Hi There

Summer has come and gone, fall is starting to feel like winter, and I am finally about to post.  Sorry for the delay.  There have been many days that I wanted to post, but just couldn't fit it into the schedule.  Did I tell you guys that I'll be participating in the Washington, DC Avon Walk for Breast Cancer?  Fundraising for that has taken over my life.  Oh, and I'm moving.  More on that later, hopefully.

Anyway just play a bit of catch up on my hair situation:
1.  I did not try to get my scalp under control.
2.  I stuck to the no retwist until about September 5.  My husband wanted me to go to a wedding with him and I thought it would be nice not to look crazy.  Unfortunately, I was so busy admiring the hair on one of the members of the bridal party that I forgot to take a picture of my own.

Her stylist took loc petals to a whole new level.  Her hair is about waist length I think she said and it took about 4 hours.  Not sure if that was including the first style the stylist tried that she didn't like.

Here's what my hair looked like when I retwisted it myself last week:

October 2013

October 2013

It's been been about three years since I cut all my hair off.  That's so crazy.  

September 2010 - the BIG chop

January 2011 - Finally decided to loc

New Year's Eve 2011

October 2012

Today

Now, I'm really wishing I asked homegirl how long it took to get waist length.  Not sure I could manage that much hair anyway.

So, there's how things are going with my hair.  Hope all is well with you and yours.  Many thanks to NaturaLocs for letting me know that someone actually reads my blog.  Thanks for motivating me.

It's Been a Long Time

The end of the year is so crazy.  I've been trying to take pictures to post, but haven't found the time to actually publish them.  Today is my first day of vacation and so here is a look at what I've been up to:

End of October :

I went to New York and tried the work of Shannan at Pat's Extreme Hair Design.  I was pleased with my after...

...until I started to see the gel flaking by day two.  I will not be returning.  The service was good, but I'm over the raggedy shop look.  They need to do better.

Then in November I tried some some curls in my dry hair using Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion that I bought for $1 or $2 dollars.  After a few days, they fell and I had to get creative

I tried some curls again without the lotion, but didn't really care for the end product:

In the beginning of December I decided to try a braidout:

Almost done...

Yesterday, I finally broke out the cinnamon bar shampoo I mentioned a few months ago.  Love, Jasmine's site is down it seems, but the Facebook page is active.  There was no scent to this bar, but it may all be gone since it's been a year since my first post about it - 12 is a few.  I ended up doing three shampoos, but I put it coconut oil a few days before and Jamaican Black Castor Oil that morning in hopes of retaining some moisture.  It seemed to work.

December 2012

December 2011

 What a difference a year makes?  And it's exactly a year based on the original review post, but who knows how long it took for me to actually publish it.

I followed the wash with a quick shealoe I made with 3 tbs shea butter, 2 tbs coconut butter, 2 tbs aloe vera gel, and a few each drops of lavender and rosemary essential oils.  It wasn't really quick to make, but it was short notice.   I didn't even wait for it to great creamy.  I did my hair while it was runny and finished whipping it when I was done.  I had a plane to catch.

Now we are up to date.  How have you been?

Just a Pic - February 14, 2012

Bored at work

Guess I should get back to work

1 Year Lociversary

So, I managed to suppress the urge to cur my hair all off again this week and made it to the one year mark with my locs.

One Year Lociversary

The most frustrating thing this past year was getting ready for my wedding.  My original plan was to cut my hair in five years (sometime in 2015) or after I got married. I'm not the most patient person and cut my hair well before either of these marks.  When I got engaged, I was immediately nervous.  What was I going to do?  I didn't want to be bald in my wedding pictures.  I figured I would grow my hair out and start locking after the wedding.  Once again my lack of patience broke me and I started locking a mere 5.5 months before the wedding.

The starting line

I went on a frantic search for pictures of people at there five month mark to have an idea of how long my hair might be.  That didn't help.

I looked up locticians in the Fort Lauderdale, FL are and found Natural Trendsetters.  My wedding coordinator also had a loctician in mind.  On a trip down the month before the wedding, I was scheduled to see the coordinator's recommendation.  The first warning sign was that she was in the flea market.  Once at the flea market, my fiance and I made several calls to her with no answer.  We wandered the market until we found her.  After looking at me, she said that I should comb out my hair and up in a weave. What?! What the hell was the point in going locking if I was just going to comb it out after a few months.  That's a lot of money I would be throwing away. What kind of stylist gives that type of consultation?

Upon walking out of the market, I called Natural Trendsetters.  When I got there, I spoke with Simone Hylton, one of the owners.  She was really positive.  She was currently working on a client, but let me know that she thought that a cute bun that would be possible by linking the locs and adding hair at the top for the bun.  Awesome!  Unfortunately, there were so many other things on the agenda for the day, I wasn't able to come back at a time when she was free.

I did make an appointment with another one of the stylists though.  When I explained that I was looking for a style for my wedding, she flat out said that I wasn't going to  be able to get a cute style. Huh?  Great... I let her wash and retwist my hair, but knew that was the end of the journey.

I ended up doing my own hair for the wedding.   Yay to cash savings.

5.5 months

From that experience, I learned that I need to tell people what I want.  I can't pay for a service that isn't what I want.

P.S. I'm wearing makeup in the one year picture.

Time To Buy Pins

11 months

Headed out to game night. Decided to do something different.  So excited it actually looks decent.  Looks like it may be time to buy some pins.

Lauren F. Stylist Review

Website: www.urbannaturestyles.com
About: A New Yorker transplanted to the DC area.

Why I went: Lauren had several very good reviews on the website.  And she has locs - plus!

Location:  She works at the DC and Silver Spring Locations

Making the Appointment: Online, so that was easy

My Experience With the Stylist: Lauren arrived several minutes late for my appointment, but her personality won me over.  I felt like I was talking with a friend.  

The Process: Lauren paid attention to me and my hair.  She noticed my scalp issues and gave me a treatment to help combat them.  She inquired of how I usually wear my hair.  Since I can go with the flow, I let her do what she was in the mood for. When the appointment was over, she gave me her number in case I needed to ask questions or needed to get in contact when running late.
 
Overall Take:  It was truly a  pleasure to have Lauren take care of my hair.  I didn't feel like she was doing me a favor by taking my money.  I walked away feeling more confident and like I had a new ally on my hair journey.

Would I go back? Yep

Would I request the same stylist? Yep

Would I recommend them to others? Hmm, yes!

I forgot to take a before picture, but here's the after:

Side view

10.5 months

Loc Butter Take 2

So the first run at making the loc butter didn't go so well.  I decided to make some tweeks to the recipe:

2 tbsp shea butter
1 tbsp mango butter
1/2 tbsp coconut oil

I melted those in the double boiler on medium.  Then I added:

1 tsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp avocado oil

I poured the mixture into a glass bowl and mixed it on low for a few minutes before adding:

5 drops lavender
10 drops of tea tree oil

I alternated between mixing and freezing the mixture until it whipped up like a thick lotion.  On the last run in the freezer, it ended up solid so I think I should have quite while I was ahead. I whipped it one more time before putting it into the old shea butter container.

Tomorrow, I'll do my hair and see how it works out.

Follow up: I left the ACV rinse in my hair for 3 hours then rinsed it out with warm water. After washing with a shampoo concentrate, I retwisted my hair. I was being lazy so some of it dried before I got to it. I palm rolled the locs this time. Then I sat under the dryer for an hour.  I'm pretty sure I was under there for too long, but I wanted to make sure that it was fully dry.  I didn't get the same shine I got from the shealoe recipe, but I'll try tweeking the recipe later.

Loc Butter Take 1

The shealoe was okay, but I think I'll pass on further use until I find or come up with a different recipe.  I found a loc butter recipe and I'm trying it out today.  Using my newly purchased double boiler, I melted:

2 tbsp shea butter
2 tbsp mango butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp liquid lanolin
1 tsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp avocado oil
10 drops ylang-ylang oil
10 drops lavender essential oil (my personal touch)

I poured the mix into a cleaned out hair grease jar and let it cool.  It did not solidify so this "butter" is more of an oil.

This is a 4 oz jar.  It was filled, but I poured some out into two other jars.

I washed my hair this morning and rubbed a mixture of  liquid lanolin, avocado oil, and tea tree oil onto my scalp. To add some moisture back, I applied aloe vera gel to my hair section by section before starting in on the "butter."  I put the "butter" to my finger tips and retwisted my roots.  After clipping them down, I finger (instead of palm) rolled the rest of the loc.

The plan is to spread this batch over three uses before tweeking it:
1. Use aloe vera gel to "wet" hair
2. Retwist right after washing
3. Retwist dry

Initial reaction:  Not sure that my hair is at the point where finger rolling works.  At least not when done dry with an oil.  The roots look good, but the rest of the loc is a bit puffy and dull looking.  My scalp does feel good.  If all else fails, this may be the moisturizing product I've been looking for. Based on how this came out, there is no need to do #3.

5 days in: My scalp is not happy.  It looks moisturized, but it is flaking.  Actually peeling is more like it.  I've been adding avocado oil, but it doesn't seem to be making it through.  I think the lanolin was a bad move.

Verdict: Take 1 was a fail.

Tweeks to come:  More shea butter, some tea tree oil, no lanolin

Urban Nature Silver Spring Review

Website: http://www.urbannaturestyles.com
About: Natural hair care salon with three locations in the DC metro area.

Why I went: Doing my hair myself is a lot of work.  I like the freedom it gives me, but there somethings that I need someone else to help with.  Since I started maintaining my hair, I noticed that the sizing of my locs was uneven.  There were some that were way too small and one at the front that was too big. I could go back to JR, who started them, but I wanted someone who was using natural products.  Why put all the effort in on my own to have it reversed by someone I was paying? And I didn't want to have to bring my products with me especially since I haven't figured out what mixtures I like best.

I started doing searches for salons that had stylists who did locs.  I eliminated places which did not show a product listing.  Then I read through the products listed for the remaining salons.  There was only one left standing: Urban Nature Styles. They listed the buttes used for maintenance.  In addition to that, I was able to make appointments online.  I was sold.

Location Selected: Silver Spring, MD

Making the Appointment: After selecting the location, I was able to read reviews left by other customers for each of the stylist.  I read through them and picked the stylist who had a review on loc service with a time that worked for me.  After I submitted my request, I waited for confirmation.  Confirmation was sent via email and text message after a few days.

My Experience With the Venue: I arrived for my appointment a few minutes early.  I was greeted by Angela.  While I waited for my stylist to arrive I was able to look at the products which would be used in my hair.  I smelled the butters available and selected the one to be used in my hair - TAMU, mango scented.  I started reading one of the books they had on natural hair while I waited.  There was only one seat up front so that led me to believe that they don't overbook and I wouldn't have to wait a long time.  The reception area isn't as professional looking (no desk, just a card table and two bookshelves one of which housed the credit card machine), but it serves its purpose.  And since there didn't seem to be a receptionist, no real point in doing too much.

Before

Before

My Experience With the Stylist: Kim started on time.  I first wanted a consultation.  I wanted a chance to go over my needs and get a feel for her.  She listened to my concerns about the sizing and asked me to point out the locs in question.  She then walked me to the back where she washed my hair.  That was followed by a herbal rinse.

Once back in the chair, Kim started to comb out the over sized loc up front.  She commented that it reminded her of when she combed out her locs.  That provided the opening I needed to find out about her loc experience.  Turns out she only had them for 8 months.  She didn't like being limited. Hmm.

The Process: Kim used the comb to twist the unlocked roots.  The rest was palm rolled.  In addition to the butter, a gel was added.  I failed to ask what it was, but based on feel, the lack of description on the jar, and the feel of my hair afterwards, I think it was aloe vera gel.  Drying took place under a hooded dryer.

After

After

Time to Pay: When it was time to pay, I expected about a $65 total.  If you book a consultation, you receive a $15 credit on any service greater than $65.  I assumed that would net out and just leave you with the price of the service.  My actual total before tip and the $1 charge for a credit card transaction was $75.  When I asked about it, she let me know that she didn't charge for the consultation, but since my locs had to be clipped all the way down, she charged by for beginner locs.  Really wish there was a description of what the differences in services were on the website.

Overall Take: The venue was nice.  The staff was professional, but not friendly.  Aside from Angela and Kim, no one said hello although I said so to each of them.  Kim was good, but not great.  I'm not really pleased by the fact that she didn't have the patience to keep her locs for longer.  How is she going to be able to help me when I get frustrated?  Also, there were two locs I asked her to join that now look less than perfect.  She didn't comb them out to combine them. Instead, the unlocked portion is twisted together and the two separate locs have been palm rolled as one.  The effect is a puffy loc.  I liked the process though.  I felt that she cared about my hair and the things that should be put in it.

Would I go back? Yes

Would I request the same stylist? Maybe.  I'd like to have Angela do my hair.  She was more personable, but she has an afro.  I may need to send an email to inquire of her personal loc experience.  If that doesn't work out, I may have to try a different location.

Would I recommend them to others? Definitely

Tracking

Starting Line - mid-January 2011

I need to start tracking my progress. That was part of my issue when I started on this journey.  My wedding was months away and I had no idea what to expect.  Unfortunately, I hardly ever remember to take pics.  Hoping to get better.

6 months

5.5 months

Finallly Starting

I  first wanted to loc my hair in 2004, but after finding out how much it was going to cost to actually start I promptly put a relaxer  back in.

Eventually I stopped relaxing my hair (2010) in hopes that I would, I don't know... I guess I really just wanted a change.

Relaxer free for six or so months as of September 2011.

And change I did.  I did the "Big Chop" in September 2010.

Big Chop - September 2011

 That was fun for a while, but when it got about an two inches long, I was just frustrated.  I didn't care for my mini-fro and couldn't think of how to manage it.  So, I decided to start locking. 

First set of twists - January 2011

June 2011 - Water still makes them fat.

So I used that to my advantage and turned it into a twisted 'fro.

Time to re-contain them - July 2011

The hard part about locking though was no one was able to help me.  Yeah, I have a guy who does it for me, but that gets to be expensive.  And besides, I like being able to do my own hair.  When I did searches for advice online, I couldn't find any thing that really spoke to me.  So I decided I would speak to the world.  Follow me as I chart my journey - I'm about 8.5 months in.