Custom Wig making for Loc wearers

Loctician, Master Cosmetologist, Wigmaker

Wig made by Benita Blocker, Loctician

I used a rain bonnet to protect my Sisterlocks from the bonding glue. I have a separate YouTube video uploaded on how to bind locs for a short wig.  https://youtu.be/QWqkZoDR2Tw

A Jumbo wig cap is needed for long locs.

I have a flat head so I formed the perfect head shape with that in mind. Wig cap over rain bonnet is a great protection combination.

Tapering the neck is optional for this wig style.

I decided to keep it "Tina Turner" freestyle.

I hope this article inspires custom Wig making and new hair color ideas.

Ethnic Hair Tips From a Beauty industry leader

1. Before the "protective styling" trend, I was wearing half wigs to allow my hair to rest.
2. Before "invisible part" quickweave became popular, I was the first to create that "part illusion" that I know of.
3. Four years and four months ago, I saw the vision of my hair in smaller locs.  The picture above reflects what a $750 installation and three Sisterlocks 4-day training sessions can lead you to.
4. Everyone should learn to self maintain their locs in partnership with a loctician.  
5. Interlocking can deliver a neater look to locs, but that method also enables hair from an adajacent loc to get crossed over.  Those with fine hair are more likely to get cross-over hair because one can barely see the finer hairs.  Twisting or palm rolling are probably the safest root tightening method for locs.

NOTE:  I may add on to this list periodically.

Creative Loc Color by Benita Blocker

Creative Loc Coloring by Benita Blocker.  

I used my cameraphone to take these snapshots.  I should have used a digital camera to capture the true loc coloring.

We completed the Blonde highlights months ago.

This picture was taken after her gray coverage, but before the red glaze was added.  This was the intermediate phase.  A lot of foiling was required to protect the blonde color.

This is the before picture.  My client required her gray roots to be colored, protect the blonde coloring, but add some red highlights.  As you can see, we maintained her in neutral corporate color scheme.

Gray coverage was achieved at the roots!  We went with the usual light brown color to allow the gray new growth to gradually blend in.

Another view of final creative coloring by Benita Blocker. Reds, blondes, and browns.

She was pleased with her new color scheme and so was I! I used Beth Minardi and Schwarzkoph hair color lines.

Loc Splitting: Reducing the size of Locs

 Typically, when splitting a loc, one should "Y"at the one third mark versus at the half mark as pictured above. The reason for this is because you want the base of the loc to support the weight of the loc upon cutting the "Y" apart.   The model pictured really could benefit in an increase in styling options by having smaller locs.

When the "Y's" are next to one another, you have a choice to make three or four smaller locs out of the four branches at the base.  You can combine the two shorter branches of the "Y" into one loc and then keep the outer branches as two separate locs giving you three locs out of four branches.

Why split the locs? Again, smaller locs  can seem to offer more styling options.

Pictured is a "Y" that is about 3 inches long and ready to be split.

Answers about Resistant Hair

I just completed a  Design Essentials Product Knowledge class with Platform Artist Yolanda.

I asked her how to determine if hair is resistant.  She said if it stands straight up on its own, then it is resistant.  She could not visually categorize my hair as resistant, but within this video I show you how my loc stands straight up!  So you get to see a closer look at my hair, my locs! 

And feel free to subscribe to my youtube channel ReelLife.

A Hair Shaking Shout-out!

I purposely did not speak in this video.  I am still testing video functionality on this blog.

(I had just did a partial tightening using hand interlocking .  My hair is dry versus wet.)

Two years loc anniversary coming up at the end of this month!  

Ten year salon anniversary coming up in August of this year.

This blog also turns five years old this August.  

I decided AGAINST publishing a book on hair because too many people are writing books on hair.  

 But I am considering vlogging on youtube!

So please continue to stay tuned! 

and

Thank you for following me!

7/19/2014 Update:  My youtube channel is born:  

In case video does not work, here's the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QpWQLqGNQA&index=1&list=UUQFrkMISufjQ7oedlaEL6dA

Naturally Straight: Locs versus Loose

 

These two ladies both represent naturally straight hair because neither have much curl in their hairstyle.

So which one has better hair?

Of course, this is a trick question, but I would be curious to know which picture does a 3 year old girl like best?  Which picture does an 8 year old girl like best? Which picture does a 16 year old girl like best?

We are so conditioned to have a standard in our head.  The standard may change based on the country, the workplace, or cultural exposure.

Over the years, has your perception of what was standard changed?  Mine has.

There is no right nor wrong answer.  Just an expansion of one's mind.

Loc-Prints: Unique to Each individual

June 2014

More and More naturals are scoping out my hair - oops, I mean - my locs.  It is weird because I still see my hair as hair that is loc'ed.  I suppose that is a good thing because our locs are hair and can break, dry out, get overprocessed from color, be overtightened, cut too short, etc.  Loc wearers can do about everything that relaxed hair wearers do except chemically relax. 

I used to get people who envied my hair when it was freshly relaxed and grown out.  Emphasis on fresh relaxer . . . but after the roller coaster of gaining length then my hair breaking off  from flat ironing and overprocessing, even I was getting worn down over my own hair.  So it feels good to finally get people loving my hair and wanting my texture in its God-given state. 

The funny thing is that I always thought that the women born with the loose wavy hair were the most exotic looking.  Now, I have to laugh because  even though my hair is the complete opposite of their hair, it means that I also fall into an exotic category on the other end of the scale.

So trying to force my hair to look like theirs was not the answer.  Surprisingly, there is no chemical that can force their hair to look like mine even if they wanted to.  Locs are so unique as they form.  

I have my own individual "loc-print," and I finally starting to love it!

Longer Locs Compensate for thinner Density

 I could not decide which picture to start this article, but it made sense to start with the foundation and build.  So from the picture above, you see that I have some stray hairs that are "rolled up and parked."  You also see I have some minor scalp areas that have suffered from chemical damage.  I must also mention that I sleep on my center crown area, and historically, major stressors have thinned my crown area before.  Does any of this sound like your story?  Even if none of what I just mentioned sounds familiar to you, trust me that the back of my head looks normal and falls into a normal healthy range as far as scalps are concerned.  Of course, many hairstylists and locticians are biased to a much fuller head of hair with a looser curl pattern, but somehow, I think my particular natural hair texture actually give many of my clients a lot of relief because they feel that I can relate to their hair struggles.  Although, I do have plenty of clients that have looser curl patterns than mine, but  many women with looser textures of hair have sisters, cousins, daughters, and other relatives with hair like mine and they respect the fact that "kinky hair" does not define one's essence.

Some people may get stuck on the density of my hair.  I assure you that I have seen many people come in with a "thin looking" ponytail and by the time, their hair is shampooed and blowdried out, there are volumes after volumes of hair. So do not let my density fool you.   My bantu knots showcase my length.

I started my loc journey at a good time.  I do not have any large bald patches, and my length now works in my favor for curling and making my hair look fuller.

 As you can tell, below my crown area is "fierce and full."  Most people keep their fullness in this area as they age.

 My crown area is a little more scalpy, so finger twisting sometimes benefits me to allow a more full appearance.  The Interlocking technique can make thinner areas thinner looking if tightened too far down to the scalp.

I created a  faux pompadour using my curly length in the front.

I added a hair accessory to the back to enhance my partial updo look. Hopefully, those who were not sure if you had enough hair to get locs, will feel more comfortable about crossing over.