Sisterlocks Anniversary: 8 years 3 months

 

So Eight years and 3 months have passed since my Sisterlocks were first established. The time did not fly. Yet, I still embrace my Loc journey.

I'm enjoying my fashion again. There were many phases of my life that I truly was in fashionista mode. Using Selah Boutique is allowing me to refresh my wardrobe at an affordable price for 2020. I even purchased my first Brazilian scrunch butt leggings.

Doing the Census enumeration work actually helped shed some inches off my body.

I am estranged from my birth family. There is a lot of toxicity and family secrets. I struggle with losing my parents, but in recent years, the interaction yielded more misery than comfort. I supposed my worth had deteriorated long before now. Self worth will always have to be a woman's foundation.

Fresh curls always require a fresh picture.

I'm over the hill, but age is nothing but a number.

Realistic Loc Growth in five months Timeframe

November 2016 Longer Locs and Less Weight (without bodyshaper)

June 2016 wearing bodyshaper and different denim slacks

Using Herbalife shakes, teas, soups to replace meals and get multi-vitamin intake.  Healthier lifestyle promotes hair growth and weight loss.

Sisterlocks Anniversary: Three Years and 10 months

I am committed to checking in monthly with everyone. I started an Instagram account, and it is keeping me very busy.  I also have some other projects that I am working on. So I am not writing blog articles as often as I used to.  My work as a hairstylist is now being highlighted on Instagram.  I am not sure if this is good or bad.  I am trying to figure out how to stay global and relevant.  I am evolving again.  Thanks for continuing to follow me.

Oh yeah, I am using HerbaLife Nutrition and implementing other lifestyle changes to get some more weight off.  I am trying to shrink back to the size that I was during my modeling days.

Feeling Hip, Cool, and Relevant in my shades that my late great Aunt gave to me.  Celebrating my 3 years and 10 months loc-versary!

Gaining Length While Losing Weight

Well, I am back down to my weight when I first got my Sisterlocks installed, and I was headed to Boston, MA to take my first Sisterlocks training.  It was August 2012.  I had been laid off from my corporate hairdresser position with Carolinas Healthcare System.  I suppose some people don't understand that you do not grow "long locs" overnight.  It takes time, and I was not going to pay another $1000 to get microlock extensions added nor was I going to spend another two days having anyone do anything else to my hair.

Some people have absolutely no idea what others go through in regards to controlling and grooming their hair.  I digress.  Anyway, I did not need a seat belt extension flying into Boston in August 2012, but this past January 2015 when I was headed to California, I had to ask for a seat belt extension.  I needed another inch or less of belt, and there was no more squeeze left in me so I had no choice, but to ask the flight attendant for a seatbelt extender.  I obviously could blame the airline for making the seats smaller, but somehow, I decided to suck up my pride. I had to admit to myself that I had slowly but surely gained a significant amount of weight in the last two years.  I don't even want to remind myself that I maintained a size 6 figure in my 20's so in the last couple of decades, I have experienced a lot of weight gain.

But I am regaining focus on getting all of that weight off.  I think that my hair had been a burden for so long because it is so different from the average head of hair.  Sometimes I question whether or not a "hair blog" even makes since anymore because unless someone truly has hair like mine - what worked for me may not work for another.  However, I am dedicated to the beauty industry, and I am excited about staying on the forefront of the hair industry.  

My locs will be 35 months old in another week and a half.  My mom seems to be noticing my length more and more.  She even asked if all of that was my hair to make sure that I had not added any.  I had to laugh.

Let's see what the next year holds.

The HerbaLife Weight Loss Challenge is on!

Brainwashed on Bone Straight Hair?

I captured these images from my "Best of Soul Train" dvds. The commercial is for Ultra Sheen Permanent Creme Relaxer. The date is around 1975, and the lady's hair is not "bone straight." Also, anyone familiar with hair texture, can also see that this woman's natural curl pattern is not kinky. She is probably naturally a Type 3 curl pattern.

It's year 2011, and Black women have gotten more accustomed to "bone straight" hair even if it means sacrificing the health of the hair for the style. For the "healthy hair" hairstylists, the "bone straight" mentality has become a challenge because people are so used to the straightness achieved from the ionic flat irons. So Black women are either going completely curly or they want completely bone straight hair. What happened to the midway point? Healthy hairstylists are finding that clients do not want this midway point. Some hair stylists have decided to either make sure the hair gets relaxed really straight or possibly use the flat iron for final finishing.

The finished look from the round brush blow dry service used to be enough decades ago, but now, even the dominican hairstylists are finding people want straighter hair in these modern times.

Literally, I have seen Black women with "heat damaged hair" still go pay for a round brush and flat iron service just because they like the finished look. I cringe when I see this happening, but I have to respect others' businesses. Sometimes this damage is happening on a platform at a hair show. In my mind, I am watching heat damage compound, and I can not say a word. Eventually, after the hair becomes completely fried from the "inside out," it will break uncontrollably. Flat irons heat hair from the inside out versus curling irons heat outside in. Indirect heat versus direct heat. No matter which heat that you choose, you can NOT use heat everyday. Direct heat is safer, but too much heat from any type of iron too often will weaken the hair.

Let's talk about image for a second. The "Sleek" look does carry a certain amount of prestige. People are driven by social acceptance and fame. The more texture that is seen in your hair usually means that you are viewed as "unpolished" in some social circles.

The best advice that I can give is to stay focus on maintaining a healthy body image and completing your educational goals. Most people can control their body image/weight. A fit body image and accessories can play off most any hairdo. Have you seen the editorial covers of some of these major magazines? "Crazy, avant-garde" hair mixed with designer clothes and designer shoes seems to be acceptable!

Do you need direction on weight loss? Jennifer Hudson is on the cover of Self magazine. I believe it is the August edition. She looks great, and her food menu and exercises are very reasonable. You do not have to feel like you need a personal chef and a personal trainer. Everything that she is doing is practical and can be done on your own. I really loved this article.

Jennifer Hudson: Spotlight!

Jennifer Hudson was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show recently. She has lost 80 pounds and went from a size 16 to a size 6! Congratulations Jennifer and Weight Watchers for a job well done!

In order to achieve Jennifer's "sassy bob," a layered cut is needed in the front with a longer bang area. The traditional bob cut is needed in the back with some razor cutting or notch cutting all over.

I love this haircut and style over the traditional hard, stiff bob look. At night, just wrap it up and finger it out!