Atlanta Sisterlocks Explosion Highlights

Natural Hair / Sisterlocks: More Photos, (less text)

A good sistah's traditionals - working hard in ICU this day.

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Gwen, now sisterloc'd, but natural for 45 years :o)

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Melinda, 3 months sisterloc'd

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10 years sisterloc'd

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Sisterlocks Originator Dr. Joanne Cornwell

Dr. Cornwell, Dr. Sharita and Seestah Imahkus Nzinga Okofo chatting between their presentations at the Shrine this past Saturday.

My first braid-out in several months.

I'm liking the waves. It didn't take as much time as I thought because I braided it while damp (not soppin' wet), so I was able to use far fewer spongeless sponge rollers than when I don't braid first. I've been a little nervous about the rollers since discovering that weak loc base a while back.

I just might stick with the old braid-out for a while.

DL

Sisterlocks Photos: Atlanta Meetup & Booksigning

Dr. Joanne Cornwell, originator of sisterlocks, educating, entertaining and engaging her audience as only she can!

The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup and book signing was a wonderful ingathering of sisters, each one of us admirers of sisterlocks whether sisterlocks wearers or contemplatives.

Natural Beauty Salon in Gwinnett County (Duluth) Georgia was a great venue. The parking was ample and the food tasty (and free!)




My consultant, Julia Stewart-Stackhaus' beautiful head of sisterlocks.

Julia is a multi-talented sister. She has a degree in broadcast journalism, she is a sisterlocks consultant extraordinaire, and a professional body builder.

[Stone Mountain: Julia Stewart-Stackhaus (404-718-9371 or 770-987-8928)]




Julia Stewart-Stackhaus' mommy wearing her beautiful silver sisterlocks.

There were brotherlocks wearers who modeled as well.

I sat next to a brother who was marveling at all of the beautiful sisters sporting their sisterlocks and saying, "I'm in the Black mans heaven." :o)

My cousin, Ebony and me by a promo photo of Joanne.

A happy Ebony with Joanne and her signed copy of "That Hair Thing"

Coming to a town near you - Dr. Joanne Cornwell for a "That Hair Thing: The Sisterlocks Approach" book signing event...

Sisterlocks Book Signings!

She’s been EAST and she’s been WEST and now…
Dr. JoAnne Cornwell is waiting to come to your town!!

With wit, insight and humor, Dr. Cornwell will bring her unique prospective on “The Natural Hair Revolution” to your group to sign and discuss her latest book,

That Hair Thing, 2nd Edition!

After successful Book Signings and Panel Discussions in Oakland, CA; Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Cornwell is all set to visit these cities in 2010:

Atlanta, GA - Fri, Sat & Sun, Feb. 19-21;
Dallas, TX - Saturday, Feb. 27;
Teaneck, NJ - Friday, March 5;
“HUE-MAN” Bookstore in Harlem, NY - Sat, Mar. 6;
Brooklyn, NY - Sunday, Mar. 7;
Durham, NC - Saturday, April 10;
San Diego, CA - Friday, April 16;
Chicago, Il - Saturday, April 17;
Detroit/Ann Arbor, MI - Sunday, April 18;
Northern NJ - Sunday, April 25;
DC / VA - Saturday, May 1;
Miami, FL - Saturday, May 15;

To invite Dr. Cornwell for a Meet and Greet – Book Signing event Call Carol at 858-248-6196

That Hair Thing
(and the Sisterlocks Approach)

Read about why our natural hair issues have been such a sensitive issue for African American culture.Contains 50 pages of gorgeous color pictures - including kids, youth and adults of all ages!

Available from your local Sisterlocks Consultant OR

Order directly from the Sisterlocks website: http://www.sisterlocks.com/ OR

By phone at 800-456-5032

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From the Sisterlock website. Hoping Sister Jo doesn't mind my clipping this...after all, it's free advertising! ;o)

See y'all at the signing in the ATL this Sunday...for details, follow the links below...

Click here to check out
The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup!

...or click the "Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup" badge in the sidebar

World Natural Hair Health and Beauty Show

It's time, once again for Talia Waajid's World Natural Hair Health and Beauty Show.

In fact, April's Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup will be held at the show on Saturday, April 4rth. Find the Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup Group logo link in the sidebar to join the group and to RSVP.

If you have any hesitancy - don't! Amba, with assistance from Sophia, organizes meetings that are fun, informal and open to one and all. At the meetings you will meet women who are contemplating going natural, natural and contemplating sisterlocks, women with hair locked by other tooled locking techniques, sisterlocked newbies, and consultants.

If you are contemplating going natural or getting locs or sisterlocks, the World Natural Hair Health and Beauty Show is a great place to learn all you can about the process.

(See last year's post here)

Almost a year, and now that I can use more product on my sisterlocks...

...this is my new routine:

I'm still binding to wash (to prevent bunching of the remaining permed ends), but only into four or six sections.

I'm still washing with Sisterlocks starter shampoo, for the most part.

I intend to do an Apple cider Vinegar rinse every two to three months or so.

After washing and while my scalp is damp, I apply Soul Purpose body balm to my scalp. The ingredients are as follows: coconut oil, shea butter, soybean oil, beeswax (you'd never be able to tell from the lightness of the product - obviously a minor ingredient), avocado butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E and fragrance (my favorite fragrance is Brazilian Jackfruit).

Once a week or so, I plan to dry condition with Phyllis the Videoloctician's - Healthy Locs Conditioning Mist (Ingredients: purified water, conditioning base formula, organic aloe vera juice, vegetable glycerin, hydrolyzed wheat protein, vitamin E, polysorbate 80, and fragrance).

And now for a few texture shots!

Still seeing some pattern close to the scalp, of course

Nice parting

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

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."

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.

Weary of the Sisterlocks Conversation

I had a small shock this evening when I read on Sophia's blog that she wants to cut off her sisterlocks because she is tired of having to explain her hair to everyone.

I felt a pang of disappointment about her post because I just saw her at the Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup this past Saturday. (She wisely didn't say a thing about it because she knows we would have been all over her not to cut them!)

But I can understand in a way. Even I have found my self weary of 'the conversation' a time or two during these short 14 weeks:

1. "What are those?" or "How long did that take?" or "Are those braids?

"They're sisterlocks."

2. "Oh. (deer in the headlights expression) "How often do you have to take them down?"

"You don't. They're really thin locs."

3. "So you can't take them out?!"

"No. They'll lock eventually."

4. "You'll have to cut them out?!!!"

"Yeah. Like a perm. You either grow it out or cut it out."
(return to #3 one time or more, then continue)

5. "Oh. (pause --- stare) Well, it looks good on you. Your hair is soft."

"Well, actually, it's rather thick. But thanks." Should I go into 'the more coily the better' monologue?....................Nah. I don't have the energy.

This...over and over and over. It does get tedious. And even though I love sisterlocks and want mine to be recognized as such, I think I will start answering simply, "They're locs." That should cut the dialogue by a line or two.

I suspect, though, that as they truly lock and look more like locs, I'll thankfully have much less explaining to do.

April Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup

Our second Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup was mellow and relaxed in contrast to the excitement surrounding Dr. Cornwell's presence at our first meeting. The mellow atmosphere was welcome as the small group of women present began to get to know each other better.

The weather could have been bottled and sold and the balmy breezes that passed through Amba's screened-in porch by the pool was the perfect venue.

I decided simply to post a slide show of the event. I am counting on my new friend, Sophia, to email me a few additional photos soon!