A New Sisterlocks Newbie!

I like to flatter myself by thinking that our extended conversations about sisterlocks are responsible, in some small way, for this wonderful sister's new sisterlocks!

Her sisterlocks were installed sometime within the last week, if I recall correctly, and by Calla. She started with at lease 4 inches of natural hair. It seems like yesterday that she was showing off her test locs to me!


Affirming that she will enjoy the journey!

Just Do You!

STI made a comment on this blog that contained a question that I thought I would post along with my response, because it made me consciously consider how my hair and my hair story may be judged by other naturals.

STI said...
Your hair looks amazing! Do you know when you will be ready to chop? I don't know when I will be ready. It seems like its very far away from now though.

How have people been towards you on this?

Docs Locs said...
Hi STI. No overt hostility.

People are all over the map about natural hair and sisterlocks in general. You will hear some people talk about the fact that they have never had a perm and have been natural all of their lives with great pride and flourish. If I were a little less secure, undertones of 'lifelong natural hair' snobbery, might bother me :o)

For me, in a world dominated by a Eurogentile esthetic, 'life long natural hair' IS a cause for pride! If you've read my hair story, I talk about how I wimped out when I went corporate after being natural for over a decade!

On the other hand, a couple of months ago, I had my first taste of sisterlocks envy, when a sister who had traditional locs overheard me tell someone that I had sisterlocks and promptly corrected me by saying, "they're LOCS!" (as opposed to sisterlocks, that is).

Even my interpretation of her comment is biased, as I am sure that she interpreted my use of the term 'sisterlocks' as ‘sisterlocks snobbery’!

My advice: JUST DO YOU.

A Few Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup Photos

What a pleasant encounter with sisterlocks wearers, consultants, and curious inquirers at this month's Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup group gathering.

Lots of good questions were asked by visitors, like How can someone transition from traditional locs to sisterlocks?, Are sisterlocks high maintenance?, How often can I wash my hair?, How long will it take to loc?.

2 months sisterlocked

We met at La Madeline's French Bakery at Perimete Center West. My first time there, I found it delightfully rustic.

Patrick Esquerre, founder of La Madeline's French Bakery

Andre Halston, Chef, La Madeline's in Dallas

Sophia came - sisterlocks intact! The consummate, blogger, she whipped out her camera to capture us all in our natural glory. I did the best I could with my cell phone camera :o~ I'm looking forward to her post about this event!

4 day old sisterlocks with new growth already!

I am also looking forward to next month's meeting. The topic will be "Coloring Sisterlocks."

Sisterlocks Animoto Mania!

Animoto is the most awesome site.

You sisterlocks consultants out there (and other business owners) have GOT to check it out. You can make a commercial grade video promo of your work in under 30 minutes and upload it to your website, your blog, your youtube account or use it for marketing in other venues.

All you have to do is upload your photos then choose your music. Animoto does the rest. It will analyze the music and photos then mix a musical montage for you. This is great.

Sisterlocks Photos: My fifth month lye-free and locked-up

Well, not quite lye-free.

I still have my permed ends. Not ready for the big chop yet. But enjoying the journey.

I cancelled my re-tightening scheduled for this Friday. I don't think I need it, believe it or not. After every three week re-tightenings, then every four week re-tightenings It will likely be five weeks this time. Even though my hair grows fast during the summer, I think the entangling has resulted in less slippage!

I guess it's no secret now, so I will post here that my consultant will be relocating - and out of the country, no less :o(

But she is having a get-together of other area consultants and her current clients this coming Saturday, so we can mix, mingle, network and hopefully click with a new consultant.

For my braid-out, I am now using 1/4 inch bendable rods - almost the smallest I could find, and I am rolling only the ends up to about two inches. This has resulted in a tighter curl that last a lot longer and that falls quite nicely. I rebraid and wet set it when the waves in the locked portion fall flat.

Misplaced My Camera Again

We came back from Hilton Head a few days ago and I haven't seen my camera since. I'm not too worried because I know I packed it and put it in the car before we drove home.

I'm really liking the entangling and length that I see since the weather got hotter. Hopefully, I'll be able to post some new photos soon.

In the mean time, here's a link to Barack Obama's new website to rebut the smear, rumors and lies: Fight the Smears.

If you receive any 'smearing emails' or hear any rumors or lies, let the Obama campaign watchdogs know via email at watchdog@barackobama.com.

Fourth Retightening of Sisterlocks

I found my camera and guess where it was?

Behind my computer monitor!

So I'm back to posting sisterlocks photos. Sorry, I couldn't post the last shampoo, but here are some photos from before, during and after my fourth retightening.

Lot's of new growth the day before my fourth sisterlocks retightening

Me during my fourth sisterlocks retightening session

My hair is growing much faster now that summer is approaching. I went swimming once as well. I also have a big ol' head with lots and lots of sisterlocks. So my retightening took about 6 hours - and Cia works fast.

Me, stylin' and profilin' after my fourth Sisterlocks retightening

Fourth Month Sisterlocks Braid-out

After four months and three retightenings, I'm seeing less perm and more locs! Here is a photo of my latest braid-out set. Compare to the close up to my original braid-out photos (0 month label).

This is a shot of my hair just after removing my bendable rods. I am making the braids smaller now since my hair has grown out a bit, in order to get more wave, fullness and lift in the locked portion. Also, I can use bendable rods because I am setting only the permed ends on the rods. The actual locs will set better on hard perm rods. On the other hand, many people swear by soft curlers like Soft Spikes or Loc Loops - they are much more comfortable to sleep on!

Here's a recent texture shot.

Bobby Kennedy, Barack Obama, Assassination and Hillary Clinton

I know, I know - it's a hair blog.

But I haven't seen my camera since I came back from DC two weeks ago, which is really ticking me off, and I found myself calling Mrs. Clinton the 'B' word for the first time yesterday. I need to vent, vicariously, through Keith Olberman.

Obama, brush ya shoulders off!

A Nostalgic HUCM Reunion

I debated with myself whether I would post just which reunion this was for us. I can't describe the feeling of seeing people you haven't seen in 20 years, but with whom you shared so many emotional and character building experiences as healers in training.

Tears threatened to spill over more than once when I laid eyes on many of my classmates after so many years. And we fell right back into conversation as if we had seen each other yesterday.

The weekend was fun, but bittersweet. It really made me acutely aware of my own mortality and the fact that the older I get, the faster the years seem to pass me by.

We graduated, we blinked, we were 20 years older.

Live in the now y'all, live in the now.

Nina & Paul renew their vows

My friends Nina and Paul celebrated fifteen years of marital bliss on the first of May. They have been blessed with three beautiful children ( one girl and two boys). Nina, who usually sports a short 'fro, was looking pretty sexy with 'the girls' peeking out of the top of her cute little dress.

I met some of Nina's dearest friends, several of whom had the most beautiful, highly textured hair. Unfortunately, I'm horrible at remembering names, but beautiful faces like these, I am sure to remember.

Neatly groomed, traditional, palm rolled locs

These traditional locs ringlets were created with hard perm rods

The cutest TWA at the party

'When you prosper and establish your home, love your wife with ardor. Then fill her belly and clothe her back. Fulfill her wishes for as long as you live. She is a fertile field for her husband. Do not be brutal. Good manners will influence her better that force. Do not contend with her in the courts. Keep her from the need to resort to outside powers. Her eye is her storm when she gazes. It is by such treatment that she will be compelled to stay in your home.'

-The Teachings of Ptahhotep: The oldest book in the world [Africa]

Lookin' Retro-Disco in my Sisterlocks

Check out the "Afro-puff" I wore to the '70's Disco' fundraiser at my sons' school last week!

There were lots of Afro wigs, clunky shoes and long pointed shirt collars. Some people looked more mid to late 60's that 70's.

I remembered that after the 'mini-skirt' went out, the 'maxis' came in during the late 70's so I wore a long, maxi sweater, an afro-puff, a choker and the biggest hoop earrings I could find.

Grandma (who really thinks she can dance the Cha-Cha slide), stole the show doing the 'Bus Stop.' It was Barry White, Sister Sledge, KC and the Sunshine Band and the BeeGees all night long!

Third Re-tightening Sisterlock Photos: More Locs less Perm?!

Perhaps it's wishful thinking, but after the third retightening of my sisterlocks yesterday, I am seeing less perm and more locs when I pull my hair off of my face. What do you think?

Is it wishful thinking or creative imaginings after only 14 weeks?

My consultant told me not to use the diluted Infusium to set my permed ends anymore - just use water. She said that even though Infusium is very clear and watery, it IS a conditioner, it will likely seep closer to my scalp into the sisterlocks and may cause more slippage.

My re-tightening took longer this time, but the time passed quickly for me. The dips in the pool and ocean, as well as the fact that I shampooed my hair at least 4 time over the past month, caused my entire kitchen to slip - and completely! But I think the sisterlocks back there will hold up better over the next month or so, since I have no beach plans in the works!