Still curly

So my curls have been in for 3 weeks now.  That's a long time. I cleanse my scalp every couple of days in case you're wondering so it can be fresh.  I think I may have to actually wash these curls out because they don't look like they're going anywhere!!  When I wash them, I'll probably just redo them.  I really like this style.  I really want to see how long they'll last but I feel like I'm getting build-up on the locs themselves (not my scalp).  I never really worried about that before but I'm trying to take better care of my hair and scalp.

I really need to find some ALL natural products to use in my hair that doesn't cause a lot of build-up.  I've been reading a TON of different information on several websites and now I just have to take all this info and use it.  I'll probably be trying some new things in the next few weeks.  I'll let you know how all that turns out.

Curls Unleashed!!

This is how my hair looked when I separated my curls (pipe cleaner curls).  I'd left my curls unseparated for 2 weeks and I really liked that look.  I like this look as well.  The curls are still really tight which is good.  I'm not sure how long this style lasts but we shall see.  I've been cleansing my scalp (w/ Organic Root Stimulator Scalp Cleanser) and re-moisturizing as necessary. I've received a lot of compliments and I'm really enjoying my new styles.

There's something that I've noticed since I've been trying new styles with my hair.  People around here are still very ignorant about locs.  I live in central Mississippi where very few women have locs.  Around here, you will see a ton of guys with locs but very few women.  It seems most women think that locs are dirty and nasty.  Though I've received numerous compliments on my hair, most people comment on how neat and clean my hair looks.  Isn't it supposed to be? They say things like "I've never seen anybody with dreads that were that neat. They don't even look dirty."  This has been said even if my hair was fuzzy around the edges.  I just smile and say thank you.  But today, it kinda bothered me that people are so ignorant.  Am I the spokesperson for women with locs in this area? I don't know very many heterosexual women in this area with locs.  There are a lot women with natural hair like short afros and such but not locs.  And the women I DO see with locs are lesbian and not very feminine (there's nothing wrong with that).  I just wish women (cuz they're the ones who usually comment) would educate themselves about natural hair especially locs.  I think this is just an issue in my area because there is tons of information on the internet about natural hair and locs.  I've been getting advice/ideas from youtube so somebody somwhere has to be rocking these styles!  I've noticed that most of the ladies live up north and/or on the East coast.  I guess we Southerners ain't ready for all this naturalness.  LOL!

New 'do update.

This is how my hair looks 2 weeks after I rolled it with pipe cleaners. The curls have fallen only a little and I love that it's lasted this long. I'm gonna try something different with it this weekend. I'm not going to wash the curls out though. I'll post again with a new style.

Valentine's Day 2010

Valentine's Day Weekend was really nice.  We each picked a day and date activities to do on that day. In other words, he planned a date and I planned a date.  On Saturday (my day), we ended up driving around cuz the bowling alley was closed to the public for a tournament.  We went to Radio Shack and one of the sales women commented on my hair (pipe cleaner curl set).  She said that my hair looked so clean and neat.  Another girl said she didn't realize my hair was locked because it was so pretty.  WTH?! I wonder whose heads she's been looking at?  I really pride myself with keeping my hair looking nice (or at least trying to) so I can help dispel the myth that locs are nasty and dirty. 

After we went to eat, we went home and just chilled out.  I had been thinking about getting a tattoo all week and I almost forgot about it.  Hubby didn't want to go so I called my best friend and she went with me to get it.  I'm so excited about it. (See 2/14/10 post) 

On Sunday, I went to church with a friend.  When I got home, hubby had flowers and a balloons waiting for me.  I also got candy, a homemade card, a bear, and a cute little heart shaped ring.  He took me to lunch and a movie.  We saw The Book of Eli with Denzel Washington (my favorite actor).  It was a great movie.  I had a wonderful weekend.  ;)

My latest tattoo (aka Black History Tattoo)

This is my latest (my 4th) tattoo.  It is Gye Nyame.  It means 'except God' as in ' I fear no one except God.'  It's an Adinkra West African symbol.  I love it.  I love expressing myself thru African culture.  There are a few more Adinkra symbols I want to get tattooed but that will come later.  I have to remain professional.

This is my most exposed tattoo.  That means I will have to work a little harder to cover it in the summer time when I wear short sleeves.  A watch just won't do so I figure I'll wear bracelets if necessary. All my other tattoos can be covered with regular clothing and can only be seen if I want them to be seen.  I'm not tripping.  Tattoos are more mainstream now so as long as I dress (and act) professionally, I don't see it being an issue. What do u think?

Super Bowl Sunday curls

This is how my pipe cleaner set turned out. I love it!! I took them out this morning before church so this is how it is at the end of the day. I haven't slept on it yet so we'll see how it looks in the morning. I need to oil my scalp but I'll take care of that in the morning.

BTW, I have about 165 individual locs. Of those, I probably have about 10-15 locs that have 'legs' because I've combined 2 or more that became too thin.  I've never counted them before but rolling my hair made it easy to do. :)
Good night. Go Saints!!

pipe cleaner roller set.jpg

I retwisted my hair and set it with pipe cleaners. I saw a tutorial for it on you tube. My hair should be in tight 'shirley temple' curls when I take the pipe cleaners out. I think it's gonna be cute. I'm not gonna take the pipe cleaners out until Sunday morning before church. I'm not sure how long the curls will last but we'll see. ;)
If I like the style, I'm gonna do it differently next time. I won't retwist it at the same time as I roll it cuz it took entirely too long. I did try a new conditioner after my shampoo that I left on for an hour. It smells really good but it was a little hard to wash out. I'm enjoying my renewed enthusiasm for my locs. I'll post pics when I take the pc out. Peace. ;*

Trying new stuff

How I wore my hair 2/3/2010


It's just a simple basket weave in the front with the rest hanging down.  I plan to tighten my locs this weekend and try a new curly style.  We'll see how it turns out.

My Locstory

As of today, I have not permed my hair in 7 years.  My last perm was early January 2003.  My hair has been locked since May 2003.  Even if I don't always have locs, I will never perm my hair again. 

Right now, I'm lovin my locs.  My journey has been full of ups and downs.  Of course, everyone goes thru that rough stage in the beginning.  I also went thru a stage when I wanted to cut my hair (about a year and a half ago).  Then last summer I went thru another stage where I wanted to try to comb the locs out (I did comb out a few).  Lately, I've been on youtube looking for ways to style my hair.  I have renewed confidence in my hairstyle choice and I'm looking forward to trying new things with it.  I didn't color my hair until August 2005 and right now, I have two shades of the same color.  The back is a little shorter than the front because I had it cut into an asymmetrical bob.  Now I'm waiting on my hair to grow longer so I can do a little more with it.

My locs were first started by a professional. She cut off all the permed ends and comb twisted my little bitty afro.  I maintained them myself for the 1st 2 years.  After that, I got them touched up professionally about every 6-8 weeks.  In the summer of 2006, I moved to another city and I had to find someone else to do my hair. Once I found someone (who actually took better care of my hair than the original person), I resumed my regular touch up schedule of 6-8 weeks.  Lately, I've been doing my hair myself because I haven't wanted to spend the money or waste the time sitting in the shop.  I haven't been since April 2009.

During the first 2 years when I maintained my hair myself, I tried so many different products.  I fell in love with a few products that have now been discontinued so now I have to search for new products.  I'm really excited about trying out new products and new styles.  Stay tuned for pictures of the things I try.