“The Official Day” (Week 1 - 4/25/08)

Permed Hair...You Must Go!!!

Creamy Crack (Relaxer)...In The Trash You Go!!!

My Hair Today

Today is a special day!!! This day marks the beginning of my journey to, not only natural hair, but my journey to Sisterlocks. It has been 16 years since I first permed my hair and what a mistake I made. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have never made that decision. And, if it was left up to my mother to decide, my hair would have stayed chemical-free.

In 1992, I was attending a college-preparatory boarding school in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was new to the school, new to the area, and unaware of any hair salons in the area at the time. I grew tired of pressing my hair with an electric straightening comb and I was quite active in sports…running cross country and playing basketball. I had beautiful jet black hair with good length, but it was difficult to manage on my own. I was so used to going to my regular beautician when I lived at home in California. So…while out shopping at the local Walmart one day, I picked up a box of relaxer and returned to school to apply it to my hair. It was at this point when, what seemed like a never-ending cycle of relaxing my hair, began to unfold.

Over the years, I continuously relaxed my hair wearing styles ranging from wraps to weaves. My first horrible experience with relaxers came in 1995, at college in Chicago, when my hair became over-processed and broke off. I was devastated!!! I didn’t understand what was going on with my hair at the time. I would perm my hair and a week later it looked like an afro…like it had never been permed. I ended up seeking help at a local salon in the area of my school in Hyde Park. I was told my hair was over-processed and I needed to pretty much start over by cutting my hair down to the lowest breakage…evenly all over. I sported the Toni Braxton look for awhile…long enough for my hair to grow out to a point it could be braided. I wore braids for a little over a year. After a year of braids, my hair had grown tremendously and I was pleased. But…what did I do next? I slapped yet another relaxer on my hair and the cycle began once again.

In 1999, I flew home to visit my parents in California and I got a huge surprise! My mother appeared to have what I thought were dreadlocks at the time in her hair. She immediately corrected me by saying, “They are called Sisterlocks not dreadlocks.” At first, I just wasn’t feeling Mom’s new do. But, over time, the hairstyle grew on me, especially when it started to grow and the locks set. Her Sisterlocks had been installed by Celeste Geary in California. I even accompanied her to one of her re-tightening sessions one time. It was intriguing to sit there and observe the locking technique. Although the whole idea of Sisterlocks grew on me, I could not see myself sporting them. At the time, I was THE Hairstyle Queen…sporting a different style practically every week. I felt I would be limiting myself by getting Sisterlocks. If only I knew otherwise!!! Sadly, my mother wasn’t able to maintain her Sisterlocks, after becoming disabled, due to her finances. She ended up cutting her hair and is now wearing her natural hair. But, since learning of my interest in getting Sisterlocks and eventually taking the class to become certified, she is making plans to get Sisterlocks all over again soon. She now lives in Mississippi and has been looking at consultants in the Memphis area.

Here I am…needing to do something with my hair. I have relaxer sitting right here ready to use, but I’ve decided this is THE day…the “OFFICIAL” start day of my journey. I’m excited already and I can’t wait to get my Sisterlocks!!!