Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Lockers!

OMG - I can't believe I have not updated my blog for an entire year especially since I read Sisterlock blogs daily, so the 2012 resolution is to maintain my blog and FB to document my journey.  I'm at 3 years and have experienced the good, bad and ugly on my journey. I have to admit that it has been mainly good - but I have had a few bad and ugly experiences. I have lost several locks and am still dealing with frizzy and fuzzy locks. I maintain my own locks and have been retightening my own Sisterlocks since my 1 year anniversary so I am confident that some of the lost locks is my own doing and some of it is because some of the locks were just too small and fragile to begin with.

Everyone's journey is as different as their Sisterlocks and here is just a brief overview of my 3 year journey:

• Locked August 9, 2008
• Took the retightening class from my consultant September 2009.  Since caring for my locks I have lost several locks.  I stopped counting the the number of locks I lost, so I am unsure to the number of locks I have right now :(
• Sometime in 2010, I stopped using the Sisterlocks shampoo and began experimenting with different shampoos, conditioners, and oils.  I returned to the starter shampoo November 2011 to deal with excessive frizziness
• December 2011 self-groomed my locks - basically ran the clippers along my locks to remove some of the frizzes.  Made a huge improvement and I am a lot happier
• I have known for some time that my Sisterlocks are not all the same size.  I honestly thought that they would even out once they matured.  Duh - when they were installed the sizes were different, don't know what I was thinking that they would even out.  

That's just a quick overview and even though I have experienced some challenges I still love my Sisterlocks.  I have to admit though that I have thought about starting over, but my four year anniversary is August 2012 and I am not sure if I really want to start from scratch again.  Have to give this one some thought.

I hope you follow me on this blog, my Youtube vlog Mizsamone's Youtube and my FB page Mizsamone's FaceBook and share your experiences with me as well.

Here's to 2012 and healthy Sisterlocks!

26 Months Locked

Wow - time flies when you are having fun and I have been having a blast. I am now 26 months locked and I can hardly believe my growth. It is now long enough to curl and I have been having lots of fun experimenting - check out my youtube video. Most days I freestyle - I run my fingers through my hair and viola'. The picture above is my standard freestyle look.

2 years locked!!!

Sisterlocks Retightening

Groomed Ends

After cutting my permed ends, I noticed several locks with frizzy ends. I did not want to cut to closely to my locks, so I waited until I was at the 17 month mark to groom my ends. I felt comfortable that my Sisterlocks were strong enough to groom and it is easier to determine locked hair compared to the frizzes. So, I section my hair and began to cut-off frizzed ends and any remaining perm. Here is a picture of the some of the frizz that I cut. Unfortunately, the video of me actually grooming the ends did not import - but here is a video of the finished product.

Just loving my SisterLocks!!!

Picture Timeline

Wow - where has the time gone? I am now at the 17 month mark. My Sisterlocks are full, healthy and gray!!! I originally thought that I would color my gray, but I love the silvery look on my locks. Most days I freestyle and just let my locks fall naturally.


Here is a picture at the 15 month mark - rocking a scarf.



And, finally, a couple of pictures at the 9 month mark - I had just cut my permed ends. Some days I don't feel like my hair is growing but once I look back at my pictures I can really appreciate my progress.

1.5 Weeks to Retighten My Sisterlocks

It took me just over a week to retighten my Sisterlocks. Once I got the hang of it the process went rather quickly. Yes, my arms got tired and at times I felt like I would never finish, but before I knew it I was done! The most important take away from this experience is to ensure that you section your hair and separate your locks when retightening - I made the mistake of tangling two locks and had to cut one of them off. I was devastated, but learned a valuable lesson none the less. Here are a few pictures - I am at the 14 month mark.

Retightening Class!

September 19 - I took the retightening class so I can care for my own hair. The class was just over an hour - I received my tools, moisturizer, shampoos, etc. When I returned home from the class I was a little tired from the 2.5 hour drive so I only tried to re-tight a couple locks - not so bad. Sunday I spent about two hours retighening. So, what do I think so far.

Here are benefits of sitting in your Sisterlocks consultant's chair for your 6-8 retightening:

• Done in 3 hours or less
• Consultant can correct holes, re-do any locks which may have slipped

Benefits of doing your own retightening:

• Money saved
• Pride of caring for your own hair
• In my case - no more Michigan slippery roads in the dead of winter!

Doing my own hair is doable - I just have to make sure that I devote the time to get it done, so my plan this week is to work a couple of hours each day. And, just between Saturday and Sunday my confidence increased significantly, so with that knowledge I know that I can do it!

I will up-load pictures of how I section my hair to prepare to re-tight my locks.

One Year Anniversary

August 9, 2009, was my 1 year Sisterlock anniversary! My locks are maturing nicely, I no longer have to rubber band my ends when I wash my hair - it is simply wonderful to run my fingers through my hair and massage my scalp. And, I am ready to partake of another milestone - at my next retightening appointment on September 19 I will learn how to do my own retightenings! Yes, I am nervous, but excited and am willing to put in the work to care for my own hair.

I Love My Sisterlocks!

It's been months since my last post - and a lot has happened since then. My husband and I attended the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. We had a fantastic time and if anything good can come from a hot, humid climate - it is Sisterlocks! I no longer have to worry about humidity or rain showers - YES! It rained one day while we were there and all these women with their perms and weaves were running for cover trying to cover their hair. What a relief that that is no longer me!!

Here is a picture of me at my brother's wedding - it was a great day and I received compliments all day on my hair!

Essence Music Festival

No More Permed Ends!!!

Well, I finally received word that it is okay to cut my perm ends. What to do? I originally thought that I did not want to lose length, but then I thought how great it would be to never have to deal with stringy, limp permed ends. I spent a few days closely comparing my lock growth to my perm ends, then my husband asked, "what are you afraid of?" My response, "well, nothing really, it has only been nine months and I honestly did not think I would have enough lock growth to my liking." A couple of days later still staring in the mirror I finally decided what the hell - the point of getting Sisterlocks was to be natural- so cut the perm and be truly free!!! I love the results - I can truly appreciate my locks and I no longer have to explain the stringy permed ends. I have entered a new chapter in my hairography.

Six-Months Later

Six-Months Later

Day One: I had about an inch of locked hair the rest is perm.

Six months later - there is still a lot of perm left, but notice the difference between this picture the picture from day one. On day one I had a little over an inch of hair that could be locked, now I have about four inches of locked hair.