Back to School

Ugh! That is a picture from the first day of school! I look tired, but that is how I felt: excited and tired about the beginning of the school year! Life on fellowship was amazing, but alas, all good things must come to an end. This photo was taken (by me) back in September right before my first 9am lecture as a tenure track professor! Pretty cool. My new office is coming along; so nice not to share my creative space anymore. Remember how I looked when I first got here? The class? Af-Am literature from migration to Black power... I think it's going pretty well...




The next photo (above) is from a conference in St. Louis, one of the coolest (maybe most underrated?) cities around. Always have a blast working and collaborating with my fellow scholars who join me (well, I really join them) for our annual meeting at Wash U. Had to cut my colleague out, but her locks are always fabulous!



Finally, a photo from a more recent conference in B'More. I am smiling way too hard, but I thought that this photo shows the progress of my horrible reddish tint, ugh! I related my hair coloring gone wrong stories about a year ago. Oh, well. I am really digging the green dress...but next time, I will try not to be the scholar having the most fun at the afterparty...! (check May 17, 2009).

New Hair Color; Everybody Wins!

I did it! Most of the comments to my previous post were in favor of a darker hair color. Most of the people who know me in person thought I should go lighter! I settled on something in between.

Check out the before (above) and afters!

We used two boxes of Ion permanent hair color. Darkest brown with golden highlights! We'll see when the golden kicks in... My sister worked through my hair, squeezing locks with the color solution to make sure that all of my hair was covered. The density of locks means that at least two boxes and thorough covering are necessary for the color to take. We kept the color on for at least 40 minutes before rinsing. I bought the Feria conditioner, which is the absolute best for color treated locks, or for dry locks. I continued to use the conditioner even after my first dye job faded.

I was very apprehensive about coloring my hair (mostly for fear of my hair looking dry or just crazy!), but when I begin contemplating cutting my hair into a bob, I know that it is time for some kind of change... Keep in mind that I have only colored my hair once in my entire life, and that I wore braids for almost 15 years (ya, I am afraid of hair changes!)!

Before:


After:

The Hair Color...

Well, not even two boxes of L'Oreal's "Black Leather" could help my locks stay black! I have posted before about my only adventure with coloring my locks, but now that summer (and a loooong vacation) is soon upon me, I am wondering if I should go for it again.

I have been calling my natural hair color "dull rust pipes," but in the sun it is a coppery brown (just to be nice to myself...). (The picture above is my natural hair color). So what do you think, should I go black, or should I try to accentuate the brown?

I will color before I go based on your suggestions.....!!!

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!