Patrol
People want to touch my hair
Locks matte together

My BENEFITS
No more relaxer and associated chemical burns
No globs of hair in the trash after I wash it
No need to use a comb
No more breaking combs
Hair can grow to my waistline or ankles if I choose
Compliments on my hair in its natural state
I LOVE MY HAIR
No crooks in my neck trying to keep up a hairstyle
People are fascinated with my hair
Sisterlock hair buddies
Hats aren’t just for bad hair days
In fact, no more bad hair days
Freestyle looks good in sun, wind, rain and snow
Oh yeah, I LOVE MY HAIR

I suspect everyone's list would slightly differ. But hopefully the benefits outweigh the bullshit.

Bullshit vs Benefits

Fellow Sisterlocker Pnk-e caused quite a response when she made the post on LockItUp that she has been locked for 2 years and is still extremely dissatisfied with her hair. The responses came pouring in one after another with suggestions that included:

Trying new products
Finding a new salon
Retightening/Styling her own hair
Cutting her locks off
Starting a Blog

I just want to know where does such extreme dissatisfaction come from? I guess an individual would have to answer this question for him or herself. But I have some theories one should consider before, during and after locking to help alleviate some of the dissatisfaction.

Mental Preparation – The decision to go natural or wear locks has to be a decision you are making for yourself. At the end of the day and you look in the mirror, you have to be happy with you. Usually the number one force of outside negativity comes from family and friends. Once you’ve got your mental armour all set to deal with them, putting Joe Blow and Suzy Q from the street in their place becomes a piece of cake. Sometimes family and friends come around and be supportive and sometimes they don’t. But if you don’t have the inner strength to deal with criticism and negativity from the decision to lock…then you probably shouldn’t lock.

Realistic Expectations – Locks are not a zero, hassle and maintenance free hairstyle. This realization alone is half the battle when it comes to locking. In fact, they take a hell of a lot of patience and for some, more work than the perm. You have to weigh the pros and cons of locks in comparison to other hairstyles. You have to know what it is you intend to get out of locking and how that relates to your hair texture and density.

Research, Research, Research – Talk to other lockers, look over websites and blogs, read books and magazines, join a chat group.

Flexibility and Patience – Unless you take the sew in route, beautiful locks don’t happen overnight. It’s a long journey with some good days and some bad days. If the above three items have been done, the good days should outnumber the bad days. The benefits should ALWAYS outweigh the bullshit. Otherwise, why bother?