Signage: Beauty Supply Stores Lay Down the Law

So I went to the one beauty supply store that I knew sold my favorite brand of mesh rollers. (The Diane brand)  Between the Police Canvas and this sign on the front entrance, I knew that the neighborhood must have gotten worse. The sign read: 

ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

• Please be sure that EVERYTHING you purchase meets your needs exactly.
• We do not warranty ANY electronic equipment or other products.
• You are responsible for the safety of your child. No playing or running in the store.
• For your child safety absolutely NO stroller between the aisle
• If you or your child break anything you will pay for it.
• No handbags or backpacks are allowed in the aisles
• No food or drink allowed in the store.

Even with all these rules in place, there were people coming and going out of the beauty supply store.   Other beauty supply stores have security officers and heavy video surveillance. Anyone else seeing anything different?

Loc Wet Set using Tropical Roots Moisturizing Foam

Curls plus updo seems to be my new "fly" look as one of my clients called it.  Laughing out loud.

 Bronner Brothers has now added a clarifying shampoo, conditioner, and Moisturizing Foam to their Tropical Roots product line.  The shampoo and conditioner was not as important to me as the styling foam.  I had the Taliah Waajid Crinkles and Curls foam in my inventory, but I was still looking for another foam option for natural hair.  I like this new foam because it seems more hydrating compared to the Crinkles and Curls.

I used the plait and tuck setting technique throughout my head.  It delivers great texture and volume. Updos are going to last longer than wearing my locs down.  I am so excited about my loc length.  Ultra  curly is my new friend for finger teasing to get volume.

I brought some of this foam back from my California trip.  This foam is not even in most of the stores yet.  However, if you are ready to try it, I am selling them for $5 a piece.  I wanted to pass the savings on to you!

Start of a Certified Sisterlocks Consultant Locking Session

Of course, there is a story behind this Sisterlocks locking session picture.  Well, I had a natural client that referred another natural client to me.  They had two different curl patterns and two different curl behaviors.  So this new referral had more limited options based on her hair texture compared to my long time client.

Surprisingly, this new referral liked my Sisterlocks and wanted to learn more about them.  So while I did a thermal hair straightening service on her natural hair, I showed her some Sisterlocks pictures and explained them.

It seemed that Sisterlocks were the answer that she was looking for as far as control of her natural hair.  I eventually secured her at a $600 Sisterlocks quote based on her length of her natural hair.  However, because my speed was not what it is now, I had second thoughts about tying up my salon time which would take away from my "chemical" clientele. So I gave her a certified Sisterlocks consultant contact information that I trusted to give her true Sisterlocks sizing and a speedy completion.  She did call and scheduled a consultation with the recommended certified Sisterlocks consultant.  However, she came back questioning me about why she didn't get "test Sisterlocks" and my professionalism as far as my Sisterlocks offerings.

Having gone through 12 days of Sisterlocks training, and the personal "hell" of a Sisterlocks journey that I went through, this questioning struck a nerve.  I was NOT upset with the client because she had a right to ask questions.  I was IRATE at the certified Sisterlocks consultant.  My thoughts were this:

"How the hell is it that I am sending a $600.00+ referral your way on a deal that I closed for myself, and your a$$ is painting me as an unprofessional Sisterlocks representative?"  (sorry for the French here)

You best believe this fellow Sisterlocks representative got a long, professional voicemail from me that went something like this:

1) I am a licensed cosmetologist in three states that shampooed and straightened the client's hair so I saw the client's curl pattern and curl behavior.

2) Test Sisterlocks are done mainly because Sisterlocks consultants do NOT have to be cosmetologists.  They can just be "Sisterlocks technicians."  So the test locs allow the Sisterlocks rep and the client to see what the Sisterlocks will somewhat look like initially before the settling in phase.  It also assists with choosing the locking pattern for a new walk-in client.  However, since I gave her a full hairstyling service, I fully knew which pattern to use because I was NO LONGER "new" to her hair.

3) As far as a Sisterlocks paid formal consultation, I did not give it to her because she did not come to me asking for Sisterlocks.  I sold her on Sisterlocks upon hearing her struggle to control her natural hair.  So Sisterlocks was an afterthought for her.

4) I am a full time hair professional.  I do NOT expect anyone including another Sisterlocks consultant to question my professionalism nor integrity.  I am not perfect, but I know that I am a industry leader.

So the certified Sisterlocks consultant listened to my voicemail, and she did call me back, and we did "clear the air."  So we had a new understanding.  I am not in competition with other hair professionals.  I have been in the hair industry long enough to respect being a team player even if we work for different companies.

If we all disrespect each other, then the masses will disrespect all of us.

The client did send me a picture of her start of her Sisterlocks locking session with the other certified Sisterlocks consultant.  She is still pleased that I introduced her to Sisterlocks even though I was not the one to get them started for her.

In summary, the average person wants to assume that all the Sisterlocks consultants are like Mary Kay consultants where there's a Sisterhood and everyone wants the best for each other for the most part.  However,  not all cities have strong Sisterlocks consultants bonding.  It is best to assume that each Sisterlocks consultant is truly an independent consultant in a different network.

Do I anticipate the Sisterlocks networking to get stronger?  It will depend on the city and if enough Sisterlocks representative want to try to work together.  Right now, I would say "no."  But who knows what the future will hold.

Yendi Collection: Sisterlocks Hair Tie

 I purchased my Sisterlocks (tm) hair tie a few years ago.  I knew that one day my Sisterlocks would be long enough to wear it.  Well, most people sport this hair tie with a ponytail, but I opted for an updo enhancement.  Hopefully, I am the first person to "rock" this Sisterlocks hair tie like a headband!

 They come in Brick and Gold colors.  I liked the gold color.  It is a special occasion hair tie because it is great marketing to gain new Sisterlocks clients. I wore it to a Superbowl 2015 event.  I didn't have anyone to ask me any questions, but with the Sisterlocks name "front and center," there are probably not any questions to be asked about the locs.

An artist named Yendi designed the hair ties.  Yendi Collection is listed inside the hair tie.  Where to buy? From Sisterlocks, of course.

On a separate note, Sisterlocks have started an online academy.  I believe that it is mainly for consultants to complete refresher courses. Personally, I still think that consultants should be forced to attend all Sisterlocks trainings that are within a 30 miles radius of the consultants' addresses.

Depending on the city, Sisterlocks consultants bond in Sisterhood by fellowshipping at the trainings. I never found this to be true for the Charlotte, NC area.  In fact, the Charlotte area, would be stronger if Sisterlocks consultants would meet up at least once a year to just have a luncheon.

Loc Hostage: Look, Touch but No Pulling!

One of my clients got very fascinated with my locs.  I initially thought that she wanted to just touch them, but before I knew it, she had held one of my locs hostage to measure its length.  She was pulling it with tension to see where it fell on my back.  I was tilting my head to alleviate tension, but she was determined to continue stretching my loc until it had no more give.  All of this was happening so fast that it completely shocked and surprised me.  I was even a bit traumatized by the hostage of my loc.  My loc and I survived the "loc length check," but in the future, I will have to inform anyone interested in my locs to

LOOK and maybe touch but NOT PULL!