Beautiful long locks..

Well, wouldn't you know it?  I trimmed my hair and then I saw this video...

http://naturalhairbeauty.blogspot.com/2010/12/in-love-with-locs-video.html

next time I think I will remind myself to wait it out!  Luckily my hair grows fast because now I want to try some of these styles and to do that, I'm going to need more hair! 

*sigh* 

Peace and Blessings,
Evie

I cut my Sisterlocks!

Well, there is something to be said for being bored..  I saw a picture of myself, and realized that for me long locks are probably not going to work.  I didn't want Sisterlocks for the length, I wanted the freedom that comes with locks and the fact that I think locks are naturally beautiful.  I do not buy into the thinking that when a woman reaches a certain age long hair is no longer an option because my mother kept her hair long as well as some of my aunts.

However, for me long hair gave me a matronly appearance.  I usually do lots of investigating, reading and research before making up my mind but this time was different - or maybe it was that glass of wine!

I removed the link to an article about cutting Sisterlocks when I realized the author didn't have Sisterlocks and was probably promoting something else...  It really is common sense, don't trim too much, start with little snips and evaluate what you're doing as you go.  In other words, take your time.  Remember locks shrink so be cautious!

 Armed with my Tweezerman scissors and following some basic information and a little common sense, I began snipping.  I didn't do an all over cut because my hair on the sides and top is much shorter that what I had in the back and that was the offending area...those long ends gave my hair the shape of a mullet...uh...yep, not a good look.

So, as you can see by the pics, I didn't cut a lot off - maybe 1 to 1.5 inches and a lot of my ends weren't locked yet which I was a little worried about but I did it anyway.  My ends are natural with no perm, so I was hoping that the hair above where I cut was pretty much on it's way to lockdom.  I read somewhere that hair locks from the root to the end and then begins to lock from the end to the scalp and keeps that pattern always locking towards the scalp.  Makes sense to me.  The other thing is that how bad could I mess this up?  I wasn't cutting large chunks of hair, just the back portion and then only about an inch at a time until I reached a point that I liked.

So, here are the pics.  My style is now more of a bob and I'm a happy camper!
Peace and blessings,
Evie

It's been a year!!! WooHoo!

Well, there's not much to update about my hair other than I simply love it more and more every day!  I missed my one year update because a friend was going thru a personal tragedy and posting was the last thing on my mind.

I had my retightening on Saturday, and I am really thinking about taking the class.  I want to be able to do it myself in case something comes up, for financial reasons, or if I just don't want to drive 30 miles... I love my consultant!  She is absolutely wonderful and after the ordeal that I went thru with my original consultant, she is a gift from God!  However, I could still go to her a couple of times a year to make sure I haven't done any irreversible damage.  I love the freedom!

Funny story...I was taking a nap and I had my scarf on (I'm really concerned about getting any lint in my hair, so I always put on a scarf when sleeping).  Anyway, I was expecting a package and my UPS man is well...cute!  I snatched off that scarf, ran my hands thru my hair to fluff it up and opened the door!  I realized that back in the day, pre-Sisterlocks, I wouldn't have been able to do that!  Waking up cute is worth the price of admission!  LOL!

Also, I was in Cost Plus and there were two cashiers.  One excitedly asked me, if I had Sisterlocks.  I said yes, and then the other cashier said, "Oh, so those are Sisterlocks".  Now cashier #2 had traditional locks.  They were very neat and on the small side.  She said, "So what's the big deal about Sisterlocks?"  Cashier #1 just smiled at me.  I said well, they were created by a brilliant woman to give us choices on how we lock and style our hair.  Her reply..."locks are locks".  Ok... anywho... I didn't feel defensive, it just made me think.  Yes, technically locks are locks, but for me Sisterlocks are beautiful and my personal choice for my hair.

It's not about one being better than the other, it's a personal choice on styling.  It's about FREEDOM!  Ok, I'm off my soapbox now. 

Peace and Blessings,
Evie

October Reminder!

I can't believe October is half over and I forgot to post my reminder about the importance of mammograms and breast self-exams!  Wow!  I have been very busy lately but I that is no excuse for me to drop the ball.

I have survived breast cancer twice.  I was first diagnosed in October 1998 and again in August 2008.  As scary as this diagnosis can be, I want to let everyone know that it is not a death sentence.  Early diagnosis is key.  Don't be afraid to go to the doctor, do your self-exams and know your breasts.  That way when something changes you are more likely to question it and go to the doctor.  Ignoring something is the absolute worse thing anyone can do. 

So, Happy October everyone.  Think PINK! And please be proactive with your health. 

Peace and Blessings!
Evie

Happy Birthday to me! And other random thoughts

Wow, today is my birthday!  I am so blessed to still be here alive and well, happy and full of joy!  I'm not saying how old I am...that's between me and the Lord!  LOL! but I'm still here.

Today I was going to join Curves... and somehow I ended up at Cami Cakes in Buckhead buying cupcakes!  Yup, oh well tomorrow is another day. 

I just had a retightening on Saturday, so I have new pics to post.  Also, I mentioned to my consultant that my locs felt dry and that I had lost another one - see earlier post, so she brought out some olive oil and proceeded to massage the oil into my locs.  Then she added some shea butter.  Well, it looked good and felt great...until the next morning!  I looked like I had dunked my head into a bucket of oil.  Not a good look.  So, I washed my hair repeatedly until it felt clean.  This time I decided to condition my hair.  It was braided and banded so I wasn't afraid of anything coming undone.  Also, I remembered that before I had Sisterlocks, I would always condition my hair and that my hair just doesn't respond well to most oil products.  Conditioner on the other hand is a different story.  I was trying to help the dryness but oil doesn't add moisture - it adds well.. oil!

After I rinsed my locs several times, I squeezed the water out with a towel and then rolled the ends on my brand new soft spikes - pictures below.  Things turned out great - however around 4:00 a.m. I was pulling those soft spikes out of my hair.  On Monday morning, I had 24 soft spikes on the floor next to my bed!

I do like them but maybe I rolled them too tight.  Also, I had just had my locs retightened so it just felt uncomfortable and they had to go.  Sleep is a priority and comfort is key!

Ok, so here are my Sisterlocs at 10 months!  I'm going to eat a cupcake...

Peace and Blessings!
Evie

Another loc lost?!!

Oh my... I have lost another loc!  I knew that it was hanging on for dear life, but I was hoping it would hang on until my retightening on Saturday.  Well, nope!  some of my locs at the nape of my neck are thin and I thought it would have been the opposite with the thicker locs in the back.  My hair is softer and fine in some places, and this is one of them. 

I'm also having some bunching issues, but I usually am able to work it out without too much manipulation.  My ends have a texture that I can't really explain.  I don't have any relaxer in my hair, this is just what grew back after chemo.  It is fairly thick but has a finer texture that I realized so I am not locked yet even though it's now been 10 months.  Wow, I can't believe it's been 10 months!!!  I love it!  well, except for the losing locs part.  For some reason I thought bunching only happened if you had relaxer on your ends.  That is not true - it depends on your hair texture and the way the loc begins to mat together, etc.  Anyway, it appears that my ends were curling back on themselves and creating a 'hair loc loop' that results in a clump or bunch of hair.  It's not pretty...

Anyway I know that this is all part of the process, so I'm not going to stress about it (for now).  Also, I started drinking Wheatgrass smoothies every day and my energy level is so much higher!  No caffeine jitters, just good energy and I'm sleeping better at night too.  I will post the smoothie recipe later, just wanted to update my blog with my hair status since I'm tracking the process.

Peace and Blessings!
Evie

Still attached...

And now... ;  (

Little loc lost...

Well, I've heard about losing a loc here and there, but I was shocked to find this little loc after I removed my silk scarf!  WTH???  I am so careful with my hair, and to find this little broken loc stranded and looking so forlorn and lost was a shock to me.  It was actually sad because I thought I was taking such good care or my hair.  I did notice that it was feeling a bit dry, but I didn't do anything about it.  Then I noticed that my scarf felt like it was pulling on my locs, but again, I didn't do anything about it.  And then... 

Little lost loc... so sad!

I looked down and there it was... a broken loc!  what the heck just happened?

Well, I will go back to moisturizing and maintaining my locs on a 5 week regular basis!  While I do go for my retighteninigs every 5 - 6 weeks, I wasn't moisturizing..  I wasn't drinking enough water.., and when I was tired I would just tie my hair up in my silk scarf the best I could. not really paying attention to any locs that might have been caught in the mix.  So needless to say, I wasn't treating my locs with the kindness and care that I should have and the result?  A broken loc that spoke volumes!  Well, no more!  I am going back to being the obsessive crazy woman that I know and love!  I will treat my hair with the utmost respect and care possible, and hopefully I won't find anymore little lost locs.

Peace and Blessings!

Evie

Wow how time flies and hair grows!!!

Thank God for pictures or else how would we know just how far we've come???  I look back at my hair pics and WOW!  my hair has really grown over the past few months!  See comparison pics below.

Thanks for following my blog!  I'm feeling much better now. I was in a sad place - but it's better now.  Life can be so unpredictable and I have to learn to roll with the punches, get up and keep it moving!  I can laugh about it now, but a couple of weeks ago?  not so much...

Anyway, here are my pics from installation and now.

Peace and Blessings,
Evie

August 2010 retightening

Well...

I guess I'm feeling happy, content and well... lonely.  How can that be? 

Well, I'm happy that things are going well for my son and his girlfriend.  Her health had been challenged lately, but all is well.  My son will begin a new adventure in his life and it is a life long dream of his, so he is beyond happy! 

As far as content... well my job is going well, things are good and I am content. 

Lonely?  Yes, I am.  I need to reinvent myself I think.  I keep hearing about the new movie/book Eat Pray Love and I wonder how I can incorporate those things into my life?  I've got eating under control... I eat too much!  LOL!  But, I am learning to appreciate flavors, sensations and ingredients for their individual value to each bite.  Instead of gobbling my food, I'm enjoying the taste, the flavor, the texture, the meaning of each grain, seasoning, etc.  Pray?  I pray all the time.  At least I thought I did.  Then I challenged myself to look at my prayer life, and realized that I don't pray as much as I used to.  Love?  I talked to an old friend, and I heard myself - bitter and angry.  I realized that I wasn't ready for love nor was I looking for love.  I had given up.  Who?  What?  Me?  YUP!  I had given up on love. 

I am now trying to come up with a new resolution to the problem..  Diagnose the situation, evaluate the conditions and see if I am willing to open myself up to finding love at this point in my life.  Does it actually exist for real people?  Who will love me with all my scars?  Wow, where oh where did this come from?

Well, this blog has NOTHING to do with my hair and everything to do with my LIFE!  Or, are they inexplicably intertwined?  My hair, My life? 

Who knows?
Stay tuned...

Evie

by the way, since this blog is supposed to be about my life and my hair, here are a few updated pics.

Feeling much better!

Well, it's been almost 2 months since my last post!  Wow, time really does fly.  Since my last post, I have found a new loctician and she is awesome.  As a matter of fact, I have an appointment for a retightening this Friday.  She is not only extremely professional, but my time in her chair flew by!  She even called me after my first appointment to see if I had any questions.  What an amazing difference!

My hair is behaving nicely, and I have no complaints.  Sometimes when I'm on a conference call, I pull out my mirror and just study my locs!  I work from home, so it's not as crazy as it might sound... LOL!

I thought that I would be super obsessed with my hair, but I haven't been.  I braid and band (most of the time), and I wash when I think it's time.  I try to keep my locs separated when it gets close to needing a retightening.  Sometimes when I'm studying a loc, I will look at the frizzies or the loose hair or the ends that haven't sealed yet... and it's just fascinating to me.  I don't think one loc looks better than the other, although I have found some that were combined and I didn't realize it.  I try to intuitively give my hair what it needs, more moisture, etc.

The other day I was in the grocery store when a woman approached me.  She smiled and asked me if I had Sisterlocks?  I said yes, and she was genuinely excited and asked if she could take a closer look.  She obviously had been doing her homework and asked about my loctician, consultation, time involved, etc.  I think that the person that installed my Sisterlocks did a great job.  That being said, I could recommend her to install them but after that, I would have to issue a warning... If you aren't concerned with a trainee working on your hair, then it would be a great choice.  I think being informed is the best defense.  Go in knowing what you're in for.  Ask lots of questions and then relax and learn to love your hair.  Do not compare your process to anyone else and just enjoy!  Those are my personal recommendations.  Oh yeah, one more thing... if something doesn't feel right, stand up for yourself!  Walk away if necessary and always, always expect the best.  That applies to life as well as to your Sisterlocks!  LOL!

I haven't posted any pics in awhile, so here are the latest from about a month ago. 

For everyone that commented on my recent "Annoyed" post, thank you!  Your words of encouragement helped me thru a rough time. 

Peace and Blessings!

Evie

Annoyed..

Ok, yes I am annoyed... my re-tightening appointment has been rescheduled not once, not twice but 3 times! I mean really??? Listen, I understand that things come up, but for my loctician to not only reschedule me but to pawn me off on another loctician who I'm not even sure is certified? I don't see her name on the Sisterlock website... well, that's not exactly true. I don't see her name because I don't know her last name yet! Just the first name, which I won't say here on my blog, but suffice it to say that I will be looking for another loctician.

This makes me want to run back to the creamy crack sometimes! I mean, I am 50+ and I have been to a lot of salons over the years. As I got older, I started going to higher end salons - you know the ones that put your appointments in the computer and can schedule your follow-up appointments for a year out. Not only that, but they call you to remind you of your appointment a few days beforehand! I know it's a little thing, but good service is what keeps you coming back! And great customer service will make you a loyal customer.

I'm not asking for special treatment, but just write down the appointment. Hell, put it on your calendar. Most phones have a calendar but if all else fails, find a calendar and put your clients on there. Here's a thought, how about their name, phone number and what they're coming in for. Maybe I'm getting bumped for a more expensive session such as an install... who knows.

The last time I went for a re-tightening, I was pushed off on another consultant. It had been about 8 weeks, and I had a lot of new growth! Now as good as she was, she was also slower than my regular consultant - who by the way was there, working on someone else! But I digress... she not only was slow, but the appointment took twice as long! For a regular re tightening, it's $95.00 and then $30.00 per hour for each additional hour! Needless to say,it got very expensive! So at that point, I made sure that I would come back in 4 - 5 weeks! Well, no because my appointment has been pushed out to 6 weeks and I'm sitting here feeling the new growth knowing that it will take longer than 3 hours, and I'm just annoyed... on the edge of angry!

At this point, I am stuck. I need to get my hair done, so I will bite the bullet and go next week, but I also know myself and when I feel like this, I know that I will soon move in another direction! I will find someone that values my time, as much as I value theirs. Any suggestions for a Sisterlock consultant in Atlanta? I'm not mentioning any names here, but just know that if my re-tightening doesn't go well, I might just put their poor service on blast!

Sorry, just had to vent...

Annoyed in Atlanta
a.k.a. Evie

Happy Easter!

Wow!  What a glorious day!  Thank God for Jesus and all that he has done for us.  This morning as I stood looking out the window, I marveled at the beauty of nature and what a wonderful day this is.  I love looking at trees, listening to the birds sing, just being quiet and enjoying the peace of God's beauty.  What a marvelous thing he has done, his creation lies before us to enjoy.  Everything working according to his plan.  Even the birds are singing his praises! 

As I looked around, I noticed something that still makes me shake my head.  Lately, a lot of tree branches have broken and fallen to the ground.  Maybe after the drought we had a few years ago, some trees have suffered some damage, and some have lost limbs.  Well, one of the trees had a limb that had apparently fallen but been caught by another branch and the way that it landed seemed to form a cross!  I am not kidding!

I stared and stared and went outside to see if my eyes were deceiving me.  Nope, it truly looked like a cross!  It made me think of Life.  When we go through a drought, there may be damage to our lives... we may even feel that we are lost or at least feel that we have lost something, but something in God's Grace and Mercy will cause him to catch us before we hit the ground!  When he catches us, it is in his Power that we realize what he has done - and it is always something that we could have never done on our own or even imagined!

So, I am sharing my pictures taken on April 4, 2010 at about 10:30 am.  For anyone that needs a reminder of what he has done... and for me, a reminder that if God has a message for you he will find a way to get it to you!

Peace and Blessings,
Evie

Where have you been???

Well after a few months away, I'm back for an update.  Sorry to anyone that follows my blog, but work had taken over for awhile.  I don't have too much to report, except my hair is behaving nicely and growing!  I had a retightening appointment about a week ago that took 7 hours instead of the anticipated 3 hours... oh my... well it had been 9 weeks since my last retightening and my hair had decide to do it's own thing.  drifting over, trying to join other locs, etc.  needless to say, I won't wait nearly as long from now on.  Lesson Learned!

Work is going well, Thank God I'm employed!  My family is doing well, so I can not and will not complain!

Here are a few pics of my hair.  I'm not sure what the timeline is for these, but I will definitely try to do better about posting.  This is my record of my hair journey so it's for me as well.  LOL!

Take care, Be blessed and remember always - God is good!

Evie