Why does some people's hair grow lopsided?

 There are people in this world like me that always seem to have uneven hair.  One side has always grown in differently than the other side. Historically, for all my life, I would always get breakage on my right back side of my head.  I always was proned to lopsided hair.  So why is that?  During my 2014 Sisterlocks training, I discovered something amazing.  The curl pattern on my left side of my head is slightly looser than the right side of my head.

If you look at the pictures above with the hair strands in the water, then you will be able to see that the diameter of my curl revolutions are two different sizes.  Also, the looser curl pattern remained floating at the top of the water, but my tighter curl pattern sunk to the bottom of the glass.  I had an "aw-haw" moment.  Two different curl patterns that were behaving differently in water. This was surreal.  I now realized that my hair on my head has always had two different needs as far as regimens.

My looser curl pattern remained a long strand, but the tighter curl pattern seemed so fragile that I only could grab short strands.  Simply amazing.  So the reason why my hair has historically grown in lopsided is because I had two different curl patterns on each side of my head.  The side that was most sensitive to breakage has the tightest curl pattern.  By locking my hair and staying away from chemicals, I believe for once in my life, I will be able to maintain even length hair.

If you are interested in checking out your own head for curl pattern variations, then try this texture test:

1) Get a clear tumbler of water and sit it on paper that is the opposite color of your hair.
2) Make sure there is at least 3 inches of water in the glass.  You want to see if your hair sunks to the bottom of the glass or not
3) Harvest strands from various areas of your head by running your fingers through your natural hair or your locks.
4) Put the strands into the glass of water and see if they float or sunk .  Look at the curl diameters to compare if they are all consistent or not.

Sisterlocks Training: The Third Time is a Charm

Well, I just finished my third Sisterlocks four day training!  Great teacher!  Great classmates!  I learned sooo much.  Many things were review; but there were literally some aspects of troubleshooting locks that I was having the hardest time grasping the concept until the instruction was re-worded.  Then I started having more and more "ah-haw" moments.  I was sooo happy because now, I feel that I understand every aspect of the Sisterlocks establishment of locks, repair, and maintenance of Sisterlocks.  It was such a wonderful feeling.

My classmates in this class were from as far away as Canada to as close as Monroe, NC but no one but myself was from Mecklenburg County, NC.  I felt like it was a vacation without leaving out of town.  The students really bonded.  It reminded me of my Boston, MA Sisterlocks training.  There was a lot of love and a lot of learning!

You will also be happy to know that in 2013, Sisterlocks started making their online registry more exclusive with stricter guidelines for maintiaining an active listing with them.  Anyone who took the class prior to 2013 such as myself is grandfathered in.  I took my first four day training in 2012.  My second training was within six months of the first training.  This last training was about one year from my second training.

Well, it's official! My locks are now long enough for me to try different styles.  I challenged myself to wear a different look each day of training, and I did it!

I will share with you new hair accessories, new lock styling, a lock removal tool, and ways to find out how many different textures that you have on your one head.  So stay tuned.

Lock Talk: Thickness at Seventeen Months

(Please ignore my huge forehead. lol!)

One of my clients mentioned to me that her hair was too thick to get locks.  I did not engage in further discussion because she was not asking me.  She was telling me.  So when that happens, people are not open to discussion.  I only mention this topic because if people are judging by the thickening of my hair with my lock journey then they are sadly assuming that everyone thickens up by starting dreadlocks.  This is not true.
Actually, if people have not suffered any hair loss issues from chemicals or mechanical damage, etc - then I do not think they are going to get any thicker in density by starting locks.  Typically, if people discontinue anything that is causing damage, then their hair naturally starts to grow back where they lost it.  It is that simple.

 At seventeen (17) months, I am still growing.  The daily hydration spray seems to be making my hair grow even faster.  In the picture, above, I had finger tightened the front portion, and you can still see my little afro toward the crown area.  I had to refresh my roots at five weeks this time instead of the usual six weeks.  I also used the Jamaican Mango and Lime Resistant Formula Locking Gel.  It seemed to give me a stronger hold where I could keep track of what I had twisted.  Because I am having to use my sense of feel to complete my own self tightening, well defined roots that stay twisted helps me not have to do double work.

 January 2014 (without curls) above compared to December of 2012 (with locks curled) below.

So I have come a long way in an 11 months span, and I personally can tell that as my locks get longer, I will probably just wear them straight.  The daily hydration spraying is going to prevent my sets from holding.

So if you are suffering hair loss?  Then starting dreadlocks may be an answer if you do not have permanent scalp scarring.

If you have a thick head of hair, then dreadlocks will not make it thicker, but you will have some huge, big hairstyling if you start rolling it.  So you may have less styling options, but for me, I've had 40+ years of styling options.  I was ready for micro-locks.  I can tuck my locks under a wig if I need a different look, but each one to one's own.

Marriage, Men, Divorce and the Hair Thing

Photos from the movie: Waiting to Exhale

There are some men who absolutely, positively love long hair.  Sometimes long hair seals the marriage deal. Sometimes wives secretly want a short, sassy short to medium style, but in an attempt to keep their husband happy, they continue to comply with maintaining their longer length.

So one day, like the storyline in the movie "Waiting to Exhale" the wife finds herself getting traded out for a "newer model."  Of course, there are plenty of couples celebrating 40 years of marriage.  So for those who commit to the institution of marriage, it is a beautiful thing.

Now, for those who find themselves breaking up from a serious relationship or a marriage seem to always head to the hair salon for that "short to medium" haircut.

As hairstylists, we hope to talk the client through such an emotional time hoping to prolong the drastic haircut until the next hair visit with the hope that the client will forget about the style change.  However, for some emotional clients, it is a "right now" decision.  They want to be rid of this man and what he loved so dearly - the long hair.  They want freedom.  They want to find the essence of themselves again behind all the long tresses.  So 4 or more inches of hair is removed.

A support system is important when going through major life changes such as separation, divorce, and break-up.  You also need a support system if you get any type of big chop  for any reason including health related reasons.  Drastic change causes shock to everyone around.  Adapting to the drastic change takes some folks more time than others.

Some husbands don't care if your hair is long or short.  They do not care if you come home with an extra tattoo.  Those marriages are sometimes built on a deeper level or just a different superficial matter.

Before you take off 4 or 5 inches of hair, discuss it with your spouse first to make sure it is not going to affect your marriage.

Relationships can be so complex; yet, so simple.  It all depends on marrying the right person.

Converting from Flat Irons to Curling Irons

 So you're tired of the flat iron damage?  Ready to take the curling iron plunge again?  Well, it's simple.  If you were using a one inch flat iron, then you need a one inch curling iron.  If you were using a 2 inch flat iron, then you need a two inch curling iron.

The diameter of the curling iron barrel represents the size.  So the one inch curling iron indeeds measures one inch across the barrel.

It may take time to eliminate putting creases in your hair.  Practice over a few weeks makes perfect!  Long term, you will start to see healthier hair.