Naturalosity

Braid-out Fab!!!! I love it!!!!

2009-10-31T23:08:00.000-07:00

So what do you all think?!? Ok, can you tell I love taking pics of my locs...its becoming addictive...or at least my family has said so...lol. I've been getting so many compliments! Everybody is so used to me just wearing my locs straight, so I think it was a shock...lol. This style definitely makes me feel super sexy! It's a keeper!!!!

My recent attempt at a braid-out....the before...or as my friend put it "The Miss Celie"

2009-10-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

It didn't take me very long at all to braid my locs. I actually had just washed my them two days before these pics, so I braided my locs while they were dry. In the past when I've tried braid-outs I've braided my locs right after washing them, which I didn't really like. So this time I just spritz my locs with a little water after I finished braiding them, and it worked out much better. I work midnights so when I came in from work at 8:00am I put the braids in and then at about 9:30pm I unbraided them before leaving for work at 10:00pm.

My Routine...

2009-10-06T01:46:00.000-07:00

I was asked about my maintenance routine...I was wash my hair every other week. I used to wash it every week but, because of a few stubborn locks at the top I had to change that. My retightenings are scheduled every 8 weeks. In between those weeks my loctician offers a free refresher where she does 5 rows all around. I love this because I like to keep my perimeter extra neat. My hair grows extremely fast. This last retightening session was extra long, due to me waiting until week 10 because of school. NEVER AGAIN!!! I had so much new growth! Instead of the usual 2hr session, it took 31/2 hrs. That really is the extent of my routine. I've groomed my locs once in the whole four years, and that was last year when I was still a DIYer(with the help of my mom). I don't have alot of random hairs on the shafts of my locs right now, so it'll probably be a while before that is needed again. At night I wear an extra large silk scarf to protect my locs from lint and cat hair. I have two cats, so I am a little anal about the scarf thing. Even if I just lay across my bed or on the couch, I put on my scarf. Seriously y'all I sat behind this lady with locs before and she had a sickening about of lint and what looked like animal hair....EWWWWW!!!! I'm always doing a lint and cat hair check because let's just face it...that is not cute!!! Do you all use a locsoc? I have one but I honestly don't understand why both ends are open. It seem like it should have a closed end....anyway that thing hurts my head and leaves a line on my forehead(I think my head is too big for it...lol). So I will continue to use my economically friendly silk scarf from the beauty supply. I think thats it....hope I didn't leave anything out...

First Sisterlock Pic....

2009-10-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

As much as I'm not in love with this pic.....here it is...a first look at my sisterlocks when they were babies! They've come so far...sniff...sniff. I'ma proud mama y'all...LOL

Another Domestic Violence Myth and Fact...

2009-10-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

MYTH:Domestic violence is a "loss of control." FACT:Violent behavior is a choice. Perpetrators use it to control the survivor. Domestic violence is about batterers using their control, not losing their control. Their actions are very deliberate.

Life before Sisterlocks....

2009-10-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here it is! Me before my locs! These pics seem like they were ages ago. I feel like a totally different person now. I think when I changed my hair, I made a lot of other changes too and I'm still in transition today. As I'm getting older, I'm learning more about myself and getting to know me more. Don't you think its wonderful when you begin to feel comfortable in your own skin?!? I believe that every stage of life is beautiful, and that we should learn from every one of them. These pics are a representation some really good times in my life...I swear there is a story to go along with each one...lol.

Retightening Update....To style or not to style....

2009-10-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

I think this video post went a little better...As far as the styling, I've seen some really nice loc styles lately. You know the lobster tails, pineapples, and the buns. However they always look so tight(gives me a headache just thinking about it), but maybe one day I'll step out of my comfort zone to try a few styles. I think that I've just gotten so used to not going to a shop for styling and whatnot that just getting up and going has spoiled me. Fussing with my hair is so not me at this point in my life....shoot I think I've done enough of that in the past. I used to be obsessed with having the perfect wrap( I think I'll post a before pic), and I probably had every size flat iron, curling iron, and waaaay to many products in my bathroom...lol.

Domestic Violence

2009-09-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

As I said in my last post October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Bringing Awarness to this subject is very important, and has become a passion of mine. To that end I've chosen to dedicate my voice in anyway possible to aid in bringing an end to this cancer thats taking lives as I type. I could spew off statistics such as: Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend each year to 4 million women who are physically abused by their husbands or live-in partners each year. Statistics like that certainly may make a person think about this issue. The thing about statistics is that they don't allow us to really connect with the issue or provoke heart felt actions.

So I've decided to put a face to the issue at hand. This is a picture of young lady by the name of LaShawn. She was 21 years young in this picture, and holding her daughter who was only a few hours old. The beautiful smile she has as she holds the tiny fingers of her newborn is awesome. Unfortunately she would only live to know this bundle of joy for two weeks after this photo was taken. Little did she know that her ex-boyfriend and also the father of this adorable baby girl would decide that she would not live if he could not be with her. Little did she know that the uneasiness she felt during the last weeks of her pregnacy was really valid because he had been stalking her and her family from a distance, plotting and planning their deaths. After complaining to the police with no results. She just didn't know...

Lashawn's life came to an end after her ex-boyfriend envaded her home in the wee hours of the morning as her newborn, sister, mother, and herself slept. Over a period of thirteen hours he would tourture all of them, raping, beating, sufficating with plastic bags, tying rope around their necks, and hog tying them during that time. He also took his own two week old newborn and placed her in a black garbage bag.

LaShawn never made it out of that house alive. Her daughter was found completely blue and seconds from death. Her mom suffered severe brain injuries. Her sister was raped and severely beaten, but lived to sit in a witness chair in a crowded court room to look EVIL in the face and begin to aid in this war against Domestic Violence.

People this is what Domestic Violence looks like up close and personal. Awareness is crucial!!! We need to have these hard conversations about the small signs, what makes us uneasy, mental abuse, physical abuse, aggressive behavior, all the things that amount to Domestic Violence. Have these conversations with your children, teenagers, friends, and coworkers. Please know this is not always an easy conversation to have, but it is a very necessary conversation.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Lashawn LaNay Sutherland...my sister.

Share this myth and fact with someone you know:

Myth: I know him. He seems like a nice guy. Fact: Many abusers are not violent in other relationships. They even can appear 'charming' to outsiders. However, this does not indicate the kind of person he is behind closed doors. Believe her.

ALERT!!! ALERT!!! AMATEUR VIDEOGRAPHER ON THE LOOSE...LOL

2009-09-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

My Sisterlocks....as of now.

2009-09-05T23:51:00.000-07:00

I am so very in love with my locs at this point...even more than I was in the beginning if thats at all possible. They are growing extremely fast and coming into their own. I am no longer DIYer for a couple of reasons. Honestly, I just don't have the time to do my own retightening anymore. It was literally taking almost a week to complete a session(sometimes more depending on my schedule), and about time my arms stopped being sore it would be time to start another session. I seriously applaud those who continue to retighten their own locs when the length starts really coming in. The good news is that I have an awesome SL loctician, she is very knowledgable and works fast. Shout out to Robin at Locs of Excellence!!!

This pic is a prime example of what my locs look like on a daily basis. I don't style my locs a lot at all, besides maybe a ponytail, a messy bun, or I tie them back with a few locs from underneath. (Actually I need to take some pics of that tie-back style, I really like it.) Most of all, I love to just let them hang freely. Now I've seen so many nice loc styles on online, but most of them look like they hurt or I'm sure are full of hair pins. That is just waaay too much for me. Since my locs have grown a bit I don't like them curled. Although some days I throw a few satin covered rollers in to add a lil something extra and loose(I only keep them in for about a hour). Maybe I'll venture out some in the future, who knows....

So, yes its true.....I'm been so MIA. Life has just been getting in the way. I've been cruising other loc blogs, and truely neglecting mine. THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL NAPPY HEADS OUT THERE!!!!! My goal is to keep up mine now. I really want show a more detailed aspect of my loc journey and the other things that happen to touch my life through my journey. There is more learning to do with every phase of this journey, and I hope what I share can help others as well.

Thanks for taking time out to check out my journey and my fabolous NATURALOSITY ;-)

Ok so lets take a look back on my SL Journey...especially since I've been so MIA!!! (pics are not in any type of order, hope u guys enjoy!!!)

2009-09-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

2009-03-07T22:39:00.000-08:00

Guess who has a new camera?!?! I'm baaaaack!!! So be expecting plenty of posts and pics soon.

Let's bow our heads for moment of silence for my beautiful hair color....

2008-11-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

Hey Everybody!!! Long time, no post. My niece, whom I love to pieces dropped my camera...so sad to say we need to have a moment of silence for it too. Not really sure when it'll be in my budget to replace it soooo.....I guess the cat is out of the bag: MY SISTERLOCS ARE BLACK!!!! I know, I know everyone loved my color, and believe me I did too. I needed a change ladies, you know how that is. I think it's kinda sexy, if I do say so myself. I feel like a new woman! The color is Soft Black by Garnier. These are the only two pics that I have, so I'll have alot of catching up to do when I get a new camera. So, I guess I'm passing the torch on the color for now...or maybe forever cuz I'm really lovin the black. Oh, and thanks for all of the compliements ladies. Y'all make a girl feel good :) I'll still be posting, but sans the pics for now :(

Work In Progress

2008-09-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yes I've been walking around like this all day! No seriously I didn't go to church like this. lol This is how I section my hair during my retightening sessions. I just pull one lock out of a section at a time. I always start in the back first, because I can always put the top in a quick ponytail if I need to go out. Three rows down , and a million more to go! I swear my head is big! I don't know if you can tell from this pic, but I seem to have grown a bit of a fro up top. It's also a bit fuzzy. Whew ladies, there is nothing like freshly tightened locks! You can run your fingers straight through them, and I've noticed more body when mine are freshly washed and tightened. I do have a confession ladies( shhhh) I Locmocha am suffering from chronic "hand in locks" syndrome. I am also guilty and awaiting trial for habitual lock tossing over the shoulder at speeds unknown to man, which has been known to cause people stop and stare at the awesome beauty that is known as natural hair. lol Will there be another confession ladies? lol I'm CRAZY!!

My stuff

2008-09-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

So here are the products that I use on my sisterlocks and precious nappylock tool (small). Now I know that some of u swear by the "recommended" products, but part of this journey is freedom remember???!!! Plus I gotta do what works for me and won't drain my pockets. So here we have the V05 Tea Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner (Vanilla Mint- loves it!), Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo by Giovanni Organic Hair Care ( At certain times of the year I get dry scalp, so this works good for me. It tingles a bit, but it helps those pesky flakes), IC Olive Moisturizing Shine Serum (This is not oily at all, it literally disappears in your hands.), and of course my trusty water bottle for works out that bed head look in the morning.

I waited a lil too long, or my hair is growing extremely fast!!!

2008-09-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

So I just started retightening my locks today. (Hence my favorite hat in this pic.) I have no earthly idea why I waited til sunday to start this project and believe it is a bit of a project now that my locks are getting longer. I should have started this stuff friday, but u know how that is. I knew it was about time for a session, but all THIS new growth is a trip. I did my weekly wash yesterday and my fingers kept getting caught in new growth, so I couldn't put it off any longer. So here I am.....

Y'all got me!! I've Been Tagged!!

2008-09-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so I guess I'm "It". Thanks ladies for all the comments. It feels so good to get to know other people who actually blog about their hair too. Some of my unlocked friends just don't get it. Anywho....

First things first:

RULES

1. Link to the person that tagged you.

DiVA_La Reine

euphoria

Saabira

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

4. Tag 6 random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

_____________________________________________________________

1. I love clouds. I've actually pulled over on the freeway to take pictures of clouds.

2. My dream and plan is finish school, then work towards my own crisis center for women and children.

3. A mix of Maxwell, Rubben Studdard and my highschool sweetheart would the the right man for me...at least in my head.

4. I just started a new job, and I've been enjoying watching some people try to peek at my hair on the sly :) lol it's halarious!

5. I love to people watch.

6. In my head I've performed awesome poetry at venues across the world, but in reality I've only watched Love Jones and Lyric Cafe to no end and slacked on my writing.

Hey Ladies! TAG YOU'RE IT!!

http://genalocs.blogspot.com.

http://www.teen1937.blogspot.com

http://camlo2k.blogspot.com/

http://mylocsjourney.blogspot.com

http://sisterlockshairtales.blogspot.com

http://reneahenry.blogspot.com/

....another plateau. My Loc Puff!!!

2008-09-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

My Loc Puff!!! It seems that at every stage of my Sisterlocks I've said I can't wait for this or that...but to be able to finally put all of my hair up neatly??!! Praise the Lord and pass the ponytail holder!!

Pics from my first DIY-er experience

2008-09-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

So my first time retightening my sisterlocks was quite the experience! It took me 3 days with the nappyloc tool, which I love. Thanks to http://saabira8.blogspot.com, I was able to get detailed instructions on how to use the tool. After washing and drying my locks, I divided them into three sections. (two front sections and one section for the back). Looking back, it seems to have taken three days for each section, but I only worked at it a couple of hours a day( mainly at night while watching TV). My arms were so tired! But, I would rather be able to manage my own locks, than to pay all that money for retightening sessions. Since July, I have gotton so much faster and have tried to set a schedule for retightening. That really hasn't worked out too well, because I love my sisterlocks when they are freshly retightened so much that I find myself tightening "loosies" randomly . I wish that had taken more pics of my first DIY session, so maybe the next time I retighten my locks I'll take more detailed pics.

Randomness

2008-09-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

Here are my sisterlocks all at different stages in growth and maturity. As I looked at these pics I noticed that even though I've always used the same color, it always looks different for some reason. The third pic is the most recent of the group.

Braid-Out Updo Part Two: The Finished Product

2008-09-01T22:22:00.001-07:00

Here is the braid-out! It was perfect for the look I was going for. Nice and not too tight. My hair stayed like this for about three days before I washed it out, though it could have stayed much longer. I received a lot of compliments on this style, so many people were surprised that I could style my sisterlocks like this. ( Of course they were not lock wearers) I really don't style my locks much, I tend to favor the freestyle look.

Braid-out Updo Part One

2008-09-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

After washing and lightly towel drying my locks, I cornrowed them while still wet. I actually left them cornrowed for a couple of days because I liked the look. Normally I would have only left them in overnight. For the ends I used black rubber bands.

Here are the pics that I promised....God my Sisterlocks have come a long way!

2008-08-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Look at my lil ponytail!!!! Why does red fade so fast?! Anyway, I tried to groom my hair (with the help of my mom). It came out pretty well, minus the death of one lock...snip, snip, snip.

AHHH! Color at last and my locks are growing growing growing!

These dark roots are killin' me, but look at the length!!!!

(dental work still in progress) I thought this pic showed my color well. By the way, I swear by Dark and Lovely's Red Hot Rhythm.

(Excuse the puffy face, dental work in progress) Here locks are freshly re- tightened and colored. I usually color my hair the night or so before a re-tightening session. I still had the lil curly ends. I actually really liked this length.

So much has happened......

2008-08-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've neglected my blog to no end......but I have taken plenty of pics. I'll try to put them in order, so please stick with me as I get the hang of this blog thing. Anyway, my Sisterlocks have matured and grown very beautifully. I love the length and I've continued to color my own hair faithfully (despite the opinions of some locticians whom shall remain nameless). And guess what!? Drum roll please!! I AM OFFICIALLY A DIY-ER AS OF JULY OF THIS YEAR!!! YEA ME! I'll be posting some pics that should fill in the gaps between my last post and now.

2007-12-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

So, here I am beginning to get some length and thickness.I must say that I really started to enjoy my locks during this time.

The beginning.....

2007-12-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics from the beginning of my journey. For a little while I became the queen of headbands. I still have quite the collection. I struggled a bit with not being able to style my hair.

Lovin' life with locks

2007-11-27T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hi all! Locmocha here! Well, this journey thus far has been a beautiful one. A year and a half ago I went in for my consultation for sisterlocks and haven't looked back. I've always admired natural hairstyles from afar, but shyed away from the commitment. 2006 brought about many changes in my life and my hair was one of those symbolic changes. I felt it was time to make a decision that wasn't about anyone but ME. MY GOD!! IT FELT LIKE FREEDOM!! I had been a slave to perms, wraps and too tight braiding styles. So, in the summer of 2006 there I was with shoulder length permed hair, 4 inches of new growth ready to embark on my new beginning. My Sisterlocks came out beautifully and two months later while my consultant was on vacation I did the big chop on my own, to her dismay. I really didn't like the permed ends with the locks, it was such contrast.

It was a major adjustment to look at myself in the mirror after the emotional big chop. That morning (it was aprox. 1:00 am) with every snip of the shears, this new me dropped a weight and claimed a new victory. I was ready to be what I deemed to be beautiful, not what TV, magazines or celebrities promoted as beauty.