I'm debating if I should just cut them off, where it's thin, or leave it as it is. If I do cut it, I will save them, and sew them back on. The sewing back on, will no doubt happen when my locks (in that area) gets a little longer. I will do a "How To" on that as well. Below are the locks in questions. Feedback is always welcome.

With Notes	Close Up of Scalp

Today is my birthday =). Another year of blessing has come and gone. I also decided to go out tomorrow and celebrate, and I'm trying to decided if I want to do a Mohawk, but I'm afraid of the stress that I would put on my roots. I will post pictures if I do.

Hey guys! I did a Baking Soda Wash & Apple Cider Vinegar rinse yesterday and I wanted to share the result. The main reason you would want to do a Baking Soda Wash & Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse is to remove build up, and or reduce/eliminate dandruff. Click on the image on the right for example of buildup/dandruff.

Whether you are natural or rocking locs, you would benefit from doing a BS wash & ACV rinse.

Reason to do a Baking Soda Wash & Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

- Product Buildup (Different Shampoos, Oils, etc)
- Dandruff
- Lifeless Locks (dull & heavy locs)
- Mildew Smell

Benefits/Improvement after a Baking Soda Wash & Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

- Lighter Hair/Locs
- Less flakiness from the scalp
- Reduction of an itchiness
- Deep Cleaning & Conditioning

Below are picture of the after result. Hair feels lighter and the itchiness has been reducing greatly. To find out how to do a BS wash & ACV rinse click here.

Still Bundling :(	Finger Combing
Final Result	Nice & Clean

Below I list the step by step instruction of what I did. You can see the result here.

The BS wash & ACV Rinse is every 2-3 month for me. If you have really bad dandruff, then you welcome to do this every month. Just make sure you condition your hair/locs.

After you have done your Baking Soda Wash & ACV Rinse, you can do a quick test to see if it was successful. Most blogger call it the "Scratch Test". Scratch your scalp, and your finger nails should come away clean, without any build up.

Baking Soda Clarification

With some silicone-based products, clarification must be done to remove the product that builds up over time on the hair shaft. Rather than resort to sulfate-based shampoos to remove this build-up, which can damage and dry the hair, a baking soda cleanse is preferable:

Combine:
1 tablespoon baking soda
3 tablespoons silicone-free conditioner

Apply mixture to the scalp and massage firmly, then continue to massage the mixture down the hair shaft to the ends. Work into hair well. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow IMMEDIATELY with an apple cider vinegar rinse.

Note: you MUST follow any baking soda cleanse with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Baking soda is alkaline -- meaning it will raise your cuticle and open up your hair shaft. The apple cider vinegar is acidic and will close your cuticle back down. If you don't follow the cleanse with an ACV rinse, you'll be leaving your hair shaft open and setting yourself up for more frizz than you'd probably like.

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Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

There is some debate on whether or not an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse alone can clarify the hair; however, it is helpful to bring the hair back into balance after an alkaline solution has come into contact with the hair and will shut the cuticle back down. Repeated use of ACV rinses can be drying, so limit use to once per month at most:

Combine:
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup warm water

Pour the mixture over the hair after cleansing (do not rinse out), then condition as usual. Any lingering smell will dissipate as the hair dries.

Source
http://livecurlylivefree.com/home%20remedies.htm

Set Up	BS (left) ACV(right)

After I do the BS wash & ACV Rinse, I apply the Sisterlocks Moisture Treatment. "How to:" for Sisterlocks Moisture Treatment can be found here.

Close Up (Next Day)	Back (Next Day)

Now this only applies to ladies who likes to have different hairstyle every month, which for the most part requires human or synthetic hair. Meaning you are not interested in the natural hair route (which I would recommend because that is where the true saving are).

The numbers below are base on styling my hair in the past. Now there are many factors that can come into play with these numbers. If you do your own hair, or if you don't style your own hair every month, then these number will not mean anything to you. This is just a rough idea of the cost of styling my hair in the past. Remember, these numbers may or may not apply to you at all.

My numbers below does not include the upfront cost of sisterlocks, because quick frankly, if you want something, you save for it, and sisterlocks is something you need to save for. So you need to consider sisterlocks as a onetime investment and a life time of SAVINGS.

Hair Style	Cost (Installation vs Retighten)	Hair Cost (Human Hair & Synthetic Hair)	Total
Weaves: (example: Updo, Wavy Curls, LaceFront)	$60 - $80	$16 - $35 per pkg (my big head on average needs 3)	*$108 - $185 (1 Month)
Braids: (example: Cornrows, Braids, Micros, Dreads	$60 - $200	**$2 - ***$35	$84 - 305 ( 2-3 Month)
Sisterlocks/Brotherlocks (Large to Micro)	$60 - $150 (average)	N/A	$60 - $150 (1 Month)

Hair Style	End of Year Cost
Weaves	$1296 - $2220
Braids	$504 - $1830 (2 month cycle) $336 - $1220 (3 month cycle)
Sisterlocks/Brotherlocks	$720 - $1800

Where does the savings comes in?

Well that is really up to you. If you saying to yourself, wow I'm spending too much on my natural hair as well, then you can limit the styling option you do every month. If you really want sisterlocks, but don't want to spend allot of money every month, then you may want to consider the brotherlocks version. The brotherlocks versions of sisterlocks are much bigger, so it takes less time to retighten and install. Make sure to compare the cost of your current hair maintenance to the size of sisterlocks you want. I suggest keeping a diary of the cost of styling your hair for a year (salon, weave, products, and etc), and see if that will average out a saving for you. Don't just plain out say the concept of getting sisterlocks is too expensive, at the end of the day, it may not be so.

Did I save when I converted to sisterlocks? The answer is yes!

Now these numbers are on the low scale. The cost of getting my hair done on a yearly base would roughly be around $2,220 and above. I never let my hair breath and I'm very lucky I didn't permanently damage my hair. My total saving cost is $660 a year (give or take).

In conclusion: Sisterlocks can have a monthly cost of $0 if you do your own retighten.

Note: I didn't include the perms or hair treatment in between. I add * above to explain how I came up with the numbers below.

* To get these numbers, I timed the cost of hair, times the packages amount. I remember 3 hair packages was my total amount, since I love thick hair. Some people may use less or more.

**Now when I use to wear regular braids, the $2 packages, which was the cheapest one I could get, I would still needed a total of 12 packages. So 2x12 will cost you $24 without taxes.

*** When I use to wear micros (which damages my frontier hair line after a long run) I use to buy 3 packages of human hair (wavy). So 3 x $35 will give you $105 without taxes.

I'm starting to hear the word "ugly stage" thrown in a lot where sisterlocks (and dreadlocks) are concern. To me, sisterlocks never had an ugly stage, but to others it did. When I did the big chop the previous year (after losing all of my top hair) I wore a wig for the first two months. I had a "work" wig and a "going out" wig (and let me tell you I rocked those wigs pack in those days lol). I thought my natural hair was not meant to be shown. At one point I got tired of the wigs and it issues. For exampe, my scalp would always get so hot and itchy, and wearing wigs all the time made me feel "old".

Once my hair was a decent length, I started wearing it out. Let me tell you (I can laugh at it now) but many of my friends and family members looked at me like I was nuts. They would say "So when are you going to do something with your hair" or "That hair is not professional especially for what you do" or "Girl you have a lot of courage to wear your hair out like that". To me I didn't see anything wrong with my hair, but as you can see, others did. I grew to love my natural hair, and found many interesting facts along the way.

When I first gotten my sisterlocks install, everyone from my family members and friend stated "oh...is that sisterlocks?" or "it doesn't even look that good, especially with all the money you spent on it" and to me I was shocked. I thought my babies were just BEAUTIFUL. I guess beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I still love my sisterlocks with a passions, and that is why I never saw them as being ugly.

If you thinking of getting sisterlocks, and you are worrying about an ugly stage, DON"T! You will not see anything ugly about your sisterlocks. You may complain in the beginning about the length, and the limited option you have, but you will not consider them ugly. Your sisterlock will be something you are proud of and will cherish forever. I included pictures and memories of my early time before I gotten my sisterlocks installed.

Work Wig lol	Going Out Wig	Going Out Wig
First Wore Out	Growing Back	Final Hair Before Sisterlocks
My Sisterlocks Now	Still Growing & Hoping it Stays	Loving My Locks

How do I avoid that? You really can't! Someone came up to me and ask me, what do I for maintenance. How do I keep my sisterlocks looking so neat? She proceeds to state my locks didn't look fizzy at all. I told her to look a little closer, and you will notice some fuzziness. I also needed a retightening done as well, so my fuzziness were even more apparent, I later went on to explain what my routine was and I decided to share it with you guys as well.

You can help minimize the fuzziness, by wearing a Satin Bonnet when going to bed. This product greatly helps, especially if you want your lock free from lint’s, and any particulates that are found on beds, couches or anywhere else.

My locks are short so they will not be getting much lint from my clothes. Sooner or later, I will have to wonder how to avoid that when the times comes.

As for no fizzy locks, I for the most part braid or curl (soft spike or pipe cleaner) my locks every night. You don't have to do that if you don't want to. If I'm tired a particular night I just throw on my satin bonnet and that is it. The next day I spray some water on my hair (wet & go style). So now you know how I maintain a no lint, less frizzy loc.

I do have Alopecia, and I believe mines are trigger by stress. The type of Alopecia I believe I have is Telogen Effluvium which is mostly associated with stress. So I'm doing everything in my power to battle my stress.

When I was pregnant there was no way I could really fight my stress. I lost my job and I still had bills to pay. On top of that, I end a relationship that I felt was wrong at the time. So being pregnant and broke wasn't a pleasant experience and hair lost was just a result of that. I did shed some tears, and I was very bitter at that time, but something good came out of that experience. I had a beautiful girl that I love dearly, and became a born again Christian. I really do hope and pray that I don't lose my sisterlocks.

Right now I'm at a place where I can hopeful fight this issue a little bit more. I'm at a job that I love (so I'm not getting the stress from there) and I'm working out every week, which does help alleviate my stress. I also take Biotin and One A Day Women's. I recently started adding Black Tea to my diet vs. having coffee in the morning. Somehow I got addicted to Coffee and I'm slowing reining myself off. Dr. Oz (that my show) had a show piece where he talk about how to battle stress and he recommend having Black Tea instead of Coffee, because Black Tea is a stress fighter. I also try to incorporate Rosemary in all of my core product that I use. The Shampoo & Conditioner that I use, has Rosemary, which researcher shown is a good ingredient to stimulate hair growth. I also recently add essential oils to my line of products. I rub those essential oils on my scalp after every wash; two ingredients that are in the essential oils I use are Rosemary and Sage.

With all of these prevention measure, I hope I don't ever get the full blown Alopecia I experience in the past. What doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.

Off Topic: I put a picture of the Cherry Blossom for this post, because for some reason, when I look at Cherry Blossom it claims me. I always loved Cherry Blossom and I hope one day I can visit a place that have Cherry blossom in full bloom.

Yikes I’m doing a double post today. I receive some disappointing news earlier today about my hair. I didn’t expect it, but anyway, on to a much happier topic. I receive my order of Tomoka’s Twists. I purchase the set which include the twist tie and the earrings. Below are the pictures. I must say they are beautiful and I’m very much please.

This is how I would currently wear them since my hair is short. You can purchase more of her hair asscessory at her store.

I call my doctor and complain that I didn't receive my blood work, and now I'm receiving a bills for service that has not been delivered. Well I got the shocking news that I didn't expect, and that is I do have Alopecia. Now I’m wonder if I should have left it alone – what you don’t know won’t kill you. I guess the fact that I have Alopecia came to light after my blood work was done. The nurse also noted that my blood sugar level was also a little low. I'm totally shocked by this news. I really wish the Dr. Rubenstein was a little bit more forth coming when he examine me. He stated from the look of it (my scalp) it didn't look like I had Alopecia.

The nurse went ahead and told me to that I can come in and get some shot for the affect area. I told her no, and that I currently want to wait it out, since my next appointment is in November. So far my hair is growing back, but now I'm a little worried. This news is totally unexpected, and I’m not going lie, I'm sad about it. I may be upset about this now, but I know some people have it a lot worst them me, so God Bless everyone that is facing this issue. All I can do is hope for the best.

P.S. I added the diagram above because of what I experience in the past. I started noticing my hair thinning during and after my pregnancy. The figure above shows what happen to me in the past. I went through all those stages before my sisterlocks. After I hit stage III, I cut off my hair. That diagram also shows what my mom is currently struggling with. She is at stage III.

Related Posts
Thinning Roots – Hence Thinning Locks
My Dermatologist Visit.

So if you guys been following me, you know I talk about the fact that my hair was thinning out, causing my locks to thin out as well. Like I explain in my previous post, the last time I experience hair thinning was after I had my daughter (which result in complete hair lost). Well I glad to say that my hair is growing back.

I decided to also see a Dermatologist to talk about my hair thinning. I wanted to learn and do thing to avoid it in the future, because frankly, I don't want to battle hair thinning in the future. If I don't stop this now, I will always have short locks in that particular area. I know stress will always be in my life and that is a fact. So I decided to do a post and have updated picture of that particular area. It’s encouraging that I can combat this issue and succeed =).


Click on image to see a bigger/detail look.

Helpful Links/Posts I did
Vitamins for Hair Growth - Biotin & Others
Essential Oil for Hair Growth - A Natural Remedy

You landed on this page become you are either considering sisterlocks or wonder what the heck are sisterlocks. Below is an explanation on what sisterlocks are, and what you should research (if this is something you truly want). As always, have fun and good luck on your journey of discovery.

Sisterlocks is a trademark company own and operated by Dr. JoAnne Cornwell. They are basically tiny uniform locks/dread that are the result of a precision grid parting. The use of a specialized tool by sisterlocks consultant/trainee places the hair into its locking formation which enables you to have micro to large locks, as well as enable it to grow long and beautiful. More information can be found at sisterlocks.com

What you need to research and learn.

1. What your hair type (hair pattern).
2. What lock size do you want - micro, small, large or brotherlocks (a much bigger version of sisterlocks). Learn about the advantage and disadvantage of each size.
3. Look at pictures! Don't only look at sisterlocks, look at all the different technique of locking and also learn the disadvantage of all those technique.
4. Once you decided to do Sisterlocks, shop around for consultant. Look at their work, and make sure that they are using the correct tool (if you making that much of an investment you can at least verify that they using the correct tool).
5. Finally, accept thing won't happen overnight, look at the many sisterlocks blogs to give you inspiration. Keep reading and learning because that will keep you going while you are transitioning.

On the right I have some link that you should check out. It underneath my followers section.

Helpful Links & Post I did.
FAQ's about my micro sisterlocks
Myths about Sisterlocks

Picture source is copyright by sisterlocks.com

The sisterlocks community is getting a bad reputation. The word on the street is that we are snobby people. When I visit a blog or forum, someone always throw in a snob comment about the sisterlocks community.  Someone would make a comment about us being a snob then state "Oh I don't mean to lump you all together but..." I can't speak for others but I know I'm not snob, if anything I such a bloody geek that it scare me sometime =). I embrace all type of dreads and traditional locks, and I'm very much surprise that sisterlocks are consider a group of people that look down on any type of dreads.

Sisterlocks vs. traditional lock debate is so silly to me. Like the saying goes...a loc is a loc. everyone is different and everyone has a certain style or look that they want. It doesn't matter the cost etc of that style. It all about what you want, and what makes you happy. I may be the lucky one, since I haven't met a snobbish person from the sisterlocks community yet, and I hope I never meet one.

Now I going to try to take a stab at why others people may view the other sisterlocks communities as snob. One thing that comes to mind is the consultant, and how much pride they take in their work. Maybe to someone else, that may come off as snobbish? Another option on why we are consider a snob, is the cost of having them install, as well as the myth that you are bound to one consultant forever. The final stab at this issue would be how sisterlocks doesn't look like locks (another myth), and maybe we, as sisterlocks wearer, are confirming to European society by having locks that look like straight hair. What do you guys think? Have you indeed run into snobbish people in the sisterlocks community and can you share you experience?