5 1/2 Weeks

Five and a half weeks later, I'm not sure how much different my hair looks, really. I ran into my consultant in Starbucks today and she said the locks are locking nicely. I can't wait until Sunday when I wash it for the first time. Talk about anxious! I'm going to try the braid out -- where you leave the hair in braids after washing until it dries. I can tell I have a lot of new growth at the roots, but the shrinkage makes it really hard to appreciate. It will be awhile before I can appreciate the length of this tightly coiled hair. Above, you'll see a lock in it's natural state against my forehead. Then, you'll see how long it really is when I pull it. SHRINKAGE! So frustrating.

1 Month

I thought it might be fun to do what I've seen on several blogs before mine. Document the length and growth by month. Not sure if I'll remember each month, but I'll do it when I remember to! So, it's my first month. Still haven't washed it, per my consultant. Right before my first re-tightening I'll wash it using the sisterlocks shampoo. I wrap it every night. Occasionally, I'll put a headband or headwrap in my hair. But for the most part, I've left it alone. It's so great taking worrying about my hair off my stress list. Even the grid, which lasted, oh, like two days, is gone. My hair is so incredibly thick. I enjoyed my relaxed hair, but it only stayed completely straight for about a week or so before getting "puffy". Twists were frustrating because they only lasted about two weeks and then, with my thick mane, I'd be back again for another 2 1/2 hours of twisting. Braids were great...if I had 10 hours to kill on any given day. (Which I don't.) And my husband never quite took to weaves or wigs. Honestly, this style has been a Godsend. Finally, my incredibly thick, tightly-coiled hair isn't a burden I have to deal with on a regular basis. I'm leaving it alone and loving it. I've heard people complain about spending $70-$100 every month or so to have their hair retightened, but I lived that anyway. Although I admire sistahs who are willing to do it themselves. More power to you. But as long as this sistah has a job, I can't even wrap my thoughts around doing it myself. I haven't counted how many locks I have. I'm going to do that when I wash it and I'm forced to band and braid anyhow. Let's just say I started to count and got to 100 and I only had barely the thickness of a banana in my hand. I was about an 1/8 into my head.

First Follow-Up Visit

Above is a video about my first follow up visit. One thing I didn't mention is that I happened to see the inspiration for my Sisterlocks. A mom whose daughter went to my son's preschool has the most beautiful Sisterlocks now. I remember when she started and they were pretty short as they were only a few years old at the time. I did think they looked nice, but I was starting traditional locks back then. I, obviously, have since chopped off my traditional locks, which I could never quite get right. But her Sisterlocks look amazing now five years later. And today we bumped into each other when I went to my follow-up visit and I have to say I experienced Sisterlocks envy. Hers are GORGEOUS. But now it has been SEVEN years and hers were down to the middle of her back. I just hope I mine will be that long, but man I don't want to wait seven years. My hair grows fast. Here's hoping I can swing it in three!

It's 97 degrees outside!

I've been sweating all morning. It's a scorcher here in New Jersey. But thankfully, I don't have to deal with my hair. Just woke up, shook, done. It has been a lifesaver because usually this kind of weather does me in. Even braids are hot in this kind of heat. I'm at the two-week mark. I go for my first touch up in a week. Just barely made it in that three week window. I really don't think people realize I have locks. I've had a few people ask me what's up. I haven't really tried to style it. I just get up and go. My husband, who was a little skittish at first about me getting locks, now really, really likes them. That was a welcome relief. From what I've been reading on the lockitup forum, a lot of husbands are like that. You just have to do it and then they come around. I wasn't courting his support necessarily, but it does make my life a lot easier now that he's on board.