Tenth Anniversary:This Blog is Ten Years Old!

Benita Blocker, Blogwriter, 

Educator, Visionary, HairStylist

In August 2009, I was on a mission to achieve my best hair ever and to educate others to achieve their own hair success too!  With countless clients saying, I had "growing hands" and their hair had never been as long as we grew it from a partnership standpoint.  I am so proud to have been a Master Cosmetologist over 15 years.

As far as the blog is concerned, digital pictures were not popular when I started the blog in the early years (2009).  So many of my early articles do not have pictures. My most popular articles as far as blog traffic are from 2011 through 2014, and they include pictures.

I am so proud that the Sisterlocks topic is trending more than ever.  I feel like I inspired those who are a part of the latest wave of interest.  I see starter locs everywhere.  I feel like I was a leader in my own way as far as the corporate world beginning to embrace locked hair.

My blog represents my hair struggle as I was approaching age forty, and my finding Sisterlocks as a hair solution for me. Indeed, I am proud of what I have inspired and achieved with my blog.

August 2019 is the blog's Tenth Anniversary with over 1.1 million pageviews! Please feel free to share your testimonies and favorite article titles.

Tackling the Hairspray and Spritz Phobia

Very early in my hair styling career, I had countless of new clients who would firmly tell me that they did NOT want any spritz in their hair.  So I quickly generated my own "holding spray" phobia.  For almost a decade, I would just roller set for curls or straighten hair without curls until this year.

With all of the heat, high humidity, sweat, and unexpected rainfall, most hairstyles need some sort of help to hold.

I know that people are trying to avoid stiff looking hair.  Also, if the hair is too fixed, it looks too urban or too ethnic for most higher ranking corporate executives.

So I hear you loud and clear!  You don't need the lacquer sprays which get sticky when wet, but you must also listen to me, it is a new age.  The aerosol and liquid finishing spritz now have a LOT of flexible hold.  They can be combed through.

 I use the aerosol holding sprays for thermal straightening to lock out the humidity.  I use the liquid finishing spritz for thermal curling.

 I marcel curled the mannequin's hair above using the Design Essentials Formation Finishing Spritz.  Can you see the hold?

Then I just finger combed the hair and the temporary hold from the spritz releases and allows for humidity resistant curls.  The final styling is still corporate professional and soft.

Here's another before and after set of pictures:

 Hair curled with finishing spritz before comb out.

Comb out using finishing spritz! Style with memory and hold.

If you have really fine hair, just wet set or roller set for curls.  

Finding the right holding spray may be trial and error.

Self Esteem, Natural Hair and the Corporate Workplace

"Oh, you're the one that had those little things in your hair."  - A statement made to me regarding my locks based on memory of my Sisterlocks when they were initially installed.

My initial thought was "Those little things" is my hair that God gave me.  My actual reply was "yes, that was probably me."

In the seminar this past weekend, some natural hairstyles were shown in a powerpoint presentation.  I was disappointed because my curl pattern will not achieve those natural looks without being chemically processed first.  There was only one example of a  professional "locked" look and her dreadlocks were mid-back with color and curls in them.  That length in locks is not achieved overnight unless lock extensions are added.

So where am I going with this discussion?  My self-esteem has never been linked to my hair, but it is the education and the love and encouragement that my parents have given me without limitation.

Accepting my curl pattern and accepting where my curl pattern ranks in identifying "professional natural hairstyling" is critical.  Some mothers may feel my viewpoint is negative, and that I am promoting "self-hate."

On the contrary, I am a realist.  We all need to learn our own hair curl pattern and curl behavior relative to what is acceptable in the corporate workplace.

As my microlocks get longer, I am being told more and more that they are starting to look more "normal" as far as hairstyling goes.

I want to smile and scream at the same time.  I love me.  I believe that God made no mistakes in my design.

I encourage others to look at the "big picture" when it comes to hair and curl patterns, learn your place and make the adjustments that you need to achieve your career goals.

Updos, wigs, and weaves may be your best friend until you climb the corporate ladder where you want to be.

Until next time, stay encouraged and stay tuned.