The SisterLocks Situation: On your Own!

As everyone knows, I was disgusted with the lack of business etiquette of my original certified Sisterlocks consultant.  I asked for small Sisterlocks all over, and it turns out she gave me mostly large and "too large" Sisterlocks.  I was laid off from my corporate hairdressing position within two weeks of wearing the Sisterlocks to the workplace.  I also saw where my Sisterlocks were hindering my sole source of income which is being a hair professional.  I spent money and time to fly to Boston, MA to become a registered trainee of Sisterlocks within three weeks of my Sisterlocks locking session because of the "less than perfect" experience that I had.  So with all of that said, I asked my original, certified Sisterlocks consultatnt for a partial refund to get my locks corrected, and she is completely ignoring my complaint that I sent via Federal Express to her.

I asked the Sisterlocks headquarter for help with my situation, and the Sisterlocks training Supervisor's response was that my certified Sisterlocks Consultant is an independent contractor and not directly an employee of the company.  I was welcomed to take the Consultant to court to get my damages from her.

 I could not believe how useless, non-sympathetic, unprofessional, and outright "waste of time" this Sisterlocks representative was.  She solved nothing.  She did not seem to have a professional protocol to follow.

The Sisterlocks company is celebrating 20 years of existence; yet, the founder still maintains her Associate Professor position with San Diego State University.  I am sure that she loves her position with the college, and it's a good thing because with the lack of professional accountability that the Sisterlocks headquarters is showing with my situation, I do not foresee the company exploding with growth any time soon.  I informed the Sisterlocks Training Supervisor that I would take my story public if they could not assist me in getting my fair, partial refund back from my original Certified Sisterlocks Consultant from their online list.  So this article is just the start of my bringing public awareness to my firsthand Sisterlocks challenges.

The picture that I included with this article is that of the distinguished Sisterlocks hand tool and a partial picture of the Sisterlocks Parting Sizes card.  Because Sisterlocks headquarters does not seem to be supportive to those feeling victimized by their recommended consultants, I suggest that people be open to hair services from locticians that possess this tool and parting card,  9 times out of 10, the person would have completed Sisterlocks training at some point in time.  As long as they have had Sisterlocks training, then they have been taught to offer Sisterlocks even if they are no longer active with the Sisterlocks headquarters.  If they are not active with Sisterlocks, then you probably will not get an official "Sisterlocks starter kit" nor "Sisterlocks Birth Certificate."  You may not become eligible to take the official Sisterlocks "self-retightening" class as well.  However, you may get a good price and a great job!

Considering Sisterlocks headquarters does not want to take responsibility for its independent contractors, I would say people should go by personal referrals like co-workers, relatives, or anyone that you see on a regular basis that will be able assist in holding the Sisterlocks person accountable.  Otherwise, referrals from strangers whose hair texture may not be similar to yours may not be a good fit for your own hair texture.  Every hair technician may have certain hair types that they work better with.

I encountered several flags prior to my official Sisterlocks locking session, but I ignored those flags only because I assumed that the Sisterlocks headquarters were actually governing the certified Sisterlocks consultants on their certified list, but now, I know that this is not the case.

In my experience, even if the person is considered Sisterlocks Certified, that does not mean that they are professional and will do a good job on your hair.  It does not mean that they have integrity and concern for your satisfaction.  Some certified Sisterlocks consultants are strictly about "making money" off the ignorance of potential clients who hold their Sisterlocks certification in high esteem.

I really, really encourage people to speak up and write Sisterlocks headquarters if their certified Sisterlocks consultant did not meet their expectations.  Headquarters may not do anything more than tell you the same thing that they told me - "you can sue her, but we do not have anything to do with that."

Also, regarding speed of the consultants, I just met another lady with beautiful Sisterlocks.  She said that she has 700 Sisterlocks, and her consultant retightens her locks within 2.5 hours.  However, her mom who has less Sisterlocks, lives in a different city, spends four hours getting her tightenings completed with her local Sisterlocks technician.  So everyone's retightening speed is different.  Everyone's pricing and professionalism is different.  Whether the Sisterlocks consultant is on the list of not, I strongly encourage people to trust their instinct.  Do not fall prey to the Sisterlocks recommended list as if it was golden. I would only use the Sisterlocks list as confirmation that they are active with Sisterlocks, but it does not guarantee their work, and neither does Sisterlocks guarantee your happiness.