Sisterlocks Anniversary: Eight years and 2 months

 

Trying to support Sistahs with Boutiques! 

(Dress ensemble from Blaque Diamond Boutique in Aiken, SC)

My Sisterlocks are at Eight years and two months old.  I am a little late posting for this anniversary.  Parts of me wondered if anyone benefits from my monthly Sisterlocks check-in's, but then I realized that I benefit from this journaling effort. 

Waist beads from RyandZoebeads

I still self maintain my Sisterlocks tightenings. I figured out about four weeks equal one full four point rotation.

I made it over the hill! (50 club)

I closed out my #round2mark3 campaign on 9/11 - a good Memorial date.

I used the Colorproof SuperRich Shampoo for my loc maintenance.  My promo code: BENITA10 will get you ten percent off of your purchase at the www.colorproof.com

AppleBaum Hair Growth Club 2020 Update

When you are ready to grow a new head of hair- "Who you gonna call?"

Benita Blocker with Applebaum Hair Growth Club is still educating and providing phenomenal hair care services.

I softly introduced my premium consultations last year (2019). I also had to take a hiatus to heal from a lot of trauma that I had not dealt with in decades. I also had to comply with government shutdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Well, all of this stress from the economy being shutdown, is definitely going to create some hair loss challenges by the Holidays. As a single woman, I am definitely about "my bag," but I am dedicated to restoring your hair and confidence for the right price.

Now, your consultation includes several Herbalife supplements including probiotics, Vitamin C support and more. No shakes are included; so no worries about dairy concerns.

Your consultation also includes at least two Colorproof haircare products.

Hollywood Hairstylist: Benita Blocker

Virtual or In person, I have over 15 years in hair care, loc care, and product knowledge. I believe in diversity. All lives matter. 

You can purchase the initial consultation at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ApplebaumStudio  Look for Hair Growth Club Consultation.

Or if you are not ready to purchase online, please feel free to contact me by FREE registration at my Herbalife website so that I can make sure your shipping information is accurate. www.getset.goherbalife.com

Then on my follow-up with you, we will discuss the consultation fee and payment options unrelated to Herbalife. (Herbalife requires documentation to who is using their products). Your registration saves me extra paperwork. 

Thank you in advance.  You will also get other supplements shipped from various brands according to individual needs.

At your service soon . . . ~Benita

Benita's Favorite Products of 2018

First of all, anything on my 2017 List from November of last year that I still love may NOT be repeated on this list.  So let's get started!

Favorite Tea Tree Shampoo
Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Shampoo (It does have sulfates so it may not be friendly to colortreated hair.)

Favorite Smoothing System Maintenance Shampoo
Design Essentials STS Express Smoothing System Cleansing Sulfate Free Shampoo

Favorite Blow-Dry Priming Spray
Design Essentials Agave and Lavender Silk Press Moisturizing Blow-dry and Style Primer (Pictured above)

Favorite Multi-purpose Foam
Congo Perfecta Wrap-Set-Twist Foam (Pictured above)

Favorite Natural Hair Initial Hydration Spray for (L.O.C. Method)
The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Sweet Oil and Honey Endless Moisture Restorative Spray (pictured above)

Favorite Natural Hair Cream for (L. O. C. Method)
The Mane Choice Tropical Morings Sweet Oil and Honey Endless Moisture Sealing Cream (no extra oil necessary - step 2 and 3 in one - pictured above)

Favorite Loc Setting Lotion
Jamaican Mango and Lime Lock and Set Styling Lotion (pictured above)

Favorite White/Gray Toning Conditioner
AG Hair Cosmetics Colour Care Sterling Silver Conditioner (blue color complements Schwarzkopf's Color Save Silver (violet) Shampoo to give hints of purple and blue mix)

Favorite Blow Dry Creme
Colorproof HeatProof Anti-frizz Blow Dry Creme (pictured above)

Favorite Color Sealing  (low pH) Conditioner
Abba Color Protection Conditioner (pH 2.5 to 3)

Favorite Lightweight Hair and Scalp Dressing
Dudley's Hair and Scalp Conditioner Plus Vitamins A, D and E

Favorite Lightweight Hair and Scalp Glossifier
KeraCare Dry and Itchy Scalp Glossifier

Favorite Natural Hair "Sponge" Cream
The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Sweet Oil and Honey Endless Moisture Sealing Cream

Favorite Natural Hair Sponge
Diane by Fromm


Many products from my previous lists of 2017, 2016 and 2015 are still my favorites.  So if you are going Christmas shopping or Black Friday shopping - print out this list as well as my 2015, 2016 and 2017 favorites list.

Happy Holidays!!!!!

Blow-dry tip: L. O. C. It!!!!

Blow dry service by Benita Blocker

So you have heard of the  L.O.C. Method for loose natural hair before?  Liquid, Oil, Cream is the hydration order for shingling "wash and go" hair.  In recent months, I started applying the same theory for blow-drying hair in order to lock in moisture.  The key is to use products designed for blow drying hair.

Natural hair Blow dry and electric curling iron service by Benita Blocker

Products like (liquid) KMS Blow-dry spray, (oil) Paul Mitchell Treatment oil, and (cream) Colorproof Blow dry Cream are geared toward blow-dry services and are lightweight.  Coarser hair can substitute for heavier oils as well as "milk leave-in sprays" for the "liquid" component of the L.O.C. method.

Natural hair blow-dry and electric curling iron service by Benita Blocker.

It's 2018.  Continue to L.O.C. IT!!!!

Benita's Favorite Products of 2017

First of all, anything on my 2016 List from November of last year that I still love will NOT be repeated on this list.  So let's get started!

Favorite Sulfate Free Tea Tree Shampoo
Straight Request Black Carbon 500 Sulfate Free Tea Tree Shampoo (Pictured above)

Favorite Temporary Hair Softening System
Syntonics Thermasoft (TM) Shampoo and Leave-in Protector (Pictured above)

Favorite "Edge Control" Foam
Influance It's Natural Honey Styling Foam (Pictured above)

Favorite Natural Hair Initial Hydration Spray for (L.O.C. Method)
Design Essentials Natural Coconut & Monoi Coconut Milk Leave-in Nourisher

Favorite Natural Hair Cream for (L.O. C. Method)
Design Essentials Natural Coconut & Monoi Deep Moisture Milk Souffle (make sure product is fresh, cautious of batch codes)

Favorite Moisturizing Conditioner
Straight Request Power K-60 Instant Conditioner ( Pictured Above)

Favorite Loc Setting Lotion
Design Essentials Natural Almond and Avocado Twist and Set Setting Lotion

Favorite Smoothing Conditioner
Joico Smooth Cure Conditioner (can be cocktailed or layered with a moisturizing conditioner)

Favorite Color Alert Neutralizing Shampoo
Nairobi Normalizing Shampoo

Favorite Brown Colored Shampoo
GemLites Fashion Color Care  Colorwash Color: Brown Diamond Sunbrown

Favorite Red Colored Shampoo
Celeb Luxury Fashion Color Care VIRAL EXTREME Red Colorwash

Favorite White/Gray Toning Conditioner
AG Hair Cosmetics Colour Care Sterling Silver Conditioner (purple/blue color)

Favorite Blow Dry Creme
Colorproof HeatProof Anti-frizz Blow Dry Creme

Favorite Soothing Neutralizing Shampoo
Syntonics Botanical Neutralizing Shampoo

Favorite Relaxer for Resistant Virgin Hair (one time use to get it straight)
Syntonics Botanical Conditioning Creme Relaxer (MILD not normal) using the virgin relaxer procedure.

Favorite Natural Hair "Wash and Go" Custard/Gel
Design Essentials Natural Honey Curl Forming Custard (Light/Clear/Yellowish color for best performance - sometimes product darkens and performance is questionable)

Favorite Lightweight Smoothing Serum
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Treatment Oil



Many products from my previous lists of 2016 and 2015 are still my favorites.  So if you are going Christmas shopping or Black Friday shopping - print out this list as well as my 2015 and 2016 favorites list.

Happy Holidays!!!!!

Benita's Favorite Products of 2016

First of all, anything on my 2015 List from November of last year that I still love will NOT be repeated on this list.  So let's get started!

Favorite Detangling Shampoo
ColorProof SuperRich Moisture Shampoo

Favorite Light Brown Semi-permanent Haircolor
Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution color name: 6N Toasted Hazelnut

Favorite Weightless Shine Spray
Chi Shine Infusion

Favorite Hairspray for Thermal Straightening
Joico JoiMist Firm Hairspray

Favorite Roller set Foam
Congo Perfecta Wrap-Set-Twist Foam Lotion

Favorite Moisturizing Conditioner
Rucker Roots Moisturizing Conditioner

Favorite Loc Setting Lotion
Design Essentials Twist and Set Setting Lotion

Favorite Leave-in Repair Spray
Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Dramatic Repair (use on wet hair)

Favorite Color Alert Neutralizing Shampoo
Elasta QP Stop Action Neutralizing Shampoo

Favorite Liquid Chalk Temporary Color
L'Oreal Technique Liquid Chalk colors: Pink Pop and Better Off Red

Favorite Synthetic Hair Moisturizer
Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Styling Butter

Favorite Loc Repair Aid
Invisible thread color: Smoke

Favorite Wet Gray Cover-up Temporary Solution

Roux Fanci-full Color Styling Mousse colors: 23 Frivilous Fawn and 12 Black Rage mixed together.

Favorite Moisturizing Semi-permanent Haircolor
Nairobi TruColors

Favorite Setting Lotion Concentrate
Design Essentials Masterpiece


Many products from my previous lists are still my favorites.  So if you are going Christmas shopping or Black Friday shopping - print out this list as well as the previous versions of my favorites list.

Happy Holidays!!!!!

Wet Length Check-in: Two Years and 5.5 months

Every loc I own and groom based on its own identity. Self tightening is on-going, but I know that my locs will support each other without worry.  I am not focused on well manicured locs.

I am not focused on consistent form.  Our natural hair does not have a consistent surface if we examine a strand of hair.  I say all of this to say that when it comes to loc maintanence, each to his own.  I am going to do me, and let others do them.  I am now two years and five and half months Sisterlocked.  I have been maintaining my locs for most of the time that I have had locs, and I could not be happier.  Hand interlocking works for me.

People love to see the locs gaining length, and so do I!  These wet check-in's are great!!!!

I am looking forward to my five year anniversary.  It will be twice this length. The shrinkage when it is dry will not make a difference anymore. The shrinkage does not bother me, but most people love seeing the length.

My back length is shoulder length or a little below. Black collars and Black turtlenecks are my best friends because they give the illusion of a solid bob.

I used the Colorproof Volume shampoo to deep clean because it felt soiled.  It cleansed fine.  I tell everyone about my wet set final styling in a future article soon.

Introduction: ColorProof Evolved Color Care line

Well, the rumor is that the original developers of the Pureology line (one of my favorites) has launched another product line called "ColorProof."  I finally got to try the SuperRich Moisture component of the line.  The Moisture Shampoo sudsed up nicely to be sulfate free.  The Moisture conditioner also delivers a scalp tingling sensation similar to the Pureology Hydrate conditioner.

As I run out of my Pureology supply, I will probably convert to this new evolved color care line.  I was impressed with the concentration of the product.  A little goes a long way.  I also had one client complain that the Pureology Hydrate shampoo smells like a "patchouli" plant which reminded her of her grandmother.  Apparently, that was not a good memory.  Smile.  Anyway, the Colorproof SuperRich Moisture shampoo smells like "cinnamon."  Hopefully, by the fall, I will gradually phase into Colorproof product line.