My Lost Locks :-(

A while back, I made a post about a couple of locks breaking off. Well I now have a picture of what those two locks look like now. I can say that they don't look as bad as they did when they first broke off.

As you can see, the two to the left are much shorter than the others. Another thing I noticed taking these pictures was that the bottoms of the longer locks look plumper and thicker than the roots. I'm not sure if that's because the roots are freshly tightened or if it's because the locks are just too thin. If that is the case, I'm really tempted to use some of the sisterlock conditioner, even though my locks aren't fully developed... hmm?

My First Installation

Hello to all!!

I am proud to announce that I have officially completed my very first sisterlock installation this past Thanksgiving weekend!!! I was really nervous because my mentor/consultant was out of town, along with everyone else who works in the shop. So I had nobody there to coach me, but it all turned out good.

I did have a little trouble doing this clients hair only because she had thinning hair which made it kind of difficult to determine the right parting size to use, even though the sisterlock trainer gave us instructions on determining correct parting sizes. But I'm also thankful she didn't have a head full of hair like I do; otherwise it would have taken a very, very long time

All in all, it took 16 1/2 hours to complete this installation. She seemed pleased with the results, especially with how her hair line turned out. She was concerned with what the sisterlocks would look like around her receding hair line, but she was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Another thing I appreciated about this client, was the fact that she knew the sisterlocks wouldn't come out looking like full luscious locks at first. She completely understood the amount of scalp that would be showing during the first couple of weeks of having sisterlocks. I thank her for her understanding and knowledge of the sisterlock system!!

I'm becoming more and more excited about this new journey in my life. There are more and more people interested in getting sisterlocks now that they know I'm a official trainee. Now I feel as though I truly represent sisterlocks, and with that, I'm beginning to take more of an effort in promoting the true versatility that sisterlocks offer. What I mean by that is I'm putting in an effort in styling my hair different ways so that people can see that having sisterlocks can be like having "normal" (for lack of a better word at the moment) hair. I'll post some pictures of the hairstyles that I've been trying later

New product for dandruff

I've always had a problem with dandruff and the dry climate here in New Mexico doesn't make it any better. Growing up, my mom use to wash my hair every week but as I grew up, I got lazy and only washed maybe once every few weeks. (Yeah, I know) It was basically to much work for me to wash my hair, condition, comb out, blow dry, and everything else. But since I've had sisterlocks, that's all changed. I now wash my hair every 7-10 days, using the sisterlocks starter shampoo. Since I've been doing this, I've noticed a significant reduction in dandruff. The only problem I experience is a dryer scalp for the first couple of days after I wash. This is probably because, given time, our scalp produces its own natural oil and after you wash your hair, you've washed out all the oil, so it takes a couple of days to produce more oil.

I have found a product to use within these couple of days after washing. While I was in San Diego taking the training class, our instructor, Michelle Bryan, introduced us to her new product that MIGHT become apart of the sisterlocks product line. It's called Natural Wonders Hair Mist (Click here: Natural Wonders Fresh Hair Mist) and it comes in lavender and peppermint. This mist is basically a light moisturizer to be used between shampoos to keep your locks feeling and smelling fresh. She said the peppermint is good for dry, flaky hair, so I purchased a bottle while in San Diego. She did advise the class that her products are intended for second generation care; meaning those who's locks have completely matured. I told her about my dry scalp and she said it was okay for me to use it only on my scalp.

I've only used the Natural wonders Peppermint Hair Mist once, but it does seem to be working so far. I only plan on using it after I wash because my hair hasn't settled in yet and I don't want to disrupt the locking process.

Sisterlocks Training in San Diego

(Me and Master Trainer Michelle Bryant)


WOO WOO, I am now and official sisterlock trainee!! San Diego was freakin great. It's weird I say that because I didn't really get to visit the city, I was mainly in a part of town called North Park just because the class was from 8am to 5pm, and we had homework, which was to do fifty locks a night. So I was up until like 1am every night. But I still enjoyed myself. Just being able to fellowship with other sisters who all have the same thing in common was a unique feeling and now I understand what people mean when they say sisterlocks is truly a sisterhood. The ladies taking the class were so sweet and generous. The first day I had to ride the bus class but then one of the women offered me a ride to and from class. Another lady, Miss Vivian, also offered me a ride to the airport the day I was leaving. I was especially glad for her cause I was really stressin about how I was going to get to the airport. Yeah I know I was trippin.

Dr. Cornwell giving us pointers

There were only 7 of us in the class, which was awesome considering a full class is usually 20-25 students. That meant we got more one on one time with the instructor, Michelle Bryant. The inventor of the sisterlocks system, Dr. Joanne Cornwell, also came in to give us some pointers.

My stay at the hotel in San Diego was very interesting. I got there on Friday and checked in. I decided to just put my bags down and figure out which bus I was going to catch to get to the class the next day. So I got back to my room that evening and started to settle down. I then hear this noise that sounded like someone was moving furniture beneath me. Turns out, my room was directly above the underground parking garage gate. So I inform the front desk and they said they'd move me the next day cause they didn't have any vacant rooms that night. So the next night, I stayed in an even better room so I didn't complain, that is until I heard the people above me running around. So I go to their room and politely ask them to keep it down, and he gives me a subtle attitude. As soon as I get back to my room, I hear a huge thud, like someone had dropped a bowling ball. So I call the room and some words were exchanged. I went to the front desk again, and they moved me again. I hadn't even stayed one night in the second room. When I get to the third room, I'm just blown away. This room had a living room with a fireplace and french doors leading to the balcony overlooking a main street. The bedroom had a king size bed and also had double doors leading to the same balcony. The bathroom was nothing special though, but I was still shocked. I had to go to the front desk and make sure they weren't charging me extra for this room/apartment. From then on, I had no complaints about my room!

Gay Pride Protest

While on a lunch break in Cali, I got to witness my first real protest. These people were protesting the ban on gay marriage. Interesting. Another interesting part of San Diego is they don't have green Chile. I just figured Cali would. But anyways, I survived.

sisterlocks

This post was coming to you from the Albuquerque, New Mexico Sunport Airport!!!(I didn't finish the post that day so I'm actually publishing it two weeks later) Yeah I'm on my way to San Diego. I'M BECOMING A SISTERLOCK CONSULTANT!!! The training is Saturday through Tuesday and I'm excited but kind of nervous at the same time because this is my first time traveling by myself, which isn't the problem, it's just that I've never been to San Diego before and I'm terrified of getting lost! But other than that, I'm on my way to exploring a new career "OPTION". I call it that because I'm not sure what it is that I truly want to do with my life anymore. I believe we all have choices, but I also believe in destiny and God's plan. What if what I think I want to do isn't really what God wants me to do? I know he will have his way, but it would be nice if he would call me up on the phone and say, "Hey Shacole, this is God. And Ima need for you to do this, that, and the other." LOL Just kidding (kinda). But I'll be fine for the next year or so.

Now on to hair. I went in for my seventh month retightening yesterday and I have to say that one of the best parts of having sisterlocks is seeing the progress of growth. My appointments usually last 3-4 hours and when she's done and I look in the mirror, I can more than definitely see how much longer my hair has gotten. I can even feel it longer on my neck!! When I had a relaxer, I NEVER had that type of feeling, because I experienced so much breakage.

Wow, there is just so much for me to talk about. I just have to say that I'm a real home body. I actually enjoy staying home, but now that I'm 21, I feel almost obligated to go out for a night on the town. (even though I hadn't been out since my birthday in September.) Well, the weekend before last, I went to a Halloween costume party and had a blast. Mainly because I had a few drinks in my system. But I ended up running into my ex boyfriend, whom I hadn't spoken to in four months. I just thought I would be cordial and acknowledge his presence by saying hello and what not. But some how, he drug me into a conversation about why we failed, UGH! And I so played into it, until I snapped out of it and politely excused myself and walked away. But other than that, that was a pretty cool weekend.

On to the SAW IV movie review. All I can say is there will definitely be a SAW SIX. The movie did a lot of back flashes and tieing things up from the previous four movies. I was kinda disappointed in the setting for the victims in this movie, it was pretty much a repeat of SAW II, but with different contraptions. All in all, it wasn't the best in the series but perhaps that's because the producers are preparing for a big grand finale with SAW SIX.

Breakage!!!! . . . . And Sisterlock Compliments :-)

Getting back to sisterlocks, I regret to inform you that I have had another lock break off :-( The first lock to break off did so in July. At that time, I noticed the one right next to it was also kind of thin and it eventually broke off this past weekend. Actually, it was hanging on by a few strands towards the middle of the lock, so I gave it a little tug, and it came on out. I have one more in that same row that's getting kind of thin, so I have to keep an eye on it by being more careful when I wash. Other than that, I'm not too sure what else I can do to prevent this. I guess I'm lucky the two of them came out in the middle of my head so that they're hidden by other locks.

Now on a lighter note, I'm receiving mad comments on my hair. People at church and a few people at school compliment the sisterlocks. But one person in particular really surprised me with their compliments. She's my supervisor and for the past couple of weeks she's been telling me that she loves my hair like this and it's so cute. Now I just have to mention that she is Hispanic and she is also the only non-black person to give me any type of compliment on my hair. Prior to her telling me this, I wasn't sure about what other races thought of my hair, especially my co-workers. I told a few of them about my decision to lock my hair so only they knew about the process from beginning to end, but the rest of them didn't know anything and haven't asked about what it is I have in my hair. My thought is that for the past three years, my co-workers were use to me changing my hair every few weeks. Everything from straight, to curly, from crimped, to braided, from flammin red, to jet black, from chopped off, to down my back the next day. . . and the list goes on. Perhaps they just seen my hair locked up one day and assumed it was just another hair style that would change next week.

IT'S COMING!!!!!!!!!

Man, oh man, I'm such a huge saw fan!! I found out about this movie earlier this month and I'm soooooo excited, but also a bit weary. I just don't see how this series can continue. It's suppose to be the last one, but usually towards the end of a series like this, the last one or two turn out to be a flop, ruining the whole series. I really hope not. If anything, I'm sure the contraptions and gore will be pretty crazy and worth my time. But I do strongly recommend watching the previous four Saw's, just so you know whats going on, if not, you're likely to say; "this is stupid. What was the point of that? I don't get it. WHAT!" (The words of my dear friend Ashley after watching saw three w/o seeing the first ones.) Buy any who, I really hope this film leaves me with wanting more but knowing there will be no more, instead of saying, "they should have stopped with saw IV." I'll definitely be back to post a review.