DIY and Favorite Products

"I'm doing it, I'm doing it, I'm doing it by myself"! That is my new tune to let you know I'm a DIY Sisterlocker. Basically, I've been doing my own hair for the past few months because I'm tight on money, but it is so rewarding!! It takes me a few hours over the course of about 4 days to finish. I took the retightening class last year but never did my own hair consistently. I have been moving around a lot and it is so hard to find a new consultant in every town I might move to. So now I'm the consultant and I work at low cost (free), the atmosphere is nice and relaxing ( I play movies while doing my hair), the retightening are never too tight (why would I want to give myself a headache?) and I am nearby (hehehe...get it?). It feels great to know that I'm in control of my hair! I've been going to salons all my life. Making regular hair appointments, trying to schedule my life around when my hair will look its best, these are all things of the past. If I have something important coming up and my hair needs to be done, I can just retighten the front and keep it moving. FREEDOM!!!!

Ok, so I'm have been having problems with itchy scalp. I tried tea tree oil but it was drying. I have been using coconut oil which is fine because it smells great and keeps my hair soft. I don't know if it is really helping my itchiness that much. I really want to try the Video Locktician's Ooh Oil when I have the finances. If you all have any itchy scalp remedies let me know.

Anyway, so let me tell you what has been working. I have found two amazing shampoos that I have to share! I am in love with the Carol's Daughter Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo. It really cleans my hair, I'm talking squeaky clean! And it smells heavenly and tingles my scalp when I'm washing. Love, love love this shampoo. I dilute it with water and put it in a spray bottle, because it comes really thick, but this stuff is amazing!

My other favorite shampoo is the Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo. Awww what can I say?!? The smell makes me feel relaxed and the shampoo keeps my hair from being dry and brittle. After months of trial and error, I have found to clear shampoo winners! I'm so excited!

Going Through Changes

I am going through changes and so is my hair. My locks are becoming more condensed and less frizzy. I had a trim about two months ago and now there is not a single bit of perm left. I normally don't style my hair in the morning, I just spritz it with diluted Sisterlock Moisture Treatment and go. Some of my lock ends have sealed, however some are starting to unravel. I wonder if this is due to my recent trim? Anyway, I love my hair because when I go to auditions I feel that I stand out because no one has hair like me!

I went to the Sisterlock Explosion in Atlanta, GA and have great time. I have never seen so many beautiful sisterlocks in one room. It really inspired me to keep on keeping on with my hair journey. I bought lots of gifts for my family and friends, and I even signed up for the Sisterlock Photo Shoot. This picture is one from the shoot in December. I will post a more recent photo soon.

I have moved to New York and cannot afford the consultant prices here, so this month I will attempt to retighten my own hair again! We will see how it goes. Positive thoughts people!

So my hair is changing, and I have changed cities. Stay tuned I'm sure there is more to come!

Turkey Day

(Top Picture- 2009) (Bottom Picture- 2010)

So I was excited about seeing my family for the holidays and eating some good food! They have not seen my sisterlocks since I cut the permed ends off. Last year no one even knew I was starting sisterlocks. I am used to seeing my hair but I forgot that others are not. Everyone is so curious, and there was lots of hair touching and questions during the festivities. So here are my...

Top 5 Hair Comments of Thanksgiving 2010.

1. What did you do to your head?

2. Wow, your hair sure is nappy!

3. Is that your real hair?

4. How long will those stay in?

5. Does your husband like that?

I love my family and my hair! Happy Holidays!!

Finally All Natural!

Yeah I did it! I finally cut off all of my permed ends!!! I was inspired by Dominica, because she cut off her ends and her hair was so cute. I was getting so frustrated with the permed ends because they would not hold a curl, and just looked damaged. I am happy that I kept the permed ends for so long because it allowed me time to ease into the natural world at my own pace. But it was time for a change. For the first time today I free styled my all natural hair. No curlers, no nothing just me. Can you tell I am excited? Here are pics of the process. Enjoy!

With my freshly cut and retightened hair

Loc Anniversary- A Year in Review

Yeah! I cannot believe it has already been one year! It feels like yesterday when my locks were installed. This has been a very hard year for me personally but I would not change a thing about my locks. No matter what I have been going though my hair looks good. My locks are stress-free and uniquely me! (That rhymes...I was a rapper in my past life) Anyway, so I thought I would give a year in review of things I have learned so far in my journey. Enjoy!

1. Less is better.

I don't need a lot of products to make my hair beautiful. Just some water mixed with a little Sisterlock moisture treatment to keep my permed ends from looking dry and I'm good to go!

2. Self-retighenings are hard but rewarding.

I took the retightening class when my locks were 9 months old. I have to drive 3 hours to the nearest consultant, so doing my own hair is ideal. I have done 3 retights and so far and it takes me forever. I don't want to rush because then I hook locks together. I have mourned the loss of 2 locks so far and don't want to lose anymore from rushing. It usually takes me two days to finish my hair. And I really have stay organized with my sections and parts to make sure I don't skip any locks. However, I am always so proud of myself when I'm finished. It is great to know that I can do my own hair for the first time in my life. No salons, no appointment times, no waiting, no spending tons of money. I am self-sufficient!!

3. Natural is beautiful cause its the real me.

Having natural hair means getting used to a new aesthetic. I have not seen my natural hair since I was 9 year old. So we are finally getting reacquainted. It weird to see new growth and not stress about getting a relaxer. New growth actually makes me happy now! I used to hate that my hair was so course and thick (and nappy) but now it is a wonderful blessing. I have never been so proud to be me.

4. Natural hair vs. Permed ends (My money is on the natural)

There is a war going on in my head! I started out with 2 inches of natural hair and 7 inches of permed hair. The permed hair was winning. Now I have 5 inches of sisterlocked natural hair and 4 inches of permed hair. Amazing!

5. Have fun, style, and be creative.

So folks say that you should not style your hair too much because it slows the locking process. That might be true but I just love styling my hair. I am a performer and do a show at least every other week, and I need to look good on stage. So styling is for me. Because I have permed ends I try to keep my hair curled. Normally, I use Lock Loops. They are quick, and easy to sleep in.

10 Months Strong

I still love my Sisterlocks! I had my permed ends trimmed last week. They are so stringy now and really don't hold a curl. I am getting more and more comfortable with my natural hair. It makes me feel unique and different. For the first time in my life people are meeting the true MochaC. I hold my head higher and feel proud just to be me...nappy and all.

I met a great consultant who trimmed my permed ends and gave me some advice about keeping my hair moisturized. I really wanted to color my hair but she advised that I wait a little longer. She told me to use the Sisterlock moisture treatment diluted to spray on my locks to keep them from being dry. I am going to try that next week. I still braid and band my hair when I wash it. This really keeps my hair from bunching.

Well this hair thing is truly an adventure. People still ask me, "How long are you going to keep those tiny braids in your hair?" I just laugh and explain that they are Sisterlocks. I'm enjoying my journey.

Here is a picture my husband took today of my locks. I set them the night before on perm rods.

1 Month

I love my hair! It is so beautiful and easy to manage. I go to the gym and sweat... my hair looks great. I walk out in humidity... my hair looks great. I sleep on my hair... wake up, fluff it and it looks great. I am so happy with my decision.

Right now I am all about some head bands. I am thinking about making my own. I've been reading in other blogs that Michael's has great pieces to make head bands with. I wear my hair curled during the week. I spritz my hair at night with a mixture of tea tree oil, jasmine oil, and jojoba oil. Then I roll it with the Lock Loops. These are great because they are easy to sleep on. The curls last about 3 days and then I curl it again. So simple. I go for my first retightening this weekend. Happy locking!