Monday, November 23, 2009

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