The Restroom Mirror: The Decision Spot

Photo credit:  www.daherc.net

The hairstylist has completed the final touch, and you are still trying to decide if you like the new hairstyle or if you can work with it or not.  So where do you head to make the final decision?  The restroom MIRROR.

LOL! Does that sound familiar?  We have all done it!  Sometimes it is after leaving the dentist office or the doctor's office.

In the restroom is where you can shake it, feel it, finger through it, analyze it, and really decide if you need further tweaking.

Maybe you need a little more curl?  Maybe you need to blend the partings from the roller set more?  Maybe you need another track added?  Maybe you need some holding spray?  Maybe you need some more shine spray?  Maybe you want a lower taper in the back?  Maybe you want more of a distinct angle in your haircut?  Maybe you need an area thinned out?  All of these things the hairstylist can gladly perform immediately as a final gesture.

Now, what if the hair color is still too brassy or what if the hair is falling too flat?  Then you have to decide: Is it something that you need immediate correction or not?  If it can wait, please discuss the desired change with the hairstylist and see what she suggests to resolve the situation.  Rescheduling for a free correction  within a week is always desirable.  However, if immediate correction is desired, then inform the hairstylist that you have the time to be re-serviced and are willing to work around her schedule for the day.

Professional clients will pay for services rendered, and professional hairstylists know that customer satisfaction is required for repeat business.

Both hairstylist and client have to be committed to the long term partnership.  Sometimes it takes three to six months depending on frequency of visits for the hairstylist to learn your hair. It sometimes takes the client the same amount of time to feel comfortable about the direction the hairstylist is taking with one's hair.

Let me also re-emphasize the definition of professional status . . .  professional means that you make a living from that particular profession.  So if the hairstylist works full-time as a hairdresser or is trying to transition into full-time hairstyling, then I consider them a hair professional.

Now, depending on where the restrooms are located, you may be required to pay before making your "mirror decision."  Regardless, you should always feel like an important client and that your satisfaction matters.

Silver Fox Weave: Temporary Solution for Blending

 The articles that are popular on my blog right now are for quickweaves and relaxers. So people are apparently looking for Holiday hair solutions.  So what about the silver foxes out there?  Matching up gray hair for extensions and weave is more challenging.  Color #51 has a 25% percentile of gray hair mixed with Black hair, and the weft may be black.  For those with more silver than black, the dark weft of extension hair really stands out and does not blend.  So if there are any silver foxes looking for longer length for the Holidays, then you can try the Beyond Zone Color Bomb 2 temporary color spray to lightening the weft of the extension hair before adding it in.

I used the "straight laced White" color to temporary lighten the weft hair on the left in the picture above.  I also had to let it dry some before handling.  The temporary color washes out so a rainy day is not going to be a good idea.  This is a short term Holiday hair solution for a special occasion event.  I would also recommend white hair glue versus the black hair glue when using light colored hair.

Enjoy the Holiday festivities and look fabulous while having fun!

My 16 months and a week Microlocks Showcase

It's December 2013 and I'm all glammed up!  I  used the "clippies" below to assist in lock styling in the picture of me in brown sweater.  My thickness is still not what I once had, but I am able to manipulate the length of my locks to give me volume.  Also, I purchased new blush color from MAC!  Love it!

I bought these clippies from the H&M store.  About $2.95 for 12.  They are not going to last forever, but they are small enough for me to use about seven clippies in the front without looking tacky.  Can you tell in the picture above?

Okay, there are No Clippies in this picture with the animal print top!  I just took the bantu knots out and styled.  So the locks had a firmness to them. The shadow in the picture makes my lock style look like a bob.  I can envision my bob style by December 2014. (another year easily!)

Rain and sleeping on my locks definitely loosens the hold of the Lock Styling Lotion.  The daily spray also softens the styling.  So I will be clip styling to keep some shape.

I also want to address that tightening locks can be done in a clockwise turning or a counterclockwise turning.

Sisterlocks patterns are mostly counterclockwise.  I find when I am twisting, it depends on how I am holding my head and my arms placement.  Some of my locks are twisted clockwise and some counter-clockwise.  I think that by the third hour of finger twisting - I am losing concentration so I try to follow how each lock is naturally twisting.

Also, the last Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly that I used would not absorb into my locks this last tightening session.  I do not know if something in my shampoo was blocking it???  I skipped conditioning all together.  So I had to go back to the Jamaican Lime and Mango Locking Gel.  Then I ran out of that and had to finish my head with Nahbila's Peppermint Twisting Gel.  The gels got the job done so I am grateful, and I love both products.

Okay, it may be New Years for the next check-in!

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!

Review: Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution

 Clairol's Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution  delivers results that vary from individual to individual.  Resistant gray hair may require heat processing and using the "Midnight Black" in order to achieve adequate "dark brown" gray coverage.  Then on the flip side,  those with porous, gray hair, sitting at room temperature and just using the "Rich Dark Brown" color can turn their hair's color almost Black.

Even as far as relaxer day goes, the directions does not recommend any heat, but for some resistant gray clients, I find that 10 minutes under medium heat helps.  While, non-resistant gray clients process fine at room temperature on the same day as the relaxer.

The consistency of this color formula is thin enough to cocktail with a conditioner which for some clients with non-resistant gray, cocktailing provides adequate gray coverage and saves time.

Another important observation regarding the Advanced Gray Solution is that there is an excessive amount of "ash/green" as the base color.  So if your client has "dirty blonde" ends, then they may grab a greenish color as you rinse this Advanced Gray Solution from the roots.  If this happens, I found the Tressa "Cocoa" Watercolors shampoo neutralizes the greenish hue from the porous ends.

I began experimenting with this Beautiful Collection color line because the Sebastian Cellophanes color line changed their formula, and I found it to be less effective in covering gray.  I am not completely happy with the inconsistent results of the Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution, so I am planning to begin using Avlon's Moisturcolor Semi-permanent color to see how effective and consistent it works. I will keep you posted.