The Beginning: My Natural Hair Journey

One beautiful, sunny day, back in 2003, I hurried into a barbershop and told the barber I needed a cut.  Going "Natural" was something I just needed to do.  I was on a spiritual journey and felt it was time to: 1) Stop doing things that harm my body, and 2) Start to better respect God's creation.  I truly felt liberated.  At that time, the older ladies in my church had afro's.  The beauty was undeniable.  Their example really encouraged me.  Back then, dreadlocks weren't an option for me.  It never entered my mind that locking my hair would be just as, if not more, attractive than the braid extensions I would get.  Although I had seen locks, I was not regularly exposed to or educated about the style.

I really enjoyed the freedom of not having to go to the salon to get my hair relaxed and styled.   Salon visits were expensive and TIME CONSUMING.  3 years had gone by and one day, after sitting alone in my room, I decided that I was tired of my afro.  I had forgotten the rigors of - and the true reason I had given up on - having relaxed hair.  Thoughtlessly, I went to the store and bought a relaxer, applied it, and was immediately filled with regret.  I was so disappointed in myself for the transgression.  I really felt that I had betrayed myself.  It was time for my second Big Chop.

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After the relaxer fiasco, once my hair started getting longer, I decided that I would keep my hair in a two-stranded twist.  This gave me a break from having to pick my afro everyday.  It was beginning to really hurt - even while wet!  I have a really tight curl pattern.  For the past 5 years my hair has been either in the twists or afro, and that was okay by me.

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This year, after recovering from a surgery and having to deal with learning a whole new way of life, I realized I was going to do one of two things with my hair: A) Shave it to the scalp or B) LOCK - IT - UP.  I just cannot be bothered with having to take down twists and re-twist EVERY WEEK.  It just so happened that, while I was watching a show on hulu, the Coffee-mate, "Express Yourself" commercial came on.  After about the second or 3rd time I saw it, I noticed this lady who had gorgeous, conservatively styled locks that where cascading down around her shoulders. I was mesmerized.  So, I called a friend an told her that I was considering locking my hair.  She says to me, "Google Sisterlocks."  So I did.  The pictures I had seen looked very similar to the locks I saw in the commercial!  In an instant, I began rummaging around the internet for any and all information I could find about Sisterlocks.  I tried to see if there was anyone who could give me the same look for less, but was unsuccessful.  I don't trust the "hook-up."  The saying goes, "You get what you pay for."  After seeing the precision of the Sisterlocks method, the matter was settled.  I went to the Sisterlocks website and found the name of a Certified Loctician and scheduled an appointment. 

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So, now I'm 3 weeks from getting MY VERY OWN SISTERLOCKS!!  My loctician is the only one in 74 miles.  I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to get my hair styled this way.  I couldn't be more excited! :) Well... I would be if I was getting them done for free, but we all know * LOL* that is NOT going to happen.