Still lovin' Sisterlocks: Week 8 Photos

I attended New African Nation Day this weekend. It was held at Tougaloo college. I took some hair photos in my hotel room.

I hadn't attended in over ten years. But it was nice to see Imari Obadele and General Rashid again.

General Rashid's signature locs

My husband is from Pontiac, Michigan. His family knew Attorney Milton Henry (Gaidi Obadele) well; and Dr. Lester Henry, the first Master of the College of Physicians that I ever met, taught us endocrinology at Howard. Time sure does fly...

...and everyone seems just a tad older...

...but I guess I do too :o~

Here are a few more hair photos.

Who came to my Karamu?

As promised to Maryee! Another Kwanzaa post in March!

Karamu is the Kiswahili word meaning feast.

The karamu is traditionally celebrated on December 31. We hold our karamu on January 1. I figure that after partying (or praying) the night before, people might like to have someone else do the cooking on New Year’s Day.

January 1, is also Jubilee Day, for South Carolinians like my mom. January 1, 1863 was the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation.

There was, apparently, a Jubilee Day celebration in the Caribbean when the British outlawed enslavement, as well.

Juneteenth, celebrated June 19th, is the better known Emancipation Holiday. I just discovered that it is recognized in about thirteen states. It is the date when the news of emancipation finally reached Galveston, TX - the western most part of the US at the time.

We had the traditional pouring of the libation, candle lighting, harambee and, of course, dinner. A storyteller entertained the children. We adults played Kwanzaa 20 Questions. My husband complained that it was too challenging, but I think every one had a good time.

As always, close friends stayed late into the night engaged in social and political debate and nation building banter.

Kwanzaa 20 Questions instructions coming soon!

What to Expect from a Certified Sisterlocks Consultant

When I meet women who admire my hair and seem interested in getting sisterlocks themselves, they always come around to asking two questions that are the deal breakers:

1. How long did it take to put them in? and
2. How much did they cost?

I tell them that with my 2 inches of new growth, it took two 7-hour days, but I quickly tell them that retightenings take only two to four hours.

Texture shot (click to enlarge)

When I talk about cost, I emphasize that the initial package price includes two months worth of services offered in a package of three visits! The three visits should include:

• A Consultation where your Consultant will gather information from you about your hair care history; Share information with you about the care and maintenance of Sisterlocks. During this visit, she will put a number of Sample Locs in your hair, using different locking patterns, which she will monitor between the time of your consultation and your locking session.

• The initial Locking Session, where your Consultant will do the entire Sisterlocks procedure. Some consultants schedule two shorter sessions for this depending upon the length of your hair. You will also be given your sisterlocks care kit at this visit.

• Your first "Follow-up Session" which is your first check-in and minor re-tightening after 2-3 shampoos or about 3-4 weeks. (Remember, all this should be included in your Package Price!)

Everyones locs are unique!

Sisterlocks certification is your assurance that an individual has not only been properly trained in the techniques, but has gone on to demonstrate their proficiency in several important areas like, proper lock sizing, adequate consultations, long-term maintenance, and more.

Make sure that your loctician can be found on the sisterlocks website in the certified consultant section or in the registered trainee section.

Finally, if you live in the Atlanta area anywhere near Tucker, I highly recommend my loctician, Cia, of Kinky Awakenings!

Don't rob a sistah in a beauty school

I was tickled by this news clip sent to me by my friend, LaTara.

Dr. JoAnne Cornwell & Sisterlocked Sistahs in Atlanta!

It's been only five days since our first Atlanta Sisterlocks meet up - and I am still enjoying my memories of the meeting.

Well, tonight I happened to be googling for sisterlocks blogs and I came across this video taken during the training session in Atlanta this past weekend. Enjoy.

Dr. JoAnne Cornwell: Renaissance woman

We all know and love Dr. JoAnne Cornwell as the Grand Dame of Sisterlocks, but she is equally as accomplished when wearing her other professional hat.

Dr. Cornwell is a professor of French and Africana Studies at San Diego State University. She is holds academic appointments in the two departments and has been published in both disciplines.

Just three of Dr. JoAnne Cornwell's academic publications appear below (source, Google Scholar):

The United States and South Africa: History, Civil Rights and the Legal and Cultural Vulnerability of Blacks, JoAnne Cornwell
Phylon (1960-), Vol. 47, No. 4 (4th Qtr., 1986), pp. 285-293.

Neurosis and Creativity: Two Early Novels by Mongo Beti, JoAnne Cornwell
The French Review, Vol. 60, No. 5 (Apr., 1987), pp. 644-652.

Afro-American Criticism and Western Consciousness: The Politics of Knowing, JoAnne Cornwell,
Black American Literature Forum, Vol. 24, No. 1 (Spring, 1990), pp. 85-98.

Dr. JoAnne Cornwell is truly a Renaissance woman!

Dr. JoAnne Cornwell is a poet as well.

All About Love is her book of poetry and commentary about self-love, romantic love, love of life and more.

Follow the photo link to the Sisterlocks Boutique.

Dr. JoAnne Cornwell speaks at the Inaugural Meeting of the Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup Group

What a great meeting!

Amba organized a wonderful and wildly successful Atlanta Sisterlocks event. We all gathered in the Airport Holiday Inn, to fellowship, laugh and learn.

As an aside, when I parked my car outside of the hotel, I heard the radio announcer say that another tornado was seen heading east on I-20 toward midtown. Below are photos taken after the tornado that hit Atlanta the night before.

My boys and I were in a Border's Bookstore in midtown when the tornado hit. We couldn't leave the store to get to our car because the rain and hail was falling as though it was being shot out of a firehose! We were just north of the CNN / Centennial Park area.

But back to the topic at hand...

Dr. Cornwell is a joy. She's so real. She began by reading a poem entitled I Need a Name. Then she shared her personal struggles with "that hair thing." She told us about her early experiences with sisterlocks and told us about some exciting new things that are coming soon from sisterlocks. Finally, she demonstrated the technique of "threading" hair, by using locs from her own gorgeous mane!

Dr. Cornwell's flowing mane of sisterlocks

Dr. Cornwell demonstrating the threading technique

I could have kicked myself when I realized that I had forgotten my camera. I had to buy a disposable camera from the hotel shop. Sadly, the photo of me with Dr. Cornwell came out too dark. I guess that means I'll have to attend the sisterlocks homecoming to take another photo with her!

Here are some photos from the event. I am looking forward to future meetings with these beautiful and grounded women!

Calla, Master Sisterlocks Stylist (yes, those are sisterlocks!)

Raheemah was one of Calla's models

A shot of Raheemah's coil and curls from the back

Gracious and soft spoken, Amba, the Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup Group organizer, with her cute daughters!

I was one of the newbies.

Everyone tried to guess how many babylocs I have. Someone guessed 600. I hope not. I'll count them...someday.

Locked Hair Blog Exchange: docs locs

I am honored to be a part of the Locked Hair Blog Exchange!

Thank you, Maryee, for all of your hard work, creating and maintaining the exchange for the past several years.

Link to view my latest post on the Exchange below.

Locked Hair Blog Exchange: docs locs

Second Re-tightening Close-up Photos

I couldn't hold out for four weeks.

After I used my homemade glycerine-based spray on conditioner, and had to wash the stickiness out of my hair, I had too much slippage around the edges to hold out for four weeks.

Hard-headed is what my grandmother would have called me. Why did I have to learn the hard way NOT TO PUT ANY SUBSTANCES ON MY BABY SISTERLOCKS! I hope other newbies can learn from my mistake.

I'm posting some close-ups today.

Close-up of my edges

Close-up of my crown

Close-up of four locs

Close-up of my kitchen

My Kwanzaa Decorations

A post about Kwanzaa? In March?

I started to blog about Kwanzaa and our annual karamu when I started this blog, but I've been neglectful of my Kwanzaa blog and it is with great sadness that I've decided to delete it.

I was surprised when I couldn't find any other blogspot blogs about Kwanzaa when I started mine. That told me that there is a need! But sadly, my schedule will not allow me to do my Kwanzaa blog justice. So I've decided to post some of the content of that small, short-lived blog here.

I hope you are inspired by our decorations and express the principle of Kuumba (creativity) when making yours this year!

Sisterlocks FAQs

I'm a newbie. I'm not a sisterlocks consultant. I might take the re-tightening course in the future, but I don't intend to maintain my own locs. However, I thought I would post the Sisterlocks FAQs here for visiting friends and readers who want to know more!

Q: What is Sisterlocks(tm)?
A: Sisterlocks(tm) is a natural hair management system that allows women with tightly textured hair to take advantage of a wide range of today's hairstyles without having to alter the natural texture of their hair.

Q: Does this mean that once I get Sisterlocks(tm), I can still change hairstyles?
A: Yes! Sisterlocks is a lot less limiting than extensions because it is your natural hair. You can curl it, braid it, wear a ponytail, cut it, spray or mousse it, wear bangs and parts - You name it!

Q: How long does it take to do?
A: The initial locking process takes about 2/3 as long as getting extensions of comparable size. For medium length hair, this means about seven hours. The beauty of Sisterlocks(tm) is that re-tightening them as your hair grows out is extremely simple, since there are no extensions to remove and reset.

Q: Can I get Sisterlocks(tm) if I have relaxed hair?
A: Yes, though the transition will take more time. Your hair care professional that is trained in Sisterlocks(tm) techniques can help you make that transition. Your styling options will increase as your natural texture grows out.

Q: Do I need to have 'fine' hair for Sisterlocks(tm) to work?
A: Not at all!! In fact, the course, thick, 'nappy' hair is best for Sisterlocks(tm). Your natural abundant texture adds body and makes styling easier.

Q: Can Sisterlocks(tm) be taken out?
A: Yes, though the procedure is tedious. Anyway, once you discover the range of freedom with Sisterlocks(tm) you won't want to go back! Finally, there is a way of celebrating the natural beauty of our hair with Sisterlocks(tm).

Q: Can I do the locks myself?
A: This is not advised. Not all types require the same locking technique, and your hair care professional is the best trained to give you locks that will be best suited to you. Also, hair care professionals are trained to give you cuts, styles and grooming tips that will ensure the lasting beauty of your locks.

Q: Will Sisterlocks cause my hair to break or thin?
A: Just the opposite! Sisterlocks is a gentle technique that requires no chemicals, no excessive tightening, and causes no damaging abrasion to the hair or scalp. You will find that with regular care, your locks will grow and grow, and your styling options will increase.

"Nappy Edged Freedom" by Roxanne

I was checking my old links and I discovered that the ones below are now dead :o(
...but you might enjoy this spoken word performance instead :o)
_____________________

I washed my hair last night. It was my second shampoo since getting my sisterlocks. I waited only two weeks instead of three weeks, and boy, am I seeing nappy edges and a lot of new growth! Or is that slippage I see around the edges?

I guess nappy edges are relative, but this is nappy for me

My next retightening is scheduled in two weeks, but can I wait that long? If, after only three weeks, my first retightening took 4 hours, how long will my next retightening take if I wait four weeks and wash my hair again?

I must confess a secret, though. I broke one of the cardinal rules of sisterlock maintenance: I put something on my hair! Shame on me!

I made a glycerine based spray conditioner, following a recipe that I found on YouTube. It made my hair sticky, so I had to wash my hair :o~.

Fuzzies around the hairline!

"[like] Ancestors...creeping...naturally seeking freedom!" says Roxanne about our edges, in her poem entitled Nappy Edged Freedom.

I am feelin' this poem today!

Poetry Wars: You Decide

I was checking my old links and I discovered that the ones below are now dead :o(
...but you might enjoy this spoken word performance instead :o)
_______________

Yvonne Coleman-Burney defends her right to wear her "naturally rolled roots tucked under a slick trick of weave," if I am reading it correctly, in this poem entitled Nappy Roots...

...Compare and contrast to Linda "Slendah" Hayes' Why All You Sisters Want Me to Cut My Hair?

Is the right to choose the central question or is the psychological basis for the choice the central issue?

You decide.

[Much love. Hotep.]

Upclose & personal video of sisterlocks

I love Phyllis the Videoloctician!

Phyllis' latest video gives an excellent, upclose view of young sisterlocks. She includes great footage of the parting system which gives an excellent idea about the size and number of locs. Lisa, the model, has over 600 locs! I haven't taken the time to count mine yet :o)

At this posting, this video appears in the video sidebar, but it is such a great video that I wanted to highlight it in a post!

Natural Hair Regrets?

None for me!

But in this short poem, Sharon Harvey Rosenberg, speaks about her fleeting pang of natural hair regret. Unbound.

Sons of Blood and Thunder

My little cousin, crossed over this past weekend! Psi Chapter (Morehouse College), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

CJ's Dog Face

His mom (my cousin Vera) and I waited in the lobby of the Omega World Headquarters for him to come down with his line brothers after the ceremony on Saturday.

Omega World Headquarters

Hugging mommy!

Founder's poster in the lobby

His uncle (my cousin, Frank) pinned him and gave him his jacket, one of a dozen gifts!

The line was presented to the campus on Sunday afternoon. My mom, my boys, my cousins and I had a ball!

Near Kilgore Hall, Morehouse College

My little cousin is the seventh Q on my dad's side of the family including my dad. My mom's dad was a Q as well. He graduated from Johnson C. Smith College, class of 1915, but I think he may have been made at Ohio State or made as a graduate later in life. He knew Ernest Everett Just, the father of cell biology; one of the illustrious founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

After working out - no makeup - and Kofi's finger in my face!

[Since this is supposed to be a hair blog, I thought I would throw in some hair photos from this weekend!]

I have a colleague who has a real problem with the concept of a "Black Greek." His wife is a Delta.

I suppose "Black Greek" could be considered an oxymoron.

If my sorors and I were in our right minds, we'd be venerating the goddess Safkhet or Ma'at instead of Minerva.

But, interestingly, according to the Greeks, the city-state of Athens was founded by Senwosret the first, the fifth monarch of the 12th Dynasty of ancient Kemet - an Afrikan, don't cha know.

So, perhaps "Black Greek" not such an oxymoron after all. ;o)