NYC here I come

In 9 days I'll be in NYC. And I have a new do! It better last until then. LOL.



Look at my Buddha. I'm sooo Zen. J/k.





I've prettied much posted all the new pics but there are more. Click on one photo to take you to my webshots album.

I had a wash, 90 minute dry (all that hair!) and a 25 minute style.

Out.

april 2010 pic

I got my hair washed 2+ weeks ago. I usually do nothing to it but I found my Anahita hair butter yesterday. It smells so good and my dull ponytail thanks me.

Choice and Presence

Watching the last of March Madness. I took the first two days of the tournament off. Awesome! :) The tourney was great this year. This may be the last good year if they expand to 96 teams next year.

Yay, Duke! Finally.



I've updated my photo album. Click on the above pic to see more. I don't know when these pics were taken. (Note: The date on my camera is waaay off.) I don't keep up with the days/months anymore. If the tournament wasn't on, I would probably think today was Halloween. Anyhow, I think the pictures were taken in February. I only uploaded them because I had to upload pictures for my Ebay auctions. I have more recent pics on my cam but uploading them is so. much. hard. work. (<--sarcasm)

My routine (lol) is mostly going to the salon. I am going to the salon less...but I'm not doing any maintenance at home. I'm concentrating on other things. Sometimes it's just easier and better to have a professional wash. I haven't had my hair twisted since February. My next retwist will be in early May.

I went off on a dry skin tangent last time. I have to mention the only solution for nondrying antibacterial hand gel: Goldsbond's moisturizing hand gel. I use it 3-4 times a day. No alcohol. It costs a little more than Purex but it won't dry your skin. Totally worth it!

Officially four years

My latest do. I'm going to update my photo album with pics I took on my actual lock-a-versary sometime this week.

I found the solution to dry & very sensitive skin: TriDerma. (Specifically TriDerma Facial Redness Repair Cream) I've always had dry skin but this year it got worse. It was probably due to me using alcohol cleansing pads on my face about 3 times a week. Anything with alcohol is horrible for dry skin. Don't use it. (That includes antibacterial gel on your hands).



My face had gotten so bad that I couldn't go one hour without my skin flaking. It was extremely visible. I know people thought I had some kind of disease. TriDerma is a miracle! I never thought anything would work on my sensitive skin. It is also a moisturizer (and will keep your skin from flaking if used daily). I don't have to use it daily (though I probably should).

The link I provided is from Amazon. I brought my product from Walgreens so it is probably in every drug store & discount stores. According to reviews, it also works for rosacea.

I also used TriDerma Fast Healing Cream. I would recommend this on other parts of the skin. The facial cream is best for the face. This worked a little on my hands, but it wasn't quick. And then again, I probably didn't need this on my hands. (I had a breakout due to excessive use of antibacterial gel. lol. I probably used it at least twice a day. Then winter happened which dries your skin more...) Anyway for the itchiness, I started using Benadryl. Now I'm using Avon's Moisture Therapy with the BROWN top.



This will never happen to my skin again. Every winter I'm going to use Triderma. It was just a lucky pick. No dermatologist visit!

Year 5

My loc-aversary isn't until Jan 16 but I'm 'celebrating' now. Year 5! I started a new hair photo album @ webshots. Uploaded a bunch of pics.



I went to the salon 3 days ago to get full maintenance. I'm going to try to go at least 6 times in 2010. It isn't cheap because I 'have so much hair'. (<-- heard that my whole life - lol & that is one reason I stopped going to salons). Anyhow I had an awesome NYE and New Year's Day.

...except for a trip to Bebe. I have the need to warn everyone about going there. They would not take 'just looking' for an answer. I even got 5 items pulled for me. (ummm, thanks??) I caved under pressure and spent way too much. Oh well, I did post a pic of the Bebe dress (and other new stuff) in my thrift section (lol) b/c I won't be going to a thrift store or any clothing store anytime soon.

Have a wonderful 2010!

ponytail

This is the longest I've gone without having my dreads twisted since I've started going back to the salon I've had my hair washed. That's it.



Going on 3 months with no maintenance. I'm trying to get it done before New Year's.....

blast from the past

February 2006 - 2nd month of having "dreads" (well twists)

This hair journey is no longer fun. It is painful, I want to start over again when I’m in a better place. Is that crazy talk? I just feel bad & nothing will make it better. The hair reminds me. I’m ashamed. Want to hide. I feel bad because I am happy with my hair. If I am happy my stylist should be happy with my hair. You know?

-----------------
I wrote that in my paper journal in 2006. I would say something about "oh how things have change" but I'm having a bad hair week. lol

I play in the sun...w/spf 20 clear foundation.

I've read a few books on the color complex. Don't Play in the Sun by Marita Golden is the one I can relate to best. It is well written. And she went to Brazil and other countries. She painted a good picture of how blacks live there and in Cuba. The color complex is something 95% of people like to deny. It seems like dark skinned people are more likely to talk about it. It bothers me when people deny it exists. IT'S A LIE!!!! Saying the color complex doesn't exist is more offensive than saying racism doesn't exist...to me. Probably because the color complex negatively affected me more.

The way people stereotype me these days amuse me. You have to laugh. They think: afrocentric, dumb, poor, racist against whites, etc. Then when they get to know me I'm a WHITE GIRL...sometimes. I'm American. I was born here. Is that white???????

I haven't washed my hair in a month. lol. I go to the salon in 3+ weeks. I may get free maintenance next week if work isn't too busy next week. Otherwise I'm going to give myself a shampoo free mini soak. I should do that anyway...........

photo album updated

silly kitty

added a few pics to the gallery

when I get bored, I'm going to cut off the little hairs on each dread. I need tiny scissors first. ;)

can't complain nor explain

current photo album updated :)


Dreadlocks month 36-48 - current

Dream big

Vick mania here. However many people are "for" Vick returning to the NFL, add 10-20% around here. I call it 'loyalty despite what he did' other people call it 'ignorant'. Anyway.....

I haven't had my hair retwisted in 5 weeks. That seems soooo long since I started going to the salon. Today I got my hair sprayed (still don't know what that is). Like my do? Too bad I have no idea how to keep this neat. I'm just glad that it will be like this on Saturday.

I'm selling Avon for 6-8 hours on Saturday. Feel free to stop by! I hope to make at least $600 and pick up some new customers. Hey, I got to dream BIG.

I gotta dream big (dream big)
cuz when it happen its gon' happen real quick
(yes i feel it, i gotta)
I gotta move fast
cuz when it happen i cant let it move past
(only get one chance)

-Jazmine Sullivan

football, where art thou?

I've been busy but I really can't complain about that. I'm sort of ready for summer to be over for many reasons. I'm sooo ready for some football! College & pro.

I went to the salon over a week ago. I probably won't go back for a wash & retwist until 7-8 more weeks. see current pics in my foto album.

Random: When I retire, I'm moving to Buenos Aires and buying a condo. It's not as expensive as it sounds.

dry shampoo photos

I love the smell...


too bad it leaves white spots in my hair. I had to spray it with water afterward.


The brand I have is Batista. I have NO IDEA if it does anything to my hair since I won't spray it on my scalp (it leaves flakes). I just like the idea of it. I use it every other day. I'm probably going to cut back. I don't want to have to buy another bottle.

brush??

I found the dry spray shampoo. It isn't the best stuff. It was the only brand at Sally's.

 

This stuff is for people with straight or curly hair because you are supposed to brush it OUT of your hair afterwards. My hair hasn't seen a brush in years. Oh well.

 

I still used it since when I wash with Suave clarifying shampoo, I always leave some it in. I never get all the shampoo out of my dreads.

 

It left flakes. I should have tried to massage it out. I got the scented kind. It smells good but not too strong which I like. I will probably keep using it even though it may be turning my hair white. :) I can't remember the name. It is probably the worst stuff out. It only cost $6.00 on sale. It starts with a B. I'm on my lunch break so I can't look it up.

 

Later.

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appointment missed

I was supposed to get my hair "sprayed" this afternoon but I canceled 4 hours before. I felt horrible. But due to DRAMA (um, my fault), I had to stay up until 1:30AM. Then I had to go to work. Since this is a holiday week, I couldn't just go in late and make up the time. I wish we had real flextime. I have another free spray scheduled in 2 weeks.

I can't remember what a spray entails. Well obviously they spray your hair but I can't remember if it is shampoo spray or just some other stuff. I've only had it done once back in '06. I didn't ask questions.

I gotta look for the spray shampoo. I'm going to try to buy some this weekend if I can find it.

Updated my thrift store finds photo gallery (link the same as the hair pics link or just cut and paste the link in this post). I'm going to start updating it more. I haven't been to a thrift store in months but I have a lot of stuff in my closet.

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2202050230105114518NjRAsu

even if you don't care about clothes, you have to check out my varicose veins. I used to have them more visible in my leg. Anyway.........

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10 days out

posted 2 new pics in my photo section (link below).

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Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that's right for you.

another trip to salon

More new pics here

I'm trying to go every 8 weeks (with FREE spray washes in between). But somehow it ends up being 6 or 7 weeks which moneywise may as well be every 4 weeks. Anyhow, does spray shampoo really work with natural hair? I don't know a lot of people that use it so I'm a little weary. The salon is 3-4 minutes (driving) from my house so I don't mind going there to get it sprayed after work. I need to look into this spray shampoo thing, it is becoming big for all hair types. (meaning: naturally straight hair)

Get this: I just went to the salon yesterday. And due to all the rain, I haven't been able to cut my grass until today. It's 85 degrees! Of course I'm going to sweat. Yeah I know 85 degrees is nothing (where I live anyway). I have more lawn work to do this weekend. It is supposed to feel like 100 degrees. blah.

Twitter is messing with my brain. I don't tweet that much...maybe 5 times a week but I keep wanting to spell THE like DA. annoying. I need 160 characters.

i'm so over the top

My hair stinks! Ugh. But at least whatever the salon uses is invisible. I have spritzed my hair with water. I will definitely be washing my hair this weekend. I hope this doesn't happen next time. Yes there will be a next time in 3 weeks. I don't want to spend $$ on my hair but I uh, ::sigh::.

I have a lot of pics from my short vacay. I haven't had time to upload them yet but the hair pics will be here.

love it...if I can say that

My first real style!!!!!!!! I've curled my own hair and have a braid out once or twice but DAYUM. Yes I went to the salon. It took forever.....since she separated dreads and combined some. Then she even went and cut loose hairs off EACH dread. Well I don't have a lot of time. I have to pack and clean. So much to do. More when I get back!

no salon yet

I had the consult today. Appointment tomorrow afternoon. Leaving Thursday. Birthday on Saturday. Hopefully I will have a lot of pictures to upload on Monday. If I have time, I may upload a few pics to the new photo album tomorrow...fresh from the salon. Oh, and the loctician said that my hair "wasn't that bad". I just have a few dreads that need to be separated.

I'm pretty sure I will end this dread journey soon. My hair grows too fast. But I don't know what to do with loose hair so...I think I will know when it's time to end. (And I'm going to cut it off, not undo the locks. That would be a nightmare!)

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I wanna wash my hair

...but I'm going to the salon on Tuesday for a consult. I'm hoping they can fit me in that day. I'm leaving town on Thursday morning so I don't have much time.

I was playing around with my hair by doing a basket weave style. Of course I didn't follow the rules but it came out okay. The point is  that is it made me realize how much my roots are thinning on the sides. Salon please help me! I need feedback.

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scalp

I've been thinking about the whole free forming thing. I've been doing it for about 3 months straight. I don't really keep up. I just know that I haven't done maintenance in a looong time.

My point is that I have always loved to see my scalp and now it's (gasp) disappearing! So I guess free forming is officially not for me. If I like to see my scalp....ugh. Anyhow, I was trying to strengthen my hair by free forming after the horrid "latch" experience. I don't know if it worked.

I think I will go to the salon. I haven't been in over a year. Or has it been 2 years? At least I can get some feedback.

Don't forget to check out my new photo album. Link below. I know these entries look funky. That's what happens when you post @ blogger by email.

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new and improved photo album

current album year 3-4

test

Testing.

Posting by email. If this works. I may post more frequently. Nothing new. I'm sick of the afro on my head yet I'm not doing anything about it. I may go to the salon when I'm off in 2 weeks. I don't have much time to make a decision.

This is just a test.

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39th month or so

Dear Anonymous

Anonymous said...

why don't you just free form?

Dear Anonymous

This is a complicated question. There are so many reasons. Some might seem like excuses. I do see beautiful photos of people with free forming dreads. Their dreads look nothing like mine. Unless they have some secret, this is due to hair type. I envy the people who can free form and just put their hair in a ponytail or wear it loose.

1. My hair does not dread quickly. And it grows quickly. So those two things make a make bad free forming combo. If I did nothing to my hair, it would look like a small afro on my head. My hair type just doesn't do the natural dread thing.

2. I live in a conservative area. People do comment. If I were my own ideal person other people's opinions wouldn't make a difference but it does. The conservative people are the people who can hire and fire people....

3. I am worried about my roots. I never did a lot of maintenance. In year one I would do maintenance once a month. Now I do it whenever I feel like it which is once every 3 months or so. No matter what I do, some of my roots are still thin. About 3 dreads have fallen out. I'm pretty sure 2 more are on their way. That's one reason I want to go to a salon. I want to ask, "why are my roots thinning?"

4. I don't like having to wear a hat or scarf to hide my new growth. When I'm just going out, it's fine but @ work I like to cover it.

I'm sure there are more reasons. #1 is the most important reason. Why doesn't my hair look semi-neat if I just watch and go like the others? *whine* I would love to free form but it doesn't seem to work, if you know what I mean.

PSA - don't 1pt latch

I'm done with that latching stuff. I'm pissed. I'm going to an out of town salon in March. I don't have an issue starting over.

That's that. ;)

1 pt latching

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJgzcdyxLhOJHpwBqpFutJBdD4xs1EG1Behlr27LYNBrecN1arjBn8s9CvQxl1sDjkA7Ti67tvEWQpBMhpQy_sqaepgleJIV9QbGV-pf66h2yuBClZIrDH4pzStRfVq7fDkJp2Q/s1600-h/001.JPG">
This was my hair pre-washing and pre-latching. After finally figuring out how to latch my dreads, I did it today! Kinda. Last night I read about how latching can leave a hole in your dreads. So today I did what would be called a 1pt latch AKA playing with your dreads. :) I decided to do it because I didn't like the way some of my dreads were thinning at the root. (Yes I did read that latching can cause thinning - ARGH!!) I definitely won't be doing it for another 6 weeks or so.

What I did was hand latching. I don't even know if it worked. I don't even know what latching is supposed to do to dreads. I was inspired my this video:


I didn't even know hand latching existed at the time. But after watching that video, I knew I could easily do it with all the new growth I have. Later I did find out that this hand thing has a name:

(Thank g-d for youtube!) The lady in the video is doing it right. I only went through each lock ONCE. I hope that makes since. It probably isn't even called latching.

Here is my hair soaking wet after washing with Suave clarifying shampoo. No conditioner this time.


I didn't use any heat on my hair for the first time in a while. I wanted to see if this mattered with frizz (haha - NO). I "latched" my locks right after I watched them. This is how it looked from the top.


Another view:


A few hours later...my hair is about 40% dry. Still frizzy!


The end. Obviously latching can't be (?) used as a the only maintenance technique. When I get back into maintaining my hair, I will probably palmroll. I hate doing it cause it takes so long. And one bad night of sleep ruins it. So what is the point?? Hopefully by then I can figure out a way to braid the extra hair into my locks. I dunno. It took me 3 years to latch incorrectly. :)

random

3 years locked on Jan 14

Don't try this at home. I can't remember the last time I did maintenance on all my hair. And look at it! ha. I'm not doing maintenance throughout winter. I like wearing the hats. During the summer those crochets hats are too hot to wear all day so I'll start back with maintenance in March or April.

3 dreads have fallen out since I've had 'em. Should I be concerned? Will not doing maintenance for months make it worse? The ones that fell out were thinning at the root. I wash my hair every 2 weeks and use conditioner. I just think some of my dreads are too thin. Maybe I'll get to DC/Maryland to see a professional...

one more pic in my fotki album

nov 08 pic

more will be posted in my fotki album later. i hate how when i wash my hair it always looks worse (but cleaner) than it was before. i decided not to do maintenance because i've been doing full/partial maintenance for 2+ months. i'm giving it a break.

score!

I've been having computer/camera problems. That is why there haven't been any new pics. Sometimes my comp just doesn't want to acknowledge that my camera is hooked up. Well here is a pic from April. LOL. My hair sorta looks like now except it is longer and less manageable. (much more frizz)

Thanks for the compliments on here and in the fotki album. I really appreciate it. In the 3D world I rarely get compliments. Most people seemed convinced that I am just using my dreads to grow my hair out!!! #1 - I thought that was near impossible. But the lady at JC Penny told me that I would have no problems taking my dreads out. However I have zero desire to deal with all this loose hair. I would have no idea what to do.

I also get the "you have such nice hair, why did you get dreadlocks?" I tell them I have wanted dreads since I was a teenager. 12? 15? I don't remember. Nice hair? Uh, it's thick and annoying. I refuse to straighten it. It is too thick to really do anything. Thank g-d, I've been in love with locks. Call it destiny or whatever.

I really brought my camera out because I went thrifting today. I hate normal shopping but thrift store shopping is fun. It is an art. I love it. Today is the 1st time I brought shoes from a thrift store. Not because I am scared of them but because I don't wear heels so 90% of the shoes are out for me. Well I brought the. best. boots. ever. I think they will last for 5 years+ which is what I like. Here is a pic of my "new" Nine West $7.00 boots:



Yeah those boots have a heel but it's thick enough to walk on. I have never tried to walk in pumps. I don't like them and I would just fall over if I tried. They look well worn. ha. But they will last longer than any new boots I would buy for myself.

New hair pics coming soon. I had to post my boots. ;)

Yay, to VA for being blue!!!!!!

lisa bonet rules

lisa at the airport recently.

How long has she has dreads?

hmmm, well I am still washing every 2 weeks. I was pissed at my hair on Monday. I washed it at 4:30 on Sunday. Then I sat under a dryer for an hour. ON MONDAY MORNING IT WAS STILL WET! (the back)

I usually never go to bed with my hair wet but blah, blah. How does Lisa Bonet do it? When it gets back to being 90 degrees, I'm going to air dry. I have only done that twice.

doing minimal maintenance

temporarily sick of scarves

hair lockdown

It's been more than a month since I've done any maintenance on my dreads. And I have been washing it every 2 weeks but look @ how brown my hair looks! Is it the lighting or what?? I even washed some of my hair (LOL) without shampoo before work this week.



It's da lighting! more random hair pics in my neglected fotki album.

Anyways I'm washing and probably doing maintenance this weekend.

Random scarf pic

taken last week

queen of the obvious

shampooed, conditioned, oiled my scalp/hair.

getting back on every 2 week schedule.

No maintenance. LOL.

my hair is only 65% dry. ugh, how do people with long dreads do it?

adios

Back in the hair biz?

More pics in my fotki album.

I knew posting would make me do something. haha. Anyways I washed and conditioned my hair. I didn't use as much shampoo as I would have liked. I don't know what I was thinking.

So there it is. Still frizzy. (The fotki pictures show the frizz). I am going to try to go scarf-free for 2 weeks. Afterall this is the first time in months, that I have done maintenance on ALL my hair. My scarfs are hanging outside right now. I was going to not wash them so I couldn't use them but I have others. ::evil laughter:: No more scarf buying.

I still don't know what I'm doing. I'm thinking about going to a salon in DC or NYC for a one time visit in the fall. I just want a professional opinion and maybe a style. Curls? A pin up of some sort? I'm not attached to my hair so I have no probs starting over. My hair is already long enough. I don't want extra long dreads. My dreads are heavy enough when wet right now.

If I start over, I don't even know how I would start over. Sisterlocks are too much trouble for me. If it were maintenance free, I would do it. I would probably start them off with braidlocs or something. ::shrug:: I may just keep these dreads. I have no idea. Obviously. I guess I should go.

hair rut

I haven't posted in a while because I'm annoyed with my hair. I'm just stressed out about other things (work, new pet and my unorganized house)and honestly, I don't care about my hair. Sometimes I don't care if all my dreads fall out and I can just start over. Other times I'm like "I wish I could just go to the salon just once to get my hair done".

In other words, I don't give a damn. ;-) I will one day. Hopefully soon.

beach and freeforming vacay

This picture was taken about 2 weeks ago...when I was freeforming. But I kinda stopped. A little. I never got tired of my hair when I didn't have dreads. I would wear a ponytail for a year and not even care. Anyway, I decided to palmroll a few of my dreads for the beach vacay. I only did maintenance on about 20 dreads...I have about 90-100 locks, I think. This kinda reinforced that doing maintenance is a waste of time. On the other hand, my new growth felt stronger. If you know what that last sentence means, you're smarter than me. ha. In conclusion, I have no idea whether or not I will keep doing some maintenance or none. I'm leaning towards NONE.

I've updated my fotki album with beach pics and hair pics. Enjoy.

i am...i said

This is a pic of my hair today. It looks better from the front. I have fallen in love with scarves. I'm going to buy 2 more and then that's it....So I'm still free-forming but now I have my doubts. Some of my locks are thinning - the new growth. And some of my hair that is already locked is getting soft and curly like.

Some of this might be my fault. I didn't wear my silk scarf to bed 3 days in a row. I haven't washed my hair in 3 weeks. I really don't know if this is normal or what. And NEVER ask someone what they think about your hair. Yeah, obvious. But I had my hair in two cornrows. Sorta. I don't know how to cornrow so I did the best I could. So the person ignored my fake cornrows and starts picking my hair apart.

-Why it is so frizzy?
-I see people with nice looking dreads all the time. (lol)
-If only you could get rid of the hair sticking up. (new growth)
-I would have gotten sisterlocks. (I had to explain what they were before that statement).
-Why aren't you doing maintenance anymore??? (not worded like that)

::SIGH::

Thanx for nothin'

Anyway, I'm off tomorrow so I can't use the excuse of too busy to wash my hair. I am washing it tomorrow but I haven't decided whether I want to do zero maintenance or just maintenance on the sides or top.

I dunno. I don't want to ruin my hair....Obviously. I'm going to do some research tonight to see what other free formers go through. I can still just wash and go. I love rocking the scarves. (And I think it makes me look more feminine especially when I wear earrings too. Guys respond differently but that isn't why I do it. Just a note.)

I will update my fotki album this weekend. Gots to migrate...bye!

Sick of hats

Still free-forming. I have been wearing my hair different ways. Anything to not have to wear a hat every day. I will update my fotki album one day. I keep forgetting to take small pics so they won't overload my hair album.

pic o' the week

Washing this weekend. Still free-forming...

a cause for celebration

I GOT THE JOB!!!!

Yay. Not due to my interview skills. Seriously. I was very Jason Castro during the interview. Ha. I love him. "I was thinkin' Bob Marley, man!"

To make this hair related: I really need a conditioner. I was thinking about my 3 hair products and I forgot that conditioner is good. I will probably choose Suave since I use the shampoo. I haven't had my hair conditioned regulary since the first year.

And I LOVE freeforming so far. I am only washing twice a month though. I hate drying my hair and it would take forever to air dry unless I sat outside all day.

Welcome to my free-forming journey?

I have to have a question mark there because I might maintain my hair 3-4 times a year. I'm sick of doing the maintenance crap. It only lasts for a week anyway so what's the point and it still probably looks messy to everyone else. So I have decided to stop playing the game. Of course I have a job interview coming up. LOL. But these people already know how I look so...I'm not worried. I washed my hair today and did no maintenance (besides separating locks).

Oh this should be fun :) Yay for scarves and tams. More photos in my fotki album

My new product list:
1. Anahita hair butter
2. Suave clarifying shampoo
3. water



I'm hoping that more water will help my hair. I hadn't been doing anything to my scalp - bad I know - because I couldn't find a great product. Now I have Anahita hair butter. I brought the 2oz bottle for $15.00. Well worth the money, I'm sure. Here is a video that shows a way to make it last. I used it after my wash today and I can tell this bottle will last for at least 6 months.

No more greasing the scalp! AMEN. Oh, and anyone can use it. Dreads, no dreads, etc.

I also brought 2 handmade tams/rasta hats or whatever they are called. They are made of hemp and cotton and are made by Purplesagedesignz. Check out her store. I don't quite know how to wear them so I have to keep working until I figure it out. LOL. I swear I am so bad at anything related to hair/beauty. I suck. Anyhow, here are the pics of the two I brought:



The End.

am I late or what?

Woohoo! I think I have finally figured it out. I will be doing something totally new for a while (maybe forever). I don't want to give details yet but I will have pics and do a real entry. I just couldn't resist posting this picture because this is the only time I've gotten my hair in ONE ponytail. :) Scarves were the answer. I know that seems obvious but don't forget that I was clueless about hair before I had dreads and I am finally taking the time to learn. Also I do not wear it on the wrong side with the tag out when I'm going out! LOL. I wish I had more than one. haha. I brought that one on a whim. It was 20% off and I thought I might not use it. Now I'm going to wear it until I can begin my new plans.

Getting a lotta ideas for my dreads

I'm not having a bad day. Just trying to hide some of my face. :) I need to get the scarf thing down so I can use them more often. Updated my fotki album with 2 pics. One of me and one of Jason Castro.

frizzy!!!!!!!!

Should I accept that my hair will always be frizzy? It looks the worst on the top. That is why I have the headband on. From the back, it looks like crap but I actually like the look from the front. I'm beginning to believe what someone told me: Since my hair is soft, it will always be frizzy. I'm not too worried...unless I have a job interview or something. As long as I have enough notice, I can do maintenance on it.

Whatev.

dreadlock love

Yeah, I could have chosen a better photo of Jason Castro but he is always making funny/weird faces. LOL. I think he has been growing out his dreads for 3 years. I love him....and his hair.









I tried to find a pic of Whoopi with her wonderful bob hair cut but I couldn't find one. The above pic is nice too but the bob is so cute and much shorter. Her new do inspires me. When my dreads get too long, I want my hair just like Whoopi's hair right now. To see it, try catching her on "The View".

I added a pic to my fotki album. The link is on the side and somewhere below.

fokti is filling up

I will post some pics here because my hair album is almost full. I will erase some pics so I can continue using it until the end of year 3. Besides my hair is not doing much. :) I'm past the teenage years.



I will wash and retwist my hair this weekend. Of course I also said that last weekend.

Year 3 photos

Year three photos are here.

I saw someone with gorgeous locks over the weekend. They were perfect looking. So I had to know why hers look so nice. She goes to salon every 2 weeks! Everything I've read says doing that much maintenance damages (weakens) the hair so I was sorta surprised. She goes to same lady I called twice about sisterlocks. Well I won't be going to her anytime soon. According to gorgoes dreads lady, the hairstylist is going back to New York. There probably isn't enough business down here for her to stay. Oh well, we lost one. :(

Year 3 begins

I forogt to celebrate! I like wearing my hair in ponytails but I hate how my profile looks. Anyway I will probably be rockin' the tails all next week unless I decide to wash and retwist this weekend.


I've had dreadlocks for 2 years!

salon free or not?

I cannot believe I have had dreads for almost 2 years! Jan 14th is my lock-a-versy.

Anyway I have uploaded to new pics to my Fotki hair pics. Link on the side where it says "Hair photos".

I will probably have some more pics on Jan 14...no matter how messy it looks! I am thinking about going to a different salon for a one more "one time maintenance retwist". Well we only have 3 places that do dread maintenance (@ last count). So if I go, I will go back to my old salon. My ex-stylist is no longer there. It will be strange. I am only considering this b/c I probably will have job interviews soon. Otherwise I would just do it myself and put a net on it when it gets messy. I have no problems with that. :) Afterall I'd been salon free for about a year or more??? Loosing track of time

Picture time!

I got a digital camera! Woohoo. It was a gift. ;-) Here is one picture of my hair that I took today:



I will try to update Fotki tomorrow but I've got a ton of boring things to do. I went to the salon on December 4th. The salon charged me $80, not $35. I knew it! Ugh. They did an okay job but she just put a bunch of gel/beeswax/whatever in my hair so it wouldn't look so frizzy. Well I could have done that. My hair was white on top for days. That is why I don't use a lot of gel/beeswax. It makes my hair look dirty. Oh well.

It took me a while to think about just spraying it with water. Luckily I figured it out before the job fair.

$35?!

I have an appointment to get my dreads washed and retwisted for $35 in December. Um, suuuuure. No one has ever done anything on my head for that low a price. Everytime I go to salon I get, "Wow, you have a lot of hair" and then they charge extra. I would always have to go to the ATM to get more money. Always. So I don't believe for one minute that it will only cost $35.

Yeah I was supposed to go in and get a quote. But this is the busiest I have ever been in my entire life. I was off from work but I still have work at home. And my living room is finally clean! The kitchen is clean enough for me. ha.

Back to "work". I wish I could take pics after I go to the salon but I still don't have a digital camera (not a priority) so unless I buy a one use camera, I won't have any pics. I just hope that I can actually get my hair done. The woman had an accent - and what if she didn't write down what I said? Maybe I could a walk-in later but that is a busy week too.

::waiting to exhale::

DC photos

Misc photos


Hair photos

I love beeswax

I finally found a product that works! It looks like I went to the salon. AND it doesn't leave gunk in my hair. It looks like I just washed it (which I did on Saturday). AND it doesn't smell. 4 Stars for Murray's Beeswax.

I just randomly picked it up in Walgreens about 2 months ago. I thought I would never use it. In the past, I would buy sprays or gels and the smell would be horrible or it just wouldn't do anything for my hair. SO I finally decided to try to palmroll with beeswax and I love the results!

It might have alcohol in it. Does "fragrance" usually mean alcohol is in it? I don't care. It freaking works! Woo hoo!

I am still going to the salon next month if the salon is still there. I need to stop by one day so they can actually see my hair before telling me the price of a retwist and wash. I would get a style (like a french roll) but I don't know how to wrap my hair when I do stuff like that. Plus it would cost more so I'll just let them do the basics.

Curls?!

I haven't been to a salon in a year. 365+ days. Without dreads, I never went to a salon but I feel like my hair needs something. So I am planning on going in November. It will be an early Xmas gift from my mom. I don't want to go regularly. I have neither the time or money for that. I may go twice a year or at least once. I wish there were more salons that managed dreads. I am planning on going to a salon near my old apartment. I have never been there. I hope it still exists! If not, do I go back to my old salon? ::scary::

This past week I have started rolling my hair with hair rollers. (Is that the correct wording? LOL! sorry). Of course the curls don't last. But my hair does have an extra bounce (volume?) all day. You can tell that I did something with my hair but it isn't really curly. More wavy perhaps.

I've been reading about how other people deal with dreads and curls. Some people use setting lotion. I have never used that in my life. Will I have to wash it more if I use lotion? I dunno. I'm just thinking out loud. I don't want the curls to last for weeks. Honestly, I'm just sick of the frizz.

Oh yeah, I tried a braid-out. Did not work. My locks are simply to thick. I can't even braid 3 locks into one! Even the ones that used to be thin are getting thicker. Oh well.

Well today is a pretty day. Who know how many pretty days we have left until fall really sets in so I'm going to go outside and enjoy it.

tiny update

I did end up going to DC. I have pics but I haven't bothered to get them developed yet. I saw the White House for the very first time! Of course no one can believe that I've never been IN the White House. Um, hello I had never seen The White House until last month. There was so much security. I made sure to say good things about the president (LOL) while taking too many pics. I saw the snipers on the top of the building, ready to shoot so I was on my best behavior.

Hair update:
I washed and palm rolled this weekend. blah, blah. A few weeks ago a lady said to me, "Your hair is straight and that is why your dreads look that way." That way??? I just stared at her waiting for an explanation. She didn't offer one. I ASSUMED that a person would explain themselves. I guess a normal person would have said, "What way?" That didn't occur to me until later. Anyhow, I don't have naturally straight hair and I haven't had straight hair since I was probably around 12-14.

I think I made an enemy. (SHOCKER!!!) Now when she sees me she sighs. Oops, guess I made a social mistake. I still want to know what she meant by "that way".

Hair pics coming when I get my pics developed (along w/ lots of non-hair pics)

Strangers with locs

I saw three beautiful women with natural locs today. FYI, natural locks mean not sisterlocks. Nothing against them, in fact I love sisterlocks. Anyhow, I always want to ask people what they do with their hair. Do they use any products? Which ones? One lady had locs almost down to her ankles! How long did they take to grow that long? WOW. How many of these people go to a salon? How many of them do nothing but just wash? I would love to know but...

Random people have asked me questions about my hair and complimented me. I don't have much to say. They usually ask if I go to a salon. I always say, "Not anymore but I started out with a stylist."

I might have some more pictures this summer. I may be going to Washington DC. I have been to DC several times but it is hard to turn a DC trip down even if it is for less than 24 hours. So I may have a few pics from that trip if I go. One reason I don't want to go is because since I moved in April, I rarely have a free weekend. Today I worked overtime, worked on my lawn (so hot - 97 degrees!), and did my hair. Busy, busy, busy. I would love to sleep in just once. Oh well.

Today I palmrolled my hair in less than 2 hours. Go me! Yeah I washed and palmrolled my hair today. Very exciting.

Beach AKA My home

New photos here!

I really was taking pics of the beach so the hair photos aren't that great but this is the only update I will probably have for a while.

In Lowe's a guy who used to have dreads told me that I should get beach water on my hair to get rid of the frizzness (is that a word?). Ever since that moment, I've been determined to get to the beach despite the lack of funds. LOL. I don't know if it worked. I want to say it did...I washed it for the first time since the beach yesterday. And my hair was much less frizzy than it normally is BUT it is still frizzy.

I don't think i will be able to judge until I wash and palmroll. That takes 4 hours. So I'm not planning on doing that for another 2-3 weeks. Yes I will be rolling with pig tails! I can't stand palm rolling ALL my hair and it takes forever to dry.

Other than that I love my dreads and I wouldn't change a single moment of this journey (even the salon guy leaving me stranded).

New PICTURES - fianlly.

NEW PHOTOS.

NEW PHOTOS.


NEW PHOTOS.

NEW PHOTOS.

New pics soon?

Well I have taken pics of my hair. I need to get them developed ASAP for home owner's insurance reasons so I should have the pics soon. I got the cheapest disposable camera possible. LOL. Who knows how the pics will come out? I just need the pics of my house to come out...

I got a printer/scanner/copier for my birthday. Now I don't have to pay CVS $17 to scan them to a CD. I can scan them myself.

Recently I've been washing my hair ever week. I feel like I need to. I wouldn't mind if it didn't take forever to dry. I have to sit under a dryer to get my hair fully dry. Sometimes I use it for 1 hour and the back of my hair still isn't fully dry.

I am only doing maintenance (palmrolling, detangling) once every 5 weeks or so. I should probably detangle more (AKA popping) but I usually forget.

Hell Yeah!!!

I have my hair in two ponytails! SWEET!

LOL. I've always wanted to do this. Yes, I am the 20 something that likes pig tails. Will I ever be able to get it in one ponytail. I probably could right now but it wouldn't like right at all.

Anyway, I will probably have pics soon. I have to take pics of my house for insurance purposes (annoying %^$#), so I will probably have someone take a few of my hair. I wish I had a digital camera because the person I'm asking to take the pics, thinks it is very silly. I have to put up with that condescending crap just to get new hair pics.

Oh well.

weeeeeeeeeeee

Yay for the small things in life!

I can now wear half of my hair up. I have always hated wearing my hair down and now I don't have to anymore.

YAY!

Washing and waiting

((((HOKIES))))

I'm washing my hair every two weeks now. Of course now I'm wondering how I could go 4 weeks without washing. *shrugs* Next time I will palm roll when I wash. I wish I could wash it every week and it would look neat. Oh well. And I used baking soda on my scalp like someone suggested. I did it before the wash. It is supposed to make sure the scalp is clean. I have no idea whether it had any effect.

My hair is growing like crazy. I stll don't have a digital camera. I have an option to get a free one but I don't think it comes with a timer so I probably won't get it. I will try to have new pics within the next three months.LOL.

Blogger is still acting wierd. Screw it!

Open house today.

I'm bored. I just closed on my house last week. I'm staying here with no furniture, waiting for the gas man. I only need gas for heat. I wish every thing was electric. It costs $100 just to get gas turned on in my name! Anyway...

So the open house for a part time job is between 4-7. I hope I can get there around 4. And I'm not wearing a wig. I tried wearing a wig in the past, didn't get the part time job. So screw it. I don't know if I need a part time job or if I can somehow survive without it. I swear it I don't get this job, I'm going to McDonald's and apply there.

Part time jobs seem harder to get than full time ones. Geez. Two hour process for working at Red Lobster. Um, whatever. No I didn't go through with it. It was 30 minutes away and I'm not exactly dying to work there. The part time job I'm applying for today is sort of like my full time job so I would love to get this!

Puhleease!

Long time, no post

Wow, I actually have free time! That won't last long. And that is a good thing...I think.

Some people with dreads wash their hair every day or every other day etc. I have a question for those people: Why bother with retwisting or palmrolling when you are constantly washing it? I don't get it.

I have decided to wash my hair every 3 weeks and once I get more settled in a few weeks (hopefully), I will wash it every 2 weeks. But I'm not going to retwist (or palm roll) it that often because I would just be wasting my time. So I'm going to retwist every 6 weeks or so. Or maybe less. I dunno. I do like the well maintained look.

I still have to get to a salon. But right now my money is all gone tied up. So no new pics either. I would love to have a digital camera but I can't spend money on wants right now.

I will continue to talk

I just noticed today that I can (sorta) tie my hair back! In a couple of months maybe I will be able to wear half of my hair in a pony tail. My hair is probably to thick to do a full one but who knows. If I had some barrettes I would practice with my hair tonight.

I got my wig. Corporate America would love it. I hope I never have to wear it...

Take me as I am

I have been free forming for two months which means I have been washing my hair without palmrolling. That will end on Saturday. No matter how much I don't feel like doing it, I will do it. It is 4 hour process. I'm going to see how quickly I can do it. It would be nice to get it washed, palm rolled and dried in 3 hours.

((I still can't believe Anna Nicole Smith died)).

On Tuesday I'm going to a meeting which will hopefully lead to an internship which will then lead to a new job! Hopefully. This isn't an office job so I'm NOT wearing a wig to the meetings. A lot of companies are involved in this thing. I have a feeling some managers will be anti-dreadlock and some won't. I don't want to start wearing a wig. Once I start, it will be hard to stop...unless I hate the wig.

I still haven't seen my new wig. I will get it this weekend. It was shipped to my mom's house. My fear is that it will look like Jessica Alba's hair in Honey. That is okay for some people but like I said, I'm not big on long curly hair...

R.I.P ANS

Wig happy

I found an X-tra large wig. LOL! Those are rare. I ordered it earlier today. I will only wear it when I have a job interview. The job I have now allows dreads (I guess - heh). Back to the wig: The only problem is that it is a wavy wig. I like to look conservative for interviews. I like short and straight wigs for job stuff. This wig is wavy and long (ick!). Oh well. I'm just glad I found something to hide my thick dreads under. I can't wait to get it...

Keep on laughing, jerks!!

What is up with all the dreadlock backlash? It is only in some areas of America. It just makes me feel worse. I know I chose this hairstyle but damn...

Around here dreads just aren't acceptable. If you have them, they better be well manicured. (Since my hair is soft/curly it never looks perfect). And it helps to be self employed. LOL.

Yeah, I went into a McDonalds, they laughed. I gave them the "WTF" look. I'm sick of taking people's crap. I've done it for 26 years! I better watch myself, I almost said something I would have regretted two weeks ago. I now have a I don't give a fuck attitude. I don't want to be this way.

This is my 40th post. Whoohoo!

1 year and more confused than ever!

Well I've been locked for one year as of yesterday. I like my hair. I sometimes love it. But in the back of my mind there is always the: your hair isn't acceptable to others. I don't care what random people think. I'm talking about the people with power - the people that hire people.
Feeling unemployable is a horrible feeling. I envy all that don't have to deal with that. Of course my hair isn't the #1 reason, finding work is hard. I can do the wig thing if I must.

So woofreakinhoo, I like my hair but everyone else hates it.

????

I'm not in a good mood because of certain things going on in my life. I might be laid off from my job. I hope not. I can't deal with that right now. Well I will have to if I actually get laid off. blah. I hate life.

Today is going to get up to 75 degrees so I'm going to get out of this apartment! Bye.

Cut off my wings

Ugh. My hair isn't meant for free forming at this stage. It is so frizzy. I think once it fully locks, free forming will just feel right.

I think it is hilarious that my stylist told me that my hair would lock easily. Uh, nope. Just because it looks tough that doesn't mean it is. I guess my hair won't be locked by January 14 (my one year anniversary).

So I will probably palm roll after my next wash. As of right now, I am planning on going to a salon in March. As long as I still have my job, I'm going.

Wimp

I guess I'm quasi free forming. I washed it yesterday. I did not palm roll or twist. I don't know how long I can do this without palm rolling. Yesterday I was just feeling lazy.

free form?

I am only weeks away from having dreadlocks for a year. I don't know when I will have new pics. Without a digital camera, it costs me about $17.00 to get film developed. And I am trying to save, save, save & pay off debt so....I will try to have clear pictures by February/March.

I'm sick of something. Very sick of something. When I got a seasonal retail position, I hid my dreads under a wig. How lame is that? I will admit that if my locks could be put up (in a pony tail etc), I wouldn't hide it. My hair is long enough but like before I had dreads, my hair is simply too thick to do much of anything with it. Pre-dreadlocks, I never could do anything with my hair. Now I am in the same position. I think I' going to play around with it a bit. Maybe I can try two pony tails? Don't laugh.

The wig thing can't continue because my hair is so freaking thick that is probably obvious that I have a lot of hair under it. LOL. And I feel like I am ashamed of my hair when I'm NOT. I just worry about other people's perceptions. I wish I could say "Screw it!" but a convicted felon has a better chance getting a job than me(long story involving me having a hidden disability)...Beggars can't be choosers. So what do I do? I just can't wait until my hair is long enough to wear back. I hope I don't have to wait a whole year for that.

Yes, I am also thinking about partly free forming. My next wash is going to be on New Year's Eve. I am thinking about not palm rolling afterwards. Just wash and go. This is due to how long it takes to palm roll and wash. The whole process (including drying) takes about 4 hours! I am not exactly looking forward to that over the holiday...Anyway, I am thinking of only palm rolling/twisting once every 60 days instead of once every 30 like I do now.

Right now I'm just conflicted over the whole wearing a wig thing. ::sigh::

New blurry photos are...

HERE

New pics on the way??

Well it is Thanksgiving. Right now I'm thankful for having somewhere to go later today. I'm a loner but the holidays can be really hard for people who are by themselves. I'm come to the conclusion that I would go to a hotel for the holidays (T-giving & Xmas) if I was alone. Assuming I had the extra money, I wouldn't spend my last dime on it. I just couldn't stand being alone in my apartment/house on those days when almost everyone is around friends and family.

Anyway, this is a hair blog so...I'm about to wash my hair. I'm not really looking forward to it. It takes over an hour to palm roll my hair and over an hour to dry it. So I should get started, yet I'm surfing the net and updating this blog. I took some new pics with a disposable camera. I hope they come out since the camera expired in October 2006 (!!). I know I shouldn't have used that camera but I was in a rush taking pictures for a dream job opportunity. Long story about having to take pics for a job but I really want this job. Most of the pics are of me in a suit trying to look professional and I also took about 5 pics of my hair. When/if the film get develops I will post them in my hair blog.

My one year lock anniversary will be on January 14. I can't be bothered to figure out where that makes me now. Gotta go.

Hair is not a priority

Woohoo! On October 14, I celebrated my 10 months of dreadlocks! Okay, I really didn’t celebrate it. I paid no attention to that date whatsoever but anyway, I can’t believe I am almost approaching one year. I said in my hair album (link on sidebar) that I would have pictures in 3 to 6 weeks. Well, I went to the event without taking any pictures so I don’t know when I will have new pics of me. But check out the new pics I posted under “hair role models”. I love her hair! I will try to have new pics of my own hair by January 14 (my one year anniversary).

Hair is falling low on the priority list. Saving money and paying off debt along with other things are high on my list. I do feel that going to a professional at least once a year is a need if I want my locks to last but for now it will have to wait. I’m going through various transitions in life. My life probably won’t be somewhat settled until February. So I’m going to do my own maintenance until then. I have a few thin locks. They should probably be put together. I’m not even going to try to do that on my own. I still don’t have the palm rolling thing completely down. I know that’s bad but it beats paying a professional every month.