Diary of a Thin Hair Sister

I am right at the beginning of my sisterlocks 'journey' and very pleased and proud that I finally made the decision. Being a tad surprised (shocked?) at my thin hair, I thought that I would chart my progress and share my experience with a community of people both looking to start or already on their sisterlock voyage. (Do not make copies of my photos!!)

Monday, July 21, 2008

Look What I Got!



I bought the special Italian "Black Issue" of Vogue magazine! I am so excited to read it (but not until I get back!). I will have to ask Brunsli for some translation help ;-)

You can read more about the issue (inspired by Obama's presidential candidacy) here and see more photos from the issue on Afrobella's blog here.

I luvs Black people!

Labels: ,

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Can't Resist!



We also have to dodge the paparazzi in Oslo!

However, this picture also reveals how desperately I need to have my hair retightened (click on the photo for an enlarged view of my roots, baby!). I have been enlightened by Kalia-Dewdrop's, as well as Amba's, and Blackrussian's respective posts about combining, cutting, or splitting locks. I also posted recently about not being able to capture loose hairs back into my locks during retightening. So I decided that I would return to my loctician after my trip to Europe and consult with her about adding locks to the front and splitting some locks that have become too big. It is just SO hard for me to resist grabbing my tools and working on my own head (it is so pleasurable and my hands are always in my hair anyway!).

It is a bit tricky with me b/c I started with such damaged hair, not from perms, but from excessive tension from braiding and hair extensions. As my hair is recovering from that previous trauma, my locks are really changing in size and sections that were marked by breakage are finally filling in (I sound like an old man). At any rate, this picture shows my need for a retightening and how thick my roots are becoming. (It also shows how cute my baby is!).

Labels: , ,

Thursday, July 10, 2008

In Was Just A Matter of Time...



You knew it was coming! Yes, my two-year anniversary with sisterlocks is finally upon me, as is the pony tail on my head. I actually bit this off a Norwegian girl I saw today. Hers was combined with a half up-do underneath to catch the hairs that were too short to make it into the pony. I have to say, I have been admiring the number of styles these Scandinavian gals have come up with, especially the ones who have shorter hair. They are quite clever at putting their hair up in all sorts of styles, but the messy bun or pony tail is a favorite. They often use hair accessories that I myself would not use (like skinny hair bands tied sort of 80s style around the forehead a la Nicole Richie, or lots of bobby pins in tousled hair). They are creative. At any rate, big bangs (cut straight across or swept to one side) help their short up-dos look either soft or edgy (depending). But they always look chic.



So, everyone says that the magic happens after the two-year mark. I say: Bring it on! If you don't believe in the "magic" of sisterlocks, compare these photos to my first few months! Admittedly, my hair has grown thicker (as opposed to just longer), and I am so happy for the decision to get sisterlocks!

BTW: I have never colored my hair before. Check the "natural" highlights!

Labels: , ,

Like Father...


>

This particular sandal and sock combination can only mean one thing...
My baby has been spending time with her pops!

You can see these sandals flying through the air here...

...tromping over trolls here...


and with pappa's own pair here!


My traveling friends and I have a joke about which of us will begin wearing such sandals during our vacations together! Looks like my Boricua friend is not alone in her preference for comfortable shoes! ;-)

Labels: ,

Friday, July 04, 2008

Finally, A Hair Question, or When DIY Goes Wrong!




So we won't figure out the battle of the sexes that quickly... but I do have a hair-related question:

What do you do about stray hair that won't stay in the lock? I have a few (maybe 4 or 5... ok, 7 or 8) places where a fair amount of hair is no longer in the lock. Now some of this is a result of poor DIYing on my part (the places where I had to pull locks apart that I foolishly combined). But some other places (like in the front) are due to hair that may be a bit more fine. Right now, I think that I will have to see a loctician again to have a proper tightening (I still can't do it as neatly as many locticians can).

So any advice on getting hair back into the locks?

Labels: , ,

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Sisterlocks vs. Men!

I'll tell you this much, the sisterlocks are winning! I haven't posted so much stuff about the locks lately (but do stay tuned). Tonight I will say that I do love the sisterlocks and that they travel very, very well. Even when one has to get around like this!

The curls don't hold up too well on the bike, but I was still cute when I reached my destination (I brought Freud with me just in case and obviously put on too much deodorant!! I'm a nervous sweater :-0.

I have been planning this for awhile, and I thought that I had done everything perfectly to prepare myself for the evening's task... But alas, I did not count on this!

Once people did show up, I still couldn't open one set! Apart from writing articles and lectures, my objective for this trip was at least one date! It is not so easy, even if the sisterlocks are stunning. No, no, no, I am not bitter. But I do sometimes wonder about why I am attracted to men! The worst thing is that instead of staying in the game, I started observing people and writing down all the reasons why men get on my nerves:
1. A young couple enters the bar/cafe, the woman is in full make-up, strapless dress, and chignon! Even I am captivated by her perfume. Although they speak a foreign language (not Norwegian or English), it is clear that he has been speaking for 30 minutes nonstop! She smiles and giggles on cue.

2. A young couple enters the bar. He is pushing the baby carriage (the dual meanings of "push" are apparent on his face). The woman nurses the baby as the man orders drinks. He buys her something she didn't want or can't imbibe (caffeine, she's nursing, hello!). He looks angry as she turns away from the coffee. She speaks sweetly to the baby and excuses herself to the bathroom. He folds his arms and looks out the window. The baby cannot get his attention, even I see the little one flailing his arms and legs. I hear him shrieking, learning to use his voice. The baby tosses his sock across the cafe. Only then does the father look down. The woman returns from the bathroom, she ignores the baby's smiles, his feet on the table, his pushing the table and knocking over the drinks. She talks to the man exclusively. The man smiles.

3. A young couple enters the bar, only the man arrived first. He is already tired of waiting when she finally arrives. They work on their respective laptops, but she is careful to include him in what she sees, what she is reading online. She gets up unannounced and walks over the bar. She orders two iced coffees, two glasses of water, and carries two brown sugar cubes in her hands back to the table. She sets down the drinks. A moment passes. He finally looks up and silently acknowledges them.

4. A couple enters the bar. She is dressed in white, walking so eagerly and so proud that she outpaces him. The extra step she has in front of him gives him just enough time to look back at me, lock eyes, and to smile.

Of course I am only catching a glimpse of someone else's life. Of course I am obviously interpreting out of my own jaded-but-not-wanting-to-be-jaded perspective. Of course, anyone in a relationship sometimes wishes the partner would disappear. And of course I should be focused on my own business. I get it.

But does anyone speak honestly about relationships anymore (hey, I did indulge the Sex and the City perspective)? I mean, do people ever discuss how they negotiate their desire in an uneven playing field? Ok, ok. I will try again tomorrow. Maybe I should go to the museum...

At any rate, my hair looked good all night. And while Henry VIII is representative of my struggle, I will enjoy this series with the chocolate pudding and microwave popcorn I brought from the US!

Labels: , ,