Ten Years Sisterlocks Anniversary

 

The ten year journey of self maintenance by hand interlocking.

Thank you for continuing to support my blog on hair. I have returned back to the corporate America track. I still work part-time in the salon. I still primarily provide relaxer and crochet braids services.

My Sisterlocks articles from the beginning of my loc journey get a lot of views.

Now, it's ten years later, and it's one of the leading edge decisions that I made. Some feel that my Sisterlocks should be longer. To those people, I say "mind your business." I am not in competition. It's àlways been me against me. Many people always have had me twisted. I was doing protective styling before it was called "protective styling."

Sisterlocks have become a polished acceptable look to even sit on the Supreme Court of the United States. I see all types of professional women who hàve followed my lead directly or indirectly.

Sisterlocks and self maintenance is about freedom and beauty. I still had to learn my natural hair needs that is unique to me. I keep the Wave Nouveau finishing mist around as needed. Usually, I spray daily.

I try to self tighten as many locs as I can before each shampoo service to keep the water weight down.

I also keep any locs that I may lose. I have learned to reuse my own hair to extend locs that may be shorter for whatever the reason.  I also make Loc extension units.  Sometimes seven extra locs attached using invisible thread can be enough to deliver a thicker look in the crown area. Because Sisterlocks recommend different sizing based on the different sections of the head- the Sisterlocks do not need the same frequency of tightening. The smaller ones may need four weeks but the medium or larger ones can stretch tightenings to 7 weeks. Who schedules a partial head of tightenings? Most people don't. It is too much of a hassle to find a good Sisterlocks professional. I stand by self maintenance for my length. People can not tell that you have inconsistent new growth that needs tightening.

Overall, my Loc journey was one helluva ride but I own it and look forward to my 15 years anniversary. Thanks for being a part of my journey.

~Benita, 2022, 10 year locversary!

My 2020 Favorite Loc Palm Roll Gel: S'Curl

The Scurl hair product line has been around for decades. They have expanded their line for Loc care.

This "Twist and Lock" Gel has superior hold and superior shine.

Even on the chunkiest locs, the gel holds the loc tight.

How Often should Locs be tightened?

Loc Expert Benita Blocker

How often should locs be tightened? So Glad that you asked!  The smaller the locs, the closer to 4 to 5 weeks is recommended. Medium size locs, closer to 6 to 7 weeks is recommended.  Larger locs, 8 weeks or more is recommended.  

Why? The number of loc rotations decreases with the larger the loc's diameter is.  So small locs allow for the most rotations to stay secure so frequency is importatnt. Medium locs typically don't allow a full rotation until about 6 to 7 weeks.

Because my Sisterlocks are larger than many, at a four or five week period, I was at risk of being overtightened.  And initially, I did have a Sisterlocks technician to overtighten instead of informing me it was too soon for the tightening.  Sometimes the technicians don't know.

Articles like this can be used as a guide for both consumers and technicians.

Tackling my Texture and Loving my Tapestry

It's Day Seven post shampoo, and I still have curls. Some say setting lotion causes long term build-up.  I don't know if I should have the same concerns regarding my Sisterlocks.  Typically, my maintenance for my Sisterlocks goes against "Sisterlocks Bible" teachings.  I am ecstatic about how long my curls from my wet double strand twist set are holding. It has to be that setting lotion that is doing the trick.  I decided to headband my locs into a goddess updo for day 7.

Did I fool you?  Nope, I didn't cut my locs.  They are still there!!!!  See?!

"I show is nappy." Did I say that?  I can say that. Yes, I can. However, No, you can not call my hair "nappy." You probably are thinking the same thing, but nope, all curl patterns are created by God, and they are beautiful.  However, I took this picture above earlier in the day, and I realized I really, really needed to tighten my roots some.  I had over an inch of new growth in some areas.  So in the picture, below, I tightened some of the roots, and I took another picture.

Better? Right?.  Just a little more manicured look?  I was not going to post the "before" picture because I was ashamed of my curl pattern.  It seemed like it needed to be tamed.  It looked "ugly."  Although, I think it looks prettier since I tightened up some of my new growth, but then I realized why am I trying to compare my hair texture to a European standard.  Didn't Cleopatra have braids?

Self hatred still runs deep in this "natural hair movement" of 2016.  If you want corkscrew curls, but you were not born with it, then you sew it in or crochet it in.  You can have whatever texture you want to BUY right now.  

I am not sure what the natural movement started out to be, but I assure you that "being natural" is not what the "natural movement" is about in 2016.  The natural movement of 2016 is about being "relaxer free."  Women are still getting hair color, smoothing treatments, keratin treatments, and some sort of "weave."  The weaves are no longer just the typical straight, sleek, look.

I am natural.  No permanent haircolor. However, I find myself boar bristle brushing my edges to keep them from looking "ungroomed."  My intentions are good, but do they lead to self destruction trying to fit in to a new "curly society standard?"

I really did not plan to take this article in this direction, but since I had been trying to get back out into the dating scene, it has been depressing that women still have to work so hard to fit a standard.

The Right one is out there! 

I don't plan to work hard to get him so I don't have to work hard to keep him.

He must accept my texture as well as my tapestry. ~Benita

Small plastic needles for Loc Tightening

 One of my readers (Gale) mentioned that she tightened her locs with a small plastic yarn needle.  So since I had some extra time today, I went into a fabric store.  I found some plastic sewing needles as well as these Super Jumbo Tapestry Needles by Clover Manufacturing Company.

The eye of the sewing needle was smaller than these tapestry needles so I went with the bigger needles since dreadlock retightening was my purpose.

After experimenting with the tapestry needles, I found that the plastic sewing needle would have been better for my smaller front locs.

Overall, I love these plastic needles for tightening of locs.  One still has to be careful not to stitch up an adjacent loc, but there is NO spring clip like the Sisterlocks clip tool that will snap the loc off.

The spring load on the Sisterlocks clip tool has snapped my hair completely off at the hands of a certified Sisterlocks consultant.  It was a starter lock around my hairline.  Hairline hair is always more fragile anyway, but I remember the consultant apologizing about the breakage and continued on using the clip tool through the rest of my hair.

As far as any type of hook tool, one still has to be careful about not adjoining an adjacent loc.

I am pleased that one of my readers mentioned that these plastic needles exist so that I am able to formally share this loc tightening option with you.

For the record, the Sisterlocks clip tool is probably one of the shortest in length as far as loc tightening tools available.

I will continue to add to my collection of loc tightening tools as I grow more loc clientele.