7 years 1 month Sisterlocks Anniversary

My day to day grind requires this partial updo.  At seven years and one month, I don't need a separate barrette.

Playing with semi- permanent haircolor (direct dye)

I don't trust my Sisterlocks with any type of permanent haircolor. Luckily, I don't have a lot gray hairs for my age. The safest color absorbs into my hair just fine.

The longer my Sisterlocks get; I do see the tension at the roots when they are wet or if I am sitting back on them.

Sisterlocks at Six years and two months!

Six years and two months ago, I started my Sisterlocks journey.

Again, I am pushing my loc styling options because one of my clients challenged me.

September is my born month.

When my Sisterlocks are wet, I can claim waist length since I am short waisted.

I bantu knot my locs to set my curls. It makes my updos easier to mold.

Day 8: Partial Mohawk using Accessories

My Sisterlocks are still wavy looking, and it is eight days post shampoo.

I used these decorative bobby pins pictured above along with small clipplies, plain scunci elastic band, and hair brooch.

Headbands from prior days seemed to slightly flatten my locs around my hairline so I wanted to use the decorative bobby pins to force a mohawk section. My clippies were placed in the front to support the curls that I still have left in the top of my head.

Low Maintanence Partial Loc Updo

December 2015

I am a little past due for a shampoo, but I believe the flash from the camera may have caused a "dusty" look!  I used the expandable ponytailer to assist with my bun.  I have discussed this hair accessory on this blog before.  http://phenomenalhair.blogspot.com/2011/11/tool-review-expandable-ponytailer.html

My Sisterlocks are 3 years and 4.5 months old.

No curls needed for this updo!   Yay!!

Workout hairstyling: The Loc Bump!

I just entered an eight week weight loss contest with HerbaLife.  So I have been working out, and my roots are getting sweaty wet.   This moisture was causing my loc styling to deflate so I decided that I needed to start wearing a partial updo keep some style while working out.  

As I have mentioned on my blog in previous years, due to aging and some previous chemical damage, my hair is thinner in the top than it was a decade ago.  So when my locs were shorter, I would hide little clippies to create volume.  Now, I have plenty of loc length, but the lower density was making my partial updo awkward and unstable unless I had a lot of curls.  But I needed to be able to create an updo with straight locs which is when I started thinking maybe I could "bump-it."  I purchased these "knockoffs" from the Dollar Tree.

Then I decided that I was going to be annoyed trying to stabilize a plastic hump on top of my locs.  Then I said to myself "Why not braid up some of my locs and roll them down to create a bump?"  So that is what I did, and I massaged the rest of my locs around my own natural loc bump.  It worked brilliantly, and I secured the locs behind the bump with one of my leather hair accessories that the stick goes through.

I used this same barrette in one of my May 2014 articles about length compensating for density.  I used it when my hair was curly.

After getting stung/bite a few weeks ago while walking, I rely on Off! Active to repel insects!  My partial updo pictured here is all my locs with my own built-in "loc bump." No extra "bumpits" needed!

I am excited about getting some more weight off by 2016!

Using a Headband to Create a Loose Updo

 I still have some texture in my locs from the last wet set that I performed plus securing my ends at night.  My locs are two years and five months old.  I am approaching another loc-versary within another week.

 The headband that I used was black in color, but it was packaged with this headband.  Notice all the ends of the headband are either square or blunt.

 The headband is easy to unassemble and reassemble.  It is not stressful on the locs.  The headbands seem to be made of a lightweight plastic. I do not remember how many years ago that I may have purchased this set of headbands, but I am so happy that I held on to them.

 I love the profile of this partial updo. It can work for casual as well as formal occasions.  I consider my locs medium length.  I had a bob cut prior to my start of locs so my front locs were definitely longer that my back locs.

I have a lot of new growth at my scalp area in the back, and I did not concentrate on a clean parting. Maybe next time!

I really enjoyed my partial updo because it was quick, cute, and stress-free. I believe that you need some curls or texture in the locs to assist the headband with form and shape.  So wet set or dry set prior to trying any updo.

Bantu Knots: Loc Photo Shoot

I completely loosened up the Bantu Knot set for this final styling of my Partial Updo.

The Swoop

 Center part styling

 The Swoop from the other side with the Bantu knot set freshly let down.

 The results of the Bantu Knot set when it is freshly taken down.

I started the Bantu Knot set the night before with Lottabody setting lotion.

Hopefully, these different loc styles will inspire some of your own styling ideas.  I kept the aloe vera gel handy to dry twist some of my hairline and my parts for a neater appearance for my partial updo styling.  I am three days short of 1 year 10 months.  So far, I can tell you that tightening the roots and styling locs takes about the same amount of time.  So a full day with lunch is needed to do both in the same day yourself especially with drying time.  Who knew that locs can still be quite a bit of work?  Thank God that the daily maintenance is so low that one can not complain about the tightening nor the styling.

A Partial Updo Using the Pony Connect

My hair is long enough now to connect two short ponytails together into a partial bun using the Pony Connect Accessory.  I have written about this hair accessory before, but my locks were too short to loosely gather ponytails.

On a separate note, I jumped for joy when I saw my lock length in the back.  It's getting there.  Wow!  I had to take a double take to make sure this was my head.  Slowly, but surely, I'm getting there, month by month.

I did not braid nor set my hair so it all looks straight.  I will have to try this partial updo with a textured set.  Since I barely achieved this look with my straight length, I may wait another six months to try it again with more curls.  Hopefully, cascading curls in another six months.

Please see my other blog article on the Pony Connect hair accessory.

Partial MicroLock Updo using Hair Clips

I'm back!  I took a week or so break.  I forgot that I updated my blog backdrop to be more modern and bright before I took my brief haitus.  So I still have to get used to the new blog look, but on a separate note, I identified some Beverly Hills, California locations to consider for hair salon expansion.  I also reached out to a few relaxer companies.  No solid developments, but life is good!  

I bought some little hair clips, and I have been enjoying twisting my front side locks up and anchoring them with a matching hair clip creating a partial updo.

 The weather is cooling off as well so I have been spending more time on makeup application.  My hair seems to naturally flip up some in the back just from sleeping on it.

 My length seems to have grown into a full bob in the back finally.  My nape area stays covered with ease. I am about 4 weeks since my last root tightening.

 You can see my front hair clips are black that are holding both sides up.  I am still gaining length at 14.5 months into my lock journey.  I am comfortable with my hair density considering the front of my hair is up.  My back density seems to be able to support itself without me looking too scalpy.  I am also convinced that the flash on the camera draws a lot of attention to lighter colored areas.  Overall, this is a good check-in.

Review: LocALoc Pony-Connect

 I recommend the LocALoc Pony-Connect for long hair whether the hair is straight or locked.

 2 or 4 ponytail quadrants can be used to create a partial or full updo.  The Pony-Connect comes in other neutral hair colors as well. I purchased the black ones because they blended in with my locks.

 I flat twisted two small rows near the front hairline to create a headband look with the Pony-Connects, but I think that I will save this hair accessory for when my locks/hair gets longer.

Not bad . . .  I see the potential for the future!  Believe it or not, I purchased this hair accessory from the hair aisle in a CVS drugstore.