Mizsamone's SisterLocks Hairography

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T16:15:00.000-05:00

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

2010-12-21T18:34:00.001-05:00

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!!!

2010-08-05T18:34:00.000-04:00

Sisterlocks Retightening

2010-06-05T23:12:00.000-04:00

Groomed Ends

2010-01-31T21:35:00.008-05:00

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!!!

2010-01-19T20:09:00.006-05:00

Picture Timeline

2010-01-05T21:16:00.014-05:00

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

2009-10-17T21:17:00.006-04:00

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!

2009-09-21T22:35:00.006-04:00

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

2009-08-18T22:58:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-07-31T10:00:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-24T12:34:00.002-04:00

No More Permed Ends!!!

2009-05-19T21:31:00.004-04:00

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

2009-03-02T13:49:00.008-05:00

Six-Months Later

2009-03-02T13:03:00.010-05:00

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.

2009-02-01T18:07:00.011-05:00

My husband, sister-in-law, nephew and I drove 12 hours to take part in the most significant presidential inauguration in the history of the United States. This will certainly go down as one of the most inspirational days of my life! Monday, January 19 thousands of people converged on the National Mall along with hundreds of vendors. Vendors sold Obama memorabilia such as condoms, blankets, hat/scarves sets, calendars, buttons, t-shirts. If I had a thousand dollars with me I could not have purchased everything that was for sale. We spent several hours walking the mall, buying souvenirs, and taking pictures because we knew on Tuesday it would be nearly impossible to move - we were right. Tuesday morning we overslept and did not leave for the Metro station until 9:00 AM that morning, the news was already reporting that the mall was closed and that the police were not letting anyone else in. I felt a lump in my throat, but said I did not come all this way not to be somewhere in the vicinity, so we pushed on. At the Metro station there was an announcement that the red lines were temporarily shut down because someone was struck by a train and that passengers were being re-routed and to expect delays. Another lump - however, we were on the blue line and boarded our train after a 10-15 minute wait. The train conductor announced that the Smithsonian and other stops were closed due to the massive crowds, she assured us however, that all the stops were within walking distance to the mall. We decided to get off at L'Enfant Plaza, so did several hundred other people. Needless to say we were standing shoulder to shoulder with African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Europeans Americans, young, old, and people from other countries and although the setting was not ideal everyone was in a jovial mood. We took pictures, laughed, and moved slowly taking baby steps to reach street level. Once we finally reached the street thousands of people were walking, purchasing last minute souvenirs, and making their way to the Capitol. The sky was blue, the sun was shining brightly and we happily walked towards the Capital. We made our way to third street and even though we were not exactly on the mall we had a decent view of the Capital and could hear everything perfectly. During Obama's swearing in the crowd was completely silent but once Barack Obama was congratulated and announced as the 44th president of the United States the crowd erupted into cheers and chants of "Yes We Can" and "Obama Obama." The crowd was filled with people smiling, crying, and hugging, we were all elated and proud to have been fortunate enough to witness President Obama's inauguration.

Curly Style

2008-12-26T09:33:00.004-05:00

After washing my hair I braided it in small sections and rolled the ends on barrettes. Once it dried (about 3 - 4 hours), I took down the braids. All I have to do is finger comb my hair to my liking, the curls will last about 3 - 5 days before the permed ends straighten out.

Mizsamone's French Roll

2008-12-20T19:08:00.004-05:00

Here are a few pictures of my french roll. I am very careful when using bobby pins, so I do not penetrate my locks. If you have another way of pinning a french roll w/out bobby pins please let me know.

3 Months Since My Last Blog

2008-12-18T22:14:00.009-05:00

Wow - funny how time flies when you're having fun and I have been having a ball. I cannot believe my last post was in September - I have had two retightenings since then. What is the best thing about my retigthenings? It only takes 3 - 3 1/2 hours. Robin, my consultant, said that my locks look great. I have had a little bit of dandruff and thought I may need to apply some sort of oil - but Robin told me to use apple cider vinegar when I wash my hair to help control dandruff. I tried it and so far so good. I will keep you posted. I am six weeks out between retightenings. I was a little worried that my hair wasn't growing, but since my initial installment in August my hair has really filled out - meaning my locks have thickened a bit and I have gained enough length that I have worn what closely resembles a french roll. I have also been wearing a srunci band when I want to pull the hair away from my face. I particularily like this look because it provides a more polished look. So, these past few months I have been having a great time experimenting with creative styles for my permed ends. And, I am happy to report that I receive compliments daily on my hair and I am constantly directing people to my blog Mizsamone's Hairography, www.sisterlocks.com and www.locks4life.com. There are still a lot of people out there who have never heard of Sisterlocks and I am more than happy to talk about the Sisterlocks community and the joy of making one of the best decisions in my life.

And, the most fun I have had since my last blog has been following the presidential election. I have been on cloud nine since November 4, 2008. Every time I see President elect-Obama I smile. Every time I see a picture of America's First Family I smile. Every time I hear the name Obama I smile. Let's just say that I have been smiling a lot lately and it feels fantastic. I am also inauguration bound! My brother lives in Upper Marlboro, MD and my husband and I will stay with him - the hotels are all full and way too expensive. Anyway, the plan is to stay with my brother in MD, take the Metro to DC and bask in the ambiance of America's first African American president's swearing in ceremony. The prediction is that millions will be in DC to witness this historic event. The temperatures are expected to be in the low 30's but I am a Michigander so I can take it. The cellular phone companies are predicting that there may be a overload and that cellular service may be dismal. I survived without a cell phone for year, so be it. What I am trying to say is that nothing can keep me from it!

Funny How Time Flies

2008-11-07T20:44:00.003-05:00

Wow, it never ceases to amaze me how time gets away from you. Since my last post I have had my second retightening, which was a breeze; attended an Obama rally during one of his Michigan campaign visits, waited an hour November 4 to cast my vote for Obama/Biden, and was glued to the Internet watching the election results. President-elect Obama will be the 44th president of the United States!!! This is more than amazing.

What Do the Big Body Bronco and Sisterlocks Have in Common?

2008-09-20T22:01:00.006-04:00

I own a '96 Bronco, it has a sporty feel to it even though it has a hefty gas appetite. And, when I drive my Bronco I never have to worry about seeing fifty other vehicles just like it. I have always followed the beat of my own drum and I feel unique and original owning a Big Body Bronco. My Bronco needs a little work, so I made a vow to do a project each summer until it is restored to its original glory. Which leads me to my Sisterlocks. Now that I part of the Sisterlocks family I feel as if I am also being restored to my original glory. The glory that Black woman have always wanted - beautiful, healthy, natural, and original hair. Even though the Sisterlocks family is growing around the globe every journey, every testimonial is different as is everyone's Sisterlocks - no two locks are the same. So, as I walk out my front door to face another day I do so knowing that my hair is original and glorious. What does the big body Bronco and Sisterlocks have in common? Me, Mizsamone's glorious originality.

3 1/2 hour Retightening!!!!!

2008-09-14T22:21:00.004-04:00

Wow - my first retightening only took 3 1/2 hours! A few of my locks at the nape and temple slipped, which is very common, other than that I had no issues at all. My consultant, Robin, said my Sisterlocks looked great and to continue what I have been doing - to continue to braid and band when washing, to carefully separate my locks after washing and to gently style them because of my permed ends. I must also give credit to my consultants at Locks4Life because their expertise is the reason my Sisterlocks look so great! I assumed all was well with my Sisterlocks, I examine them closely everyday, but I was still relieved to know my Sisterlocks are where they need to be especially since I had heard some horror stories. Braiding and banding is no big deal because I use to wrap my hair every night when I had a perm, but I am certainly anxious to achieve the freedom of going to bed without any prep. But, because of my permed ends it can take more than a year before my hair completely locks - which means I will be need to braid my hair and band it every time I wash it.

1 month later

2008-09-06T16:50:00.012-04:00

My permed ends are straight and a bit stringy so, after I washed my hair I tried something a little different to add more body to my perm. After I washed my hair, I separated my locks and let it air dry and then before it dried completely I braided my hair in sections and curled the ends using barrettes. In the morning, I took it down and used my fingers to comb through my hair. It was tighter than I expected, but I like it a lot better than the straight perm ends. Note the difference between this picture and the one from my first post.

Mizsamone's Hairography

2008-08-31T17:28:00.006-04:00

My hairography is similar to your own. As a young girl, I wore plaits, pigtails, an afro and a press and curl. I soon graduated to the dreadful Jheri Curl (you will not see any of those pictures on this site). I eventually made my way to perms, weaves, and braid extensions. In 1996, I did the big chop and wore a TWA (teeny weeny afro). WOW - what a feeling and a sense of freedom. I sported my TWA for about three years. I absolutely loved the spontaneity the TWA provided. I eventually grew bored with my TWA and returned to the vicious cycle of perms, weaves, and braid extensions. I grew tired and weary from this roller coaster ride; I wanted to go natural once and for all. I was introduced to Sisterlocks by a friend and began to peruse the websites and blogs. I was hooked!

I invited my husband to attend my Sisterlocks consultation. I feel as if getting Sisterlocks is the first day of the rest of my life and it is important for him to join me on my journey. So, we drove the 2.5 hours to Locks4life. I read so many SisterLocks blogs that I assumed I knew what to expect at my consultation. Wrong! My husband and I had no idea that we would leave that consultation with a feeling of pride and exhilaration. The consultants at Locks4life were patient, forthcoming, and answered all my questions twice; I tend to repeat myself. I really like the fact that one of the consultants has been wearing Sisterlocks for two years and she was able to share her story with my husband and me. The Sisterlocks video was kooky, fun, and inspiring. My husband and I were very excited and eager to start the process, but my locking session was scheduled for August 9, 2008 two-weeks away from my consultation!!! I had been growing out my perm wearing braid extensions and since I removed the braids for my consultation I had no idea what to do with my hair, needless to say the two-week wait until my appointment was torture!

FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD

2008-08-11T10:10:00.008-04:00

Well, not quite. I still have permed ends, the left side of my hair is thicker than the right, I have breakage and some thinning areas all thanks to the modern day CONK. But, I am a survivor and I am on my way to healthy, vibrant hair once and for all. I cleared my cabinets and drawers of gels, sprays, oils, ponytails, and wigs - you name I had it. Not only is it a great feeling to no longer need these products, but I feel more organized because I no longer have to sort through drawers to find items and I can actually see the back of my medicine cabinet.

It is only day two and I am still on cloud nine - I feel absolutely fabulous!