Are those dreads or twists?!?!?!

When my locks were initially installed almost 2 years ago, I was sitting at a splash park, enjoying the sun and water with my extended family. A lady (with 2 strand twists) and who happened to be a friend of one of my family members struck up a conversation with me.

Lady:  "Are those locks or twists." (lips were turned up while asking the question)

Me: "No, they're called sisterlocks, they are a variation of locks."

Lady: "Oh, well they look like twists to me." (turns her nose up and walks away)

My husband was sitting beside me at the time and he wanted to know what her problem was. LOL!

Fastforward almost 2 years, me and hubby were in Costco, picking up a few items. We made it to the check out line and the checker asked me the dubious question:

Checker: "Are those dreads or twists"

Me: "They're called sisterlocks, a variation of locks"

Checker: "Wow, never heard of them ,but they are pretty."

Me: "Thank You!" <insert cheesy grin here>

Who knew that sisterlocks could spark up such conversations! Let me first say that I love loc's...ALL LOC's. I don't care if they're dreaded, traditional, latched...in my opinion a loc, is a loc, is a loc and they are all BEAUTIFUL (no matter how they are started).

If I hadn't encountered a lady on the subway (while on my commute home from work) I wouldn've never learned of Sisterlocks.  This lady had bra-strap length mature sisterlocks and they were gorgeous!! I stalked the woman off the train and inquired about her hair. Me in my ignorance thought they were braids from afar. But she enlightened me and explained that they are sisterlocks, she explained the cost, maintenance, etc. I was hooked! She told me that if I was interested I should research, research and research some more before taking the leap.

And researched I did! For about 2 months and I still had to have them. Now that I have them I love them, wish it hadn't taken me so long to find them!

Month 12 .... Happy Lockaversary!!!

My sisterlocks were born on June 5th, 2009 and completed on June 6th, 2009. I made it to the first milestone....1 year. I'm not fully locked yet...although most of the back and some of the sides have fully locked. My consultant (she received her certification) says may take my hair a full 2 years to lock, but that's ok. It's my journey and I'm loving every minute of it.

I've dealth with just about everything in this 1 year journey: excessive slippage the first couple of months, product build-up in my locks, discontent with the SL starter shampoo (I know use Dr. Bronner's Castille shampoo), excessive dryness and flaking (which is not under control). I have to thank my consultant -- she's been very helpful as well as the knowledgeable ladies from the Yahoo! Lock It Up group. I wouldn't have made it without you!

I still have slippage and a few holes in my locks...but thanks to the wonderful tool of You-Tube and Kalia Dewdrop, I've learned how to fix locks that try to slip with a latch hook. I seriously doubt if I'll ever attempt to self-retighten (I don't have the patience),but applaud those that do!

Can't wait to see what's the next step of lockdoom in the coming year....

Month 11

Celebrated Mother's Day and also had a few subtle auburn highlights added to my SL's (done by a loctician in the DC area familiar with coloring loc's). Thanks Ms. Yvette!

Month 10 - A disection of my SL's

Right side of my head (micro SL's)

Left side of my head (small SL's)

Just a few pic's this month....mostly close ups of my small and micro size sisterlocks. oddly enough...i have micro sisterlocks on the right side of my head (hair is less dense on that side...who knew) and small sisterlocks on the left side of my head.

Months 7 and 8

Not much to report from months 7 and 8, had some slippage (which is not unusual for me and my locks). I can happily report that many of my SL's in the back are starting to conform and have locked up (yippeee) and I've noticed buds on the ends of many of my locks.

And I still have the curly-q's on the ends...

Months 5 and 6

Who knew 6 months would fly by so quickly????

I look at my looks from installation to the present day and cannot believe how far they have come and how they have changed. They’ve grown and started swelling. And according to my consultant, some have started to settle and I’ve noticed little pea sized balls on the ends of a few.
I am absolutely in love with my SL’s and can’t wait to see what is in store for the next 6 months and beyond…
For someone who looked like a plucked chicken on day 1, I think my SL’s are doing good…loves it!

Month 2

Vacationed in Myrtle Beach…salt water and air did wonders for my locks!
Went in for my first re-tightening late July and the last 2 rows on the nape of my neck “slipped” completely. My consultant told me not to worry….my hair texture is soft and fine back and there and she’s not surprised it slipped.
Attended an alumni get-together for my college and met a fellow SL’er. She had 3 year old dyed locks that were lovely…I was in lock envy! We talked about everything SL’s…including slippage. She encouraged me not to worry about slippage and even showed me one of her “stubborn” locks that hasn’t fully locked and “slips” from time to time.