I am my hair!! :-): 1 Month

Monday, August 15, 2011

1 Month Old - How do I feel?

So 2 days ago was my official 1 month anniversary... My journey is official! Just like anything that alters you, you really see how you feel about it in the first month... My feelings toward my hair....

First the negatives:
1. I have this section at the top of my hair that has very straight ends. (Not from a perm, but from constantly flat ironing my hair that left out of my weaves.) Now the rest of my hair fails into the curly ends, but this sections just falls... So that is kinda annoying because it doesn't have a uniform look to it... I like messy hair, so I don't mean perfect, but just uniform with the ends...
2. I am also feeling a certain way about my length... I know it will take time to grow, but just not very used to short hair. When I got my first Re-Tighten last week, it appeared that my hair had a very slight growth. It was very little, but I, and my hubby and sons noticed it.. (YAY!!)
3. Styling... I am not the best at it yet. I am trying different things, I end up with the headband look or just pushed back... I think as my hair thickens and grows, along with my experience, I will be more diverse with my styling.

Now the Positives:
1 I absolutely love rubbing my hands in my hair... I don't think that I have H.I.L (Hands in Locks) syndrome because it's not ALL day, but I love the way it feels.
2. I am a sweater... so I love the fact that wen I sweat, it does not change the outcome of my hair. After a workout, my tight curls have loosened, but that's ok
3. I enjoy watching it do it's thang... My curly q ends are just doing what they want, and its cute to watch.
4. I love playing in it... I am looking for more accessories to attach... I have never been a flower in hair, or even a big headband wearer... But now, I am looking at new things.... Still haven't tried the flower in hair, but it's coming soon!!!
5. I have increased my workouts! I have a vision of a healthier and lighter me! Now, without the thought that my sweating will ruin my hair, I can really make my vision come true!
6. I have cut down my "get ready to go" time... If I need to spritz, shake, & go... I can!!!
7. I actually feel more attractive, confident, and sexy. There is a certain "swagg" that comes along with wearing natural hair for me. It's easy to conform to society's expectations of what's pretty and feel good about it. But to go against the straight, curled, or wavy hair and still feel beautiful... I feel empowered.. I know that everyone don't like my new look.. I have had family members tell me... Or sometimes it's what they don't say... (Like the person that always complimented your hair before, but doesn't mention it at all now...) But it doesn't matter... I love my locks, I love my look, I love ME!!!
8. Freedom!!! In my mind, all of the "I can't do ______ (fill in the blank)" because of my hair have been let go! That was the most important thing and weighed heavily on my reason for locking my hair.

So as you see, my POSITIVES outweigh my NEGATIVES...

Back to the original question... How do I feel about my Sisterlocks?

I LOVE THEM!!!!! :-)

Saturday, August 6, 2011

My babies are almost 1 Month old!!!

So, it has been nearly one month since I installed my babies. Exactly 4 weeks in 4 days. I go for my re-tighten on Sunday early afternoon. Tomorrow, I will braid and band my hair and wash it with my "Special Shampoo".
It's crazy how it took years for me to get comfortable with the idea to LOCK my hair. I just knew that I couldn't do it because I would have withdrawal episodes from the pressing comb or the weave tracks! LOL... I had so much anxiety about how the "early stage" would look on me. Would it make my head look big?? Would it show my weak areas?? Would I be able to style it?? Would my hair look too short?? Would I like it?? Would my husband like it?? All these questions of doubt circulated time and time again before I felt comfortable with the idea. Until one day I, my husband, and other family members just got fed up with all the skits about my hair. My impulsiveness led me to schedule a hair appt to lock my hair just before my sister's wedding that I was gonna be a bridesmaid. Uhm, yeah, what a way to address all of those questions head on!!!! Well anyhow, I am coming to my first month anniversary, and now all of those questions have disappeared... and I only have one question now.... What took me soooo long to get Sisterlocked??? LOL

Man, this decision has been the best! There are absolutely NO regrets! I have never felt so free with regards to my hair. It took me less than 90 minutes and $0 spent at the hair salon for my curly do for the wedding. In the morning, when getting ready for my day (I am NOT an early bird) it takes me 5 - 20 minutes to style my hair, depending on if there were rollers/braids set in my hair the night before. I can spritz my hair with Oil & Water mixture or Water only, shake my hair, and go! My attitude of "take me as I am" has jumped to an all time high... I no longer am self-conscience that my hair isn't bone-straight and hanging half-way down my head. I feel just as beautiful with my short locked hair as I did when it was flowing effortless down my back.... It has even sparked a new love for accessories and eye make-up, daring me to try flashy/edgy combination and rock them like "Know About Me! Lol! I can work out, and sweat as much as I can, and NOT worry about what to do with my hair!!!

There is something to this natural hair thing that is soooo liberating! Not feeling as though your day, mood, or look is determined by how your hair is.... And guess what... I LOVE IT!!!

There are a few things that I am looking forward to with my SLs....

Going swimming without any worries of hair (Right now they are somewhat too fragile, so I still must make precautions with water in my hair)
My SLs thickening.... (I'm thinking within 3-6 months)
My hair growth to at least bra-strap length (I'm thinking within 2 years)
The many different styles and versatility that my SLs will bring.

So in a nutshell, at Month 1, I am extremely PLEASED with my decision! My hair is starting to get that ball/knot at the last 3/4 to the end of each lock. I don't want to get too excited so I won't say that it is budding. My hair has had some slippage over the month, and about 4 locks came unraveled. I have a tad bit new growth and my locks are trying to thicken a tad bit. I will wash my hair for the first time tomorrow, so I am looking forward to that. I was instructed not to bother them too much because the water may cause excessive slippage or unraveling. So, I was very obedient! Here are some pictures (before the washing)...

FROM THIS (7/13/2011)