Installation and 1 week later Pics

This is the result of 3 days of sitting!! I felt so bad for my consultant. She did a great job though!

My installation was over 3 days!! I have a lot of hair. These pics are from the last and final day of getting all of my locks installed on Sept. 17th. The second set of pics are exactly 1 week later from the day my consultant finished. I was amazed at the difference! I didn't realize how much it had changed until someone asked me, "what did you do to get your hair to curl up?"

What isn't very obvious in these pics are the curls at the ends of the locks. They are very springy. My hair is doing what it wants to. I would encourage those who are starting out, to allow yours to do the same.

So Grateful!!

Hello Everyone,
I know I haven't checked in for awhile and a lot has happened. Since my first retightening, I have enjoyed my SL even more! My hair is so full, and literally, no two days have been the same. It has been very exciting.

Let's see, where do I begin... Well, I am continuing to work on my dissertation; I've told the person that I really care about how I feel about him; hung out with my sis and Anthony Hamilton in D.C., kicked it with my dad; celebrated my Grandmother's 7? birthday with family; and just recently today- had my last name officially and legally changed back to my maiden name. If my SL could talk, they would have a lot to tell.

I must say that I have enjoyed every moment of my life, the ups and the downs. I would not be truthful if I gave so much credit to the new freedom that I am experiencing. I know that it is because I surrender my will everday, to the best of my ability, to the One who loves me completely and fully above all, and that is Christ. Through Him, I had the courage to share my feelings with someone new and leave my past behind me. The quote for today is so fitting. It reads, "Have courage. Do not fear. Put the old mistakes away and start anew. You must be glad and joyful." I must say, this sums up where I am today, and for that, I am grateful.

Be Blessed and Enjoy Thanksgiving!

In Him,
Brandon

Profile Picture

My profile picture is when my locks were just 6 days old!!

1st re-tighening

Hello,

I got my first retightening on Monday, November 3, 2008 and it was tight! I did not know that I would feel like I just got it done all over again. I was amazed at how much it had grown also. I will include pictures of it, once I figure out how to attach them to this particular post.

I must say that I can't stay out of the mirror. I just absolutely love it! Today, as I took a break from starting to work on my dissert, I went to the cafeteria in the hospital to get some dinner. A woman began talking to me about my hair and asking several questions, ranging from "what are they?", to "how long did it take?", to "it is your hair isn't it??" Anyway, I was very happy to answer her questions. She was trying to figure out what to do with her hair. I'd also like to add that she commented on my make-up and said how nice it was. It is such a wonderful feeling when people walk up to you and want to engage you. It keeps me encouraged. As always, compliments are nice, but I love to give them much more than I like to recieve them.

To anyone who is thinking of doing it, talk to people who have locked their hair, do your research, and just take a chance on yourself. You may just like what you see!!

Be Blessed!

My Transition...

I guess while I'm on here, I'll add a few more pics about my transition. (I am 7 weeks late!!) But anyway, I have been natural for 3.5 years before "taking the plunge" and getting "locked up!" I must say it has been very liberating to say the least.

Before going natural, I was a fanatic about my hair. I had a short cut and would "sleep pretty" just so I would not mess it up. Laying on my back was out of the question. I couldn't have a hair or a curl out of place. It had to be "tight" at all times, and I must say it was. After, starting grad school, I no longer had the time, nor wanted to spend $40 a week getting my hair done, so I let it grow out some and started getting singles.

The singles looked good, but I did not like taking them out. What a pain in the arms!!! Anyway, transitioned into kinky twists in 2006 and have loved them ever since. Not to mention the pressing of the hair and getting natural styles with that. Wigs... Fros... A sew in... Kinky twists... Fros... You name it, I have done it on my journey here. In the process you may notice that I lost a couple of people too!

Life goes on!!

So anyway, enjoy the picture journey to my sister locks! Will do another post with pictures of the first two weeks at another time! If you live in Cleveland, isn't the weather beautiful!!???

Be Blessed!

Finally!!

Hello all!! I have decided to take the plunge and start a blog to share my sister lock journey! This is the first time that I have ever done anything like this, so please allow for grace and mercy.

Currently, I am at work and didn't realize that the time would be set back again, so I'm looking at the clock thinking, "wasn't it 1:30 am an hour ago??" If I had known I would be at work for 13+ hours instead of 12; I may have reconsidered. However, I will not complain because I am thankful for the work that I have been blessed to do.

Anyway, it has been 6 weeks and 4 days, since my locks were born. I must say, that I absolutely love it!! I never knew that I could be so in love with my hair. I loved it when it was natural and rocking fros or kinky twist, however, this is a different experience all together. I have not been for my first re-tightening yet. I will go on Monday. I am so excited!! My hair has grown so much since I had them put in. I'll have to update with pics!

I of course would like to thank my sisters in Christ and colleagues, Linda and Teona for encouraging me as I made my decision to get locked up!! They referred my to my consultant Tracy, who is also their consultant and lock mistro (if I can call her that!). I was so scared and didn't know what it would look like, but after having my kinky twists in for three months and they were starting to fuse, and some act like they wanted to lock up- I knew that it was time. So here I am and loving it!

Well, I am going to end this now because I need to check on my patients. They are all sleeping, but they need to know that I am checking on them.

So in closing, I would like to say I am very proud to be a part of the Sister Lock family and thanks to those who have welcomed me with open arms!

In Him,
Brandon