Moisturizer

Just to clarify the salon situation, the problem is me NOT the salon. My stylist is fine. The problem is 100% me. I don’t think I will ever get use to going to a salon so I will always complain about it. This is just a warning.

I think my scalp problems are in control. Combine the Suler8 with the salon visit and everything is fine. I still need moisturizer. I ordered 2 products that the salon recommended. One day I will do a product review when I have enough experience with different products.

Nothing is really going on with my hair. It is dull and I can’t wait to get it re-twisted (even if it means 3+ hours in a salon. Haha). I have been reading about how people's twists unravel around the third week. I hope that doesn’t happen to me. Only the ones in the front seem close to unraveling. Oh yeah, I have decided to go hat free. I will only wear a hat at work if I have scalp issues (flakes!).

Confused

I am the most confused person on the planet. I should be the last person with a hair blog…

I went to the salon today. I am counting down the days when I don’t have to go there. I am not a salon person. I just dislike salons. I don’t even know how I would stop going. Do I just cancel my appointment and never call back even though they have my phone number? I have to be confident that I know what to do to my hair first or if my stylist in anyway indicates that he dislikes me I will just quit it. Until then, I will be there every two weeks.

Today I got my scalp massaged and cleaned (I guess?) and some moisturizer for my hair. I realize that at the very least I have to moisturize my hair between visits. I have to do that and clean my scalp daily. I am going to order what the salon supposedly uses. One reason why I don’t want to use anything is because of the lack of washings. My hair is only being washed one every 4 weeks. (sucks!) So I don’t want build up in my hair. I will wait until I get close to the fourth week as possible before I put extra stuff in my hair. That way it won’t matter because I’m getting it washed anyhow.

I don’t even know the status of my hair right now. I have it covered. I will add a pic or two today or tomorrow. I do know that my hair looks much messier than it ever has. I like the messy look (until I have to go to work…LOL).

Flake update: I found out why I didn’t know I had flakes that morning. Everybody’s scalp produces oil at night so there won’t be many flakes in the morning. But by noon for me, flakes appear! Ugh. So I guess I will wear a hat in the afternoons? Nah, I’m going to continue to try to go hatless. I will spray Sulfer8 on my scalp in the morning and at lunch. I hope it doesn’t smell. I have a coworker that sneezes at anything and I mean anything. I used a little Olive Oil one morning and her nose was irritated. I used hand lotion and she immediately spotted it. I washed it off during my lunch break. I don’t want any problems so if Sulfer8 smells AT ALL, I won’t use it.

Oh dear

#&@!

This is embarrassing. Slightly humiliating. I have to get over it. A hair problem can’t be that serious, I know. But I looked at my hair in the mirror this afternoon. FLAKES!!!! Not dandruff. FLAKES!! I have really, really, really, really, really dry skin so this was bound to happen. The only real solution is going to a dermatologist. For now I will wear a hat. Damn, I know the people at work saw my hair and probably thought, “ewww!” It looks horrible. Really flake-y.

Even when I wash my hair, I get flakes 6 hours later. That is just a by product of dry skin. My skin ALWAYS flakes. I do nothing, I get flakes. I wash my hair, I get flakes. I use products, I get flakes. I had stopped wearing a hat for the past couple of days. Well now I have to wear one.

I’m going to the salon on Saturday. They will probably treat my scalp. I have a bottle of Sulfer8 that I may use after I go to the salon. That seems to work for other people with dry scalp. This will be a lifelong issue. I’ll just have to deal with it. I just can’t believe I was walking around with all that crap in my hair. LOL.

Mistake #1

From now on I am using ZERO products on my hair. I know that products can cause flakes so what do I do? Use olive oil on my hair! Smart move, Kat. Seriously my hair isn’t that bad. At least I hope other people can’t see flakes. The only time I can see it, is when I am in a lot of light in the bathroom mirror. So unless the salon recommends I use something specific, I won‘t use anything. I‘m not worried about my hair being dry. After all I go to the salon twice a month, they can do something to it then. I have to go to the salon on Saturday. I think they will just clean my scalp. I have no idea what else they may do. I‘m just glad I don‘t have to pay this time.

My mom keeps asking, “You have to go to the salon twice a month for the rest of your life??!” Um, no not really. How can I explain this to her? I know more about dreadlocks then she does and I don‘t know a lot. She isn‘t a salon person either. She (used to) go more than me. She may go once every 2 months. I am going to try to go to the salon for a year. That seems like a big commitment to me. I don‘t see myself following through. After all I was ready to quit going to the salon after one visit. I feel stuck in a way. If I don‘t go, then I have to take care of my own hair. I couldn‘t style it without locks so….

I gotta go watch 24 on DVD. I’m on season 3. I refuse to watch it when it is on television. It is sort of tempting to turn to it when I know new episodes are on but I can’t. I just can’t!

Second Thoughts?

Yesterday I was feeling foolish for even thinking about starting dreadlocks. Shouldn’t I wait until I have more confidence? I won’t even try to explain all those feelings now since I no longer feel them. I have a feeling those doubts will come creeping back in. Now I feel silly for even getting so worked up about hair. But hair is important. People are judged by their hair. Hair matters. Getting my first negative comment about my hair yesterday didn‘t help matters. Of course I get negative looks but no one has said anything bad to my face.

I’m going to take more pictures of my hair today or tomorrow. I also have two new hats. I like the back of my hair but I hate the sides. I lay on my side at night so my twists in the front are flat. I want to hide that. I do feel lame for doing it but I gotta do what I gotta do. LOL. I was caught in the rain today. I was told, “Do not get your hair wet!” by the stylists at the salon. I don’t think too much damage was done. I haven’t inspected it yet.

I’m only one week in. I’m just (impatiently) waiting for my hair to lock.

Two questions

Why did I start this blog?

I have found many Sisterlocks blogs but I haven’t seen many blogs about traditional dreadlocks. In my own idealistic way, I hope someone thinking about getting locks will find my blog, read about my experience and then take the plunge! I also think it will be nice to have a record of this major change.

Why did I decide to get dreadlocks?

It seems like I have wanted them forever. I must have seen them on TV when I was really young. I do remember admiring Whoopi Goldberg’s hair but it wasn’t her who made me yearn for them. I always thought I couldn’t get them because I thought I had to be financially stable first. I worried about getting a job. Well here I am today no where near stable. I just got sick of waiting for everything. Waiting until I had money. Waiting until I had confidence. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. I have put off too many things. I got sick of it. So I just did it. I guess I want them because I think they are beautiful. Simple as that.

I brought a can of Olive Oil for my hair. It has vitamin E and it is supposed provide moisture for the hair. I just read a pamphlet I got from the salon. Of course they want me to buy their products. I also found out I am supposed to go to the salon every 2 weeks! I have never done that. I understand why people don’t go to salons. One visit is free and one visit is $55. So as long as I go there I will be paying $55 a month. Not having dreadlocks was much cheaper. Well these salon visits won’t last forever. I will somehow learn how to do all maintenance myself. That is a goal of mine.

Third Day

Ugh. I am having a bad hair day. I better get used to this. It will only get worse. I have to be patient. There is a photo link on the side. That will be updated more than this blog unless I freak out daily. LOL.

First post

I'm a dreadlock newbie. I'm not freaking out too much. However, I am worried about my twists. I guess I should start by saying that I am not a hair person. I just don't have that skill. So I am going to the salon for my maintenance. My hair was started in two strand twists yesterday. Now some of them are looking/feeling flat. I know they can be easily re-twisted (not by me!) so I guess I shouldn't worry too much.

Photos coming soon.