3 Months Later!!!

Dang!!! It has been three months and change since I last been here. Well I just wanted to post some update pics on my locs... Yes, I said locs!!!!!!!! My hair is locked, although the ends on a majority are not yet sealed.

Short, Sweet, & to the point

some recent pics

Some recent pics of my hair. I have started to feel some matting on some of the twists and my hair will not obey anymore... Its on its way!!!

SO... I clearly have not been here in a while, still trying to get in the routine of blogging. I am enjoying the journey of locdom. It has been a little over one month now since I began my journey. The first pic is within the 1st week that I began, and then each pic after is dated, so you can see the progression thereafter. don't expect too much since its only been one month. the one taken about 2 weeks after the first one, is when I tightened (twisted) the root. Even though its been only one month, my hair is growing rather quickly. I tightened my roots twice since I first started. My hair is starting to do its own thing... so I either let it be or wear my knit hats. When I shower I leave my hair uncovered so it can collect the moisture from the steam. I also did a vinegar rinse once so far. I'm excited... I am becoming more and more aware of myself in this sprocess, not jut about my hair. I have not changed my mind even some people close to me feel that I should. For that, i am proud of myself.

Lata,

Leslie

To Loc or not to Loc - how did you do it?

I've been natural for a little over four years now. I am now considering locs. I thought about them when I first did the big chop, but decided against it because 1) my parents would have had something negative to say about it. and 2) I was not ready. I felt that I could not handle the limitations that came with locs.

I was swayed by my parents because I valued their opinions, and respected them enough to not do something they did not approve of. Well, that was when I was 20. A year later, I cut down my hair because I no longer wanted to have a color that I had put in sometime the year before in my hair. This was another big chop, and again, I thought about locs. I used to do my natural hair once a week. I have never been to a natural hairstylist since I have known how to care for natural hair since I was in my early teen years. I braid, twist, and do all sorts of other styles. It is because of this versatility that I had a hard time transitioning.

This year, I discovered that my hair was breaking really bad because of a color that I put in it, coupled with stress and simple carelessness. The color I put in my hair was not necessarily the problem. I usually use one kind of rinse ( one that is gentle enough to use after a perm), but this time I wanted to try something different. I first bought the one I was used to, but didn't like how it turned out because I didn't leave it long enough so I decided to buy another one. Well, when I went to buy the second one, I chose to get a different brand. I could have sworn it was a rinse, but it turned out to be a permanent color. Then I did my twisties with a gel that has so much alcohol in it( that I used for the first time). Well, that did it, my hair stayed like that for about 3 weeks, so I didn't even know that my hair was damaged. When I finally took my hair out, I was surprised with all the hair that came out. and it was falling out after that. Not only that, I had pressed my hair once a week for about 8 months before going back to the twisties and that also weakened my hair.

I got so mad at myself. I used to preach natural hair to everyone and there I was, using chemical color products and abusing my hair with heat so often. I realized too, that I had stopped caring for my hair when it was damaged because I didn't have time to style it and care for it all the time. So, I got my wake up call. I am slowly getting back to my hair, the way it used to be. I t is still thick, thank God. So much hair has been lost, and I would have felt it if my hair was not as thick. I am wrapped up in the glory of my hair and treat it with all the love and care that I can. I use all natural products on my hair, down to the shampoo, made right in my kitchen. My hair has responded well, and has been coming back to its afro texture (it was pressed so much that it stayed straight too easily).

I love my hair and want to let the love show through my hair by having it be as natural as it can be. I now feel it is time to take that journey into loc-dom. I still have some doubts, but those doubts seem to be outweighed. Can anyone share with me their transition to locs?