Heavy Weight versus Lightweight Hair Accessories

One of these hair accessories weighs THREE times the other.  Can you guess which one?

Clip #1 by dcnl is very decorative and classy! (French Couture)

Clip #1 curves with the head.

Clip #1 weighs in at 3/4 ounces.  Almost a full ounce.  That's heavier than a letter in an envelope.

Clip #2 is the expandable ponytailer.  We have discussed this accessory a few times in past blog articles.

Clip #2 weighs in at 1/4 ounces.  It is barely there.

I discontinued use of Clip #1.  It is the weight of a bundle of hair extensions in one spot.  It is cute but overkill.  I do not think anyone needs that much weight in any one spot in one's head.

So Clip #1 weighs three times that of Clip #2.  Did you guess right?

Low Maintanence Partial Loc Updo

December 2015

I am a little past due for a shampoo, but I believe the flash from the camera may have caused a "dusty" look!  I used the expandable ponytailer to assist with my bun.  I have discussed this hair accessory on this blog before.  http://phenomenalhair.blogspot.com/2011/11/tool-review-expandable-ponytailer.html

My Sisterlocks are 3 years and 4.5 months old.

No curls needed for this updo!   Yay!!

The Benefits of Well Manicured Locs

Photo credit:  www.kroeshaar.com (Dutch website)

There are two main benefits of manicured locs:  

1) added strength  

and 

2) wider acceptance.

Added Strength

Have you ever had a cashier fill your thin bag with too many items that the bag handles start to stretch and possibly break by the time you get to the car?

Most of the time, you feel it is too much trouble to go back in and get them to double bag for you; therefore you discover if you tie the bag handles together if seems to add enough strength to hold the bags together without breaking.

There is strength in numbers when things are interwined together.  The same thing applies to locs.  If you roots are too loose, then too much manipulation is stressful to individual hairs.  Twisting or Interlocking are both ways to manicure the locs and deliver the added strength.

Wider Acceptance
Manicured locs like a manicured lawn always reflect pride.

It seems that Corporate America is more accepting of locs in which frizziness and excessive new growth is not noticeable.

The interlocking method completed in 6 to 8 weeks intervals keeps your locs looking manicured longer without having to do anything to them.  However, every two to four weeks is the more ideal timeframe for re-twisting locs in order to keep them manicured looking.

I also found a great headband from the drugstore that works for holding locs as you manicure them.  I also use this headband to sleep in at night. It is perfect for medium length locs.

The headband is by Scunci.  I gather my locs up in the larger pocket area then tie the band in the front of my head. I can actually pull one loc down from the pocket at a time to tighten.

This headband is definitely multi-purpose and allows air flow to the scalp as you sleep through the night.

Three Hair Accessories for updos

 This jeweled bun holder with chopstick is best suited for longer hair or longer locks. It was suggested as safe in the Sisterlocks training class because there are no teeth present to injure the Sisterlocks.

 I look forward to being able to sport this hair accessory in another two years or less.  I feel like I need twice the lock length that I have now to really have a nice full bun.

 I found these colored clippies in Walmart stores for about $3.00 USD.  I like the color variety of bronze, gold, silver, burgundy, and black.  I have to be careful of the teeth of the clippies.  Please see my other blog articles regarding the petite clippies from H and M stores.

 I believe that I have mentioned this little bun maker before on this blog.  I have enjoyed it at my current lock length for a side bun.  The teeth help hold it in place.

It is a Scunci Expandable Ponytailer.  Please see my November 2011 blog articles on this one.  All types of hair can benefit from it.

Review: Scunci Spring Free clip

 This Scunci Spring Free clip is one of the few clips designed to actually allow your hair to show through it.

It is perfect for styling my yarn unit.  There are no metal parts so it's metal detector friendly and less tension on the hair.

Its construction in not easily breakable.

For thinner hair, it may seem a little bulky, but for most, the back closure area flattens comfortably.

I actually was on a treasure hunt to get more of these spring free clips because none of the traditional stores were carrying them anymore.  I literally can not find any hair clips on the market where the beauty of your own hair (or yarn) can be seen through it.

Some internet sites are also sold out of these.

Exercising Hair Help: Hair Nets!

It's 2012! A New Year! And with any new year, weight loss and exercise becomes the focus to shed those holiday pounds!

So what to do with your hair doing exercise?

Wrap it? No. Most people find that all of their hair gets wet from sweat if they wrap it.

Ponytail it? Yes, if you have long, straight hair. A Loose ponytail plus a hair net designed for a bun as pictured in the Jac O Net "pink packaging" in this article should control the ponytail. Notice the net is shorter and more compact than the other pictures.

So you have long hair in a roller set? Try pushing all your curls up into a bouffant hair net with or without elastic. You are trying to avoid the ends getting sweaty and to keep the hair off your face and neck.

For more exercise friendly hairstyling ideas, please see my separate article on flexi-rod sets.

But as far as hair nets go, they typically come in one pack or two pack or three packs or even five pack by Scunci. The hair nets come in different colors: Blonde, Black, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Medium Brown. Please choose the color that most closely matches your hair color.

They are designed to be invisible so you may find that they can be hard to keep up with. Try to keep the pouch handy to store your hair net for the next use.

The hair nets have large holes to allow for scalp breathability. They are a good sleep option as well especially when your spouse gets tired of the satin bonnet!

Tool Review: Expandable Ponytailer

A client turned me onto the Scunci Expandable Ponytailer. It is one of the best hair accessories on Earth! It is lightweight plastic with smooth teeth for gripping hair. It is perfect for any size ponytail because the tool expands and contracts into a little, small bun. By the pictures on the package, you can see a few obvious ways of using the expandable ponytailer.

So you have kinky hair? Have no fear! It is a miracle tool for you too! The smooth teeth in this tool does grip and hold nicely into overcurly hair. You can close it as tightly or as loosely as your hair will allow. It gives a nice bun look. These expandable ponytailers come in two sizes. Pictured are the small sizes that come two in a pack. The large expandable ponytailer is a one piece per pack. I purchased this hair accessory from CVS pharmacy. I believe that you can find them in grocery stores, Walmart, Target, and other drugstores as well.

They are really a blessing for a last minute hair fix as you can see that I have a black one in the back of my head. Excuse my "nappy roots!" Can you believe it has only been 3 and a half weeks since my last relaxer touch-up, and I still have excessive new growth. Anyway, the tool is not too heavy weight-wise nor does it have any sharp edges to it. I would stick to colors that are the closest match to your haircolor. Notice I have a Black expandable ponytailer to match my black hair.

Wondering about removal? They grab and release the hair without pulling the hair. Easy on; Easy off! You will love them!