My mom is braidloc'd!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are pics of my mom's hair a few weeks after I installed her braidlocs. She wanted her braids to be bigger than mine.

Another style

Here, I flat twisted one side and part of the back.

Here, I allowed more hair to flow from the front.

Short Look

Let's sing it...Do U Know What Today Is? It's My Anniversary...Anniversary

It's been a year already?!! At the beginning it seemed so far away but now that I've made it, time has really flown by. I've enjoyed all 365 days of my braidlocs, even my fuzzy days. My locs are definitely maturing. My curly q's are few and I have locs that are almost completely loc'd. It will probably take another 6 months for it to be completely loc'd....we will see. I experienced a lot of shrinkage, which I understood would come with the territory but I've also seen a lot of growth. I heard that after a year the growth really takes off. I've combined some locs because I didn't like the look of the very thin locs that were located in the front and sides. I just combined them by two strand twisting them. I haven't had any issues with them unraveling. If I decide to get a nappy tool before it's too late I can combine them by interlocking them but for right now they are okay. I contemplated coloring a couple of months ago but chickened out after I purchased a box of color. I decided to wait after my locs have matured. Just a few weeks ago I decided to try something different while freshing up the new growth. I've started twisting the front and sides of my hair and will continue to latchhook the top and the back. It's an experiment to see how I would like the look compared to latching. We will see.

This journey has introduced new freedom for me. I definitely need freedom with my lifestyle. Having two girls, a teenager with long permed hair and a 2.5 yr old with special needs, I don't have much time fuss with my own hair. Deciding to loc my youngest daughter's hair has also given me one less thing to deal with when it comes to her development. It gives me more time to focus on her most important needs.

My mom has been monitoring my progress and decided to loc her hair as well. She's been natural for almost 3.5 yrs. She is the one who helped motivate me to go natural in the first place. I started her braidlocs on Feb 26th-27th, two hours devoted to each day. She didn't want her locs as small as mine but she still has more than she thought she would. She's already enjoying the freedom of not having to manipulate her hair everyday. I'll post a pic really soon.

I'm looking forward to many more years to follow!

To Color.....or Not To Color?

I need something different. I've always been the type that has to change things up often with my hair. I'm feeling a little bored and want to add some color. I don't think I want to color my entire head because I don't want to make the process of my ends loc'n any slower than it already has been. I'm thinking I may highlight here and there. I'm a few months shy of my 1st yr of being loc'd anniversary. Did anyone at this stage, color their hair and regret that they did?

Experimenting With Styles Cont'd

Experimenting With Styles

Simple updo
First Mohawk attempt

This is a flat twist out, creates looser waves.

I Made My Own Hair Tie

Because I am a DIYer, I wanted to attempt to make my own hair tie. I knew it couldn't be that hard. I found out that it was easier than making a necklace. The circular design was originally purchased as a pair to make earrings, purchased at Michaels. It's hard to tell because of the bright reflections but its inscribed with the words "Be True To Yourself" and the toggle clasp (also purchased from Michaels) is inscribed with the word "smile". I used a 1mm elastic black cord which is kind of thin so I had to double it up. Next time I'll buy a thicker cord. Again sorry about the reflection, I couldn't get my camera to work the way I wanted.

Curls using pipe cleaners

Here are some pics after I curled my hair using pipe cleaners purchased from Michaels. I damped my hair just a little and applied Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion. There were a few pieces that I left out so I just pin curled those and they held just as tight as the curls that the pipe cleaners produced. To produce pin curls I just wrapped my hair around a pen (a pencil will do also) slide it out, hold with your finger and then secure with a bobby pin. The curls were very tight the first day but I just allowed them to fall naturally. They lasted for a 1.5 weeks and that's because I need to wash my hair. I'm sure they would have lasted at least 2 weeks.

Washing Little Me's Hair

Here is "little me" getting her hair washed. Her bath seat makes the process really easy for both of us. I wash her hair with black soap or Olive Oil Shampoo. As you see I don't braid and band and her hair hasn't unraveled much. During the summer months I wash her hair once a week but during the cold months I only wash it twice a week.