Well, so far, so good. I have received loads of compliments and hopefully I will be an inspiration to some of my friends, We'll see. This blogging is no joke. I am really going to try and keep up with it. Still have a lot to learn. I am trying to figure out how to post links of the other blogs that I love to follow. I'm getting it together slowly but surely.

What's up with the afro??

For some reason, it looks a little oily to me but I have only used water. Maybe its just me.

I was tempted to try and style it this morning but I am really going to try and listen to the advice of the consultant and just free style it for a couple of months. We'll see how I do.

4 DAYS SL'D DECEMBER 22, 2007

Well it is Sabbath Morning and I am ready for church. I was on my cell with my girlfriend Stacey who insisted that I have DH send her pics via email. She has not seen my hair in person and I had not posted as of yet.

Back Views

Renee and Wendi

3 Days Loc'd December 21, 2007

I am on the phone a lot. My DH is always shooting.

Renee Bell Anderson loc'd since May 1, 2005

This is my good girlfriend Renee. When she decided to loc, we researched together for months navigating thru all of the different blogs. She knew this was the answer for her after much drama with her hair! It was quite a journey for her as she had experienced a large amount of hair breakage and loss. Many tears were shed and frustration beyond belief as she went thru treatments with the dermatologist, wigs, twists, you name it. She literally mourned the loss of her once full, lengthy, head of hair. She is now 2 yrs and 7mos locked. She laments about the lack of length and thickness of her hair but I am here to tell you that she started with the very minimal amount of length which was about 2 inches and I have watched the process as we work together EVERY day! Her hair is fine!!!! I love her to death but I gotta tell ya, it has truly been a journey. Having gone thru it with her as well as another friend(whose pics I will post when I get them) It made it easier for me to make my choice but I could only do it when I was ready.

More of the same.

I am loving my hair!!!!!

Close up. Looks like 1 loc in the front is fatter than the others but I think that there were 2 very close together.

2 days loc'd

Well, I'm finally getting a chance to put these up. This was Thursday, Dec 20 and I have experienced quite a bit of shrinkage but I love it. It was so freeing to just wake up, shower, spritz with water and go!

Top Portion

Well, there you have it! One day I will count them or convince someone else to. How does one even attempt to do that? I will post the number one of these days.
I can now say that I became sisterlocked on December 18th, 2007! I am already wondering what it will look like a year from now.

View of Parts

This is just an attempt to show the sections. Once it's tightened, it almost feels like I have a weave. I am very aware of my scalp.

Back View

I know it is going to shrink up quickly. I perspire in my head so the length you see here will be gone by tomorrow!

Right Side View

I still can't believe it! I really have sisterlocks!

Side View

My hair almost looks like I started with a perm. I am hoping that it will curl up pretty soon. The straggly look is not to becoming. A little make-up wouldn't hurt either!

I'm Done and Happy

It's a wrap! I am done. The whole process went as follows: Sunday from 8-3pm, Monday from 9-12pm and Tuesday she tightened down to the root from 9-12pm. I am delighted that it is done. It was a great experience. I was completely relaxed and sure ofmy decision. I have no regrets and I am glad to be a part of the "club"now. My consultant's name is Denise Hinds. She owns a shop in Washington, DC called Uzuri Braids. 202-291-1118. Denise is both professional and has a warm spirit. The 3 days I spent in her home were great. I feel like I gained a friend.
Of course the hair looks a bit stringy but they are in and I am going to let it do what it does. I know that I am going to be tempted to style and mess with it but I was heavily advised not to. I have given DH instructions to hold me accountable when I attempt to mess with it.

First Day of Locking Session

This was accomplished between the hours of 8am-3pm. Got through most of my head. She did not do it all the way to the root as she was more concerned with just getting them in. I go back in the morning to finish and tighten. So far I am quite happy. My girlfriend Sonya just came over and inherited all of my hair products. She was quite happy and I was happy to release them only to make room for new stuff! The session was very relaxing. I couldn't even tell what she was doing. I know I have made the right decision. I can't wait to get finished. I feel like I'm twelve years old, I can't relax or even eat(which ain't so bad)! I'm going to try and find a good Christmas movie to watch tonite and try to relax for the next phase. Stay tuned....

My son wanted to be in on the action and insisted on helping me wash my hair. The whole family is in on this. After washing, I blew it dry and twisted it in large sections. I couldn't sleep all nite. I guess it was just nervous energy.

A sista need not take pics without makeup! You guys are seeing the real deal. I'm out of control.

The final comb out. No more afro. No need for combs. It's hard to grasp that.

TWAS THE NITE BEFORE LOCKING

Ode to a hairball. I will NOT miss this at all. The comb out process. DH was nice enough to "stage" it for me.

Memory Lane

Well folks, this is it. Today is the last time I will see my hair out. Back from Cancun, took out the flat twist and this is what I got. I thought it was a bad hair day but surprisingly enough, I received quite a few compliments at church. Regrets you ask?? NOT!! I am still ready for my appointment tomorrow morning at 0800 (thats military time for 8am for those that need assistance).

Once I finish this I am going to wash my hair for the last time as I know it. A little scary but I am ready. The only hard part will be resisting the urge to grease up. What's really up with that concept anyway?? Why can't we oil our scalp or hair? That is truly my only reservation about this process. I guess I will find out. I am putting my hair box together to give away tonite.

Consider it done. My journey continues... Thank you all for going down memory lane with me tonite. The next pics you see will be the new me. I hope and pray that I don't have any regrets! Peace to you all.

Fresh out of the hairdresser last Friday. Color done and ready to go to Mexico. Didn't get the front view due to DH issues. He had to leave and take my oldest son to his basketball game. Like I said earlier, can't wait to go solo with the internet stuff. I'm a cripple without him!

My two lone test locs. Not sure which one or should I say pattern will be used. We shall see tomorrow! I am all pumped up.

By the way, I am still experimenting with this blog stuff. My DH left me here alone with the laptop and written instructions to post these memory lane pics. I have NO idea what this will all look like when I am done so bear with a sista while in training. I'm trying to figure out how to post multiple pics in one message. I am also trying to learn how to respond to some of you who have commented. I see them but don't have a clue how to respond. Keep commenting though!

Ye ole extensions! Lifesaver for the black woman. This was done in Oct 2007 and is also what helped me to realize the fact that I was ready to loc it up! I enjoyed not having to "do" anything to my hair. I wore it up most of the time, this was a down hair moment.

I was not particularly happy with this hairstyle. I had recently had my hair cut after the blowdrying experience. I had to have about 4 to 5 inches chopped off and was not happy with the two strand look with it shorter. Needless to say, my summer was uneventful hairwise.

Are ya sick of me yet? Rod set in action here.

A little fake hair in the back never hurt nobody right. Gone are all of those hairpieces, not sure that I will miss them. We'll see won't we????

The flat twist at the beach this summer. When I took it out I looked a "hot mess" I will spare you that pic!

Flat twist up do

Trip Down Memory Lane

Not a great pic of the face but the hair was set on flexi rods. My DH is constantly flashing even while I'm on the phone.