This Morning

Warning: Rambling Ahead...

This morning, I'm feeling like I should just finger coil my hair and be done with it. I never gave my first set a chance because I didn't think they'd make it it. I'm still worried about the back and am not sure what I'm going to do to keep it presentable and coiled. I can't remember for sure, but I think I went to sleep with a damp head last time. This time I'll make sure that I do my hair in the morning so it's dry by the evening. I'm not going to sit under the dryer or anything...or maybe I will for just a little while. I'm thinking I'll still have smushed hair in the morning and will need to do something about it, particularly the sides and back. I absolutely do not want to soak my hair every day like I tried last time. I may test spritzing on Sunday and see if it helps. Or maybe I can just wet my fingers and twirl the coils to help them get their umph back.

I'm searching on Nappturality while I write this post and it seems like this problem won't last forever...not sure how encouraging this is, but it is what it is.

I also decided that I will make no public proclamations this time. I need to prove to myself that I can stick with it and all of the frustration that comes. I'll document my journey privately and post photos once I make it 3 months. I hated having to retract the start of my journey next time so I'll hold everything until I can prove my tenacity :)

I've been keeping up with MrMustBeNice1's journey on YouTube and his hair is softer and way looser than mine and he's seeing great progress at 3 months. He started off getting his hair retwisted every 2 weeks and although it seems excessive based on what I've read, it seems to have worked well for him. I think he's stretching it out longer now to decrease expenses but I might just follow his lead initially. TBey says that she retwists hers every other week and has been doing that for a while with no detrimental affects. I think some of that depends on your hair. Her hair seems to be a lot thicker than mine and can handle the frequent manipulation. Another key is to do it while your hair is wet.

I'm looking at the set of coils I started and then undid at the beginning of this month and those parts are entirely too big. I know I have a small head but I need to make them smaller. I suppose it's safer to go smaller because I can always combine later but I won't be able to make larger locs smaller.

I'm looking at one lady's album and it looks like she has maybe 7 on the bottom row.

Interlocking to Start Locs

This is a serious contender as well. If I do it myself it might take a while, but I'm considering it.

Here's the best video I've seen so far during my very quick search.



Since my hair is shorter, it won't take quite as long, but I still think I'll be looking at a minimum of 6 hours. I'd be willing to pay someone to help me, but I don't know if I have any interested friends. I'll check a few salons to find out their prices for starting locs with this method. I'm wondering how many of them will do it.

On the Grow

I have 2.5" of hair so I'm still on the path to having 3" by the end of February, which is supposed to be some magic number so I can start my locs but I'm not absolutely sure about that. I'm beginning to think that I may have more success with longer hair. I really want to start my locs sooner rather than later, but I don't want to rush and be unnecessarily frustrated as a result.

I just sent Kim of Kimmaytube a message asking for advice for shorter hair. Clearly my hair is not long enough for protective styling and won't be for a minute. I'm already noticing a few knots here and there and we know that's just the beginning. In addition, my hair texture is nothing like hers. She has far less shrinkage than I do. I think the key to me retaining my length until I loc will be to wear it stretched as much as possible. The question is...at what length will I be able to do that. I feel like once I have enough hair to do that, I'll have enough hair to loc. I don't know what I'll ultimately end up doing but I'm feeling like I really need more hair to loc successfully.

Right now I'm still partial to using some of the techniques that people with straighter hair use, primarily because of the texture of the back of my head. Someone on NP recommended using different techniques for different parts of my hair but I am not interested in that look at all. Braidlocs might still be an option with more length.

Hair Growth Projections:
   End of February - 3"
   End of April - 4"
   End of June - 5" (Mel's Wedding)

   Beginning of October - Homecoming (6.5")

The two events that I'm most concerned about are my soror's wedding in June and Homecoming in October. I am not interested in looking like a work in progress for either of those events.

Twist and Rip?

This looks appealing as well. Supposedly it's a good method for curly hair. When these sites say "curly" I know they aren't thinking of my hair type. I keep seeing around 6 inches for the ideal length to use this method, but I'm not buying it Lol! I don't see any reason why you would need longer hair to do this. Maybe these recommendations are for people who are concerned about length.

The advantage of these methods that people with straighter hair use is that they tangle the hair from the start which gives it a jump start. Locs are just tangled hair. With the methods that most Black people use, they have to wait for the hair to tangle on itself.


Find more videos like this on dreadlocks forums

Here's a description:

The process is fairly simple. Gather the section in your fingers and twirl it. I spin clockwise relative to my face. I don't know if this is relevant. Don't twist it too tight, or when you go to rip it, it will bunch up way too densely to reach the root end of your hair, and you'll end up with a long length of straight hair between the knots and your roots. Instead, twirl lightly. 

Then slide your fingers slowly toward the tip of the bunch, until you feel the end of some hair. Next, split that bunch into two, and pull it apart. The crotch of the separated bunch should slide down to the scalp. Don't pull too hard. You may not be able to see, but you just made a thin layer of tangles. 

Now, without retwisting, grab a little bit of hair from one half of the bundle and pull it into the other half. You only need to retwist every three or four rips, or when the hair gets too bulbous. 

When that time comes, hold the knotted section in your fingers and roll it so it's even. Use this action to push any loose loops up into the bundle of unknotted hair. Then retwist and repeat. Once you get a good layer of knots between your scalp and the ripping, you can pull the hair apart pretty hard. Just don't go pulling your hair out.

Took Them Out

I took the braids out last night. I'm considering using the backcombing method and possibly waiting to gain another inch or so. The hair in the back and around the front edges weren't holding the braids at all. I think if my hair was longer, it might do better, but I don't want to wait a year to start my locs.

So, I started my NP search and came up with just a few people who have actually used this method. Based on what I read, a lot of black people aren't familiar with the technique and think that only white people start their locs this way. There was also some concern about breaking hairs, but I mean...the style is just matted hair. I'm not sure why it would matter if the hairs that are matted are in tact or broken.

Here are some notes I pulled from the NP threads:

Tools

• Find a strong, small-tooth comb (like a metal lice comb)
• I  did use a pet comb that has metal teeth (bought one at petsmart) to do the backcombing.
• The finer steel comb is great because it really gets the hair knotted 

Labor

• Warm up your arm muscles, because you'll be hurting
• It is laborious as all hell. So be prepared to sit for a good day especially if you want them done neat. 

Technique

• It really is as simple as it sounds...comb backwards to tangle and palmroll. The end!
• Once you back comb them you palmroll it til it takes form

This video shows backcombing without palmrolling. This is the only video that I've watched that shows a neat product after just backcombing.



Knottyboy.com has videos that show both, but their backcombing doesn't look as neat.

Products

• You can use aloe vera gel but they will stay. 

Advantages

• Once done they look like instant locks!
• I was able to wash them with in a week
• They took only 4 months to lock.
• Just palm roll and go
• They grew like crazy
• No gel or goop to hold them in place.
• Gives you a head start with the locking process. Especially if you have at least 5-6+ inches to work with. Its sorta like you've eliminated a step by tightening the hair together with itself and it gives ur hair a jump start because it doesn't have to knot together as much because you've already done it by backcombing.

Difference from Other Methods

• I did not recall budding or those tiny balls at the end with the exception of locks around my hair line because they were too short to back comb.
• Regardless, they still had to go through the stages it just made it a lot easier to do.
• When you backcomb them they are meshed not quite tight but they are set in place. As time go by they start to tighten and become denser.
• You still go through the fuzziness and stuff but they are tangled and meshed where as coils and twists are not.
• They will still have to go through the stages of shrinkage, having those little balls at the ends, even meshing and condensing. They appear to look like dreads but they are not locked but locked enough to not unravel. 

Starting Length Recommendations

• Actually if you can start with 4 inches would be ideal because you want to have enough hair for it form a lock.
• You should have at least 3 inches or more because when you tease them back they should have some length to them

Braidlocs

I just redid my entire head with small braids. I didn't plan to. They're smaller than the coils. The parts are probably a mess, but I think they should hold up better. I am very nervous about going to work like this...

Update: Still nervous at work even though I've received a few compliments. I think what bothers me most is being able to see my scalp. I have fine hair but it's dense, so I'm hoping that over time...once my hair grows and I actually have mature locs, it will fill in.

Here are photos:

Started my Locs

Kind of...I think I'm going to redo the back today.

Here's what we have from yesterday. It took me a little over 2 hours:

They look way too big for me. I counted about 96. I was so stressed out over this dern grid, but it is still jacked. Because my hair is actually pretty fine, I think I was afraid to make sections that were smaller. I don't know. I also have a small head so I guess I should take that into consideration as well.

I used aloe vera gel to twist.

The last two rows are going to give me problems. I may end up backcombing them at some point. It was definitely challenging to see. I ended up changing my set up in my bathroom.

This weekend, I'm taking the plunge

I think I'm going to coil my hair today after I run some errands. I just need to review my "plans" to figure out how I'm going to moisturize my hair after I clarify. I'm going to the beauty supply store or Walmart to buy a few spray bottles to store diluted shampoo and whatever else I may need to dilute. I'm also going to pick up a stocking cap. I'm going to try washing with that initially. I know it isn't the optimal solution, but I think it should work.

I see several people used aloe vera juice in spritzes. I may price that at the health food store too.

Test Coils

Here we go. I couldn't wait and as soon as my family left, I got started on my test coils. They didn't take me long at all. I didn't use multiple mirrors to ensure the parts were straight. This is just a test run to get an idea of what they will look like.

I didn't wash my hair first. I just spritzed it with water and used aloe vera gel. My hair already had conditioner in it.

I don't love the look on me, but the truth is...this is where I have to start and the sooner I start, the sooner I can leave this phase. I'm going to wear these through the weekend. I will probably wash them out Monday morning before I go to work.

I may also wash them on Sunday to see how well they stay put to get an idea of what I'll have to contend with later. I may go ahead and start my loc journey in December instead of waiting until February.

After sleeping...

I wore a satin cap and it stayed on my head very well. The back is visibly smushed. I should have probably made sure my hair was completely dry before going to sleep, but I didn't and I was too lazy to get the dryer. I'm not sure if that would have made a difference or not.

The last row at the bottom is going to give me problems. This hair is the softest on my head and has the loosest coil. I may end up using a different method on it later.

I need a tam...I'm not sure if they would give me a lint problem but they sure are cute...from Esty:

Crochet Boho Tam MUSTARD

 

Classic French Beret

Maybe July

My is pretty much 2". At this growth rate, I'll have about 6" in July. This morning...I think I'll start my locs in July and take the risk of having crazy looking hair at Homecoming. It's going to be a lot easier than dealing with tangles and having to stretch my hair weekly. This is what I'm thinking...this morning.

Maybe Braidlocs

They always seem to look scalpy in the beginning but they would be easier to maintain in the early stages. The parts would probably stay intact. 

These are pictures from 1year and 4 months after my first BC. I don't even think I wore these out of the house I hated them so much. If I decide to start my locs with braids, I would make them a lot smaller...of course.

I dunno...my hair is about 5 inches or so here...

Pushing Back My Start Date

I have a wedding to attend next year, I'm going to attend homecoming and I am not feeling these practice coils.

My hair, with the exception of the back is extremely tightly coiled. So, at this length, my coils will not be elongated. Looking back at my first attempt at coils during my first journey, when I had about 1 year of growth, I can deal with this...

They don't stay this perfect looking for long, but at least they look like coils.

Since homecoming is probably in October, I'm going to have an opportunity to find and practice some stretched quick styles. My hair actually appears to be growing a little faster than I thought and my goal is to retain all of the length I gain. Looking back at my last journey I did several big trims along the way because my ends were raggedy. I think I'll have 2 inches by the end of the month and I appear to be gaining 1/2 inch a month. At this rate, I'll have 7 inches of hair by the time I begin my locs, which might be a good thing. There will be more hair inside each coil to mat. I have serious shrinkage so they'll still look short, but that's not a problem for me. I want to enjoy them at different lengths.

So, that's may plan today :)

Seeing the Back of My Head

My OCD gets the best of me at times...So, I've been trying to figure out how in the world I'm going to see the back of my head when I coil my hair for my locs. I tried leaning a mirror against my tub/shower stall while I stand with my back to my bathroom mirror, but I was too far away. I couldn't see. So, I tried to think of a space that was narrow where I could get close to the mirror behind me and this is what I concocted.

For the actual set up, I'll have an additional TV tray on my right side with 2 boxes for the mirror. I'll just move the mirror back and forth. It will be a little tight but TV trays are easy to move so it won't be a big deal. I'm glad that I figured out how I could sit while I do it.

Loc Notes

This will be the placeholder post that I will continue to update regarding loc care and maintenance best practices.

Starting Locs with Coils

• Great video by carmelcherie where she shows how she starts her new set of locs. She shows how to make the coil tight initially.

Starting Locs with Braidlocs

• I think it is key to remember not to braid them too tightly. All the shed hair that intertwines in the braids and makes the locs, need room to fall into etc.

Stages of Development

1. Start out with coils/twists/braids
2. Hair begins to bud/sprout - Coils no longer wash out, may notice knots in coils and at the end or in the middle. Coils may be puffy and lose shape.
3. Teen/locking - hair may start to look like locs, knots/peas have expanded and they drop.

Product Use and Preventing Buildup

1. Shampoo

• Paul Mitchell Three is recommended as a regular clarifying shampoo to use once or twice monthly. JC Penney carries Paul Mitchell products. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
• Ohter recommended clarifying shampoos: Pantene Clarifying Anti-Residue Shampoo, Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo, Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo.
• There is conflicting information about Dr. Bronner's and whether or not it causes build up since it leaves something behind.
• Some have used dishwashing liquid for a deep cleaning/clarifying. Just make sure you REALLY do a good rinse (15-20 minutes) and moisturize aftewards
• The key I realized was the hottest water that you can stand and letting the shampoo sit for a good 20 minutes or so before you grab small sections of locs and squeeze.

2. Extra Clarification

• Apple Cider Vinegar rinses are popular. Dilute the ACV in a spray bottle, spray, put on a plastic cap and sit for 30 minutes - hour, rinse thoroughly.

3. Deep Conditioning

• Deep Conditioning - Some have reported good results with coconut milk

Retwisting

• Aloe vera gel is good for retwisting because it washes out with water

General Tips

• If a product is solid at room temperature, it doesn't belong in your locs.
• Use clear products and dilute them.

Signs of buildup

• White gunk in locs
• Locs that aren't pliable and don't move and blow with the wind
• Slower drying time

Spritzes 

• Purified water, veg. glycerin and essential oils (rosemary, peppermint, a hint of sage)
• Bottled Purified Water, EVOO, Peppermint Oil ~ I love the tingling feeling it gives my scalp, Coconut Oil ~ My favorite scent in the world.
• Water, veggie glycerin, rose hip seed oil, vitamin E oil, lavender EO, peppermint EO, and aloe vera juice. 
• 50% spring water, and about 50% aloe vera juice. I then add a bit of sweet almond oil, coconut oil and any scented oil I'm in the mood for.
• 6 oz aloe juice, 12-15 drops fav essential oil (I like lavendar and lemon), a couple of drops to a small capful glycerin
• 8oz aloe vera juice, 8 drops lemongrass, 8 drops rosemary, a dash of jojoba in the winter only
• Oyin Juice and Berries, Greg's Juice and Frank Juice is recommended. The website says: purified water infused with horsetail, lavender, nettle, roses, and chamomile; organic flaxseeds; aloe vera juice; vegetable glycerine; essences of lavender, sweet orange, ylang ylang; grapefruit seed extract; citric acid, fragrance. It is naturally preserved with grapefruit seed extract and citric acid.

Essential Oils

• My all-time fave essential oil mix is ylang ylang, lavendar and grapefruit
• With ALL essential oil it is a MUST to use a carrier oil (such as your olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba, coconut oil) along with a certain amount of the EO being used. This is because using the EO without a carrier oil can cause skin irritation. Even though you put the EO in glycerin, you are at risk for irritation. ALSO because an oil was not used to help carry the scent, the alcohol in the EO evaporated and the scent began to fade and was gone long before you woke up.
• I live in Richmond and I get all of my essential oils from the Flea Market on Jahnke Road. There's a lady in the back who has a booth full of essential oils. I just bought five little bottles for $14. Every oil I named, she had. Give her a try. Plus, she is very resourceful.

Washing Locs

• Dilute shampoo with water and use a spray bottle.
• Series by thecozmo: description of the process, demonstration of the first shampoo and rinse (focus on scalp), demonstration of the second shampoo and rinse (focus on locs by squeezing the shampoo through them to get to the core of the loc)
• Separating locs: thecozmo, ninezerosofficial 

Drying Locs

• The ShamWow towel has been recommended because it absorbs a lot of water which decreases air drying time. Microfiber towels like the Aquis towel are used too.
• Keeping locs clean and free of buildup seems to decrease air drying time.
• There are advisories against using heat.
• One person on NP said she points 2 fans at her head

Retightening Locs

• 4-6 weeks seems to be the optimum length of time between retightening sessions. Retightening/retwisting too frequently can thin locs and lead to breakage.
• It's important to separate your locs after washing.
• "She also said the key to not thinning your babies and possibly damaging and losing them is to not retwist tightly. She said give it a gentle twist once or twice and then leave it. She said don’t be pressed to get every single hair in place. If you're heavy handed frequent retwisting is certainly not for you."

Styling Locs

• Pipe cleaner curls: tight, loose
• Side swoops
• Basketweave
• Large pincurls
• Pin curl updo

Long Locs

• Summer Updo (basketweave in front and bun on top)
• Unisex loc knots (basketweave in front and knots in back)
• Braids on side, tuck and roll with bangs
• Hump made with knots
• Flat twists on side, hump, basketweave and braid in back

Maybe the topic is hair again

I'm not blogging consistently about anything anywhere. I have another blog but I'll continue the hair commentary on this side.

So, I recently did the Big Chop after wearing my hair relaxed for 2 years. Although I say I should have loced my hair instead of relaxing it at that time, I probably wouldn't have been successful at that time. My frustration was at an all time high and I would have needed to figure out a way to get past all of those emotions and take the time to research locing.

I plan to loc sometime next year. I initially said that as soon as I get 3 inches, I'm going to loc but I may wait a little longer. I'm not sure. There are no hard and fast rules. I still worry about the ugly stage, but it will be so I'll just have to accept it. I'm thinking that the ugly stage might be more tolerable if my hair is longer but the thing is my shrinkage is a beast...I'm talking about a good 75%, maybe more. Do you see this...

Incredible! So my point is...a few extra inches won't matter at all because my hair won't show it. I may as well start my locs sooner rather than later and maybe once they loc, I'll start showing length. It might be less frustrating. I don't really know of course; this is pure speculation. Someone on NP said, your hair grows around and then down. Around for the first year and then down after that. 

I think this time (before I have 3 inches) is good. I'm doing a lot of research, taking notes. I need to organize them better though. I may create a blog post that I constantly update with my "plans" regarding care and maintenance. I have several playlists in YouTube too:

1. Loc Maintenance
2. Loc Tutorials
3. Loc Journeys