A Comparison

Check out the back of my hair! Day 5 and Day 71 (Wk 9)



It looks thicker, the colour's lighter (Caribbean Sunshine) and I'm sure I've got some locks in there!

April Update: Week 9

This week I noticed just how thick my hair is getting. I was able to put my hair up in one just like I used to when it was all natural. It still is too short at the back to have out but at least the back is locking. Yipee!

I had my first retwist 2 weeks ago. My hair just felt lighter afterwards. I've had 2 fall out, one for no reason at all and one I think I could have avoided if i had got it retwisted again as it was falling out.

I've started to wash with my normal shampoo first then with the sisterlock shampoo after and that seemed to work as my scalp was suffering washing with just the sisterlock shampoo. Rightly or wrongly I've started spraying my hair with some old time Sta-sof-fro hair spray and its lovely.

Cue pics:

The Curly Days with corn row



The Curly Days without cornrows



First Night Out with upsweep


I went back to Barbados with my sisterlocks and they adapted so well to what I thought was their natural environment. I plaited it in two for the sea and separated them on the beach. I managed to count about 450 locks give or take. I loved having my hair out and blowing in the wind. It lightened a bit too which I was totally please with. Here is a shot after I had just washed it!



For work and the gym I tried to keep it simple but I found it was also very boring:

I had my first check up and retiwst the week I got back from Barbados after it had been battered a bit from getting wet so often and "manhandled". This shot was taken about 7:30 in bed when i had to get up to wash my hair on the day I got it retwisted.




Finally I managed to get it up almost pre sister locks. This is my new style Im going to adopt.

Catch up Week 3

Well its been a while but I'm ready for a catch up!

I've had a variety of styles over the last couple of weeks. I'm still loving it even though I've ran into difficulty finding styles when my hair is all out. This is due to the inconsistencies of the length of my hair particularly at the back.

I washed it a couple of weeks ago but I'm going to try to only wash it if absolutely necessary. I kinda like how it is now and wonder if I should keep it like this as opposed to allowing it to lock!!!!

I'm going to the caribbean this week and can't wait to let my hair breathe in its natural habitat. I have to braid and band in the sea though but thats ok.

My hair seems to have changed overnight. It seems to be thicker but I can see that I will be due a retightening when I return.

I'll post some pics I've taken over the last 2 weeks but I think this journey is about to change.....!

Keep it here folks and watch the transformation.

Sweaty Scalp = Itchy Scalp

I decided to do a "braid out" style today. I haven't heard that expression before so I'm assuming it means you braid your hair..... then you take it out!!

Either way, after being plaited up for 36 hours I took the back out and it looks alright . It's still a little 'Bozo' but I can handle that.

Here's the back......

I've decided that instead of showing you my hair each time I change it I'm going to show you my favourite styles of the week. That way it won't take up so much of your time. Howzat?

I'm really loving my hair but feeling very impatient. I felt my scalp itching me today and I can't help but think its the gym. I've been on it hard these last few days and maybe I need to consider rinsing it though, post-gym, once my babies are matured.

I'm not giving up the gym for my hair, I'll just find a way!

Anyway, I have church and a night out to style my hair for this weekend so I'll let you know how that goes next week. Have a locked weekend!

Being A Little More Daring at Work.....

I dunno! Sometimes I can't help it. I like to push the boundaries and force people at work in to dealing with me and my culture. I know how to behave in an investment bank but at the same time I don't want to totally abandon my culture and I don't need to. It's like a gentle reminder of who I am. If you don't understand it or get it then ask because I want you to know!

I was trying out a few styles last night as I was tired of having to try to keep my hair at the back together and even. I felt like I was looking more and more like Hobo the Clown....all the hair at the sides and none in the middle!!!

So after a few upsweep failures I ended up with a couple of bunches! I just plaited down the back and put a band around them. I actually think its a cute style and I love it! What do you think? I took pics in my work setting so you can see how corporate SL's can be and how they can just fit right in. All I need now is a pair of glasses and an Armani suit!

Bun fire pon di relaxer!

Now let me explain about the back view pic, I couldn't twist round enough to get a straight pic so its a little wonky. Well I couldn't ask one of my colleagues to take it now could I? Enjoy.

Taking My Sisterlocks to Corporate Britain

So today was the first day back at work after my babies were born. It went ahead with not much fanfair. I guess they are used to me changing my hair or maybe they just didn't like it! Either way its all good I don't like the attention! hehe.

I had one Italian guy mention how lovely my hair looked and a Swedish one said I looked about 18 but that was it!

I met with the afro hair dresser in the salon at work today who is going to do the training in July. She said it was pretty.

I think I can blend my babes in to corporate life quite easily and my SL's look nice with a Thomas Pink shirt!!

I also took a visit to the sauna after work. Tried to add some moisture to my locks but something was wrong with it as it was getting cooler and cooler. It started at 70 degrees and was down to 60 degrees by the time I woke up and left. Not sure if it did anything. I'll try again tomorrow.

It's Finally Done!

After a total of 20 hours my babies were finally born at 3am on 23rd Feb.

They were a bit of a state and I will show you the results when Wavenie emails the pictures. My ends were a bit crazy so she suggested that I washed it. I braided and banded and just rinsed it through in the shower. Here's a picture of the result.


I've decided on a style that will work for the next few weeks. I canerowed the front and left the back out. What do you think? It's gonna take me a while to get used to this styling. I look so different
.

It Has Begun......!

This morning I tried to use as much hair products as I could for my last hairstyle to wear to church as I won't be using them again. Then I came home and washed and combed it for the very last time!

I had my first locs put in this evening. I was so excited. Wavenie prayed over my hair to start which was really special. I sat for 5 hours and was completely happy. I'm so glad I did all of that research as I knew everything that was happening so the end result from tonight was of no surprise and I wasn't disappointed. I just need to get a good nights sleep for another marathon session tomorrow. Can't wait to see the finished result. OK I had the flash a little too close to my face but look at the hair!!!! What do you think of it so far?

Pre Sisterlocks

Having spent most of January 2009 researching Sisterlocks I decided that it was the way forward for me. In the past I had done most things with my hair from a curly perm in my early twenties to relaxing for years to experimenting with hair extentions, braiding and twists since 2001 and finally deciding to go natural in 2005. I was tired of loving my hair in twists or cane row extensions but not happy that it wasn't my hair. Sisterlocks seems to give me the answer I need. The same look of extensions but with my own natural hair. On Sunday 8th February I decided to take the plunge and have a consultation with Wavenie, a trainee consultant who goes to my church. I was so convinced that I asked her to go ahead with some testers and now I have 10 locks in my head, 5 above each ear. They seem so wayward but I've tamed them by adding them to my natural afro pony that I've been wearing eversince. I have put my little testers through their paces as I went off to Barbados for just over a week a few days after. I so wished I had my whole head done for that holiday but it was not possible. So now its the day before I get the rest done and I'm excited but nervous at the same time. My hair is different textures and different lengths and I am a bit concerned how the shorter back will look. It doesn't help that I am still jet-lagged but I just want my sisterlocks now and I can't wait anymore. Tomorrow I will post pictures of me with half of my hair done and let you know how I feel.