Hello all, I hope you've been keeping well, and today I will share the story (and some pictures) of my transitioning period. At this point I should probably say that for me the transition was more impulsive than a well planned out and organised idea, and although I had given it some thought
off and on, I had never really made any commitment to the actual act. For this reason, the 'natural' bit for me was almost non-existent, and below I outline the why and the how.
Length
To start off, I didn't have great length to work with, as I mentioned I had a Mohawk before and grew it out in some unorthodox ways like cornrows at the sides only, braids while trimming the top, etc, and I say unorthodox because in those days there was very little creativity at the local salons, which were pocket friendly for me - a college girl at the time. So, with roughly two inches of permed ends and one inch of natural growth, I was at the point of wondering what else to do with my hair since I had pretty much tried it all.
off and on, I had never really made any commitment to the actual act. For this reason, the 'natural' bit for me was almost non-existent, and below I outline the why and the how.
Length
To start off, I didn't have great length to work with, as I mentioned I had a Mohawk before and grew it out in some unorthodox ways like cornrows at the sides only, braids while trimming the top, etc, and I say unorthodox because in those days there was very little creativity at the local salons, which were pocket friendly for me - a college girl at the time. So, with roughly two inches of permed ends and one inch of natural growth, I was at the point of wondering what else to do with my hair since I had pretty much tried it all.
Cost
My best friend, who already had locks, told me one day that she had come across a salonist who had great rates, and used natural products, and as I had mentioned to her I might get dreads one day, we thought this was it, so I got the money and off we went to get the locks.
My best friend, who already had locks, told me one day that she had come across a salonist who had great rates, and used natural products, and as I had mentioned to her I might get dreads one day, we thought this was it, so I got the money and off we went to get the locks.
End Result
Since I had not planned for this mentally, I was exhilarated at the journey I just started, but one look in the mirror when I got home filled me with regrets. The fresh baby locks were not at all what I had in mind, of course they couldn't look like mature locks at the time, but they were extremely unflattering for me, and u felt a loss at the money I spent, but I did not give up immediately and take them down. Instead I hit the internet, searching for inspirational pictures of dreads to keep me going on this arduous journey.
Since I had not planned for this mentally, I was exhilarated at the journey I just started, but one look in the mirror when I got home filled me with regrets. The fresh baby locks were not at all what I had in mind, of course they couldn't look like mature locks at the time, but they were extremely unflattering for me, and u felt a loss at the money I spent, but I did not give up immediately and take them down. Instead I hit the internet, searching for inspirational pictures of dreads to keep me going on this arduous journey.
Discovery
Naturally the images section of google did not disappoint, and I felt ready to wait out the ugly phase with each new photo of gorgeous locks I saw, until I stumbled across a picture of braidlocs/sisterlocks (I can't remember which was which as they were totally foreign to me). I clicked on the picture and followed the subsequent links and suddenly, all bets were off! Young or mature, long or short, these hybrids did not seem to have an ugly stage, and I was hooked! I knew I had to have them, and though I had already put braids in my fresh locks (I know, I know, bad locking practice but I just couldn't stand them), I made it a point to put them in that very day.
Naturally the images section of google did not disappoint, and I felt ready to wait out the ugly phase with each new photo of gorgeous locks I saw, until I stumbled across a picture of braidlocs/sisterlocks (I can't remember which was which as they were totally foreign to me). I clicked on the picture and followed the subsequent links and suddenly, all bets were off! Young or mature, long or short, these hybrids did not seem to have an ugly stage, and I was hooked! I knew I had to have them, and though I had already put braids in my fresh locks (I know, I know, bad locking practice but I just couldn't stand them), I made it a point to put them in that very day.
Trial and Error
I naturally had no idea what entailed the setting up of these locks, so I tiringly took down each babylock and replaced it with about five or six of its slim counterparts, no grid, no pattern, nothing. And at the end of it all, about three days, I could honestly say that I was proud of my work, I mean, I had over five hundred locks on my head and was on a totally new journey (which was probably the thrill of it all). I was now ready to face the world, and was not disappointed when people would stop me in the street to ask and make comments about my hair, I werked-that-ish 😂
I naturally had no idea what entailed the setting up of these locks, so I tiringly took down each babylock and replaced it with about five or six of its slim counterparts, no grid, no pattern, nothing. And at the end of it all, about three days, I could honestly say that I was proud of my work, I mean, I had over five hundred locks on my head and was on a totally new journey (which was probably the thrill of it all). I was now ready to face the world, and was not disappointed when people would stop me in the street to ask and make comments about my hair, I werked-that-ish 😂
The Culmination
Fast forward to a thousand more images and videos from the web, and I had learnt how to do retightenings myself, color the life out of them, curl them, plait them, and a whole host of other things, and naturally I soon got a bit tired of them as they were growing too slow for my liking. Also, post-partum shedding is real y friends! But I take full responsibility for mine due to unhealthy practices like corn rowing them too tight at the salon, stressing them with crochet and other hair additions, bad diet,and of course not following my hair oiling routine, which is a story for another day.
Fast forward to a thousand more images and videos from the web, and I had learnt how to do retightenings myself, color the life out of them, curl them, plait them, and a whole host of other things, and naturally I soon got a bit tired of them as they were growing too slow for my liking. Also, post-partum shedding is real y friends! But I take full responsibility for mine due to unhealthy practices like corn rowing them too tight at the salon, stressing them with crochet and other hair additions, bad diet,and of course not following my hair oiling routine, which is a story for another day.
I do hope you enjoyed, and brace yourselves for next week's post in which I will outline how I took care of my tiny locs (I am afraid to call them sisterlocks due to the legal implications, and braidlocs as I did not exactly follow the rules haha). Till then, chao!
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