Steam Therapy for Locs

Winter can be brutal on the skin as well as the hair. When my Sisterlocks look distressed, I pull out my distilled water and my pro facial steamer. 

The steam opens up the cuticles and hydrates. It is a great way to revitalize the hair without a full shampoo service. Sometimes an event can come up too fast,  and you just don't have the full 3 or 4 days for a shampoo service and allowing the natural hair to resettle. The steam therapy  allows you to have a good hair day until you can do a full shampoo reset.

Below is before and after steam therapy.

 

Natural Hair Revitalization: KeraCare Overnight Moisturizing Treatment

I had quite a few loose natural hair clients that swore by this product regardless of their hair texture. Since my Sisterlocks are getting so long, I don't think my super coily hair is staying hydrated on the ends. In addition, I have used some clarifying shampoos that may have dehydrated the ends without me adequately restoring the moisture back in.

In one of my previous articles, I extended my front locs with my own hair. However, I really don't want my hair dry and brittle anyway which is what causes breakage.

So, at night, I started using a quarter size amount emulsified into my hands and massaged through my whole head of locs focusing on the ends. Amazing hydration in the morning without added weight.

Whether locked natural or loose natural, the KeraCare Overnight Moisturizing Treatment is still a winner!

Wash Day Status: No Locs Lost

Believe it or not, my hair is dry in this picture.  I was trying to showcase my length without it being fully saturated in water.  There is no water in this straight loc look, but there is still some shrinkage. Oh well, it will have to do for now.

On a separate note, I have three locs in my problem area that I mentioned in a previous blog article that had thinned because the locs were too large to support the curl behavior and curl diameter of that area.  This is one of the first times that I realized how beneficial the small Sisterlocks that I had asked for originally would have been if my Sisterlocks were done in accordance with the Sisterlocks grid.

Before the wash - my loc styling still looked good right?  The Tropical Roots foam really holds my wet sets.  I love it!

 After my wash, I used the Mizani Supreme Oil Conditioner as a leave-in conditioner.  It is usually a rinse-out conditioner, but one of my natural clients started using it as a leave-in so I figured that I would try it too!  I had to work it into my locs, but it dried without a film.  I know that some people worry about "build-up" but I am ready to start treating my locs like natural loose hair.  This wash and go look is going to be my new "straight look" option.  I am also thinking about cornrowing my locs and getting crochet braids to give a new "non-dreadlock" look.  I am ready to have some more unrestricted fun!

Oh yeah, the one loc that I used the liquid beeswax on has been wonderful and well behaved.  I mentioned this in a previous article on this blog, but I will take an updated picture of that loc in another article coming soon.

And yes, all of my Sisterlocks are still holding on.  I believe that because the three thinner locs that I was worried about are surrounded by other locs that support them, they are going to be fine.  I am going to go into a hydration centered maintenance mode for about a month or so because I want to focus on health versus styling of my locs.

I plan to use my Bath and Body Works hair mist to keep this Mizani Conditioner activated in my locs.  I haven't lost any locs, and I hope that I do not, but I am keeping a close eye on the three locs in the back.  I also want to start about three more baby locs in that same area with the hair that pulled away.  By keeping that area hydrated, it will not fight me as I work to manipulate it into a new coils of hair.  Any new locs that I do get going will be two years and seven months behind the rest of my locs.  I will have to remember they were slow starts versus breakage.  I may or may not update on the progress of my problem area for months from now, but I will do my usual monthly check-in's for my hair as a whole.

Half Shoelace knot on Sisterlocks

This video tutorial discusses

• Night time regimen for tying up Sisterlocks
• Morning regimen for taking Sisterlocks down
• Curl products used for setting the locs while keeping them hydrated
• Half shoelace knot for loose curls on medium length locs
• Three strand twist with an underlay to maintain length but add some curl to the ends
• Application of the curl setting agent
• and more

 As discussed in my YouTube video, Design Essentials Honey CurlForming Custard with Honey and Chamomile.

 The Design Essentials Natural Honey Curlforming Custard is a clear gel.

 I also discussed this Dark and Lovely Curl Defining Creme Glaze Au Naturale.

 It looks peachy in color but seems sheer going on.  I have not tried to set my locs with it yet, but one of my Sisterlocks clients was successful with it.

My set is about five days old here.  The Curlforming custard did great for hold and hydration.  Please excuse my eyebrows.  I was trying a new brow sculpting gel.  It is looking too ghost-like so it is not the right color for me.  I hope that you enjoy the video.  By the way, let me also mention that my video camera angle was not figure flattering on this video tutorial because I was layered underneath my sweater.  However, the video content is excellent.  I will continue to work on my fashion so please be patient with me.  Smile.

A CurveBall: The Secret Was Not in the Juice!

photo credit from www.wn.com

Many people feel that the Jheri Curl "juice" was the secret to longer, fuller hair.  They felt that the moisture was the key.  Now, let's throw a curveball into that thought process:

Access to Air

1) As mentioned in my previous blog article, "access to air" promotes hair growth.  The "jheri curl" allowed plenty of access to air because the haircut was the style.  Ponytails were not necessary.  The "jheri curl" was "wash and go" styling.  Of course, curl activator and other leave-in moisturizers were necessary, but there were never any bad hair days.  Some may argue that the whole "Jheri curl" movement was a "bad era." Regardless, outside of the fact that some people started sleeping in plastic caps which denied air to the scalp, the "Jheri curl" was  hair freedom.

Less Tension/ Less Manipulation

2) Again, most "jheri curl" wearers did not put a lot of tension on the hair.  It had a wet finish.  So the shine and the style was built in without ponytail holders.

More Hydration

3) The daily moisturizing of the "Jheri curl" helped to prevent breakage from the double processing that the chemical service entails.  Remember the natural curl of the hair had to be "thio-relaxed" first then a looser curl had to be formed and neutralized into place.  The curl activators and moisturizers kept the damaged hair conditioned and masked.

Less Heat

4) No hot tools were necessary with the "Jheri curl."  Damaged or porous hair dries faster than healthier hair.  So the curl activators sealed the hydration in the hair.

As I searched on the Internet for extra long "Jheri curl" hair, I found mostly wigs, weaves, etc.  I also found a good amount of men with length on their "Jheri curl."  However, I could not find that many women who had exceptionally long, beautiful, and real "Jheri curls."  

Was it just our imagination that the soft curls and "Jheri curls" were helping our hair gain length?

I missed the "Jheri Curl" trend.  My mom did not like the "loc" styling nor the "Jheri curl" styling.  Oh well, I am grateful that my mom was consistent in her styling restrictions.

I only know of one person who got a beautiful s-wave pattern from the Wave Nouveau process.  Her hair grew extremely long and beautiful with the  Wave Nouveau.  She wears her natural hair now, and it is gorgeous without any chemicals.

So the secret was not in the "Jheri Juice" - it was probably in the "lower maintenance" care of the hair as well as the airflow to the scalp.

My 16 Months Microlocks Check-in

 So I reached my 16 months of microlocks, and I believe that I am on my final phase of learning my hair's needs.  Sisterlocks preaches us to limit product usage, but I started noticing random strands of hair that had not fully matted into the lock was breaking off.  So no, I was not losing locks, but similar to if I had a natural afro, I saw a few strands of natural unlocked hair break off as I styled my hair.  So as for my hair, I started using a spray moisturizer everyday to keep it hydrated.  I am convinced that my scalp does not produce enough oil to keep my locks hydrated.  In addition, I am not drinking 64 ounces of water per day either.

So I tried the Sisterlocks spray moisturizer, and it seemed too lightweight.  I need something that was going to lock the hydration in without being sticky.  So far Avlon's Ferm Moisturizing Aqualizer seems to do the trick!  It sprays on and absorbs into my locks without me having to rub it in.  I tried Design Essentials "Mist and Shine," but it leaves an "Armour All" look to my micro-locks so I have to manipulate the product into my locks.  So the Design Essentials required too much work.  The Ferm Moisturizing Aqualizer allows me to spray to my heart's content without any product buildup.  I love it!  Ferm is Avlon's "bodywave/soft curl" system.  The Aqualizer says that it is good for hair and scalp.  The down side is that it has propylene glycol in the ingredients, but until I find another spray that seals in moisture, Ferm Aqualizer is it!  By the way, I also tried Bee Mine's Juicy spray, and I felt that it caused too much product buildup for everyday use.  The paraben free spray may be close to expiring, but it smelled fine.  I just plan to stick with the Aqualizer spray for now.

 Okay, I just washed my hair. It was six weeks since my last tightening session.  It is time to tame my little afro.   I usually can tell when people start staring at my roots just a little too long that I know that I am getting past due for a retightening or root twist.

For those who constantly ask are those locks permanent?  Well, they are just as permanent as a relaxer is.

1) My hair grows out of my scalp loose as it has always done.
2) There is a line of demarcation between my new growth and my matured part of my locks as seen in the picture above.
3) The locks control my natural hair similar to how a relaxer chemically controls the natural hair.
4) I finger comb my locks versus using a "real" hair comb.

For those who wonder why locks have thinner roots and fatter ends?  Well, your natural shedded hair drops into the lock compacting it and making it fatter.  If there is significant fatness in the ends of the locks, then you may be shedding abnormally which could be because the locks are not staying hydrated enough or there is a health issue that is affecting your scalp internally.  If you locks get too thin at the roots, they will break off.

1) So use a daily moisturizing spray if your scalp does not produce enough oil naturally.
2) Get your iron level checked as well as check to see if your prescription drugs have any side effects that you need to be aware of.

Okay, back to me and my hair, I just retightened the roots.  Four hours with the bantu knots.  Can you believe that my locks/ my hair is long enough to bantu now without any rubber bands?  Yes, my locks are supporting themselves without any help.  So no more perm rods for curls!  I am sooooo happy at my progress!  I had a vacation day so I did not get all glamoured up, but I will take another glam picture soon to showcase my 16+ months micro-locks!

This was a great check-in!

Product Review: BBD King Stretch Growth Creme

The flier says "This is the models real hair. No weave added . ." BBD (Big Badd D) Stretch Growth Creme is a penetrating water base, water soluble reconstructor. I love it on my SisterLocks. It absorbs into my SisterLocks immediately and hydrates my scalp. It feels like a splash of water when I run it through my SisterLocks. Even after a few days, it does not feel heavy nor sticky. It does not seem to build up.

You can see the moisture in the product. I have to admit that I recently pulled this jar out of my arsenal because the S'curl moisture spray seemed to eventually become sticky after daily use. So far this Stretch Growth Creme is not building up and is not sticky. It seems to allow me to manipulate my Sisterlocks and they seems to stay in place. That means the product is very lightweight.

I purchased this Moisture creme from the Bronner Brothers hair show over a year ago. Their packaging has gotten more sophisticated and mainstream over the years. I first learned about them about four years ago.

Now, for the not so good news, this product ended up in my product arsenal of "standbys" because for relaxed hair, I felt it was a little too wet. I never really could get a feel for its benefits. Also, pictured is the $55.00 retail jar. Yes, it is expensive compared to those on a tight budget. So in the past, I found it hard to retail a $55 jar of "wetness" to relaxed hair clients. There is no ingredient list on the jar either. I have run into quite a few professional ethnic haircare lines that omit ingredients for fear of product duplication.
Anyway, I am going to assume that the models on this Stretch Growth Creme ad have a looser curl pattern than I do since they are double processed with color and probably relaxer. I do not know their regimen, but as for me, every day or every other day, the Stretch Growth Creme is a fulfilling hydration boost.
By the way, I have my SisterLocks tucked behind my ears. They are getting easier to style now. The freedom from having to wake up and grab a scarf, wig, hairpiece, or a cap has been unreal. I really foresee swimming next year and getting out of the water without wondering what my hair looks like. It will simply look wet, long, and beautiful.