Zipper Braid / Length Check

Beat the Heat Bun

Braidout!!

A Very Merry UnBirthday Pt. 3!!

Hey y'all!!

I've been trying to keep up with my picture taking so that when I have an opportunity to blog, I've got something to show you.


I'm at 16.5 months and I still love my hair.

I pretty much just wash when I need to, retwist when I feel like it, and go on about life.

Besides shampoo I have been using Sulfur 8 Light every 3 days or so to keep my scalp from going nuts.

I also use Earthbalism Herbal Hair Rinse, except instead of using it as it a rinse, I use it as my daily spray.

I brew it like a tea, strain it, and put it in my spray bottle.  I keep the bottle in the fridge to keep it from spoiling and I go through a bottle a week. 

It keeps my locs supersoft... and since I don't use conditioner anymore, it's pretty much become my favorite thing ever.  I've been using the Flower Power one, but I need to re-order this weekend so I'll be trying all three varieties this time.  It smells amazing and whenever I brew it, my house smells like a garden for DAYS!

I've still been rocking bantu knot outs when my roots are out of control, but I'm too lazy to retwist.

It takes about 20 minutes to do and the curls last for about 2 weeks.

Here's another lil collage of just random shots, but you can see my beads.  I haven't been wearing a lot of loc jewelry lately, but I'm never without my beads.  I got 4 of them on clearance for like $1 a year ago and now I wear them regularly.  I take them out when I wash my hair and they're rarely on the same locs for more than 2 weeks.

Pretty sure this was after my last retwist about 2 weeks ago.

Here's a random loc shot so you can see the length and thickness of my locs.

That's all for now folks!!  I'll be back whenever I get a chance, but I'm still taking pics so you can see how my hair is thriving.

YAAAASSSSS!!!  lol

*flips locs* Deuces!!

15 Month Update...

Yeah so... I was going to update sooner, but the way my attention span is set up... *Kevin Hart voice*


LOL My bad y'all.  Last time I was here I was gearing up for my one year anniversary and now it's 3 months past that.  I've been busy!  It sounds trite, but it's so true. lol  I've got a bunch of stuff going on in my life (good things) and blogging about my hair tends to fall to the side as those things take over.  I'd promise to do better, but we'd all know I was lying. :)

So anyway... let me tell you about my hair.

It's going great.  The front left side has is about 80% locked so I'm almost completely there.  I still have 3 stubborn braids that refuse to give in, but I like them.  They give my hair personality.

I have stopped interlocking and started retwisting.  I used to really want neat roots and since I have to wash my scalp so often, that made twisting out of the question for me when I first started.  Now I couldn't really care less about my roots.  I'm a retwister...when I have something special going on.  For the most part, I just separate when I wash and go on about my day lol  I haven't interlocked since that last post I mentioned it in September.

Don't act like y'all don't see that length!!  Ow!! Get it!!

Style-wise, I usually just wear it down.  Sometimes I do a twistout or an actual style, but for the most part, I just chill and let them hang.  I have also become one of those people who wears a ponytail holder like a bracelet so I can pull them back out of my face if I want to.

Right now I actually have a bantu knot out going.  Bantu knots have always been tricky for me.  They never came out the way that I wanted.  This Sunday, I was watching Walking Dead (that's my show!! lol) and I decided to try again and I love the way they came out.  Plus it only took like 15 minutes to put the knots in.

I have been getting compliments on this left and right.  Like my boss literally came out of his office to come tell me how nice my hair looked.  So that's a win. :)

My routine is still pretty simple... I wash when I feel like it or when my scalp starts acting up.  I've been using a cheap V05 shampoo followed by Aussie Moist shampoo. I have been doing a hot oil treatment every 2 weeks with Hot Six Oil.  Basically I just heat it up, smother my head, put a plastic bag on it, and sit under my dryer for a half hour. That's actually the only time I use my hair dryer.  I let my retwists air dry unless I'm in a rush and I try not to do it when I'm rushing.

Those locs that I combined in September are doing well and I've actually combined a couple more since then (I sewed the newer ones together, then pulled the thread out when they started meshing). I think I'm done with combining.  I've got them all pretty much where I want them now.

So that's what's going on with me.  Hopefully, I'll do better with updating but if not and you just want to keep up with me, you can catch me on Twitter or Instagram. Both of my pages are locked for privacy but if you send me a request, I'll accept. :)

Until the next time folks... Keep it nappy!!

*flips locs* Deuces!!

Random Styles

Guess who's biiizzzaaack!! *insert dope instrumental here* lol

Hey y'all,


I'm about 2 weeks away from one year, but we're not here to talk about that today.  Today I'm just going to show you random styles I've had!


We'll start off with the rollers I told you about last time.  I used strips of paper and curled my hair.

Eh...

I didn't hate it... but I didn't love it.  There are some things I see I'll do different next time, but I'll definitely do it again.


The disappointment from that caused me to do this which I loved!

Thick cornrows

 

 

I love how this came out!

Y'ALL SEE THOSE LOCS!!! Yeah, I know I said it on the caption, but it feels so damn epic I had to say it again!! LMAO  I looked at that picture and I was like "Whoa, I've got locs!" :)

Y'ALL SEE THOSE LOCS!!

My girl NaturaLocs asked for a pic of my jacket I talked about in my last post, so I'll leave you with some of those.  If you haven't been to her blog, you need to go check it out.  She just had a post on baby locs and working out that is ON POINT!

The next time we talk, my locs will be one year old.  I'm excited!!  I can't say that I'm going to update on my exact anniversary, but I'll definitely take pics so you can see where I was and what it looks like on that day.

I love this jacket.

*flips locs* Deuces!!

11 Month Anniversary!!

I'm back in (barely) under a month lol

Not much has really been going on with my hair and I haven't been styling it that much until this week, so I haven't had much to talk about.  But since my anniversary was 9/29, I decided to stop in and show you what it's like right now.

Hi!!

So this week, I decided to get off my arse and do something cute with my hair.  I got some new products last week and after using them I decided to make my hair look as good as it felt lol.  This was the way I wore it for a couple of days.  It's a zipper braid and it looks so much thicker now than it did the last time I did one.

March 2012 (4 months) and October 2012 (11 months)

I don't really see my progress when I look in the mirror, but I can't deny it in a picture.  Yay!!


As I mentioned earlier, I tried some new products this week.  I tried the  Flower Power teapoo bar and herbal rinse from Earthbalisms.  The rinse is like a tea of flowers!  It smells like a meadow and it made my hair so soft!  I brewed it then put it in a spray bottle in the refrigerator.  I sprayed it in my hair daily for a week, then I poured the rest over my hair.  The teapoo bar made my locs tighten up and feel so soft... and again it smells like a meadow!  Not to mention, they are reasonably priced at about $5.50 each.  I'm already planning what to buy next.

Random, but today it was kind of chilly so I grabbed my fav leather jacket.  I pulled it on and flipped my locs over the collar (which felt powerful) then looked in the mirror.  I looked BADASS!! ♥♥♥


That's all for now.  I'll have another post this week as I've got rollers in my hair right now.  Whatever this turns into, I'll take pictures and post. And then of course, my 1 year anniversary is only a few weeks away!!

Talk to you soon.  Keep it nappy y'all!!

*Flips locs.*  Deuces!!

A Very Merry UnBirthday!! Pt. 1

Hey y'all!!

I have decided that it's stupid to think I will be able to post an update on whatever anniversary I am currently at; I need to start updating whenever I get a moment and tell you what it's like at that moment.  Damn... that was the longest sentence ever. You'll have to forgive me. I'm excited about my hair! lol

To my Alice in Wonderland fans... Welcome to my tea party!!     

1. Frizz - I thought my hair was frizzy back at in month 2.  To that I say Ha!! It was a little fuzzy back then, it is frizzy now.  There is thick luscious frizz that makes my hair looks full and smooths down beautifully in a twistout.  I never thought the frizz would be something I like, but I love how it looks now.  I look exotic and wild.
2. I'm still not exactly sure how they are going to turn out - I don't know what they'll look like months from now.  I can't predict it because this wasn't what I thought they would look like 6 months ago. They are completely mine, flaws and all. They have my DNA stamped all over them, from the thick bottoms (lol), to the the random spirals cutting through, to the lumps, and even to the color.  I love the way the red grows out and gives me an ombre look.  I got that color thinking I was getting perfectly sized sisterlocks and I would keep the roots done.  I have ended up with randomly sized braidlocks that haven't been colored since installation and probably won't be any time soon.
3.  I love a 2-for hairstyle - I love styles that can be worn 2 ways like twists into a twist out.  I don't like the way just braids or twists look on my hair yet, so when setting my hair, I put it into an updo for several days, then wear it loose for the rest of the week. 
4. I've definitely calmed down - I'm not going to say that I don't still spend time talking about and looking at my hair.  I still take a lots of pics, but not as many as I did at the start.  I've really gotten into food and home blogs and have been considering putting together a blog about my other interests.  It's a thought, y'all see how long it took me to actually post a youtube video though. LOL
5. The front has finally started locking - Well, at least one side has.  It's still got about 3 that haven't but the right side is mostly locking now.  The left side...is still stubbornly protesting any type of change. :) If you look at the tri-fold pic you can see the progress.  But hey 2/3rd means I'm almost there right?
6. Bright accessories - I have always loved bright hair clips in the summer.  Now I've got lock jewelry, and clips, and headbands.  I usually have an accessory in daily.  There's so much pretty stuff that looks fab in locs. I've been eyeballing  these bobby pins from Target next. 

That's all for now...talk to you soon.

Keep it nappy!!

*flips locks* Deuces!!

I made it to 6 months!!

4/29/2012 marked my 6 month anniversary... and instead of telling you how I'm feeling... I'm going to show you!  :)  I finally made my first YT video!!  I'll do a post soon with an update but for now, enjoy.

Haute Dreads!!

Okay, I know I keep telling y'all I love my hair... but seriously!! It's amazing!!


This is going to be a quick style post. This is how I'm wearing my hair today.  Yesterday, I was surfing youtube (as I'm sure you do too lol)  and I searched for "short to medium length dreadlocks."  This video came up:

I loved it and the video was only 8 minutes long so I though I could achieve it.

I ended up with this:

This was my first time pinning bangs, loved it!!

So this morning, I decided to get a little creative and turn this into an updo.    I came up with this:

Photo by my son Joaquin  :) He's 7. 

So that's how I'm wearing it today. I've got a headband on to dress up the front.  Hope you enjoyed, don't forget to hit the follow button!

Keep it nappy y'all!!


*flips locks*

Deuces!!

Rock It Out!!

Hey Y'all!!


I'm going to show you how I've been wearing my hair.  I've been trying to change it up regularly.  When I had permed hair I used to style it all the time. I never got really skilled at doing it with loose natural hair, but I have been having so much fun styling my locs!!

I call this my ballerina bun.  I know some people call it a high bun, or a topknot, or some other variation, but it reminds me of a ballerina. *shrug*

 

I saw this video on Nappturality

and decided to try the technique.  Just the top with the bottom loose. 

I really liked how this came out!  Not to mention, I kept it in for 3 or 4 days and slept on it without wrapping it up. (Still used my satin pillowcase though)  This might be my favorite style I've tried so far.  I did it on a chunky braidout to give some curl to my locs.

I'm about to go style hunting on youtube, so I'll be back in a week or so with more!

Keep it nappy y'all.

*flips locks* Deuces!!

Lock Rockin Styles!!

Hey y'all!!


I've been actually doing some styles these last few weeks!  (Shocking right? lol)  Nothing too fancy, my skill level isn't there yet, but more than I have been previously doing.

So here are some photos of how I wear my hair:

Bun with an EZ comb

Braid out with beads strung along several locks.

Half pony.  My go to when I don't want my hair in my face.










Until the next time, keep it nappy y'all!!

*flips locks* Deuces!!

3 Month Review - Time is FLYING!!

Hey y'all!!

I can't believe it's been three months already.  It seems like just a couple of days ago, I got out of bed at the crack of dawn and headed to braid shop.


We are rolling right along.  I don't have any complaints, my hair is growing, it's healthy and low maintenance.  I seem to be locking from the back up.  The back of my hair is much further along than the front, but it's all good as long as it all gets there eventually.

Routine:

1. Shampoo whenever I feel like it needs it.
2. Rinse at least every other day.
3. Grease my scalp with JBCO hair food when I think it needs it.
4. Condition once a month (usually on anniversary)

My ends at 2 months and at 3 months

The nape of my neck has shrunken and bunched into some weird shapes.  I'm assuming that's all going to work itself out on its own, so I'm trying to not be concerned by it.

I love this little lock. It is chugging right along and you can't tell it was ever a braid.  Grow baby grow!!

This was how I wore my hair yesterday. Can I just say I am all in on the size of my locks?  No more wondering if I need to make them smaller.  That fullness right there is everything I ever wanted!










That's all for now, talk to you all soon.

Until the next time... keep it nappy y'all

*flips locks* Deuces!!

Hello all,

I'm nearing my 2 month anniversary!!  Expect that update in about 2 weeks.

My hair is doing pretty good.  I'm getting more and more comfortable with it as days go by.

I'm just dropping in to show you all how I've been wearing my hair in these beginning stages.

Before                                                 After

 I pretty much live in braidouts. It took me a while to figure out a technique that would give me my preferred look until I realized that I should just cornrow them the same way I did my loose hair. Love how it looks and it's pretty much my day to day look.

  

I had an event at my office a couple of weeks ago and wanted to try out an updo.  This is what I came up with.  I liked it... but those bobby pins were killing my scalp! LOL

At night, I usually toss my hair up in a loose ponytail and put on a satin bonnet.  I'm trying to stay on top of keeping my hair covered to stop lint.










 
So that's it for now!  See you after Christmas! Enjoy your holidays everyone and be blessed.

*flips locks* Deuces!!

Twist Out!!

I've never had a successful twist out, I've been trying for 2 years.  My cousin finally helped me realize it was because I've been using leave in as my styling product and I should have been adding some gel.  O.o  LOL  I use just a leave in for my braid outs and they always come out awesome, so I've assumed that the same thing would work for the twist outs.  When I think of all the hot mess I went through when I could have added one thing and been good... Smh.

• Co-Washed
• Garnis Sleek and Shine Leave in rubbed through
• Aussie Hair Insurance sprayed all over.
• 2 strands twists
• Air dry
• Rub with Proclaim Activator gel in morning to make damp
• Air dry

I loved the defined curls! 

Hair Update!!!

Hi everyone!!

I've been missing for a few weeks trying to figure out exactly who is going to install my sisterlocks.  I've been second guessing and it's kind of got me tripping. One way or the other, they are getting installed the week of 9/18. lol I sound super confident right!! 

In the interim... I have been doing a bunch of hairstyles I've never achieved before!!  It's like my loose hair has decided it's going to let me get a couple of cute styles done after 2 years of failure LOL

I've been taking pictures so I could share what's worked:


Banding

I've always heard of people doing this, but I've never tried it myself.  It was easier than I expected and I liked the way my hair was easy to style after.

Side View

Shampooed and conditioned.

Back View

 

 

Applied leave-in Garnis Fructis Sleek and Shine.

Top View

Used ponytail holders to start, rubberbands the rest of the way down.

Final Results!!

  

Final Results