Eight Months Sisterlocked

Summer 2019 in the Midwest has been horrifically hot. I can’t stress this enough. This demon heat, coupled with hot flashes, had me putting my hair up in various ways almost every day. My hairstyles varied between plaits, one ponytail on top of my head (my ponytails aren’t so struggle anymore!), two ponytails on each side, or two braids going to the back on each side. I have never sweated so much in my head in my life!

Installation 11-16-18 vs 8 Months

Growth & Hang time

Despite the heat misery, I didn’t forget to take notice of my locs. They are getting thicker and locking. But one thing I’ve noticed the most which started in month seven is growth. It seems my locs went on a growth spurt, and I think this is part of the falling stage. The falling stage is as your locs thicken and swell; they also fall and show their length. Many also refer to this as hang time. Another way I know my locs are growing is when my family comments on their length. Also, when I’m constantly brushing an imaginary bug off my shoulder, neck or upper back only to realize it’s my hair.

I know I sound like a broken record saying this, but watching my locs go through such transformations from installment until now is nothing short of amazing. It doesn’t seem that long ago when I had stringy locs that I didn’t know what to do with. And here I am today, with full, longer locs – and they are going to get fuller once they mature.

Document your journey

It is true when others with locs tell you that the growth and length will come, just be patient. That is why it is so important to document your journey by taking pictures of your locs regularly to see your progress. You will appreciate your journey more and how far you’ve come. For me, some of my progress seemed to have happened overnight. I believe that’s because I’m not continually styling or fussing with my locs. Leaving them alone appears to have been the best thing I could have done for them. Also, only washing them when needed. Sometimes that’s once or twice a month.

July 2019

be patient

As always, what works for me may not work for you. Your hair type, density, and length all play a part in your loc journey. But one thing that remains the same for everyone who embarks on a loc journey is you must have patience. The more patience you have, the more you trust the process, the happier you’ll be with the outcome. Thankfully I’m on the right path. Happy eight months to me!

In The Spirit of Truth-Telling

With age comes maturity. A higher level of understanding of yourself, your worth, and what you will and will not stand for. I have always considered myself to be honest, sometimes too honest. Sugarcoating and beating around the bush is not my jam. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not in the business of being mean, cruel, or hurtful on purpose to anyone. I treat others the way I’d want to be treated, and that includes being mindful of other people’s feelings.

This is your journey – no one else’s

Test locs installed 10-2018

Getting locs has been an incredible journey of enlightenment. I went into this new phase, not knowing so much. I know there is even more that I’m still learning now that I’m part of the loc community. Sisterlocks is a journey and a process you must trust. I kept hearing that mantra “Trust the process” and didn’t know the full meaning until I got my sisterlocks installed. After my installation, I learned a compelling lesson: You can’t listen to everyone’s advice. You shouldn’t listen to everyone’s opinion. Why? Because everyone’s journey is different. We all have different hair types, different curl patterns, different scalps, and different experiences.

So many people spoke about not following the sisterlocks way for various reasons, opting instead to buck the system so to speak. They chose to experiment and do things opposite of the sisterlocks way. With what result? Damaged locs. Being unhappy with their hair, taking their locs down and starting over. All of this costs $$$. It never made any sense to me. But when I got my sisterlocks and started my journey, I slowly but surely began to understand why “Trust the process” has so much meaning.

Installation Day 11-2018

Trust the process

I posted a video recently speaking about this, and I’m sure my thoughts will ruffle some feathers because so many YouTubers make their coins talking about sisterlocks. I’m not a sisterlocks brand ambassador, but I am a sisterlocks believer. Sisterlocks can work for you if you trust the process and are patient. Sisterlocks will work for you if you follow the guidelines and the advice of your licensed loctician or trainee. In my earlier posts before I got my sisterlocks, I spoke all big and bad about what I would and would not do. I quickly pumped the brakes and saw that wasn’t a wise course if I wanted my locs to thrive. You live and learn, especially when you see the process working.

you deserve to hear the truth

I’m not worried about ruffling feathers because to me every day is the season of truth-telling. There’s so much misleading information out there, and for someone that is considering sisterlocks, they deserve to hear the truth from someone who truly trusted the process. This means not skipping steps, not trying to rush the process, not using products on your locs when you’re not supposed to. Also, it means not following fad remedies that can do more harm than good because it’s popular at the moment.

My locs 6-2019

In the spirit of truth-telling, I hope my experiences help someone in their journey or considering the loc journey. It is my wish that someone finds encouragement, enlightenment, and hope. It is my heartfelt hope that my honesty touches someone positively.