Sisterlocks Training: The Third Time is a Charm

Well, I just finished my third Sisterlocks four day training!  Great teacher!  Great classmates!  I learned sooo much.  Many things were review; but there were literally some aspects of troubleshooting locks that I was having the hardest time grasping the concept until the instruction was re-worded.  Then I started having more and more "ah-haw" moments.  I was sooo happy because now, I feel that I understand every aspect of the Sisterlocks establishment of locks, repair, and maintenance of Sisterlocks.  It was such a wonderful feeling.

My classmates in this class were from as far away as Canada to as close as Monroe, NC but no one but myself was from Mecklenburg County, NC.  I felt like it was a vacation without leaving out of town.  The students really bonded.  It reminded me of my Boston, MA Sisterlocks training.  There was a lot of love and a lot of learning!

You will also be happy to know that in 2013, Sisterlocks started making their online registry more exclusive with stricter guidelines for maintiaining an active listing with them.  Anyone who took the class prior to 2013 such as myself is grandfathered in.  I took my first four day training in 2012.  My second training was within six months of the first training.  This last training was about one year from my second training.

Well, it's official! My locks are now long enough for me to try different styles.  I challenged myself to wear a different look each day of training, and I did it!

I will share with you new hair accessories, new lock styling, a lock removal tool, and ways to find out how many different textures that you have on your one head.  So stay tuned.

Sisterlocks Training: Boston versus Charlotte

Boston, MA Sisterlocks 4-day training Session (August 2012)

1) 8 out of 13 classmates had long, beautiful Sisterlocks.  (incredible!)
2) over 50% of the class was from Massachussetts.
3) At least two classmates were from overseas.  (Germany and British Virgin Islands)
4) One of the certified Sisterlocks consultants had at least two of her clients becoming Sisterlocks trainees.  (Team Building)
5) I was the only licensed cosmetologist in the class.


Charlotte, NC  Sisterlocks 4-day training Session (January 2013)

1) Only 1 out of 13 classmates had long, beautiful Sisterlocks.   (She was from Fayetteville, NC)
2) over 50% of the class was from North Carolina.
3) less than 50% of the class was from the metro Charlotte area; No overseas classmates.
4) The Sisterlocks Associate Trainer (from Fayetteville, NC) had one of her clients present for Sisterlocks refresher training.  (Team building in Fayetteville, NC; and again, the only classmate with long Sisterlocks.)
5) There were two other licensed cosmetologists in the class.
6)  My classmates hairstyles included  starter "Sisterlocks",  Interlocks, Traditional locks, Intermediate "Sisterlocks", hair extensions, and some naturally, loose afros.
7) Other cities represented included Pittsburgh, PA, Washington DC,  Roanoake, VA, Raleigh NC.


So in summary, when you are surrounded by long, beautiful Sisterlocks within your class (like my Boston class), it makes you feel more confident about your Sisterlocks decision.  Picture taking within a Sisterlocks class makes sense . . . because you have several heads of Sisterlocks all around you to be amazed about.

However, when you are NOT surrounded by long, beautiful Sisterlocks within your class (like my Charlotte class), one becomes less comfortable with their Sisterlocks decision as far as competency of the Sisterlocks consultants in one's city.  Picture taking in a Sisterlocks class where most of the class are not "Sisterlocks" Showcase-ready is a bit awkward.

On a separate note, after attending two 4-day Sisterlocks training within a five month period, I definitely feel more complete.  I really feel that every trainee should have refresher training within the first year of their initial training.  No one should depend on learning from other local Sisterlocks consultants who are not actual "Sisterlocks" Trainers at least not in this area.  There are too many certified Sisterlocks consultants in the metro Charlotte area who are running their Sisterlocks business their way; not the Sisterlocks way.

I have paid out about $3000.00 into Sisterlocks headquarters and its certified Sisterlocks consultants within the last six months.  If you include flight and hotel stays, around $4000.00.  So I am "Sisterlocks" invested.  "I put my money where my mouth is."

I definitely plan to charge for my Sisterlocks services accordingly, and I intend to deliver quality Sisterlocks services (styling, grooming, locking).  My speed will have to come later.  Even though, I am at the beginner level as a registered Sisterlocks trainee,  I am hoping that customers will appreciate my Sisterlocks dedication and investment thus far in my Sisterlocks journey along with my cosmetology licenses in three states.

Six Months Sisterlocks Check-in

 I completed my fifth retightening which was my second visit with the new consultant.  She completed my head in half the time of my old consultant. But I just found out in my Sisterlocks refresher course that I attended this weekend that my Sisterlocks should be tightened in the same grid pattern that they were put in.  Neither Certified Sisterlocks consultant has done this.  In addition, I realized that the new consultant doubled up one of my sideburns areas.  It was on the same side that I corrected before trying to get a smaller hairline.  So I had to undo that lock area again.  I am getting sooooo frustrated.   Not enough to get rid of my Sisterlocks, but possibly enough to spend the time to work on my own head.  I really understand why some customers take the Sisterlocks retightening class to do their own hair.  The Charlotte area Sisterlocks service options are brutal. Another classmate was also saying the same thing because she was looking for someone professional and strict to follow the Sisterlocks way of doing things.  I may switch to one of the ladies in the class.  We will see.  In the meantime, as my Sisterlocks mature, I can clearly see where my stringy relaxed hair is still hanging on, and my thicker new growth is getting longer.  The line of demarcation is pretty clear in the picture below.

As far as the Sisterlocks refresher course, it is even better now that I am taking the four day course again.  Why?  Because there was so much to learn and grasp on the first go around.  Now, that I have been "around the block" a few times, I have better questions and everything is so much clearer.

Unfortunately, there is someone else going through the same thing that I went through . . .  paid a lot of money ($600) for a "much less than perfect" Sisterlocks experience with a different Sisterlocks representative.  She came to learn the truth about her new Sisterlocks.

In my opinion, any consultant charging over $400 per head should be in refresher training every year or two years religiously.  It is good to network and re-commit to Sisterlocks rules and regulations.  Customers really need to keep detailed notes and photos and feel more freely about submitting formal, professional complaints to Sisterlocks headquarters.  I would love to see Sisterlocks keep the Consultants in check more.  I believe it takes four or five complaints submitted  per consultant for any serious action to take place.

Things to report would be 1) failure to get a Sisterlocks starter kit (the official one to mail off for your Sisterlocks birth certificate);  2) failure to maintain your original Sisterlocks grid pattern;  3) any blatant inconsistencies in the work that was done; 4) Sisterlocks falling out or unexplained thinning.  Sisterlocks headquarters prefers for you to resolve any outstanding issues directly with the consultant but if it is not going well, they can help.