Face Framing with Medium Length Locs

It's Day FIVE (5)!!!!  I am still holding onto that twist set.  Thank you Design Essentials Masterpiece.  You are my new best friend!!!!!!!! Yes!

I used smalll clippies for styling my locs on Day 5.  I also realized how huge my face is !!! My face seems to overpower my locs. Everyone has been noticing my loc length, but I think it is because they see my sides and back more than I do.  I have to get a mirror to see my full picture in a 360 degree pan.

Well, I am excited about my loc length more than ever!

By sweeping my loc length toward the front of my face as I did on Day 2, I feel that my facial features are more enhanced.

As my locs getting longer, I will probably wear them toward the front to frame my face.

Coloring Fusion Strand Extension Bundles

These are i-tip Fusion hair extensions.  Unfortunately, even the darkest color in this particular brand was not the best match for someone with off-black ethnic hair.  So count on some coloring!

I used this Glad Press'n Seal wrap to protect my tray table.

I began unbundling each bundle to make sure all the hair up to the pre-dipped tips got colored.  I used rubber bands and clippies to try to keep the bundles together in a somewhat organized system.

Ignore the colors of the clips and the bands.  I just needed the small sizes to make sure the ends stayed under control.  Most small sizes can be found in the children's haircare area.  Unforunately, I still had some hair extensions to slip through, but overall, this system worked.

I pre-cut all my Sanek professional See-thru foil in order to color one bundle at a time. I discuss this Sanek foil in another article on this blog.  Also, the bundle of hair extensions pictured above had not been untied yet.

The final picture shows all the bundles enclosed within their own see-thru foil.  I used normal haircolor timing, and normal shampooing and conditioning.  

Defining Normal Hair: The Bigger Picture

This video discusses

• "ultra curly hair" terminology
• the "good hair" debate
• Sisterlocks Horror Experience (brief reference)
• Uniformity of Locs
• Relaxed ends versus loose natural ends versus buds on the ends (@ 19 minute mark of video)
• Using clippies to create volume (@ 23 minute mark of video)
• Liquid Beeswax cocktail for loc repair (an update at 24 minute mark of the video)

Preparation for Multi-dimensional Loc Coloring

 I had a dream that my whole head of locs were a light brown color and they looked great!!!  I have found when I wear lighter color wigs that the lighter color hair makes people see lighter color skin tones; yet, with my black locs, I think people focus more on my shadows or darker tones.  It is just natural for haircolor to make a statement. Youtube vlogger "tbey82" gave me the idea of multi-dimensional highlighting my locs one at time over time using clippies to identify which locs to color.  Look for the video called "added highlights to my already colored locs."  Her locs were at least three years old.  My locs are not quite at the two years old mark.

 The green clippie was too big for my locs.  They slid off.  The Clear clippies worked fine as you can see above.  I am only demonstrating how the clippies can strategically guide you in loc placement.  I am not ready to color my locs yet, but I may start with five or six at a time.  tbey82 mentioned foiling the individual locs and applying some heat to get the color working.  I wanted to post some of her loc coloring tips here.

 I purchased these Habini clear baby clips from a Korean beauty supply store for less than $2.00 USD.  Most people hate the clear clips because they do not usually match anything, but I think they will be perfect when I decide to color my locs.

A closeup on the closure for the Habini clear clips.

The Remington clips which are too large for my microlocks were purchased from Target stores for about $4.00 USD if I remember correctly.

I have not decided on coloring my locs for year 2 or wait for year 3.  Either way, I will only be highlighting while intentionally avoiding my roots.

I will keep everyone posted!

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.

My 16 months and a week Microlocks Showcase

It's December 2013 and I'm all glammed up!  I  used the "clippies" below to assist in lock styling in the picture of me in brown sweater.  My thickness is still not what I once had, but I am able to manipulate the length of my locks to give me volume.  Also, I purchased new blush color from MAC!  Love it!

I bought these clippies from the H&M store.  About $2.95 for 12.  They are not going to last forever, but they are small enough for me to use about seven clippies in the front without looking tacky.  Can you tell in the picture above?

Okay, there are No Clippies in this picture with the animal print top!  I just took the bantu knots out and styled.  So the locks had a firmness to them. The shadow in the picture makes my lock style look like a bob.  I can envision my bob style by December 2014. (another year easily!)

Rain and sleeping on my locks definitely loosens the hold of the Lock Styling Lotion.  The daily spray also softens the styling.  So I will be clip styling to keep some shape.

I also want to address that tightening locks can be done in a clockwise turning or a counterclockwise turning.

Sisterlocks patterns are mostly counterclockwise.  I find when I am twisting, it depends on how I am holding my head and my arms placement.  Some of my locks are twisted clockwise and some counter-clockwise.  I think that by the third hour of finger twisting - I am losing concentration so I try to follow how each lock is naturally twisting.

Also, the last Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly that I used would not absorb into my locks this last tightening session.  I do not know if something in my shampoo was blocking it???  I skipped conditioning all together.  So I had to go back to the Jamaican Lime and Mango Locking Gel.  Then I ran out of that and had to finish my head with Nahbila's Peppermint Twisting Gel.  The gels got the job done so I am grateful, and I love both products.

Okay, it may be New Years for the next check-in!