Each year on April 24 and 25, I will celebrate my lockversary!

I set my date this past weekend and I couldn’t be more excited. It finally seems real.

I hoped to do it sooner but in retrospect, I’m glad. It gives me time to spend with my hair. It gives my hair a bit of a rest. Right now I still have it in the twists and it’s trying to fight its way out. I’ve never experienced it popping out this much in between maintenance dates. It’s time.

When I made the decision to sisterlock, I started talking to people and gathering recommendations on consultants, styling tools, and other resources. One of my girlfriends has an associate that is sisterlocked and sent me her consultant’s contact information. That was actually the first recommendation I received. I kept it in my files and kept looking.

I read that you should go to at least three consultations. However, what’s often not mentioned is that consultants charge a fee for a consultation – as they should because time is money. So I knew that I wouldn’t be doing three. Two at the most –and I intended to do some serious pre-interviewing before setting an appointment!

As I kept collecting information, I finally talked to the woman from whom I received the initial recommendation. I also looked at photos of her hair. She just celebrated her first lockversary and they look absolutely beautiful. She couldn’t stop raving about Amber and also referred me to another woman who had been with Amber since the day she locked –7 years ago–and no one else had touched her hair since. Her locks took my breath away. I wish I could post photos here but that would be a major invasion of privacy.

It was a done deal.

I e-mailed Amber that evening and she responded quickly. As we exchanged e-mails, I just knew. I felt a sense of peace.  She answered all of my questions completely and I liked the energy coming through her e-mail. Before even meeting her for the consultation, I locked in my installation date. I was that sure. It just felt right. This is a journey and

I had some initial concerns because she isn’t a licensed consultant. I believe she went through the training and just didn’t complete the final step. I quickly dismissed that. After all, the women that have been doing my hair for the past seven plus years aren’t licensed cosmetologists either. And there is not one time I’ve left their chairs dissatisfied with my hair. I trusted them completely. I knew their work before I sat down. I’m more concerned with the hours you’ve put in over various heads of hair than with the hours you’ve logged inside a classroom.

Now would I have felt this way if I didn’t know her work –likely not. With the amount of hair I have on my head, I’m about to make a huge investment. I don’t take that lightly. So I’d advise anyone going the route I’m going to do. your.research. Don’t rely on photos. Meet her clients if possible. Inspect her work. Go with your gut. If it ain’t right, keep looking!

My consultation is scheduled for the March 27th and I’m beyond excited. Of course I’ll tell you all about it!