After 28 hours, Amber, my consultant, finally announced, “You are Sisterlocked!”
Oh happy day!
I had no idea it would take that long – well maybe I did. I have a huge watermelon head and my hair is dense and incredibly thick. When I would get it sis twisted, it would take hours, especially as you got near the top. Amber said it was her longest installation to date. I felt so sorry for her as she had to pop painkillers for her aching back. I know people say that Sisterlocks are too expensive but after 28 hours worth of work, I probably underpaid!
My installation was a very pleasant experience. Over Law and Order marathons, basketball, pizza and wings, Amber and I got to know each other and everything I felt about her was confirmed. I feel completely comfortable putting my journey in her capable hands.
I’ll also reiterate that it’s important to feel completely comfortable with your consultant and their situation. You are going to spend a LOT of time with this person. If your consultant works in her home, be sure that you’ll be okay with spending hours there. Are there a lot of distractions? People in and out? Are the surroundings peaceful and somewhere you can see yourself sitting for an extended period of time? Amber lives in my dream home. I was sitting by an exposed brick wall, staring out of lots of tall windows and at orange walls. I was watching a big screen HD television. It smelled good. Even when the hour was growing late and I thought it would never end, I still was very relaxed.
So I left with instructions to wash and band in two weeks and return for my first re-ti in four. She gave me a bottle of Aveda shampoo and some bands. In the interim, there was to be very little manipulation of my hair, daily scalp massages, and daily spritzes with my distilled water and essential oil mix. I’m starting with rosemary oil.
We broke the install up over two days. The first day we went from 7am until 8pm. Then I had to leave to attend a party that the boyfriend was throwing. I pulled my hair up in a puff and put a scarf around it.
Here are some photos at the end of the first day.
Still smiling after thirteen hours!
The next day we got started at about 11am and went until close to 2am. Here I am bleary eyed and with a head full of Sisterlocks!
Day 1 wearing them into the office, somewhat to my surprise, I got all kinds of compliments from my White co-workers. The few Black ones didn’t say anything – or what I like to say, expressed themselves loudly in silence. I think if I hadn’t worn my hair out of the twists for a period of time and gotten comfortable with the bend of my hair, I would have felt some kind of way.
Here are a couple of photos from my first day after installation was complete.
I was mildly worried about the parts showing in my head but it’s apparent that that’s not much of an issue for me! The crown is my head seems to be the least dense but it doesn’t look bad to me. I sincerely believe that I will end up with the look I’m going for and it won’t take that long to get there. I’m still going strong on the green smoothies and the biotin.
At this point, I really like my hair and feel like I’m falling in love more with it day by day. I purchased cute hair jewelry the other day and I will get the Lock Loops and try some curls once it gets a bit longer. Right now, I just want to let my hair be and do what it will do. I am focusing on keeping my hands out of my hair. I got into the habit of playing in it when I had the fro. I have to cut that out.
So now the real journey begins.










May 7, 2010 at 3:20 am
Your locs look awesome!! Your hair is much, much thicker than mine. If my SLs looked like yours after my install, I wouldn’t have needed the tons of scarves I bought. [slightly jealous...but still happy. allow me to hate a little. lol]
Oooo wee, I can’t wait to see them mature!
PS – you look really nice in orange.
May 7, 2010 at 5:02 am
Aww quit it girl! LOL! You making me blush. Thank you!
I’ve only tied it up in a scarf once so far. As it grows out, I’m sure I’ll have my rough days. But so far, I really like them off jump. I really appreciate your support. Truly.
May 7, 2010 at 4:43 am
You are off to a great start & I hope you butt is not still numb! That is a loooooong time!
The parts will fade with time & in a few weeks you will more than likely forget about them.
I had to LOL @ “expressed themselves loudly in silence.” I remember my office folk were all amazed & asking all kinds of annoying questions. Then there were the white oriented Negros expressing themselves loudly in silence. Whatever.
Haha!
May 7, 2010 at 5:09 am
It was rough going for a while! My butt was hurting and I got more than enough cushioning. I can’t imagine what someone dealing with noassatall disease would do!
I need to do an update. I looked at the back in the mirror for the first time today since my installation and the parts are pretty much gone already. That was quick.
See, that’s what I would have thought. The white folks would have been loudly silent. Two of my white co-workers in particular really surprised me with their sincere appreciation for it.
Surprisingly, a black male dude that works on my floor that has locks has said nothing since I’ve worn my hair out and now that I’m locked. But when my coworker took out her twists and blowed out her hair, he praised it. When I had those straight looks twists, he commented on it. Boy I guess. Not that he needed to praise the way it looked on me, but at least show some support for a sista beginning the locking process. Whatever.
May 7, 2010 at 2:49 pm
The locs look great, congrats! 28 hours!!!! And I don’t mean to repeat “coop” but you do look great in orange!
June 15, 2010 at 1:37 am
Repeat away! Thanks so much.
May 14, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Your locks look awesome! To me, the short look is similar to the length of the twists you used to have before, now they’re just tinier/thinner. Weird to me that your co-workers would see *that* much of a difference that they’d be disapproving of it. But whatever. I get those silent looks from strangers all the time and I just smile. I love my hair! And getting locks is definitely on my “might-do” list in the future. For now, I’m loving my little ‘fro!
May 26, 2010 at 2:49 am
Hey, I followed you here from our tweets. Congrats on your recent install! I started at your 28th day and your locks are filling out and fluffing up nicely. Be nice to the silent ones when they start asking what how you did it, how long it took, how much it was, and who did it.
May 26, 2010 at 2:50 am
Hey, I followed you here from our tweets. Congrats on your recent install! I started at your 28th day and your locks are filling out and fluffing up nicely. Be nice to the silent ones when they start asking what they are, how you did it, how long it took, how much it was, and who did it.
June 15, 2010 at 1:29 am
Thank you Carmen for coming over and leaving a comment. I’m working on the smiling and nodding
May 27, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Congrats on you starting you lock journey! We met that Friday when Tafari was in DC. I happened to go to the Locked Hair Blog Exchange and said to myself, “she looks very familiar.” Clicked on the link, scrolled down to the beautiful photo Tafari shot of you and all I can say is, Wow! You look great in those locks and those locks look great on you!
peace&blessings
June 15, 2010 at 1:36 am
I remember you! Thanks so much for coming over and for the compliments on my locks. And yes, I keep telling Tafari those are the best photos that have ever been shot. I’m hoping to have him shoot me again for my 35th bday when I’m fully locked….hopefully! LOL!
July 1, 2010 at 8:34 pm
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August 20, 2010 at 9:47 am
I just want to say CONGRATS! I roamed into your blog while looking for pics of short styles. My three locticians finished my installation after two eight-hour days on Dec. 5, 2009. I am almost at the nine month mark and my hair has grown a lot. Being pregnant helps though, kind of. Keep taking pictures, I dont think I’ve taken enough, and enjoy the journey!
August 26, 2010 at 5:08 am
Thanks!
You had THREE locticians and it still took two days?! You must have some hair on your head! If you every start a photo journal or blog, please drop a comment. I would love to see it. Thanks for commenting!
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