Sisterlocks

I DID IT!!

I took the plunge and got my sister locks. Let me tell you I am convinced, even though they are just babies now, it was one of the best decisions I have made. Today is the 5th day and I see changes already.

Let me tell you a bit of my journey.

A year and a few months ago I decided I was going to do some sort of lock. Hadn't really researched any particular locking method but I was pretty sure I was going to the lock side. Knowing even better that I could not walk around half permed and half not for very long, I needed to something with my hair for the period of time between when I was ready to cut off my relaxed hair and then. I decided on having my hair braided (with extensions of course) for about a year. That worked well for me. It was a big shock for the people around me to see me with extensions, I had NEVER done that before. It was an even bigger shock when I took them down and just wore my natural hair in a little fro. As soon as I figure out how to get the pics from my phone onto my computer I will post them.

Then being the hair "freak" that I am, I decided to put in some "mock locks" just to get a better idea of what I would look like... They were a hit, with me and the people in my life. I wasn't cool with the nothingness that I had at the base of my locks. So, I re-twisted and clipped them in one place while they dried. That was better, but not all the way there for me. Well, I had an occasion I needed to attend for my mother's 70th birthday (not something I could or would want to blow off) and needed some sort of style. I HOT CURLED THEM, gasp and awe. They had a better presence about them but that kind of ruined them. It made them bushy too early. So I decided to condense them with a latch hook (what was she thinking, you may ask). It was pure craziness, I had gotten cocky at this point and began to think that I, the complete novice who still had not done much research could do it herself. When I latch hooked the base I got even cockier. It looked good to me, but the contrast between my neat base and bushy body and ends of my still "mock" locks was too much for me. What did you do? I am glad you asked. I latch hooked up the rest of each lock, looked in the mirror and was mortified, promptly decided to comb them out and let a professional do my locks. The comb out was painful and tedious, as you could imagine. I had a lot of breakage in the areas that were harder for me to reach, which also happen to be my brittlest areas as well. And then the research began.

I had heard of sisterlocks, but let's admit it, they are expensive. I was a little turned off, I am not a Rockefeller. I looked at other locking methods as well. To me, the versatility of sisterlocks once established won me over.

As of January 22, 2010, I am a proud member of the Sisiterlock club.

Post to come about experience and choice of consultants

starting my lock journey

So, I am making the move. I haven't had a relaxer for over a year now. For about 11 months I had micros and kinky twists to avoid relaxing and to ease my transition. I now have about 4 inches of natural hair. I must say it was a big shock for me when I took out my kinky twists (the last braid extensions I had). I was not prepared for the drastic difference and the affect it would have on the ideal I held of my appearance. After having "long" hair for almost a year and suddenly having short nappy hair was hard for me to reconcile in my head.

My motive for not relaxing my hair has always been to eventually lock my hair. I have for years loved locks and not been ready to make the change. I am now ready.

I think I have been moving toward, now that I am in my 40s, and doing all the things I have always wanted to do with my appearance/body but I have been concerned about someone else's opinion that I never have. So now I am finally doing it.

Friday, January 23 will be my lock day. I can't wait. I chose to go sisterlocks. My consultation was 4 days ago. I talked my locktitian into setting up my installation for a week later. So, there will be more to come.

New @ this blogging thing

It's the beginning of a fabulous year. I am so excited about 2010.

My motivation for recording my thoughts and some of the events of my life electronically is many faceted. I have three children. They are the loves of my life. At present they are 17, 11, and 9. The oldest two are girls and that leaves my youngest which is of course a boy. Since my oldest daughter was about two weeks old I have had an extreme awareness that I wanted her (all of them) to look back on their childhoods and see a mom who loved them no matter what and would do whatever possible for their good.

One thing I prayed at the beginning of my mothering journey, that God would give me the wisdom to raise them in a way that they would be ready and willing to fulfill the purpose He created them for at the right time.

Additionally, given how consuming parenting can be, I have been recently on a journey to discover more of what He has planned for me, and what that looks like, feels like etc. Personally I am pretty amped about who He has made me to be.

Currently daughter 1 is looking at colleges. She will be graduating next year. We are taking a trip in the spring to visit her top 4 choices (Harvard, Yale, Georgetown and Howard). She has known she was going to be a Doctor since she was 5 and a Pediatric Oncologist from about 12. Needless to say a very focus young lady.

Daughter 2 is new in middle school (6th grade) she is working hard to become the next big fashion designer. She loves to create designs that she envisions all of us in.

My son is a busy guy. He is, as I type, engrossed in taking apart an old laptop of my to see whatever he can see. That is the kind of guy he is.

All of them are really intelligent, I am honored to be their mom. I love it.

As for me, I have worked in the childcare industry for 18 years. I am also a student pursuing a Nursing degree as I work and raise my children as a single mom. God is good to me. I have all of this on my plate and I am handling it. Never thought I could do all that I do. But later for that we have to save something for later.

See ya!

S~