Braid Out at 18 Months

Last night I decided to do something different with my hair. I wanted to try another braid out, since my hair has grown, since the last time I tried this style.  I dampened my hair with my water-glycerin-lavender oil mixture and plaited it in sections.  It dried overnight.  Well, it did not air dry as thoroughly as I had hoped, because it rained all night long.  Anyway here are some fuzzy pictures to show for my efforts.
By the way, it is my 18 month anniversary with locks. The time has really flown by fast.

15 Months

Well, I just got my hair re-tightened.  It was a bit of a mess, because I hadn't had it done since before Christmas, eight weeks ago.  I have been trying to space out my re-tightenings to more than four or five weeks, but I think eight weeks might be pushing it too far.

There isn't much going on with my hair, except that it is continuing to grow quite fast. I can't wait until I can get it in a ponytail, but I think that is not going to happen until I grow a few more inches. My locks are settling nicely, but there are still some locks on the top of my head that are open, and steadfastly refusing to lock.  Here is a picture three days after re-tightening, a wash and a sponge roller set.

Happy Anniversary to me!

Today marks my one year lock anniversary.  I find it hard to believe that one year has passed so quickly. How does this past hair-year compare to the times when I had my hair relaxed?  Well, I have had very few bad hair days, I have had far less anxiety about hair dryness and breakage, and I have not spent that much money on hair products.  On the other hand, I have spent a small fortune getting the locks installed and maintained each month.  Do I think it is worth it?  Absolutely.  I think my monthly costs can be reduced if I do some retightening myself on a regular basis. I am seriously thinking about doing the retightening class when it is conducted in Jamaica next year.

11 Months

Well, during my last retightening session with my consultant, she told me to make sure that I band and braid before washing.  I have been quite good about doing this over the last few weeks.  This hairstyle came about when I let my hair dry with the braids still in, then setting the hair on sponge rollers.  So I have both crinkles from the braids and curls from the rollers.  I think I will do this again.  I quite like how it turned out.

10 Months

Well, 10 months have passed since my locks were installed at the end of  November last year.  I can honestly say that I have not had a moment of regret about locking my hair.  In the beginning I had moments of insecurity about how looked, but I have never regretted it.

Here is a picture taken a few days ago before re-tightening. It is very fuzzy and is looking a bit untidy.

Yesterday, I had it re-tightened.  Here is a picture after re-tightening, washing and setting.  Looking and feeling much better.

My consultant is pleasantly surprised at the rapid growth of my hair.  She is also urging me to braid and band when I wash.  I stopped doing this months ago, when I found it to be too much of a chore.  Since she asked me to do this yesterday when I was feeling tired and grumpy, after sitting for 5 hours getting my hair done, my immediate response (in my head) was "She has got to be kidding me".

Today, I am well rested and in a much better mood, so I am considering it.  I have already been cussed by N'Drea and JaStu for not braiding and banding, and for committing all sorts of other sins, so I know all the arguments for braiding and banding.  But, grrrrrrr, it really drives me nuts.

For the most part, my hair is very far along in the locking process, but there are a few areas which are steadfastly refusing to lock.  In fact, along my hair line in the front, the short length plus the texture of my hair in this area is such that the locks won't even stay in place.  Some of them completely unravel by the time the next re-tightening is due.

I still get lots of compliments on my hair, which is very encouraging, and the people who see me fairly infrequently are astounded by the rapid growth that they observe each time they do see me.

The gray hair at the front is beginning to drive me crazy.  I don't think I want to colour them though.  I am just afraid that I will have to colour forever and ever if I start.

Eight Months along and having a great summer

This July has been really enjoyable. We have been very busy this month, starting with a swim meet for the girls. They both did very well and we enjoyed the day by the poolside. Too bad we parents did not get to jump in the water to cool off.

Then we did the family vacation thing in Washington DC, and I must say that my hair did very well with the heat and all the activities. Here we are chillaxing at the National Zoo.

Here's a picture of Father and Daughters just before leaving the National Aquarium in Baltimore. We took in the dolphin show, and what a delight that was.

Here we are at the Air and Space Museum. Everybody is tired at this point and we were happy to find a seat.

The girls posing at the Lincoln Memorial.




















Enough with the pictures Mom! We are tired and want to go back to the hotel!
















The summer is not yet over and I am sure we are in for a few more treats. Will keep you posted.

Six Months

My sisterlocks are now six months old. I have seen a definite change in the locks over the last two or three weeks, where the locks are now fatter and are very unruly. I am not sure if this is just part of the locking process or it is because I am desperately in need of a re tightening. I am going on seven weeks now since my last re-tightening. Ohhhh!! Bad idea!! My consultant comes on Friday and I can't wait.

I have been doing a little re-tightening myself, mostly with my fingers, and sometimes with my nappy lock tool. This maintenance has helped to keep my hair looking fairly ok, but it is really time to get some professional care.

I treated myself to one of Tomoka's hair twists. I got it today and I really love it.

Five Months

When I washed my hair last weekend, I noticed more hair than usual in the bath tub, and when I was setting it up, lots of little hair balls ended up on the floor. I think that this means that my hair is finally locking. The locks are in various stages as you can see in the photo. Some of the ends are sealed, some are open and some are ramrod straight. It is a little difficult to see, because my hair still has much of the curl from the roller set.

Three Months

Well, it has been just over three months since my sisterlocks were installed and things have been progressing nicely. I am due for my retightening on Friday, and boy do I need it. Since I washed my hair last weekend there has been quite a bit of unraveling and slippage. I have noticed that whenever I braid and band before washing my hair I always get far more unraveling than if I just band the ends without braiding. So until my locks have settled, I will refrain from braiding, and will just stick to banding.

Two Month Anniversary

This week will make two months since my locks were installed. I have had good hair days and a few bad ones, but so far my experience with sisterlocks has been mostly good. My confidence has been boosted by the many, many compliments that I continually receive from friends and strangers alike. There have been one or two nay-sayers, but I tend to ignore them, and just focus on the positive.

My hair continues to grow quite fast. What has surprised me the most, is that even though I no longer put oil on my hair, it is doing just fine without it. My hair feels moist and supple and looks quite lustrous and healthy. I thought that by not using my usual favourite products, my hair would be dry and brittle. But nothing of the sort.

I still have some very thin spots on my head, but I am hoping that as my hair grows, these thin areas will be disguised. The slippage and unraveling has decreased somewhat. I tried to space out my washings to every two weeks, but I really cannot stand to have my hair "dirty" for more than a week. So I continue to wash it once a week. I like it when my hair smells nice.

One Month Anniversary

Merry Christmas to all. Tomorrow is my one month lock anniversary. Over the past month since getting my locks, I have gone from lukewarm to really loving my hair. I have received many compliments, and only one not-so-nice comment. A good friend told me that my hair looked unkempt. I don't think she was wrong about this. I think my hair did look a bit untidy in the beginning. But as my hair is growing, it is looking less untidy. Since my first re-tightening, I have had very little slippage and unraveling. Here are some pictures that were taken today.