1 month loc update!

Dreadlock Chronicles III

I'm a style icon!

So head on over to BGLH and check me out!

http://bglhonline.com/2009/11/style-icon-jhavia/

The Silky Smooth VS Nigga Naps

So for some reason I straightened my hair last week. I said its because I wanted to see how it would it look. Which is true. But I also did it for a special occasion. I was falling back on that old standard...that I don't look my best without straight hair.
And I found, I did not like it! I missed my fro! And I'm glad that I got rained on yesterday so that I could come home and wash out the heat and the concoction that I put in it over the span of those few days.
As far as my hair journey is concerned...I'm progressing with baby steps. I've found what works for me to bring out my natural curl pattern, fooling people into thinking I have a texturizer haha, but that is it! I'm ready to try some styles. My swami has inspired me as she usually does with her beautiful locks and tips on things to do with them.
I just find it funny, especially now with more hair awareness going on in movies, magazines, etc. that I felt I had to fall back on that old standard. Or that my straighter hair seemed more accepted to those I work with or people on the street. I even got more attention from men, which is funny! Since I know they like long hair. And my do was rather short haha.
And as cute as I find my hair when its in fro-form...supposedly I have nigga naps! Like that's what natural hair is for some of those same people who fall into that straight is better stigma.
I dunno. Maybe I'm just being sensitive and letting bullshit get to me. When really, I feel very comfortable and empowered by how I wear my hair now.

Loc update

STYLE TUTORIAL!

The style I like to wear is a combination twist out and bantu knot out. I actually experimented with the style before I started my locs and I loved how it came out so I tried it with my locs and it pretty much came out the same way. Here are the steps:



Start with freshly washed or damp hair.



Moisturize and apply any product that you use on your hair. I used coconut oil and glycerin.



Two strand twist hair all over. For locs, take two locs and twist them together.



Take 2 two strand twists and twist them together. Now you have a four strand twist.



Take that four strand twist and twist it until it coils on to itself, creating a bantu knot.



Repeat the process all over your head.



Now bantu knots are a style on their own, so I kept mine in for about 3 days.



Make sure your hair is completely dry before taking it loose. I recommend sitting under a dryer or letting it air dry.



Carefully undo each bantu knot and untwist each twist.



To get rid of the spaces caused by the parts rub your hands through your hair. I put a nickel sized amount of moisturizer on my hands before I did this.



*The good thing about this style is that, for me at least, it lasts longer than a twist out or bantu knot out because it produces a tighter curl. I do this process during the weekend, wear the bantu knots for a few days, then wear it loose the rest of the week.



Hope you try this style!

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Hair Blog! Shape Up Look Smart and Other Rambles

So I did a video blog. It was fun. My very first. Ahh I'm no longer a video blog virgin!!! Oh well. But I don't look beauteous in it haha so the natural will have to do. Hope you all watch the whole thing.

The beginning...

I got my locs started today! I love it already... It looks really good. I love that he used all natural stuff so my hair doesn't feel stiff. I am so excited... And Meghan is more excited than I am lol. Of course I will keep you guys updated on this journey. I have to do a video because the experience was great. I went to Bornu Locs in a secret location lol. You can check out his work at www.Bornu.com. He was really cool and he finished my hair in less than 2 hours.
I guess that's it for now. Stay tuned :)
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My hair today

I keep getting compliments on my hair today! I will post more pictures later. I am at work and I snuck in the bathroom to take this picture, so its not that great.
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Rambling about my hair

Slightly frustrated...

I think I am overthinking my dreadlock journey. It's supposed to be organic...one of the reasons I decided that I want to lock my hair is because my hair is starting to become a source of stress, and I am not used to that. For years I kept my hair in twists and braids, and I really didn't think about it too much. But now, I think about it TOO much.

Lately my dilemma has been: how exactly should I start my locks? I could do two strand twists, but I have mixed feelings about how my hair looks in two strand twists, and I don't want it to come loose. I though about 4 strand twists, because they're tighter so may stay intact longer than two strand twists. Ideally, I would interlock, but I feel like I would have a hard time doing that on my own hair. I'm too impatient, but I refuse to pay someone to do it. I'm too broke, and besides I know how to do it I'm just impatient and too lazy.

Sooo I will probably just do 4 strand twists and wear hats or something until I'm happy with the way my hair looks. I'm starting out with hair that isn't particularly long or short, so I'm jumping in this journey right at the awkward stage, which isn't gonna make it easier, but perhaps it will teach me a thing or two. Patience is something I need more of, so hopefully this process will be a lesson in that.

Now I just need my girlfriend to part my hair so I can get this show on the road! I want my parts to be really neat. I'm really picky about my hair.

Anyway, hopefully next time I will be posting pictures of the beginnings of some damn locks. We shall see. I know how I am...if I get too impatient, I will say "fuck having perfect parts," and just DO IT. But I'm trying not to go there since this is a style I plan to have permanently, or at least until they get to my waist.

Stay tuned.

I dyed my hair!

I really wanted to dye my hair before locking it, so that I could have some hot red tips on the end of my locks as they progress...so I got some stuff and dyed my damn hair. I like it :) It still takes some getting used to though.

Next step...twist my hair! Hopefully if I am not too tired I will do that tonight. If I get too lazy, I will do it tomorrow or this weekend. I'm really ready for it to be done though.

Did you dye your hair before or after locking it? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it?

Pick Yo Afro Baby

You need to pick yo afro daddy because its flat on one side.You need to pick yo
afro daddy because its flat on one side (what you waitin on?). Well if you
don't pick yo afro, you're gonna have one side high.
- Erykah Badu Afro (Freestyle skit)

I sleep in bonnets. Have been for a few years now. Has to be satin. To lock in moisture and all that jazz. I still do it even now that I've cut the relaxer out of my hair. I think its funny that when I wake up, drool all around my mouth, crude in my eyes, buggers in my nose...I have a compressed fro! And I'm a jerk. I do not have my coveted fisted afro pick. I've resorted to doing with what I have. Which is a clear blue comb that brings to mind what your mother used on your head right after she washed it. And the hair dryer comb that never stays on my hair dryer.
Needless to say, I do not like to pick my fro out. It hurts for one. Seems I'm tender headed again. And two, I don't want to give my nitpicking sister the satisfaction!!!!
I like seeing my curls. Like messing with them even more.
But I can't get the Erykah Badu song out of my head in the morning when I take off my bonnet. I use my hands more often than not. Fluff my hair out. And find I'm pleased with the look. Although others advise picking.
I did so this morning. Shocked me how much it grew that fast. My mother always said I had horse hair :)
I need a pick...damnit.
Also, any suggestions on moisturizers??? Those are some of the products that I'm using. [Pictured] It is pure coincidence that they're all green :) Also, for really AWESOME natural products: http://www.lushusa.com/shop
I am addicted to the store.

Dreadlock maintainence and styles

Here are some photos of some of my work...these are two women who make me want to lock my hair every time I look at them! Hey, if I can do theirs, I can do my own, so I need to stop procrastinating!

Loc Style updo



Loc maintainence

welcome to the dark side Alyssa!

I'm happy and excited for you! We will have to get together so I can give you a style tutorial. I'm glad that you are already enjoying the journey regardless of what others think. After all, it's YOUR hair. Fuck what anyone else has to say!

The Start?!

Now I've been wanting to write in this blog for some time, but its giving me Japanese when I want English. Its a trial, so bear with me as I recount the tale.

A week or so ago...I took out my braids. I asked my mother if she would cut the relaxer out of my hair. I hadn't had a relaxer in over a year so I had hella new growth. She refused on the grounds that I have beautiful hair. Long hair. I'd look stupid, she said. My sister, who is staying with us for the time, chimed in with much the same.
I shrugged it off. Because I was going to get her Japanese shears and cut it my damn self. I admit, I haven't been so happy doing something for myself...I don't think ever. If you would have seen my smile, you would have thought I'd escaped from the psycho ward. Had finally figured out a way to get out of my straight jacket. I don't know if I'm describing it adequately enough...
I thought I was the shit with my little Jew fro [in no way a racist term, see 40 Year Old Virgin :)] .
And since I did it at night, everyone was asleep.
None of my immediate family saw my hair until the next night. I had my co-workers at work tripping. Some questioned me, some praised me, some ignored me until I was too in their face to ignore. I dared anyone to say anything. I loved how I looked. Loved how I felt. And I could not, still can't stop touching my hair.
All that day I smiled for apparently no reason. No one could say anything to me to get me down. I felt empowered and liberated. And me. Only more natural and less chemical.
I didn't have to have relaxed hair to be beautiful. Despite what we've all been taught to think.
When my mother saw it, she frowned profusely. She's a stylist. My sister saw it and gaped. Then laughed. Asked, "what fuck did you do to your hair?" "Duh. I cut it."
Needless to say, only now days and days later, are they dealing with the change. They still don't understand why I did it. And since you meet all kinds of new people when you make a drastic change to yourself, a guy on the train illuminated me to the fact that they don't love themselves enough to get why I did this for myself.
One man said it takes a strong woman to go natural in this day and age. Women ask if I've gone natural...isn't it obvious?! I get mixed reviews. But I love it. LOVE IT!
I'm still trying to find my products :) But I'm getting there. This is a recap. I'll write more often on my crackberry.
Shouts to my wifey Jhavia. She's my guru. My help swami. We'll be blogging as we take a journey to attaining beautiful healthy natural locks.

My Dreadlock journey begins...

this Friday! I am so excited. I will be two strand twisting my hair (which I have done many times before) but this time I won't be taking it loose. I am excited and nervous about this journey but I will write and post pictures every step of the way. My plan was to do a photo shoot before starting my dreadlocks, and I did, so I will be posting pictures from that. Check back soon for photos!

Here are photos of my hair before I start my locs...
TWIST OUT

TWO STRAND TWISTS

THE PUFF






RANDOM STYLE





SAY GOODBYE TO THE AFRO! We have had 5 good years together, but it is time to move on...I said I was going to lock my hair eventually, and eventually is NOW!