My Sisterlocks Journey: The Cost of Sisterlocks

Phylecia posted some interesting comments about the value of investing in sisterlocks as compared with the costs associated with other hairstyles.

Most posts I come across that discuss the cost of sisterlocks are posted by happily, locked, DIYers (let's face it, if one has the time, $0 is the right price!)

But for those who are contemplating going natural, Phylecia's arguments are worth considering.

Follow this link to read the post! My Sisterlocks Journey: The Cost of Sisterlocks

Sisterlocks Photo Essay: Months 1 to 10

What a challenge it is to capture the evolution of sisterlocks with my camera.

I can feel changes in the size and texture of my locs with my fingers, but through my photos the only obvious change is in the length.

As Cia promised, many of my locs that have truly locked are almost twice their original thickness. Most of those are on the crown of my head.

The many micro-locs around the periphery of my head and behind my ears are still rather small in diameter and I can still feel their crocheted pattern with my fingers, but they are well entangled and I no longer experience any slippage.

Sisterlocks Installation

Remember this photo? This was my two to three inches of new growth with permed ends on the day of my lockiversary ;o)

Here is my scalp at the end of day one.

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Sisterlocks Retightening at 4 months

But check out the increase in length in the photos below. These photos were taken towards the end of my fourth month with sisterlocks.

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Sisterlocks grow over several months: scalp photos

Compare day 3 sisterlocks...

...with week eight of sisterlocks. And compare week eight of sisterlocks...

...with month 8 of sisterlocks!

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A fuller hairline

Check out the return of my previously 'burnt-out' hairline. At 9 month, lots of new coils have finally recovered from the shock of the 'lye' and are creeping out again!

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Increasing length from month 2 to month 10

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Braid-out set: Months 2, 4 and 8

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Styled Braid-out set: Month 1 and Month 10

Sisterlocks Style Gallery

I've decided to post larger sized photos like Blaqkofi from now on. She's one of my favorite sisterlocks bloggers and was a great inspiration to me when I was contemplating sisterlocks.

You rarely need to click on her photos to enlarge them in order to see the detail. Just testing my new uploads with some style photos below.

With sisterlocks, you will find your hair at its' fuzziest just after washing. It is a great look, especially with longer hair.

Mature locs appear much more uniform, cylindrical and less fuzzy because they have contracted.

If your locs are not mature (like mine) a braid-out will reduce the fuzzies and each loc will appear more distinct and a bit shinier since the heat tends to close the hair shaft cuticle.

The photo above was taken a day after a braid-out. You can see how distinct the wavy locs appear gathered up over the back of my head.

This is an easy style - pushed back over my left ear and pulled forward over my forehead on the right.

The same style pulled back on both side (I don't like hair in my face :o~). Lots of scalp is visible, but only from the top view, for the most. My hair was retightened about three days before this photo was taken.

I'm not too sure how I achieved this look. I think I had a large, thin head band around the hair and a clip holding up the back.

My 'cutsie' little girl style, a loc afropuff, worn sometimes when I work out.

The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration

Autumn is my favorite season.

It heralds the grand holidays and the swell of our great expectations for the new year. It precedes my favorite holiday, Kwanzaa, and fills me with great anticipation for the many Kwanzaa celebrations in and around the city.

I was excited to receive an email from my friend, Esi, asking me if I had heard about a new film - documentary about Kwanzaa called "The Black Candle."

A collaboration by our illustrious historian, Molefe Kete Asante and his writer/film maker son, MK Asante, Jr., and narrated by Maya Angelou, it is sure to become a classic.

I have already purchased my (first) copy and the limited edition poster as well. The film makes a wonderful Kwanzaa gift!

Here's the trailer for your enjoyment.

Post-Election Post: Still Lovin' Sisterlocks

Whew. I need to detox, as do many, from Obamamania.

[The obligatory hair photos!]

We had a wonderful election watch party: a potluck with friends, food, fun and fellowship. Lots of children were in attendance: it was an intergenerational affair.

Tears, shouts, laughs and predictions flowed from mouths to ears. It was an emotional evening for my mother who has childhood memories of a cross burning on her front lawn in Columbia, South Carolina, because my grandmother insisted upon registering people to vote.

My friend Dorcas is from Kenya so I gave away a few of these USA-Kenya friendship pins, reminding everyone that we have to thank Kenya for Barack Obama too.

[USA - Kenya friendship lapel pin]

But I really do need to detox. I have no interest in going to DC in January, but I know many people who do - I can't imagine the chaos (or excitement, depending on your perspective).

I will be with everyone in spirit, however, from the comfort of my warm home. Hoping he can, from time to time, 'sit by the door' so to speak, and throw a few crumbs our way...

Yes We Did!

MC Yogi's "Obama '08 - Vote for Hope" hit

My arms are shrinking!

Sisterlock wearers, contemplatives and lurkers - my arms are shrinking.

I have to hold them outstretched to the max to be able to read newspaper print.

So, I figured that a very clever solution to my problem would be to buy a pair of glasses. You know, the kind that near-sighted, aging people with presbyopia have to wear :o).

While I was at Border's bookstore the other day, as an impulse buy, I bought two pair of glasses. One blue and one red. I couldn't take the squinting anymore.

I like the blue pair better

I just set my hair about 3 days ago - a braid out. It's pretty tightly curled and as I have gotten lax about binding and braiding, I am experiencing a little more bunching of the permed ends. It's hard to see the length that I have now with the newness of the set and the small amount of bunching, but in a week or two I will post some more photos.

Overexposed! ...but an interesting experiment with color...hmmm...

Exposure just right...the real me.