Locked in the Caribbean

Sisterlocks Meet-up in Jamaica

I've been back home for two weeks now after a very restful vacation in Jamaica. Whilst there I had the opportunity to meet up with the JA Sisterlockers for lunch and it was such a great experience. I had a hard time trying to eat, converse intelligibly and not keep staring at the beautiful head of locs that were attached to the talking heads of these beautiful women. N'Drea, CaribSun and Jastu were a pleasure to meet. It was indeed an honour. Thank you ladies and hopefully I'll catch up with you on my return next year.

So how did my locs hold up under the intense heat? - very well indeed. Marie my consultant had pre-warned me that the intense heat and humidity combined with the fact that I am a newbie, would put my locs at a greater risk of slippage. She was right. I loved that my scalp was constantly damp from my sweating head, but it did cause several locks to slip. Still no great damage and Marie sorted them out for me at my retightening session. Another thing I noticed was that the rate of growth was faster when I was in the Caribbean. So I am moving to Jamaica immediately and my locs will be down to my bum within a year or two. Result!

OK that's a pipe dream but it was amazing to experience such rapid growth.

My hair is changing in texture and thickness as the loose hair that would have been lost through combing is sprouting and wrapping themselves around my locs. Although I've had about an inch and a half of growth you can hardly tell and I haven't noticed a great deal of change in the length. I don't mind because I love the short and sassy look.

Hot Weather. Cool Hair! Literally

My friends and colleagues are beginning to take notice of my hair and are watching the changes keenly. I continue to attract comments (mostly positive) and remain ready to explain my reasons for locking at the drop of a hat. I am determined to enjoy every stage of the locking process and really, REALLY love my hair.

One month loc'd

I cannot believe how time has flown. It's been a month since I've been loc'd and I absolutely love them. I can't really see much of a change in the pictures but my hair feels thicker and they seem to be settling in well. I am such a compliant customer and follow Marie's instructions all the way. I have no problems doing so because I want my locs to look as fabulous as hers do.

A couple of weeks ago I managed to combine my 3 week follow-up consult with a lunch with some of Marie's clients. Well, how can I describe the event? As woman after woman walked into the restaurant I had to make a conscious effort to keep my jaws from dropping open. Everyone's hair looked spectacular. I had to try mighty hard to maintain eye contact and stop staring at everyone's head! I was the newbie - but only just. Being in the company of such natural fabulosity reconfirmed my decision that micro-locing my hair is the very best decision I could have made for myself and I am assured that they are going to mature into a glorious head of locs.
I wish I'd taken pictures but felt a little shy of asking. I will do next time.

Anyway I have had no problems at all. I have had my first wash (braiding and banding) and that went well. NO SLIPPAGE. I didn't really experience any shrinkage after washing and one month on my length is the same as when I was first loc'd. I am not sure if this will change. It is my theory that the shinkage just might be to do with hair type. Coily, kinky hair simply does its own thing when it is in the lock pattern. My hair strands don't have too many coils and therefore not very much elasticity in it and so tugging on a loc doesn't make it any longer. It just hangs straight down with a few kinks.

I have my first retightening in 2 weeks (6 weeks post installation) and am looking forward to it.

I don't really have a hair care regimen as Marie has instructed me not to put any product in it at this stage. I simply allow the steam and the mist from my shower to moisturise my hair. Then with dampened hands I simply run my fingers through my hair and I'm good to go.
I do have the itchies and my scalp is prone to flaking. So Marie has given me some scalp oil (jojoba, rosemary, sage) which I simply apply to the troubled spot.

I have had lots of compliments from friends, family and colleagues. I love seeing the puzzled look on the sisterin's faces as they try to figure out what's going on with my hair. I have been asked for Marie's number but then they get a little put off when I mention that she is 157 miles away. I can understand that not everyone would want to travel so far, especially in the UK, but I simply look at it a 'me' time.

Please enjoy the pictures and feel free to comment.

Britlocs's First Week in Pictures

Week One

So it's been one week since my locs were installed and I have to say I am loving them. Today was their first outing as I have been at a conference for most of the week. I met up with some friends and as I expected they were curious. I anticipated loads of questions but only got a few. The comments were about the size (why so small?), permanency (when are you going to take them out?). But I did have compliments. On the whole my friends liked them.

The real deal will be at work with my colleagues. I work as a senior manager within the corporate sphere.
I have been really shocked about some of the posts I have been reading on the locks blogs re locs and corporate-dom. I'm not sure that we have that problem in England. Here we are pretty much free to wear our hair how we please as long as both it and the person are well groomed. Fellow Brits - please feel free to correct me here.

I have never felt that my hair is a problem and I don't feel differently with locs. I firmly believe that it is the confidence that the wearer exudes that makes all the difference.
At the moment mine are short. I started with 6 inches of all natural hair. I have to say that I LURVE wearing my hair short and so my short and sassy look microlocs perfectly suits my personality. I know I'll mourn its passing in a year or so. However I am curious to see how long they'll grow.

Lessons Learned at the Journey's start

I think I border on being obsessive. Before I make a decision about a major purchase or lifestyle change I research mercilessly. I did this before my microlocks installation. I thought I knew everything there was to know about microlocks but being in Marie's professional hands highlighted that I know very little.

Only a professional can turn your hair into a living work of art

For those of you contemplating microlocks or Sisterlocks, please choose your consultant wisely. Be guided by your consultant throughout your journey and temper the urge to 'try out' a solution offered by another person about your hair and its care.

I learned that my hair is peculiar to myself. While someone might have a similar texture to mine chances are your hair will be very different and so what works for you will not necessarily work for me. One has to be cautious about giving and taking advice from websites and blogs. So my blog will be about MY hair and MY journey. Hopefully it will inspire and help someone along the way.

I have found an excellent, professional consultant who sports a glorious head of manicured locks. They testify to her skill and dedication so I know my locks will be fabulous but only if I trust her and follow her instructions.

Marie will be very embarrassed about this post but I value her highly and look forward to working alongside her as a partner in cultivating a glorious head of locks. (Marie, I do take debit and major credit cards!) So let the journey begin. YAAY!

400 steps to Freedom

I am now the proud of a head full of glorious microlocks lovingly installed by my fantastic consultant Marie of Cammalocks.
Although excited about the installation I was anxious about what the final result would look like. It was one thing to have several sample locks but quite another to have a head full of them. And what about the dreaded 'plucked chicken' look?
Marie honed in on my anxiety although I did my utmost to be brave. She patiently answered every one of my questions - and goodness knows how many questions I asked over the two days I was with her.

After 20 plus hours of tireless work, she installed the last lock with the words 'welcome to the microlock family' and then as if on cue the Chaka Khan song... 'I'm every woman' came on and then I was surrounded by a translucent white light. OK, so I jest with only two of the three being actually true. But the truth was I was quite emotional about it - why? Who knows. But the results are great. I love them and I am looking forward to the journey. Judge for yourselves.

Installation completed
Look at uniformity of the grids

T'was the night before

Well I am only a few hours away from lock down. I can't quite describe what I'm feeling - perhaps because I am so tired.

Over the past 9 weeks I have worn my hair natural, which is a major accomplishment for me addicted as I am to smooth shiny, processed hair. Now I lurve my natural hair especially its softness. I think I'm going to miss this most of all as I've yet to feel soft locks. Well off to bed I go as I get ready for a major life change.