4 years where does the time go?

Hello
It's been awhile don't sit much at my computer anymore but I have discovered this new app that allows me to update much easier then before from my phone so how wonderful. Anyway I wanted to say that I've finally come to a good place with my hair and its growing like the dickens. Been free form for the last 6 months but I couldn't help myself and reached for the interlock tool this past week. Don't mind the fuzz so much now but I still like it looking neat. Washing with whatever is moisturizing and because their pretty mature I don't worry to much about unravelling. Anyhoo just wanted to update since I've been gone for years. Look out for my next post on making a soothing mist for scalp at home after a washing.

Been Gone for a Min now I'm back at the jump Off..... 2 1/2 years and counting

Hello Friends miss me? I know...... I have been very bad Not updating like I should but shoo honestly thought that no one would care after the first year anyway. One person did ask me where I went though so I should probably pick up the pace and bring ya'll up to date on my hair happenings. After the first two years thought I would be locked down and cruising end of story. Know what I found out though this journey never truly ends. My hair still has a plenty to show me and it keeps surprising the heck out of me. At one point I was like no you didn't just go there ( fuzzies beyond belief) then next minute (I mean morning) I'm waking up looking like queen Cleopatra herself. There are days I want to take scissors to these locs I've cultivated but I must always remind myself that my journey is never over and that there is always magic about to take place. A few months back I considered free forming and you know what that just wasn't going to fly because when I do that my scalp itches the heck out of me. For a regimen I've finally gotten down to only shampooing and conditioning when needed which is like every three days. I no longer spritz, roll, moisturize, any of that I just don't have time. I will however plop myself down in front of the tube every three months and interlock my hair. Yup! I still use the tool cause if I don't, I get these lovely loose crazies everywhere. I've tried to love them but I just can't do it. There are still some parts that are soft like up at the front but the backs are maturing quite nicely. I have transplants that are now just sliding out (I actually pop them off cause their so fat and hard to get through  the loops when interlocking) I hate those little fuzz ball things that seal the end I routinely snip, pop or rip those off cause quite frankly they bother me. Gives me some sick satisfaction to do away with them and yes they probably are important but it hasn't affected my hair either way. I do continue to use naturally derived products when I do shampoo and condition just washes out nicer and leaves barely any residue which could potentially cause mildew problems if not rinsed and dried properly. I do have to confess though that I pin my hair up after the shower and leave it there all day when I work after I wash which is probably not a good idea but in the end I always air dry and let the sun work its magic. Winter is another story and I'm very careful at that time of the year anyway I digress without further ado some updated photos for you. You guys have a blessed and wonderful day.

NAt

Free forming: New beginnings

 Ok so I'm feeling good again and decided to embark on a new adventure in this journey. I took a little hiatus and decided to quit blogging because I felt there was not much more to say about my locs after reaching ahh almost 2 years this coming March. I am now back with a new perspective and I have decided to start free forming. For me this is a biggie because I am straight addicted to interlocking using a latch hook.. Personally I think interlocking is the best way to do locs but through much consideration I would like to give my hair a chance to do its thing on its own. Now I'm not saying I'm gonna go and just leave them be I'm definitely  not a fan of organics (Ive seen some nastiness on the net and elsewhere and I do not want to take part). I plan to do the "tug pull and separate method". This is not completely a definitive however because I just might get the itch  pull out the tool and go crazy. I hate fuzzy's and nappies and the such but then again why did I choose loc in the first place. I love my locs as they are now but I feel I could go much further and enjoy them so much more (I'm lazy remember? I thought this was suppose to be an easy maintenance free hair style choice my hands are up in my head constantly). I think one should cultivate their locs but at the same time not mow them down to mulch (over twisting and manipulation leads to thinning and breakage trust me I know been there done that) Anyway thanks for tuning in I just washed and retwisted my hair last week and I can't find my blasted camera so I'll do a pic post next month. Heres to a new beginning yet again on to year part 2: The Free forming years anyone else consider this method of maintenance chime in would love to link up wit you and see pics.Here is a little update for yall

NAt

Love ya long time :S

n

1 Year and 6 months

So Ive been absent for awhile. I made my mark then I disappeared just like that :). I know Ive been bad not coming on here enough but with life and all you know how it goes. So a little update to show you what Ive been up to. Some products Ive tested out and the like. I have some ups and down with my hair and sometimes I feel a little remorseful that I didn't start my locs a little smaller but its been ok. I haven't had a problem keeping lint down ( I still sleep with a bonnet on always) and I'm still testing the waters on what shampoos my hair likes.

So far its proven very picky. I use two clarifyers  one called " Live Clean" and another called "Tresemme". As a weekly shampoo I use Aveeno baby oatmeal body and hair shampoo. Does not leave a heavy if any residue and it doesnt leave my hair dry. I think Ive become partial to the Aveeno line however I use almost everything they have and I'm never dissapointed. I smell nice all the time lol

To help my hair loc (although my hair is almost fully locked anyway) I use three things

1. my interlocking tool ( Carpet Latch hook) can be bought at Walmart for $1.95 believe it

2. Knotty Boy "Locksteady" Gel use sparingly could leave your hair crusty I use it to tame my fuzz

3. Jamaican mango and lime locking gel love the smell I use it mostly for the smell really doesn't work as well as the knotty boy.

That's about it and mainly Ive learned to leave my hair alone. I groom as needed and I just enjoy here are a few pics

Have a wonderful day 

1yr 6mths

1st day

6 mths

Anniversary Year 1 I made it yea for me!!!!!!

So I made it! 

~I want to thank my hair because with out you this wouldn't have been possible. Here's to another wonderful year of discovery. :)

Things Ive learned

~ You can never rush a good thing
~ Patience is really and truly a virtue
~ I love headbands
~ My Long hair (can u believe) drives me nuts
~ I'm forever changing routines got to find what I like
~ KISS keep it simple stupid lol
~ I'm really appreciating my hair in its natural state its free spirited like me

 My new regimen of course

~ Wash hair as needed 1-2x a week(I'm almost fully locked yo few softies about though)
~ Moisturize with a product called Wild Growth Hair oil (This product is the bomb has all the essential oils you probably use now but combined in one. Funky as hell but the pros outweigh the cons. Love it no mineral or synthetic stuff
~ In between washes if needed I use the light moisturizer from same brand (yellow bottle) make my hair shiny
~I twist after washing with Jamaican Mango and lime locking gel this stuff smells so good you just might want to eat some (but don't)
~ I still interlock cant help it makes my locs look a bit more uniform. I tried free forming but I just couldn't do it maybe sooner then later.
~I keep it covered most nights when sleeping I haven't had much lint problems. Found a few at the back because of my fuzzy hat but it is what it is. Ive decided to crochet a black one so at least it will be black lint :)

Anniversary Pics 

Peace love and blessings 
NAt

Bringing in 2010 Happy New Years!!!!

Hello all you good people sorry for a not posting last month but I didn't think it was going to matter being that my hair didn't change much from Nov to Dec. Anyway here's to a new year and fresh slate, hoping everyone was treated nicely by Santa and that this year will be the year you choose to do you. What I mean by that is taking care of yourself, enjoying life the little things and appreciating what you have right now. I decided that I am not going to make any resolutions this year because quite frankly it is a silly tradition that really no one adheres to anyway (Good try though). I think people should just try to change things gradually if its for the better and just live life no looking back (to much) just forward. Hey I even took up the drums this year something I thought I would never ever do. I'm totally a rocker chick now beating them drums is real good therapy lol.

So onto some hair business I must say one thing though if I decided to have one resolution it's to post more on this blog. I seriously don't do enough of that posting is fun but what to talk about is the question there is only so much verbal diarrhea one can spew out and in context mind you.

About this time Ive come to terms with my hair (finally) I still love staring at it in the mirror and I can't believe its me. Ive come this far and I am love love loving what my hair is doing right now but I have learned to keep my hands out of my head and its helped. I was training the girls and boys (yes well.... they are my babies right?) a little to much and got carried away. I almost twisted some of them off and over time Ive had to go and buy Afro human hair from the salon and fix some weakened locs because they would have just broken off if I left them (not cool). I still have some hair in my closet that I use for emergencies if needed. Please don't let anyone tell you its wrong to put extensions in your hair because the journey will not be authentic this is BS. If needed sometimes they will save you from tears and drama if you learn to DIY. You could use some of your own hair if you have some saved from previous comb outs but really how often do you do that? Really don't be afraid to add some length if that's what you want right now. Ive added in some for thickness in ones that started way to thin for my liking and now its all meshed together quite nicely. The only thing I really hated was the antiseptic or chemical they used to process the hair before selling and that smell lasted for a long time (gone now) I guess this was for hygiene purposes (nasty stuff).

Tip: use human hair and not synthetic. I saw some movies on youtube talking about gluing in synthetic hair to wrap around your locs not a good look IMO. Synthetic will not do what you want it to do in the long run and its plastic I mean how long do you really want that in there if your going for the long haul anyway? Unless your going to be cutting it out after awhile spend a little more and invest in some afro human hair. Trust me that little bag of hair you purchased will last you a millennium if you take care of your own hair and use it just for touch ups and fixes.


Moving on I still cant decide what I like to wash my hair with or moisturize with. For Christmas I got a gift card and I went to the Bay (equivalent to a Macy s in the States) and bought me Crabtree and Evelyn luxury Jojoba Lotion and Body wash. Expensive yes but I tell you that stuff was so thick and made my skin feel silky smooth I thought hmm what will happen if I pour some on my head. Sure enough one wash made my hair clean, left it smelling gorgeous, no build up in sight and moisturized. Sigh~ what will I do when it all runs out? Probably go back and buy more lol hell yeah. I also still like to mix it up with my lush shampoo bar smelling like Shakura and apple Blossoms in Japan on a spring day :) it also has a little sea salt in it to help matt up them dreaddies a little faster. As I always say just find what works for you and use it. As long as it leaves me smelling fabulous non itchy and moisturized especially in the cold I live in (We have had the record breaking highest temps here in winter)I am happy as a pig in a pile. I also *GASP* found some lint in my hair I almost cried but then I settled down and went out and bought me a satin head bonnet to discourage more lint from taking roost in my head. I mean technically Lint is what holds your locs together right? (Don't act like you didn't know) take a blade and slice one of them open if your inclined its there unless your a newbie and just starting out. For some reason dirt and lint will accumulate in the core of your locs. You can do something about the dirt but the lint is another story all together. If you let them get to unruly and not take preventative measures then you'll have dull looking locs and for those who want to keep lint at bay here are a few things you can do:

1. For the patient pick it out with tweezers (however you'll get holes in your locs but if you like that then go for it)
2. Dye them
3. Leave them be its what Jah intended anyway no disrespect
4. Get a sharpie and go to town (in your favorite colors of course)
5. Keep your hair covered under fuzzy jackets and while sleeping at night or while lounging around the house ( Personally I don't cover my head when I'm chillaxing about but I do wear my bonnet to bed every single night. I even bought myself I bright red one so I will find it anywhere I decide to throw it. They also keep lint from accumulating as well (why is it that you see most dreddies walking around with tams on anyway? It keeps the hair clean and almost lint free.
6. Use Micro fiber to dry your hair after a wash it sucks up more water then the conventional towel and leaves virtually no lint behind. I use Micro fiber on everything yall its the best!
7. Extreme!!!! Cry your eyes out shave your head and grow a new set....... Just Kidding don't go and do that like I said Lint is everywhere you can't escape it so enjoy your hair for what it is. Seriously

Anyway Here are some more pics for my 10 month update enjoy have a happy and healthy new years again till next time enjoy them locs!

MOnth 8 Beautifyed

So I have to admit I don't give myself enough pampering these days since becoming a mom 3 1/2 years ago and just plain working all the time. Today I decided would be a fine time to start taking care of my inner girl and get a bit glammed up. Well I wouldn't take it to that extreme but after my little home makeover a felt a whole lot prettier not to mention I am feeling my hair still loving the journey ..... Heck I might even treapsy over to the gym if I'm feeling slick tomorrow but I wont push it. For my hair I bought a massage bar that smelled so good from a body store called LUSH that sells the nicest pamper items ever. The bar is made of pure Shea, Cocoa and other natural ingredients that left me smelling real nice. It also makes a great massage bar for those dry elbows and knees I might even treat my hubby to massage if he treats me right lol. So let me tell you what I got on my little excursion:


A Sephora sampler for $38 bucks:

~Korres lip balm
~Korres mascara
~Tarte cheek stain
~Tarte mascara
~Lorac eye shadow
~Lorac bronzer
~Smashbox lipgloss
~Givenchy lipgloss
~Sephora nail laquer


I was thrilled because the box had all the colors that complimented me and let me tell you even though these were ample sample sizes, what I got was a steal because one product by itself could run you about $25-30. Which to me is a rip off I would rather have my cake, taste my cake and enjoy the damn thing while I can. So get in where you can fit in is all I'm saying there is nothing wrong with sampling products because quite frankly if you don't like it why be wasteful and throw away something you paid an arm and leg for. Now I'm a thrifty gal and I know there are other ladies out there who would spend that extra 50 bucks on lip gloss but no sah not me. Anyway I'm glad Sephora thinks of women like me who would like to try before she buys.



I also went to this store called showcase and bought a makeup kit(again if you can get your moneys worth in a one time kit your good to go) for $60 I got me a Sheer Cover makeup set.
Let me tell you I am in love with this stuff and If your a black girl ( caramel/mocha shade according to the box ) like me you and I both know that finding makeup isn't that easy. with all our beautiful tones and hues finding the perfect match is a little more then daunting. With Sheer Cover a mineral foundation you can blend and customize your own shade to your specifications (LOve it!) cant do that with a single foundation. I also tried a comparable brand in Sephora called Bare Minerals that might match us a little better for darker hues but I'm going to stick with Sheer because its much more affordable and let me tell you lucky ducklings that live in the states can get this kit for $30 something bucks while I (Canadian) have to spend a bit more. Ah well its worth it for what I can do with it.

Here's what I got in my kit:

2 Mineral foundations with SPF 15 ( I got shade Dark)
Duo concealer (2 shades)
Purifying Cleanser (skin felt smooth and nice after)
SPF 15 moisturizer (and get this you can blend with the mineral makeup to make a tinted moisturizer Love it!)
Black brown mascara
Powder brush
Contouring brush Precision concealing brush Sheer cover color compact

So my dears I am so happy because for my budget I did not go over (so proud) I bought all this. Sometimes you can spend some time and money on yourself while being thrifty and guilt free if you feel good then everyone else around you will too No doubt. If you have the extra funds I say go for it girl. You earned it so burn it.... do the damn thing!

How bout y'all Drop me a note and tell me what items you think are hot. I think I might just start adding some great finds and things I think are hot for a big gyal like me to this blog why not?. Especially in these times being thrifty is alright and you can still look and feel good. Next purchases maybe ( a little pricey but the girl is around my way in style) Gwen Stephani Lamb or hirajuku perfumes She's got that Caribbean flavor and I like it Big it up! . I'm also feeling the urban vibe from Kimora Lee Simmons some of her stuff are nice too maybe I can get something on clearance lol.

Anyway Peace out y'all till next month

NAt

Keep things simple ~ is my motto

Happy Halloween everyone just making my rounds. Anyway over the past few months Ive been tweaking and playing with regimens, fixing weak roots, and just week to week upkeep of my hair. After tons of trial and error Ive settled on an even simpler routine of washing once a week with an organic shampoo (non residual) a simple gel and a micro fiber wash cloth. Ive just decided that with my oh so busy life I just don't have time to sit and twist my hair. I mean don't get me wrong I love the manicured look (I dont what anyone says) but as the days go by I am learning to accept my hair and what it truly wants to do and that's be free as it can be. I noticed on You tube that some people are going the free form route (cant do it) but once again I have revisited the micro fiber rub. My locs are still soft unfortunately but Ive learned to live with it. My roots gets a deep cleansing and then a good mass twisting without me having to roll each individual loc. You can't get any simpler then this (actually you can but I'm not a fan of the one dread matted look)










1. Wet hair thoroughly
2. add shampoo
3. wash in clockwise motion with micro fiber always rubbing same way each time
4. Rinse hair thoroughly making sure all shampoo is rinsed out completely
5. squeeze out as much water as you can. You can use your micro fiber to squeeze excess water or if you have a micro fiber towel use it because it will grab up 90% of water in your locs which is especially great for avoiding mildew buildup you hair will be dry within an hour or two.
6. Put gel through out hair you don't have to soak them just the ample amount you would use in each.
7. Now Take Micro fiber and rub in clockwise or whatever comfortable position you like and rub in a circular motion always going the same way.

Now if your hair is soft like mine and not completely locked you'll probably have a bunch of fuzz everywhere and the ends will looks unraveled. No worries everything will seal up eventually but if you cant stand it don't do it. Just make sure you pull marrying locs apart. Your roots will be fully twisted and if you still feel inclined you can pick through and roll the ones you feel that need it (I still do)

Hope this helps those looking for a very simplified routine (I just couldn't do all that other stuff no more and I don't mean to sound redundant every month but it is a learning process and I am always finding new ways to manage my hair. So with that said Life is beautiful when you can make time to smell the roses.

Peace and blessings y'all

NAt

Oct is MOnth 7 Yall Boo Yah!!!

Just doing a quick update. Last night my ropes were looking a hot mess and I stayed up all night wrapping them to make myself happy lol. I was so tired at work but on the upside they are looking the way I wanted them to. I had to latch a few but Ive been really trying not to do that to much but just rely on water and my favorite gel. Like Ive said before I'm deathly afraid of thin roots so Ive been leaving them to nature to do their thing and I'm so lazy I don't want to clip anything either. The wrapping has been working as they are starting to become uniform and united as time goes on. Ive also switched to a shampoo a friend let me try from Norwex called Aloe Vera shampoo which is almost 98.9 % organic except for maybe a preservative added in at the end which isn't to bad still about 3-4 on the toxin scale which I can say is better then most products out there. I'm also trying the bi weekly wash with this cause hell y'all she want to be selling this shampoo from Italy at 25 bucks a pop but hey you get what you pay for and I have to say I'm quite pleased. It has allowed my hair to stay moisturized without the extra residue and So far I haven't had to break out much product except my gel to re twist when required. This is probably a keeper and better then the Bronner Ive been using only because I don't have to ACV afterward which is a plus in my books (again the laziness lol) I spritz in the morning with water then go bout my biz. I'm so impatient I was also tempted to add extensions because I want the length but then what would be the point of the journey right? Life is good keep up the good fight yall XD

MuCh LOve

NAt

Wash- Rinses- Interlocking and Regimens

Hey hey hey

I'm going to talk about regimen and loc maintenance today. Last night I decided to scour the internet on how to keep my dreddies from looking a hot mess. I personally like things simplified and uncomplicated, something I can use and not break a sweat to. I found that I had to dig through a lot of info so to put my many thoughts to screen here's my attempt at putting the puzzle pieces together for those who aren't ( perhaps maybe you know more then me :P) in the know about caring for them locs. Ive been locked now for 7 mths (LOving it!) and Ive learned a thing or two about keeping it tre simple. So I'm hoping that my regimen and maintenance can answer a few questions. Since there is a plethora of info on how to start locs I wont go there, I will just focus on the maintenance and on going care for those who are DIY or wanting to be. Anyhoo lets get to it:


The weekly or bi weekly wash

Washing the hair is important whatever some may say about helping your dreads to loc up your scalp needs help getting rid of residue and buildup left behind by product, elements and plain ol sebum and dirt. Washing the "scalp" helps to actually loc the hair. Water swells the hair and the more this happens the faster your desired result. Remember water is your best friend you didn't quit relaxer not to go play in the rain right?

• Wash the hair using a non residual shampoo (Suave, Nutrogena, Pantene or any clarifying brand you prefer Tresseme even has a deep cleanser that I hear is good and inexpensive brand) Instead of just adding it straight to the hair I put it in a small spray bottle so I can evenly distribute the shampoo and if your going to wash spend a good 20 mins massaging the scalp (this should definitely be your "me" time) so your scalp get a good cleaning but no finger nails.
  

1. Note: Between clarifying washes depending on your needs you can rinse your hair with plain water or you can wash as needed with cleansing bars, Dr Bronners castille soaps or any soap really that you like ( use non residual best suited)
2. Note: For those who don't interlock try using a stocking cap so you will not disturb your roots to much otherwise you'll be twisting again. (if you can let go and enjoy the fruzz more power to you)
   

• 1st Rinse the hair really well and get all the shampoo out, believe or not even non residual shampoo can leave residue behind as well, so your going to want to stand under your shower head or jet spray until your locs feel squeaky clean

• 2nd Rinse My favorite rinse and the only one I use is ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) for a final clarifying clean. I tell you I still had buildup after multiple washing but after using this product my scalp was debris free. You can put in in a spray bottle 1:8 spray or pour it on your scalp and locs, massage it in a bit and then put a plastic bag over your head (please do not obstruct the airways please you need to be alive for the next step) Then wrap a towel around the bag and leave for 12-15 min. After that stand under the shower again until you can no longer smell the ACV or water runs clear.

After all that washing you really don't need to put anything in your hair. I can honestly say washing alone and ACV will give your locs a nice sheen that lasts. You can add stuff in there if you feel the need some people just like extra moisturizers I just choose not to because they just leave buildup I don't want. If you do proceed to twist the hair all you need is a bit of aloe vera gel or a good chemical free, paraben free, non petrol mineral, non toxic cream your tool and your fingers and BAM simple!

Loc Maintenance

OK now on to the twisting, interlocking wrapping part. I have to say that there is a big difference in twisting your roots and maintaining the locs portion of the hair. Now as you wash you will notice hair frizzing and fruzzing up everywhere this is a very normal and wonderful phenomenon. We want this to happen because this is what causes your locs to form. People get very confused and think that every time they wash their hair they must twist the roots (Not so) personally you can go a whole month or even two without twisting the roots and still maintain neat looking locs. If you continue to twist the roots (like I did every chance I got for the first 3mths) you risk the chance of weakening the roots that forms the base of the loc. Here are a few simple methods you can use: First things first however I will talk about twisting/interlocking the roots to get that out of the way.

Interlocking/Twisting Roots

Interlocking
Now Ive addressed the whole Point rotation system awhile back and postulated that the 4pt was the far superior rotation compared to the 2pt or 3pt. However as Ive progressed I have to take back those word because as your locs mature it does not matter what pt rotation you use. It has everything to do with how thin you want your locs. Earlier on I started using 2pts and noticed that my locs were getting holes all over them (this drove me batty) so pondering over this and searching the internet, I found that other people were using 4pt and 3pt rotations to keep things tight. I decided yes this is a better solution, but I did notice that my locs were getting to thin almost scary break off at the root thin (turns out my hair is just really soft and unravels easily I just needed to be more patient and let my hair do its thing). This was to much for me so Ive gone back to my 2pt rotation. Considering that the loose hair around your locs are going to fill into those holes anyway. Whatever you choose to do make sure you refrain from interlocking more than once a month unless you absolutely think you need to and preferably when damp. You will need an interlocking tool of choice (many different kinds on the web I prefer to make my own) some water in a spray bottle a little gel and that's it. You can find rotation methods throughout my blog or again in tutorials on the net.

Twisting
Most people who start traditional use this method as their mainstay. Simple and straight forward but a little long winded for my taste. I do not prefer this method because I like rinsing my hair more often then usual. It produces lovely locs however so give it a shot if your inclined. You will need a spray bottle of water, Two pronged Hair clips and some gel. If you have one a bonnet dryer is good investment for this method as well. Now all you have to do is grab a loc spray some water add some gel and twist in one direction only (same way every time)that you want the locs to lie, then clip hair at root in place. Never twist hair back and forth otherwise hair will never produce those cylindrical locs your after. Repeat all over head and sit under dryer until hair is no longer damp.

After completing both methods wrap hair in a satin or silk scarf to keep it fresh befor you go to bed or if your just about the house and your cleaning or something.


Wrapping
Now on to my favorite past time. I like to do this when I'm in the mood after a rinse in between shampoos. I take some water, little bit of gel and my fingers and you see all that fruzz that surrounds the loc? I take that and wrap around my locs in a clockwise motion. I do this while I watch T.V or when I feel I really need a maintenance check. Personally this keeps me from touching my roots and keeps my hair looking cute and neat when I need it. Personally as Ive said before you don't always need to touch the roots because its the locs you want to conform really. After interlocking my locs looked a bit chewy and bumpy (I don't like the look) but after wrapping them again and again they are starting to shape up quite nice in that cylindrical shape I adore (that's a good look) :)

Itchies

I buy a bag of Rosemary seeds and boil them, strain them then let it cool. I then either pour it over my entire head or a put it in a spray bottle and spray. I usually just leave it in no need to rinse really

So this is my regimen it took me forever to write but really its straight forward. No mucking around lets review shall we:

Weekly/Biweekly Wash
1. You wash
2.You rinse with water
3. You rinse with ACV (recommend biweekly some are sensitive, can be a little harsh)
4. You rinse with water
5. Micro fiber cloths work best to dry hair (less lint)

Interlocking/Twisting
1. Pick your poison (method)
2. Twists roots at least 1nce a month max (if you can stand it)
3. Always move in clockwise fashion (same way every time)

Wrapping
1. Wrap when needed after a rinse or whenever you feel
2. Use precaution dampen hair first and use gel or preferred cream
3. Go the same way every time (clockwise etc)

Protect
1. Cover your hair when your sleeping or doing house work to keep lint down
2. Have fun with it make them fancy when your going out ( I wear hair bands and wraps all the time they're cute)

Let me know if I'm missing anything IMO this is what I do for my hair. Everyone is different and I just wanted to share what works well for me over the course of 7 mths who knows maybe it will change again. Whatever you choose keep it positive and fun for you.

Enjoy

Peace and Blessings

NAt

6mths and half way there

So here I am posting an update to commemorate my half way mark. Feels good that I am still going strong and learning a little about myself as time progresses. This august I have officially returned back to work from almost a full year of mat leave and I have to say that I was filled with so much anxiety because I did not know if my hair would be accepted by my peers or bosses . I mean for so long I was wearing relaxers and thought that this was the only acceptable hairstyle in my profession or any job for that matter, but you know what? why is it that other people can wear their natural hair at least (naturally straight) in a regular pony tail and I have to go out buy a relaxer to do this? Why can't I wear my hair naturally and rock a pony tail my way (naturally kinky)? Seriously though folks it was my own way of thinking that kept me from being who I am. My peers never had a problem with my hair as long I kept it neat. I look professional and my hair looks cute with all the headbands Ive been wearing and all and Ive gradually progressed going from natural curls to the locs, it shouldn't have been surprising. No one said anything negative or if they were thinking it they sure did not even gave a hint of animosity about it. I mean who's going to have a staff meeting about someones natural hair? but getting to the point I think that most other black people have a problem with the whole natural hair thing and if I were amongst many more black people in my work place I might have been sent straight home with a relaxer kit in hand and told not to come back till I was good and proper. If I were working for my mother (she has her own business) my hair would not be appropriate and I would have to wear wigs everyday to work. I just think we all have to push on and not be afraid to answer people's questions and have good but constructive comebacks to comments when dealing with the hair issue and for Pete's sake lets keep the hair neat and presentable if possible. The other day I had a friend ask me if I washed my hair and I told him "of course" he said that he met another person who had dreads but it was a hot ass mess and their head stunk something awful, and this was coming from a white friend mind you. This "dread head" already gave my friend a bad perception of what having locs were all about and that all dreadies were probably the same. I set this man correct, I even let him smell my hair. Lol we probably looked like a pair of chimps having a go at it but hey anything to set the record straight right? People are going to be curious and ask. No one should really get offended when people just want answers to what could come across as ignorant questi0ns. Otherwise my foot would have definitely come off in someones ass if they were getting fresh with me for real though.




On another note if I were most major companies Sheen Carson (dark& lovely) or whom ever are in the business of selling relaxer and chemicals to make the nappy heads look "appropriate" in any setting I would try to send out the message that going nappy headed is very unprofessional. I would try my darn hardest to get the newbie naturals to come back to the crack or at least use my products for their new found endeavor.

People who are now choosing to explore their natural side should have the right to do so, but at the same time we should allow people the right to keep the relaxer if they want to as well. Why become a Jehovah's witness to going natural and try to shout out the good word then stomp on people for staying on the creamy crack? Dang! some people just look good with a perm. Hey dying ones hair is a chemical job too why don't we stomp on them as well?...... I just can not condone the judging of people for not wanting to switch. It's like trying to get someone who's been smoking cigarettes non stop for 20 years to quit cold turkey. It's not impossible but sure the heck hard. I think that if more people choose to go natural let your hair speak for it's self if people like what they see and ask you for info then freely give it. Don't chase em off with the non creamy crack propaganda. More and more people are choosing to explore themselves and others are following because that's what they were born to do right? I think some people are a little to militant with the hair thing. I am just glad the internet was here and that people were kind enough to share info on their hair. It took me a good 5 years to finally go natural then 3 more years to lock. Without the plethora of info on here I would probably still be hauling ass to the salon every two weeks. (I just don't have the money for all that) and even though some people still do and they be looking good too kudos to you for it but I still and will always be a DIY. Anyway just wanted to drop my little two cents for today wishing all my fellow lockers and those considering peace and blessings.

One Love

NAt