CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

Monday, June 30, 2008

Blocking a Blogger " I don't know you"

The main idea of this post is to say" it doesn't matter how you start or how you maintain". The result will be the same. I find this whole dialogue to be rather silly and divisive to say the least.

Sophia stay off my blog. www.naturallysophia.blogspot.com



I saw your name in the traffic feed or link from or to on the side so I clicked it. What a shock? A post for me. By the way I didn't link you until just now because of the traffic and what they are reading. I came across your site by surfing the web and was intrigued by the title until I read the content. I just cut and pasted that excerpt 2 or more weeks ago when I read it and what someone said to you who didn't like the comment. That's why they have a comment section on every thing. Get a grip!No one knew it was you. At the end of the post I added your revised comments a couple of weeks later to your defense but of course you didn't read that. My site is for positive women trying to visualize the process of transitioning with sisterlocks with a relaxer. Period You are very negative in my opinion ( in regards to this issue) and this site is not for you . The definition of a snob-a person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field. I did not call you a snob. You did. The post is somewhat snobbery by definition but that's neither here nor there and highly irrelevant at this point.The site has nothing to offer you(sophia) . I have no need or desire to offend anyone with any post that I will write nor will ever write. One of the major selling points in sisterlocks is that it is inclusive for all and not exclusive for some. Most salons that offer them state that " guess what you don't have to cut off your relaxer to get them"The debate about relaxers is so dead and rather silly. Most African American women have them and if you make them feel as if you have some superiority complex they will never want to share a new experience. However it's their choice. Who are you to put down anyone for anything? Do you and do you well. Find a new issue. "Relaxers anonymous" or something or "Free to be me sipping under a tree" or " I don't need an umbrella ella ella a" There are so many social injustices in the world so move on and be nice to people. We are put on this earth to be a blessing to others.

Phillippians 3:13
"Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before."

Sometimes we have to let go of certain things in our life, it could be a bad relationship, an argument , a bad job or even a stank attitude. Somethings hinder our growth and stop us from being the people that God wants us to be.My challenge to all is to let go of what is stopping you from being the best you that you can be. Don't let anyone's opinion discourage you. Think of all the people who told you what you couldn't do, shouldn't do, or how could you do. Somethings are tests for some future event. For me the journey has never been about hair. Its about Penny! Who am I? What am I in my spirit and in my essence? Not hair. My hair keeps my head warm ! One day it will be super cute when these locks do the dag gone thang. I have been natural , had a perm, been natural again, whatever and I am just tired of the perm thats all. No one was ever mean to me when I was natural nor did I have a growth problem. I am just me just like you are you. No one's experience is better than the next. Seriously, My spirit inside keeps me alive and always thankful for the tests no matter how much I protest. A little advice" the only one who truly cares about your opinion is you".

It's all good. Thanks for the link on your site Sophia. Someone who frequents yours might come to mine and read something or see something that they were curious about in regards to transformation from relaxed to sisterlocks and its many many many stages.

Hi Lisa and Tonya and Sha!!

Friday, June 27, 2008

It aint nothing but a Hair Thing














Well you know recently I have had a semi-chop of my permed ends. It felt like the big chop to me. I find that the short sisterlocks are high maintenance as well. I have to keep them curly. I spritz my hair with a distilled water and rosemary essential oil mixture(mostly water). I read that rosemary stimulates growth along with biotin. I bought some sponge rollers. I was going to get to get something called lock loops but I decided to hold off on that for a while. Yesterday we went to an indoor water park (http://www.greatwolflodge.com/ )and they held up pretty well. I was expecting all kinds of slippage especially after those trips down the various water slides and that wave pool. I attend a water fitness or aqua fit aerobics class at LA fitness 3 to 4 times a week but my hair doesn't get wet. It doesn't get wet because we are jogging in the water and doing all kinds of fun foolishness for a work out. The water is the resistance.If there is an LA Fitness in your area you can go to their website and print out a three day pass and try it out for free! The class is all women and there are no dudes lurking at you. Black women put all kinds of mess on their head so it won't get wet like jherri curl caps, wave caps, doo rags. even a walmart grocery bag.....oh and wigs.


The good thing is I do know how to re tighten my own hair from my last set of sisterlocks but haven't decided to do it yet. I may continue with my consultant until they are 8 months or so. Who knows? I do tighten a few every now and then especially at the hairline or as I feel some as I watch tv that are too loose.


I attempted to wash and braid out after all of the water activites.Hmmmm! Well I attempted thats all I have to say about that. This is the results of this look on the last two pictures. The rest of the pictures are basic sponge rollers. Those curls are tight.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Check out my Slide Show!

The Big Trim


Before and After ( The slide show above shows the pics with the new trim after I washed and curled it.)

I went in for my retightening this week after waiting about 7 weeks. I asked my consultant to trim my permed ends in the back because I noticed it was bunching. Wow! I got a full haircut. I wasn't expecting it and I didn't like it. I thought my locks were too short.I am not into short hair on me so I wasnt feeling it. I said I wasn't going to post any new pictures until it grew. My sister said it looked fine but I was not sure. I couldn't put it in a pony tail like before. The next day I washed it again to give it my own style. This is what I could come up with. I used my small caruso rollers. As you can see a lot of permed ends were cut off. I still have a lot left. Some of them don't have any perm at all. Personnally I think its too short. My face feels too big.




Well any way this is me and I have to get used to me. I have started a make over inside and out and its very hard sometimes. My consultant says that I need to learn patience and this locking process will teach me to embrace things that I cant change or rush. You see she installed them for me 3 years ago but on 1 year mark I took those bad boys out. This time I will follow through which is why I blog and take pictures so that I feel the process is moving along. A picture is worth a thousand words.




Locked Jan 19, 2008

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Sisterlock Snobbery

I read this on someone's blog. It is her blog but somethings are very negative. Sisterlocks, Braidlocks, Twistylocs, Nappylocs , Microlocs whatever..... and I am on no journey they are all the same to me. The only difference is the cost. I am transitioning from one to the next and for someone to say I shouldnt be able to get something because I have a perm is silly especially when their hair looks just like mine excluding the perm.

She called this Things I hate about sisterlocks.
3." I don't like the fact permies can get Sisterlocks. Having natural hair all my life and traditional locks before, I can definitely say, in my honest opinion, I feel everyone should have the luxury of feeling their natural hair before it's locked. It is a liberating experience and a wonderful way to get to know your own hair. I know that many would not have Sisterlocks if they had to cut their perm first, which I think is wonderful. I feel if you aren't ready to part with your perm, locks (of any sort) are not best for you. Permed locks is so counter intuitive




I love the response she got in her comments section and then she changed her tune.
This is the comment


While I agree with most of your points, I disagree with the one about people with perms shouldn't be allowed to get sisterlocks. One could say that you, with your natural hair texture, should never have gotten sisterlocks. Because quite honestly, your natural hair in sisterlocks looks just like what my relaxed hair (and natural hair on my crown) looks like.

And how can you throw out that blanket statement that people who start with perms don't know their natural hair!??!?! I know my natural hair extraordinarily well for someone who's had a perm for decades. And I know a lot of permed people who intimately know their various hair textures as well, many of whom decided to transition out of the chemicals.

As for people starting out with perms not wanting to part with their perms, I say this: people who decide to transition to natural hair obviously want to part with their perm! The way you state it is as though those who start with relaxed hair (me!) don't accept their natural hair, secretly want to keep chemically altering their hair, and therefore aren't ready to lock their hair. The only thing I wasn't ready to do was cut a substantial amount of my hair off in the middle of a Chicago winter.

Your comments about the perms really rubs me the wrong way, ESPECIALLY since (if I remember correctly from reading your blog a while ago) you've never had chemically altered hair! Your opposition to permies getting sisterlocks is laughable since that's what your comment about the perms sounds like: sisterlock snobbery. And you can't stand sisterlock snobbery according to your blog.And because you've never permanently altered your texture, your opinion reeks even more so of the "house negro/field negro" thoughts of the past - in other words, very divisive and tainted with superiority.

But it's your blog and your opinions and you're entitled to have them. I just hope that I gave you some food for thought from the mind of a person with relaxed ends. And that I wasn't too harsh.

Also, " " your comments about the permed ends: you say that people with them will realize they don't look good and cut them off. The goal of transitioning is to get rid of the permed hair while not drastically changing your look. But honestly, I can count on two fingers, the number of people with sisterlocks with all natural hair that looked good in the beginning months. The rest don't. And I've seen at least a hundred photos. (trust me when I say I did my research) But I can totally see what you mean when it comes with people who keep substantial amounts of relaxed hair for too long. I'm at 1 month and already trying to find out if I can start chopping a good portion off.


However in the bloggers defense she did have a series of her own of opinions a week later or whenever about things she likes about sisterlocks...... she mentioned

"I love how having Sisterlocks has been a catalyst to being natural for many sisters that would have not contemplated locs or natural hair with any other method. One sister blogger, e-mailed me on how great Sisterlocks has been in easing her transition from relaxer. I honestly never thought of it that way before, myself never having had a relaxer."


(read current post regarding this old issue at the top of this blog or link blocking a blogger dated June 30th)



Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Yes you can!


Yes you can! You can do anything if you try. You can make it through your trials but your trials will just make you strong. You can do anything yes you can!!

Donnie McClurkin


As I listened to Obama last night thats what I told my boys. You can do anything! Dream big! "Wow the audacity of hope and the power in the name Jesus!


Tagged ??? I'm it !! Say what?

I've been Tagged by Journeii and Kandgoods who are dead wrong for doing this to me because now I have to respond. :) http://www.journeii.blogspot.com/ http://www.kandgoods.blogspot.com/ The rules: (1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their 1.) I am 30 something which translates to over 35. I have two boys one that is nine and the other who is five. You have seen their pictures on the site. They are my babies. 2.) I have made procrastination an art form. Please any advice on this would greatly be appreciated. But be warned any advice that is given will be tried at a later date because for me there is always tommorrow. 3.) Believe it or not but I am very shy!! I am introverted and very sensitive.My friends would read this and say girl please. 4.) I eat the same things for lunch everyday. I don't vary! That's a bad quirk I know. I worry about getting sick at work from something I ate. So I only eat hickory smoked tuna or those $0.99 dinners one entre"shrimp and pasta alfredo. Thats it. No I don't try others cuz thats the one I like and I hate to waste my money on a bad meal. I know its a $1.00 but its my lil dollar.( so you know after work I'm starving and I binge you see thats why I am getting curvier.....denial 5.) I over analyze too much!! I need to chill out and go and do some kid stuff. It's hard out here for a single mom/ whatever I got going on with you know who!@#$$%. Ok I gotta tag 6 people. Hmmm!! I will think .... 4 is the best I can do I hope they haven't been tagged yet. http://www.danilocks.blogspot.com/ http://www.docslocs.blogspot.com/ http://www.goingallnatural.blogspot.com/ http://www.lovinmylocs.blogspot.com/


***My sister says I am like a tourist now because I am constantly traveling with this camera. ....

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Styling with Permed Ends

Styling With Permed Ends

Some people may think that having permed ends will be extremely difficult. Well its not to me. Just think of micro braids with the ends unraveled. However you can't comb your ends out. I finger comb my ends and don't worry about the bunching. There is dryness and some breakage in the middle but it is camouflaged well within the hairstyle. To me it's hard and dry to a degree but I wouldn't dare put conditioner in my hair at this point. I try to focus on the end results. The blog helps me deal with the stages. I had my locks installed for the second time in January "08" and my sister in Nov "07. We both had nice heads hair with a perm. I had sister locks before as I have stated and I was constantly comparing it to others. This time I decided to blog so I can have a personal pictorial of my progress. I wish I would have done it before but when you know better you do better. This would have been my 3rd year being locked instead of months.

I won't cut my ends prematurely like I did the first time. I felt the pressure to be totally natural but that's my choice. I want it fall off or break off or gradually be cut off. I say to those of you that are worried about the breakage just don't sweat it. I am sure it looks good. I have some locks with lots of perm and some with none at all and some with an inch of perm. Oh well!! People still look and whisper cause they are trying to figure out what the heck new do is that but they would rather whisper loudly like I am deaf or something. I always look at them like "yeah I can hear you".

Styled with Caruso rollers!!