Loc Log #13 - 7 months

Today is my 7th month with locs! yay! Not a lot has changed except that most if not all of my hair is locked!!!!!!!! Not mature, but locked. I still have quite a few curly ends, but many of them are sealed at the ends. I continue to have a tough time with frizziness, but I'm embracing it. My last concoction included TW's loc it up gel, ORS loc and twist gel, and honey. While this proved successful, it has also created a bit of an issue. Flakes and buildup. Dang! Well, the product junkie in me lives on and I move on to try something new. Yesterday, I received my order of Nubian Kinks' locing pomade. Can I tell you that that stuff smells like Heaven?! I can't wait to use it. The order I received yesterday was accidentally ordered (by me) from Amazon while waiting on my actually order directly from the salon in New York. Hopefully, my direct order will be here today......Green Tea Oil, Mint Medley Shampoo, and more locing pomade. I can't wait for it to get it here. More Christmas gifts! jk! I'll come back later with the results of these products.

Loc Log 12 1/2 3 days through 5 months

Loc Log #12 - 6 months!

Yay!! It's been 6 months since I started my braidloc journey. It's been great. I feel like I've had great success on this journey and must attribute this success to a few things.

1. Regular shampoos - It is impossible for me to wait two weeks between shampoos! I must shampoo once each week. This alone (the water factor) has really sped up the locing process for me. Back in late June I started periodically interlocking my new growth. When I did this, I started rinsing my hair daily. What a wonder! I started noticing that many of my ends were beginning to harden and seal. Because of this, I try to interlock my new growth at least every two months so that I can go through a rinsing cycle.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses - My hair thanks me when I do an ACV rinse. My hair is cleaner with no buildup. I try to do an ACV rinse every two weeks. Sometimes, I can't help myself, and just do it!

3. Hot oil treatments and oil in general - My hair has always been a fan of oil. Nothing is any different now that I am 6 months into the locing process (yay!). My bathroom is full of different oils. When I first went natural, I bought my own stash of sweet almond oil and jojoba oil along with several essential oils. I started out making my own oils, but kept buying new stuff. I now have so much oil, I'm about to drown in it. Of course I have my favorites. I love Oyin Handmade's After Bath Oil which is actually GREAT for the hair, Nyle Oil, and Afroveda's Shikakai Hair Growth Elixir.

4. Honey - I first used honey during the very early stages of locking, and absolutely hated it! I soon realized that I had used waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much. Now when I do my retwist I make a mixture using a favorite gel (ORS or Taaliah Wajid), small amount of loc butter or olive oil, and just a little bit of honey. Perfect combination with little to no buildup and excellent hold. And if there is buildup, the ACV along with a clarifying shampoo take care of that right away.

These are just a few things that I attribute my locing success to. Keeping it nappy!

Mik

Loc Log #11

Yay! Today (it's 2 days late!) marks the 5th month since beginning my braidloc journey! One more month and it will be half of a year! Can you sense the excitement? This journey has gone by much faster than I could have ever expected. My hair has totally transformed. What started out as some little braids that I had no clue what to do with have become locs! By no means is my hair fully locked, but they are well on their way.

I was just watching my first YouTube video that I made when I had only been locking for one

month. I had a head full of little coils that had transformed from braids. They were so cute and curly! My hair literally appears to have doubled in thickness and in length. I love it! I could go on and on and on, but I digress. This journey is a beautiful thing!

loc log #10 4 months!

Loc Log #9 - Dilemma

First of all, "dilemma" is not a word that I spell very often, yet it is so simple and having trouble spelling it.....go figure. Alas, I do have a dilemma.

Since late June, I've been interlocking my roots. I've done this probably more than the average interlocker due to my hair growth and slippage. While interlocking has worked wonders with my "baby locs", I have found the need to continue to twist/palmroll periodically during the month. The twisting and palmrolling just seems to keep everything in place. It has been a month since I've interlocked, but I have AT LEAST a full inch of new growth/slippage. I am so ready to interlock, it's not even funny! My dilemma is whether or not both processes are ok to do to my hair, or should I just stick to one? Someone please help.....

Braidloc log #8 1/2 Pics

Braidloc log #8 I can’t believe it’s been 3months with Braidlocks and ONE YEAR NATURAL!!!!!

I can’t believe it’s been 3 months since I installed my locks! They are really coming along very nicely. And to think a couple of my friends were teasing me saying that my hair wouldn’t lock because it’s so soft and Caucasian like (no offense)! Amazingly, many of my locks have already started to lock and seal at the ends. I still have lots that haven’t started.

The locks in the back are larger than the ones in the front. I think this has something to do with the fact that they seem to be locking a lot faster than the ones in the front. I don’t know if this is a factor or not. Because my hair is very soft and grows at the speed of light, I’m finding that maintenance comes much sooner for me than it does for some others. I started interlocking my hair around the first of July, but I’m still finding the need to lightly twist/palm roll in between interlocking sessions. For the average locker, this might be too much manipulation….causing thin locks and breakage, but waiting a lengthy period of time for me might be detrimental to the overall health of my hair. My locks crawl and “visit” one another frequently! They’re pretty friendly with one another! Normally, friendliness is a great thing, but I kind of wish my locks just kept a non-visiting long distance relationship! I enjoy rinsing my hair several times each week, and usually I don’t separate the roots when I do this. (I know I should!) So, when maintenance time comes around, I have a mess on my hands! Just this morning, during a light retwist, I found myself pulling apart lots of locks that decided to go visiting. What a chore! My parts are starting to move some now because of this and the fact that I’ve had to join some smaller, unruly, unraveling locks. Those little boogers!

All in all, I’m VERY pleased with my lock progress. I think things are going to go even faster now that I’ve combined some of them. I can’t wait for the journey to continue!

With all the excitement surrounding my 3 months with braidlocks, I totally forgot that I was celebrating a bigger milestone. As of August 20, 2009, I have been natural for an entire year! Yay for the natural hair!!!!

Mik

Braidloc log #7 Frizzies

The past month has been filled with major FRIZZIES! I would do my hair, either twist or most recently interlock. There was a cloud of frizzies, or as some one say a halo of frizzies, that extended from my front edges through to the kitchen of my hair. According to the many resources I've exhausted during my journey, the frizzies are a part of the process, and they are important. For whatever reason, I was becoming a little frustrated with them......Not to the point of cutting my hair off, but just dealing difficultly with this part of the process.

I then started thinking about what I do sometimes when I'm finished with a rinsing. I take just a small amount of Afroveda's Hemp Seed Loc, Twist, and Roll butter and smooth it throughout my hair. This great butter is made from shea butter, mango seed butter, carnauba wax, coconut oil, Palm Oil, almond oil, and a myriad of other naturally great oils. This was a bit much because I'd have to roll many of them after each rinsing. Just too much! I soon remembered that before I decided to lock, I bought a nice sized container of Ojon Restorative Treatment (ORT). I thought about the ingredients of it being similar in nature to those of the butter. It's primary ingredient is palm nut oil. With that I took a chance and put the ORT on my hair and allowed it to sit for a few minutes. Ok, long story short...............................................

My hair ended up still being somewhat frizzy, but there was a very clear difference. It just looked kind-of normal....not like my hair was unkempt. I suppose it would be more cost effective if I just used the butter since the ORT is so expensive. For right now, I'm enjoying my results.

Mik

Braidloc log #6 8 week update

It has been just over 8 weeks since I installed braidlocs. My journey so far has been met with challenges and changes. I’m learning my hair in a brand new way. It’s as if I’m learning my hair in the way that it was meant to be! I think I’ve actually found products (or rather the lack there of) that most benefit my hair. One thing that I’ve found to be very helpful is simply rinsing my hair daily or every other day. It was when I started doing this that I began to notice the biggest change in my hair. It’s as if the rinsing is helping my hair mat and coil within itself. Some of my ends have become very firm and some have knots. Only a few of my ends still have strict curly ends. The rest have a distinct coil or it as least ‘looks’ this way. Also, my hair is VERY frizzy. Though I think it’s very frizzy, lots of others, including many relaxed ladies, have complimented me on my hair. Basically, I’m just looking forward to this journey as it unfolds.

Additionally, I’ve recently begun to interlock my new growth with the nappylocs tool. This takes longer than twisting, so I just interlock over the course of two days. Roughly 3 hours for each session. I’m sure I could do this all in one day, but my arms get rather tired. As I stated earlier, rinsing has made my hair do virtually miraculous things. This would not be as simple as it is if it weren’t for interlocking my new growth. I love this journey!

Thank you so much to those of you who are following me. I really appreciate it. If you're just lurking, feel free to follow! :-)

Mik

Natural Journey through 11 months

Here a just a few pics (probably seen them before) of my natural journey through 11 months. Next month will be 1 year of being natural. I'm so excited!

Braidloc log #5 I Love My Hair!

When I first installed braidlocs, I didn’t think I was gonna like them. As I mentioned in a previous post, I tried to comb out the ones in the back and was determined to unravel the rest! But now……but now……I love my hair! It’s really frizzy, but I’ve learned to really like that. Even some of my ends have little knots or have started to harden or rather firm up. I only have a few noticeable braid patterns remaining. I am so excited about this journey.

Mik

Bradeloc Log #4 - First Video!

Bradeloc Log #3 - First Official Shampoo

Since I installed the bradelocz (braidlocs) in my hair, I've been trying to figure out how to keep my scalp clean. I've always had issues with and an itchy, dry and flaky scalp, so keeping my scalp relatively clean is very important. I initially tried the wig/stocking cap method. I couldn't really get to my scalp, so that didn't work like I had anticipated. I then found the herbal cleanse. Now, I really like it, but my scalp was dirty in a couple of days. In the mean time, I had placed an order for some Taliah Waajid products. The 'Moisture Clenz' was among the items ordered. I eventually used the Moisture Clenz, and initially liked it. I think I must have manipulated my hair a little too much because I still had to retwist the majority of my hair. Not a big deal!

As the week went on, my scalp became itchier and itchier. (Is that a word?) Anyway. I just couldn't take it anymore! Since I wasn't really doing much due to a chronic sinus infection/allergies/bronchitis, I decided to braid and band my braidlocs. This took forever because I am VERY slow! Anywho.....I shampooed it with my diluted Nappylocs shampoo and tea tree oil, then topped it off with an ACV rinse. I still don't feel like my scalp is quite as clean as I want it, but it sure is better! Today, after taking down the braids, I have nice wavy, curly braidlocs (and I didn't have to retwist)!

Bradeloc log #2 Pictures! (or picture!!!!)

Being a curly girl makes things a little easier.......(when it comes to unruly hair days with baby locs!) They're still all over the place! BTW, I hate these pictures!

Bradeloc Log #1

It has now been just a little over a week since I installed bradelocz in my hair. Let's just say that this week alone has proven challenging. I gave the rundown of my first morning with bradelocz in a previous post. Things since then have been a bit challenging but not quite as much. These are the things I've learned in my first week with bradelocz.

1. Patience WITHOUT FRUSTRATION is a virtue.

2. Just let my hair "do what it do"!

3. Despite the suggestions of others, honey with aloe vera gel and almond oil is not the best medium for retwisting roots.

4. Oh, and don't twist the roots so often. ( I only did this because I had to wash my hair. It was unbelievably itchy, and I just couldn't take it anymore :-))

5. Don't be so self-conscious about what it looks like at this stage.

Pictures coming soon........

Mik

Let the Journey Begin!

Well, I finally took that leap! I braided my hair up this past Saturday. It took a whopping 12 hours! I'm sure it wouldn't have taken so long, but I took massive breaks! When it was finally time for me to go to bed Saturday night, I was just smitten with my new little braids. They had the cutest curly ends, but were quite stiff as to be expected.....but still smitten. I got into the bed with my computer and camera all set to take some pictures, but I couldn't find just the right pose. Go figure! When I got up Sunday morning to prepare for church, I took off my scarf and realized that all of my little plaits were flat. Oh dear! I sprayed them with my Happy-n-Nappy Dew to no avail. I tried flat twisting them in the front for a little style, but still nothing. This went on until about 9:50. (I was about to be really late for church.) I finally got so pissed at them that I went to the sink and rinsed them, considered taking all of them out! Oh, but wait.....the water was just what they needed! The water allowed them to relax a bit and not be so stiff. I put on a headband and hurried out the door. Alas, my bradelocz had received their identity.....only to find a new one the next day. LOL!

Monday, while I had nothing to do, I started to notice the fact that Ireally hated that center part. Why, oh why did I give myself a center part in the first place when I NEVER wear my hair with one. I decided that I would twist the roots and give myself a new SIDE part, more becoming of how I wear my hair. My hair was easy to twist considering the fact that my is already very naturally coily. Coincidentally, my braids and roots had already started to coil. I must say that I like it a lot better with the side part. My little bradelocz are starting to grow on me! Let the journey begin!

Bradelocz?? Perhaps!

Well, I received the Nappylocs Business in a Box. I still haven't sucessfully installed the test locks. The whole use of the nappylocs tool is much harder than it seemed. Even after I watched the video, it was still hard. Well, in my frustration, I rediscovered Cherie King's bradelocz (again). I then began searching Youtube videos and blogs for bradelocz (braidlocs). I actually found many more people that started their locz with bradelocz (braidlocs) rather than with the nappylocs approach. When I'm searching videos and blogs, I'm always looking for people that have a similar hair texture as mine. I know that everyone's hair is unique, but finding someone similar is very helpful.

During my search, I ran across Cherie King's bradelocz as I said earlier. I had seen this before. In fact, I even subscribed to her newsletter and eCourse. As I searched, I began seeing more and more nice locks that were started with braids. I continued to see equally as nice locks that were started in other ways. But because my hair is very soft, thick, and curly/coily, I think bradelocz may be my best choice.

Braid Out Gone Bad!

So yesterday I decided that I wanted to try a braid out. I've done twist and coil outs before but never a braid out. I shampooed my hair with my diluted Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Shampoo and then conditioned with Oyin's Honey Hemp Conditioner. After that I putin my leave-in concoction of Ojon restorative leave in and Cantu Shea Butter leave in. Then I proceeded to braid it with Aloe Vera Gel. I think that was the problem. The Aloe Vera gel by itself doesn't have enough holding/setting power. When I took down the braids this morning, it was a Hot Stretched Out Mess! Never fear, my head bands are ALWAYS close by. I put a little IC styling gel on the front and in the "kitchen" and made a puff. This was the biggest, fluffiest puff I've gotten since going natural. (Sorry that I don't have a pic of the back.) My hair is really growing! Thanks bad braid out for giving me the best puff ever!

On another note.......I received my nappylocs biz in a box yesterday! I'm so excited about starting my locks. The book suggests that you do test locks before actually locking your hair. I'll do that later this week. Hopefully, I'll take some pictures of the test locks. The process of locking using this tool is really going to be a long one. I realized yesterday and this morning (bad braid out) just how much hair I have. I suppose I'll be calling on my skillful niece for help with this endeavor! More on that later.

Mik

To Lock or not to Lock?

I just ordered the Nappylocs Biz in a Box. Will I lock my hair, or won't I? More to come later......

Mik

Oyin Handmade Review

I've had my Oyin Handmade products for a week now. I think it's time for an official review. I purchased four products from Oyin on March 28. I ordered Greg Juice, Juices and Berries, Honey Hemp Conditioner, and Shine and Define. Before I go any further with specifics, I must say that each one of these products gets top billing in my book! They are all spectacular!

Honey Hemp Conditioner - This conditioner is not only reminiscent of lemony honey goodness, but it's light and provides excellent condtioning. After just one use, I was able to IMMEDIATELY and completely comb through my hair! This is a first, as my hair is very thick and coily. Honey Hemp left my hair very soft, moist, and extremely shiny. Perhaps the only thing I don't like about this conditioner is the fact that I have to use so much for my 5 inches of thick hair. I would love to keep using this conditioner, but WHEN my hair gets longer, I may have to use half of the bottle for one use! At $18 for the 16 oz. bottle, I suppose that's a little steep to have to use so much, but for the quality, I'm very willing to purchase this again (and again!).

Greg Juice/Juices and Berries - These leave-ins are the best ever! They alone provide the moisturization that I've been looking for. The scent of these product is phenomenal as well. I'm slightly partial to the scent of the Juices and Berries; however, each product provides the exact same moisturization for my hair. When I use this product with my Ojon Restorative leave-in, the softness, shine, and moisturization are unprecedented! LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, :-)

Shine and Define - This product works wonders by itself or with other products. It can slick down those unruly edges, tame those frizzies, make the little curlies and coils pop, and give a mean shine to dull hair! I normally use this products with my IC Fantasia Gel, and together.....I've found NOTHING better for defining my curls. This week has been my best curlie week ever!

All of these products can be found at oyinhandmade.com. There are a couple of other online retailers that sell these products, but I prefer the original website because of their excellent customer service. Beware that it can take their products up to three weeks (or more) to get to your doorstep. Never fret, these products are made fresh upon your order's place in the queue. This is actually a good thing! Fresh and great quality. Thanks Oyin Handmade! Check out ScandalousBeauty and her review of Oyin! (Click here for video.)

8th month Nappyversary

Today is my 8th month Nappyversary! Yay me! This is by far the longest I have ever kept my natural hair. I'm loving it! All of the hair forums, blogs, Fotki.com photos, and Youtube videos have been extremely helpful. Kudos! A year will be here in no time.

Mik

Straightening Experiment

After reviewing my list of hair products, I realized that I had left some things off. I forgot to mention Carol’s Daughter’s Hair Milk, Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme, and Kinky Curly’s gloss pomade. I had stopped using the Hair Milk, but I recently made it work very well for my hair. Yay me!

Today, I attempted something new since I’ve been natural. I attempted to straighten my hair! It really wasn’t so bad, but I think it will be better if my hair were a little longer. I started out the process by washing my hair as always with Dr. Bronner’s magic soap (peppermint), then I proceeded to condition and sit under the dryer with Oyin Handmade’s Honey Hemp Conditioner. This product alone is my new FAVORITE product! My hair is very thick, and after rinsing the conditioner out, I could immediately comb through my hair with absolutely no problems. This was great! I sectioned my hair and blow dried it with Joico Silk Elements blow drying cream, and Chi Silk Infusion. Then I went on to flat iron it with Sally’s Ion Anti-Frizz Ceramic-Tourmaline flat iron. It did a really great job. After I made the decision that it needed to be longer, I dusted my ends. Then I shampooed it very lightly with a diluted natural shampoo, re-conditioned and started over.

I finally got a chance to use the rest of my new Oyin Handmade products. But I still kept it simple by misting my hair with Greg Juice and adding a little Ojon Restorative leave in.I had to go back to my staple product and favorite styler, IC Fantasia Hair polishing styling gel. I mixed it with some Oyin Handmade Shine and Define, and that’s it! The perfect wash-n-go curly fro! Until next time.

Mik

Amazing Grace!

As I sit here with just a couple of hours left during Resurrection Day 2009, I ponder what Jesus' resurrection actually means to me. First of all, I know that there are those who may be reading this that don't believe or care to read what I have to say, but as a child of God, I am compelled to SHARE the good news of Jesus Christ.

With as many shortcomings as I have, His dying and rising again means that I am FREE from the penalty of sin. He is a forgiving God, and I know that His blood washes me as white as snow! I am blessed to know that I have a home with Him in eternity. Thank You for Your blood!

I'm a Product Junkie!

Ok, i'm officially a product junkie. I was actually a product junkie before I decided to go natural, but the 'j' in me has taken a turn for the worse. During my springbreak I decided I would rid myself of unnecessary products and things I don't use. Well, as I sit here and gaze at the myriad of hair, bath, and body products, I realize that I truly have my work cut out for me. I NEED HELP. I think it might help if I categorize my products and then rank them according to their effectiveness on my hair. Then I will have to decide if they're keepers or not. I'll start with shampoo. (The lower the number, the more effective it is for my hair.)

Shampoo

3. Carol's Daughter Tui Herbal Shampoo

4. Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo

2. Naked Naturals Awapuhi and Lavender shampoo (no sulfates)

1. 1. Dr. Bronner's 18-n-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Soap

Conditioners (instant and deep)

1. 1. Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

2. 2. Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie

5. Tigi Bedhead Moisture Maniac

3. 4. Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner

4. 3. Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizer Rinse Out Conditioner

**Oyinhandmade Honey Hemp Conditioner (in the mail!)

Leave in conditioners

1. Kinky Curly Knot Today (Best for Wash-n-Go)

2. Ellin Lavar Textures Detangle Mist (Best for Coils and Twists)

**Oyinhandmade Greg Juice (in the mail!)

**Oyinhandmade Juices-n-Berries (in the mail!)

Oils (I mix these so they are all pretty much the same for me.)

Carol's Daughter Tui Oil

Jojoba Oil

Sweet Almond Oil

Coconut Oil (More partial to this one.)

Lavender (eo)

Ylang Ylang (eo)

Vanilla (eo)

Stylers

1. IC fantasia hair polished styling gel

Miss jessie's curly pudding (just don't like)

Miss jessie's curly meringue (just don't like)

Miss jessie's stretch silkening cream (really, really don't like)

2. Kinky curly curling custard

Kinky curly spiral spritz

5. Jamaican mango and lime locking gel

4. Jamaican mango and lime locking gel (resistant formula)

4. Jamaican mango and lime locking wax (I know this is bad for me but my coils and twists are perfect with this!)

3. Organic root simulator lock and twist gel

**Oyinhandmade shine and define (in the mail!)

After this realization, it is time for some purging! Also, with this economy, I should be wiser with my money. Oh well, until next time.

Mik