When I first considered dreadlocks, one of my main concerns was the feel of them. I'm not going to lie, the cost of dreadlock, compared to Sisterlocks, was something that attracted me the most about them. What made me stay away from the regular dreadlocks was the act of touching a couple of them (permission asked first by the way).

The first sets that I touched was way too rough (he didn't need or use beeswax since he just interlocked). The second set was much softer, and was done via palm roll, but the issue with that set was all due to the beeswax residue, which I hate. So I stuck with my natural hair for a while and continued to research Sisterlocks. Then I had the opportunity to touch someone who had Sisterlocks, and the decision to go with Sisterlocks was finally made.

Comparison

First thing first, hair texture plays a huge role on how soft your Sisterlocks can be. Another factor that plays with the softness of your Sisterlocks is the dryness level of your locks. Those two items alone can play a major role on how soft or rough your mature Sisterlocks will eventually feel to the touch. I can only speak for my texture, and how it compare to what I have touch in the past. Mines are indeed softer then beeswax version, but not by much.

If you ever had your hair braided with human hair before (micros braids) in the past, that how your Sisterlocks will feel if you have my hair texture.

Factors to Consider

When coloring locks, you need some kind of moisture, because your locks will get and feel super dry. That is why I will never recommend coloring for newbies who want to color before having Sisterlocks installed. I will also not recommend newbies to get their hair colored a couple months after either.  Just like when your hair is a natural, you need to moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize. You can't do that in the newbie stage of Sisterlocks. Even now, with mature locks and coloring with just the Jet Black color, my locks still need to be treated and moisturize.
What I Use to Combat Roughness

I don't spray my hair with water anymore, I'm past that stage now. The reason that I don't need to spray water on my locks anymore is because I use conditioners now, which helps combat super dry locks. I also like to use my Onyx Moroccan Oil, because it is super light, easy to apply, and doesn’t feel heavy. Another bonus with this oils is that it  DOES NOT leave any residue on my locks. That how I was able to finally put  my homemade spray to rest.

I do have a maintenance label on my blog, and I always thought that was enough. Even though I have that label defined, I still get ask what I do to maintain my mature Sisterlocks. I never released an official post about it in the past, and I'm glad I didn't, because what I did in the past, does not apply now. Below is my current routine in maintaining my "mature" Sisterlocks. Even though this post is imitating, it's really not. For the most part, I get my roots retighten every 4-5 weeks, wash them, take vitamins, and moisturize. If you want more detail, continue reading below.

Interlocking Pattern
Below are interlocking patterns I have gather from all over the web, YouTube and every other social media venue. The common pattern is "pattern 4" and that is suggested for tightly curled hair, and Pattern 3 is recommended for looser curled hair. The least used pattern is "pattern 4 reversed" which is used for locks that are prone to slippages and unraveling. To find out how to start your locks click here.

Below are an examples of what I mean.

4a/4b ( Tighly Curled) Pattern 4
For tightly curls hair go with 9, 6, 3, 12

3b/3c ( Tighly Curled) Pattern 3
For loose curls hair go with  9, 6, 9, 12

Prono to Excessive Slippage
Go with 3, 6, 9, 12

Now the above are examples of patterns. The numbers that are being referred are the rotation via the clock dial. For example, once you have created a starter lock using either the backcomb method or if you tightening up the new growth from the braidlocs, you would enter your lock in the direction of the 3`o Clock to 9` o clock (east to west). Then you will enter from 6` 0 clock to 12` 0 clock (north to south), and then again enter from  9` 0 clock to 3` o clock (west to east) and finally 12` o clock to 6` o clock (south to north). From reading my directions, you should have done Pattern 4.

Below is a step by step illustration of the pattern 4. Green arrow is your starting point, and the red arrow is your end point. If you want a example of this, check out this video.


Step 1
Enter the loc at the scalp at 3`o Clock to 9` o clock (east to west).  Note: Make sure you push loop down towards the lock to eliminate gaps in your locks.

Step 2
Enter the loc at the scalp at 6` 0 clock to 12` 0 clock (north to south).

Step 3
Enter the loc 9` 0 clock to 3` o clock (west to east).

Step 4
Enter the loc at 12` o clock to 6` o clock (south to north).

Step 5
Repeat until you are at the scalp, and cannot complete another rotation. Your final "interlocked" lock should resemble a fishtail, and feel like a tight cord. NEVER insert the tool in the same direction, because that causes holes and gaps in your lock.

I got most of information from Nubianlocks Blog and a little from Nappyloc site, and I modify the information a little since I'm slow, and it took me a while to do this correctly. So I hope this post can help you as it did me. Please visit how to start your microlocks or interlocks post first.

Check Out My Post About the Hamer People :)

This "how to" is broken down into two post. One is how to start your mircolocks, and the second part is more information about the interlocking pattern and process. Starting this method on your own is going to be difficult  but it is not impossible. Your locks may not be perfect, but they should still look darn good.

This method has been around for a long time, and it should be SHARED, and not kept a secret. I don't advise other to take this method, and try to past it off as something else, because you are liable to get sued for using that brand.

How To Start
How you start your locks is up to you, but if you want to start off with smaller size locks, I will go with either backcomb method or braidloc method (just braiding small plats). If you start the backcomb method, just do it a the tip of your hair (which will create nice knotting hair) and then proceed to do the interlocking pattern going all the way to your scalp.

Which Tool to Use
If you do decided to go the interlocking route, and are going for smaller locks, you can maintain your locks with either the Nappylocs tool, paperclip (with larger locks), sewing needle, crochet needle (modify) or a latch hook.

How To Size
If you going for the micro to small locks, then your parts would be 1/8" to 1/4" squares. If you want to go for medium to large locks, then your parts would be 1/4" to 3/8". The smaller parts would be your edges on the front and the back. The bigger parts will be done in the middle. If you want even larger parts, you can go past 3/8", and follow the same pattern as explain above.

How to Maintain
Avoid using conditioner until your locks are settle and use shampoos that are very striping (good ones are the ones that are marketed as clarifying shampoos). It is recommend to braid down or twist your newbie locks when washing. Than you going to shampoo your scalp and your braids/twist. Once you have complete the cleaning of your locks, separate them so they don't crawl or merge with each other. Avoid using oils in the beginning, and when you do decide to wash your hair, do it the day before you are going to interlock your new growth.

Click here for the "How to" on interlocking Pattern

To me, this list is a no-brainer, but to others, it may not be so. Below is what I feel is something you should do before each appointment that you set & have.

1) Wash your hair before your appointments. Some may feel that I don't really need to list this here, but I really do need to list this here. Apparently, some people feel that their hair is clean enough after a month or even two weeks of prior washing. It boggles my mind that some people feel that way, and if you feel that way, you should look up on how the scalp works. Trust and believe when I say your scalp is dirty (your locks may not be) but your scalp is. I would never understand why a person would you want to have their new growth retighten without cleaning it first...yuck. When you are getting your new growth retighten, whatever you didn't clean out, gets trapped in the interlocking pattern. Imagine if you didn't clean your scalp, and that entire dead skin cell, and the sebum oil get trap in your locks...that is gross. That is why lint is such a hard thing to get rid of! Wash your hair before your appointment! I do mine the morning of my appointment, and I think that is the best solution for everyone.

2) Time management - Arrive on time for your appointment, the same thing applies for consultant/trainee. If you set a time, please make sure you arrive on time (or inform the consultant/trainee you going to be late). If your consultant is popular, trust and believe that her time is valuable, and she may even rush the retightening of your locks, which can introduce what we call holes (or the "Ys") in your locks. Nothing upset me more than someone who is always late with everything, so be a doll, and arrive on time for your appointments. Same thing with consultant/trainee, do what you need to do prior to your clients arrival. That is including eating your food, because no offense, if you eating something that is smelly, we smell it...ugh. Also chewing around someone ear is sooooo annoying (speaking from experience).

3) The condition of your Sisterlocks - If you don't have money to retighten your sisterlocks, learn how to do it (or take the class). Don't let months of new growth sneak up on you! The longer you go without a retighten, the more likely you start to introduce lock merging (which leads to the sisterlocks grid being unrecognizable). I will never understand how someone can go to their consultant with months of new growth, and think their consultant  is going to be happy (maybe they think the consulant will earn more money?).

I don't know about others, but to me, a head full of regrowth with no recognizable grid is like redoing a whole head again. Who likes to redo the same thing over and over again? With all the YouTube & blogs out there, with ton of information about retightening, you should take advantage of that, and do your own retighten until you find the money to get the luxury of having someone else do the retightening for you. Note: I know most ladies (and gentlemen) are concern about messing up their locks, but I think you really are discrediting yourself; you are more likely to be slow, then to do real unimaginable damage to your locks. I also think any mess up, can always be fixed later down the road, it just hair ladies and gentlemen.

4) Your attitude - Watch your attitude while getting a retighten done. If certain thing bothers you about your consultant, voice them, but do it with tack. Yes you are paying for a service, but you don't have to be rude about it. Not all consultants/trainees are great, as many veterans will come to know, some have issues and may need to be told about it. Instead of bad mouthing them, talk to them. Yes it is uncomfortable, but before you do the option of badmouthing them or trying to find another consultant, informed them as politely as possible about the issue at hand. My consultant is known for taking a lot of breaks (I mean a lot), I saw one of her client keep sighing after each break she took, and trust me when I state my consultant was aware and made it even worst. I have talked to my consultant about it, and she has reduced it to necessary breaks (necessary doesn't involve stopping to talk/gossip on the phone though). I also found if I bring my daughter along, the breaks are down to normal as well. So solution can be found, if your attitude is right.

Do you have any other etiquette regarding sisterlocks appointment you want to add? Please comment below.

Visit Sisterlocks.com

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Cornwell personally and I thought she was a very nice and soft spoken in person. Meeting her after I got my sisterlocks install helped me better understand my sisterlocks, since I was wondering if my sisterlocks was unhealthy small.

JoAnne Cornwell lives in San Diego, California and is from Detroit, Michigan. She is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies and French at San Diego State University. She has researched African descended cultures worldwide, and understands how deeply hair issues relate to cultural identity. This understanding was the driving force behind her decision to found her trademark company, Sisterlocks™. Today Dr. Cornwell is an active member of the American Hairbraiders and Natural Haircare Association. She lectures widely on topics related to cultural expression in Africa and in the African Diaspora, as well as Sisterlocks.

While researching JoAnne Cornwell, I stumble across the lawsuit that happen between her company and nappyloc.com, and it was a bit of unnerving read. I know I only talk to her briefly, but she honestly seem like a nice person. Anyway...she end up losing the case against nappyloc.com, and I wanted to understand why.

I read that she did not patent her tools or her technique (which is properly why she lost the case) but I still thought that was very strange and can't possibly be true??  So I went on a hunt and started to search the patent database to see if her tools can be brought up and it didn't (Example: I was able to find lock loop & nappy locs tool easily). Since I was not able to get the patent information from the database, I went to sisterlocks.com site to see if she reference anywhere about a patent on her tools or technique, and all I was able to come up with was "Sisterlocks is a trademark company founded in 1993." I was able to verify her trademark here.

Now don't get me wrong, her tools are unique, and if you tried to make your own and sell it, she may be able to sue you because she has prior usage. It's just interesting that her tools and technique may not be truly "patent." I will modify my "What Does The Sisterlocks Tool Like" post until someone can verify for sure that she has those tools patent (I don't like misinforming people). If sisterlocks doesn't own a patent for the technique or the tools, how are so many of us so misinformed??
Not many information are available about her personal life, which has me assuming that she is a very private person. I will always admire her for being the business woman she is and wish her the very best in whatever plans she wants to undertake. I do hope one day she listens to the feedbacks and complaints that are geared toward her company, and takes those as a positive feedback to grow her business even more.


Who would have taught it was be so hard to find professional looking pictures of the creator of Sisterlocks by herself. Above is the only picture that I could find that fit this blog template, and look nice.

Please note that all pictures are copyright by Joanne Cornwell. You can visit her company website at Sisterlocks.com.

If you thinking of cutting your sisterlocks to create a bang or if you curious on how you would look like with a bang, then this post is for you. You don't need to cut your locks in order to have that bang.

Kawaii Locks was longer then mines, so doing this was difficult at first, and took many attempted because I was trying to bend my locks twice, when I really didn't need to do that. So below was my attempt in creating the faux bang and how I did it. When my locks get longer, I will try it her way again, since right now my bangs look long lol.
Material Needed
Some Type of Bun (Sponge or Clip on Sponge)
Magnetic Rollers (Optional)

Step 1 - I split my locks in the middle, since I didn't want my bangs to be bulky.

I really love the smell of this. It doesn't give the tingle feeling like my other Rosemary shampoo but it does a great job of cleaning my locks. Below is the review of Suave Professionals Shampoo and Conditioner (Rosemary and Mint).

Claims
Salon quality shampoo and conditioner system proven to moisturize your hair as well as Aveda Rosemary Mint shampoo and conditioner. This normal conditioner is infused with 100% natural rosemary and mint, which are known for their invigorating properties. It effectively conditions as it detangles for hair that's soft and shiny.

Like
- Cleans & Lathers Really Well.
- Smell GREAT (smell less minty then my previous clarifier)
- Very Affordable
- I like that it has Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Jojoba in it.

Dislike
- Smell barely last more than a day.
- Not a good "moisturizing" Shampoo or Conditioner

Conclusion
Though this product claims to be a "moisturizing", my other products left my locks feeling way more softer to touch then this one. This shampoo is definitely a more striping shampoo then Suave Clarifying Shampoo. Even though I don't consider this to be a moisturizing shampoo, I think it makes a great clarifying shampoo, with the most AWESOME light and pleasant smell ever. I WISH the smell would last as long as Suave Clarifying Shampoo.

Suave Rosemary Mint is readily available at my local Wal-Mart (or Target) at a much affordable price ($2.50 a bottle), so my decision to switch over was an easy one. My old clarifier shampoo could be only found online or at a local Sally Beauty Shop, and they are really expensive with the amount I use.  To see the result post about this Shampoo, click here.

Do I recommend this product? It really depends on you and your current lifestyle. If your locks are short, and you not as active as far as GYM etc. are concern, then I truly believe the Suave Clarifying shampoo would be enough for you, and you wouldn't need to go with the most expensive version on the Suave line.

If you are like me, who is very active (GYM), washes their locks with a moisturizing shampoo, and have longer locks that tend to collect debris, then I do recommend this product. If you are more incline to spend a little more, I would highly recommend the Aura Rosemary Mint Shampoo vs. this one.

I would like to apologize to my readers for referring to my sisterlocks as micros in the beginning, since that is not the whole truth. The reason I refer to them as such was solely based on when I entered the picture, and me trying to figure out what my locks size were since it was not as common. I later found out that I had "traditional" Sisterlocks, which wasn't  that much different from any others "traditional" Sisterlocks.

When I was researching sisterlocks, the size that I had was very common, but when I actually entered the picture, I notice a lot of individual I ran into had much bigger locks. So I started calling my sisterlocks "micros sisterlocks". I tried for many months to figure out what my actually size was and I finally stop referring to my sisterlocks as micro, when I went to the sisterlocks explosion, and asked the creator herself what my size was.

I came to understand now, that it is hard to explain the size of sisterlocks, because consultants are taught to install a range of size that are done not only to make your sisterlocks stylable, but also fuller. The Sisterlocks methods also has to consider the thickness of one’s hair, texture, etc. I have thick full hair, just like my daughter, so the micros were not really needed on the edge to have my sisterlocks looking like it is currently.

I don't know if my sizes are even offered anymore (many consultant refuse to do it). I do know this though, my consultant is the only one that I know of personally that still does this size, and that is her niche. But as I stated above, micros are not needed on the edge to have your sisterlocks looking like mines.

By the way, this is what I know about my size. I have micros only on the very edge of my head (like maybe three to four rows) then the locks go from mostly standard small to medium. You properly are shocked at this statement, but that is the truth. I don't know what the sizes of others sisterlocker are, and I won't be able to tell you either, since I have not been trained to tell the difference.

As for what to ask about "sizing" when getting a consultantation....I told my consultant I wanted my locks to look like hers, since I like full hair, and I simply trusted her to do it like hers. I hope I have answered all your questions regarding my sisterlocks size and wish everyone the best in choosing what is best for them.

VeryFunnyLady.com

When I first started researching sisterlocks, one of the blogs I ran into was Leighann's Sisterlocks. She had some amazing long sisterlocks that she maintains herself. I followed her for years, and when I started doing the twitter bit, I started to follow her there as well. She later launches her main site, and didn't update her blog as much, but I still would visit her blog form time to time for inspiration. Below is brief information about Leighann.

Her name is Leighann Lord....and that name itself is amazing. She is a stand-up comedian (Comedy Central, HBO, The View, Si TV), writer (The Huffington Post, Stagetime Magazine), a culture commentator (Fox News.com, MSNBC, CNN), and natural hair enthusiast. You can visit her on the following site VeryFunnyLady.com to find out more about her upcoming shows, watch her videos, and much more. She graduated from Baruch College, City University of New York, with a BA degree in journalism and creative writing. She was accepted into the City College MFA Creative Writing Program, but deferred admission to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.

I think she is hilariously funny, and her sisterlocks look amazing as usually. You can visit her sisterlocks blog here.

To all my followers, you may not have notice, but most of my pictures are taken outside my backyard. My backyard has been my playground ever since I had my sisterlocks installed. I'm now moving to a new townhouse that doesn't have a backyard attached. I have to figure out how or where I will be taking my pictures without looking odd or self-centered.

I notice I had some build up on my last "update" post, and it really did bug the heck out of me. I didn't have time to address the issue then, since I'm in the process of moving, and thing just kept creeping up.

Well I continue to wash with the Suave Clarifying Shampoo, since I still have some left, but it never really took care of the issue, no matter how hard I washed my hair, so I figured at some point; I'm going to need to do a BSW & ACV. Well it seems I don't need to do that. I happen to notice Suave has a professional line that has Rosemary Mint, and it said it is comparable to Aveda. Below are the results of the wash with that brand of shampoo.

BEFORE


AFTER


BEFORE


AFTER