Loc Free

Pre Cut: 05 August 2011

Hair Still Wet; Hair Products Still Visible

Lovin' My Curls

Half Gone! Yikes...No Turning Back

All Gone! I Need To Lift the Black Dye ASAP!



Yep, I did it! After 6.5 years, I cut off my sisterlocks! Although I'm still adjusting to the shorter length, I LOVE IT! Every day I awake to learning new things about my natural hair; what products and conditioners work well and what doesn't! I must say, that since cutting my locs, I have discovered that I have more 4A hair than I originally thought. 4B hair generally resides in my nape and front hairline; however, 4A hair is located mostly on the crown and sides of my scalp...very interesting indeed! My hair length is approximately 1 - 1.5 inches in length. Quite naturally, it's longer at the crown.

I actually have a confession, my son that you see behind me in the picture cut most of them off. I was exhausted after cutting the first section! So, thank you Brittan! I cannot tell you how good it felt to have someone rub their fingers through my scalp..he put me to sleep-lol! It's been over 6 years since I've had a comb touch my scalp! Wow, how amazing! We were both surprised at how soft and baby fine my natural hair felt.

I ended up going to a hairstylist who help me lift the black dye out of my hair and she put a bronze color on top. I could tell she didn't have much experience with natural hair as she shampoo'd with regular shampoo and proceeded to put products on my hair that just sat up there and stared back at her-lol. As soon as I got home, I cowashed with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration to add back the moisture to my hair that had been stripped by the shampoo. I immediately followed with Knot Today by Kinky Curly and the Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC). I was amazed at how my curls popped and were defined by those products! I also used a little EcoStyler Gel along the hairline for a smoother look. I did have to learn the hard way that using too much of the KCC products will definitely leave a residue upon drying...yuck!

My daily regimen thus far includes taking Nzuri hair elixir vitamins (will post more on this phenomenal product at a later date), http://www.buynzuri.com/ I cowash with either the Herbal Essence Conditioner (mentioned above), or Yes to Carrots Conditioner, or Wen Conditioner products. I haven't determined which conditioner will be my staple conditioner yet. While hair is dripping wet, I apply the Knot Today and the KCCC, with a little EcoStyler Gel along the edges. That pretty much it. I'm sure as my hair grows and as the weather gets colder this regimen will change drastically. In the meantime, I am still happy to be nappy and I finally feel totally free!

Beginning A New Journey

Starting A New Journey

It's been close to year since I've last posted. Since that time I've done a lot of soul searching about life (i.e, my career, relationships, and hair). I've finally been accepted to the nursing program at a local community college and I will be leaving my employer after nearly 11 years. It's time for me to reinvent myself. I haven't been happy, not even content at my job in the past 4 years and I've discovered that instead of waiting for them to change, perhaps it was me who needed to change. So, with that said, this fall I will be walking away from the corporate world.

Additionally, for many of you who have followed my blog, this next piece of news may be earth shattering for some of you. I am ending my Sisterlock journey! Tomorrow, Sunday, June 12, 2011 I will start to the tedious task of taking down my sisterlocks! No, I have not lost my mind, but I have a new desire. I've toyed with ending my journey over this past year. I had hoped that when I cut my locks it would curb the burning desire, but it hasn't. You see, when I started my natural hair journey over 7 years ago, I had the intention of discovering and exploring my natural hair and learning how to take care of my own hair without the dependence on another or on relaxers. I achieved half of what I set out to do. I want to experience natural free, flowing, and loose hair. I've realized that for me, locking my hair, kept me in bondage and it kept me away from rediscovering my true, free flowing hair pattern. Don't get me wrong, I do love Sisterlocks and I've enjoyed this wonderful journey, but I am ready to take off the training wheels and fly!

I do realize that the task I'm taking on is tremendous and it may take me possibly months to accomplish, but nonetheless, I will accomplish it! It is my goal to have my locks freed by my birthday in October. I hope I will be able to take at least 5 locks out a day; at least 5 days a week. I hope to be able to document this new journey as I have done with this one. Stay tuned..