Part Correction & Cut Update

I can honestly say my Sisterlock journey thus far has been quite interesting and I have been feeling the need to cut my hair again and did today!

I started my journey with 8-9 inches of bonafied natural hair and because of my awful bunching problems I'm now down to about 5 inches due to cutting the messy ends off.

The bag on the upper left is the 2 inches of ends that I was not happy with and I think I'm down to the "real" locked hair in most sections of my head.

The top right pic show one of my many locks that are being set up for correcting some of my parts. If you look real close you can see the open loop in the middle of the lock at the root and I'm feeling much better about having straight parts. Once I have at least 1-2 inches of new growth each of my corrected locs will be split and my parts will become more defined.

Although I'm sporting a much shorter do, I'm comfortable with it and learning to embrace all of the issues because Sisterlocks is truly what I want and I know in the end my babies will be "da bomb."

My Caruso Curlers give me the temporary curls I usually wear on a daily basis AND The African bead headband is something I picked up the at the Kwanzaa Festival in Dallas, TX. last December.

The booth I bought it from had several different styles, colors and individual beads that you can put on each of your locs. This time next year I'll be ready for the next level of accessories if.....I can keep the scissors out of my head.

While so many SL'ers can't wait for their's to grow I on the other hand keep cutting mine......I must really be going through the mid-life crisis.

Any one else cut their locs before their First Year Loc-versary?

The love came pouring in.....

Oh, the love is felt and I am sooooo much at peace now. After reading every one's response I feel my inner voice is telling me to repair.

The blessing in this lesson is that essentially my Consultant will be correcting my Trainee Consultant's (nothing against TC's) , work who installed my locks and for that she is to be commended. She supports Dr. Cornwell, her invention and feels that she would like to make me HAPPY by re-doing them. That expression of LOVE is beyond belief to me. Of course, I'll be discussing this repair/rebuilding process with her as she examines more closely.

At any rate, after pondering, praying and reading the responses I'm convinced that I will choose to do the repair and box off my locs. I may even take down just a couple of areas in the front so that the parts are better aligned for middle and side parts for front styling purposes only, if ever. I'm not too concerned about the back because several of you made profound statements...who wants to go through the bunching and budding stages all over again when you can't even see my parts at all due to my hair density? As "bunch prone" as my hair is, that alone is confirming "repair!

To those that advised to "Take Down," I appreciate your true concern and it's now too exhausting for me to even think of it. To make the decision to go through the entire take down, walking around again with part of my head done and part undone then losing hair in the process? Whew, I don't have enough energy to deal with that at this point in my life.

Also, many valid points were made and I really did relate to a phone conversation and emails from several people. Some indicated that they had so many worries in the beginning. Case in point, not having 400 locks (the recommended minimum), locks too big, locks not big enough, parts too exact and not hidden, more locks on one side of the head than the other. The worries soon faded as time passed and in a years time they are "completely satisfied" and their SL's are absolutely beautiful!!!

All that to say, I now have a new outlook and that is, SL's are really individual personalities and my issue is not as bad as it seemed. Some may have started with perfect parts, today they may not have them because of shifting and retightening new growth, but they are ok with it. Oh, the issue with more locks on one side of the head than the other? Everybody's head is different in some form or fashion and the bottom line is... we are still Sisterlocked and I can live through this by tackling the challenge.

I am still LOVING my locs and praising God through this experience! The responses were pouring in so fast that I could not keep up with my responses back to everyone so I've decided to address everyone here in this post because I am truly touched by the personal time you all took to help me.

Elaine, Brunsli, Karen, Jen, Detra, Pam, Tammy, Kai, Princess, Lashaune, Leighann, Maryee, Samsoness, Kemicute, Roz, Pat, Tra, Scarletlocs, Beverly, Jazzilocs, Shayla and Combfreesista. You all are the best Sisterlock family a girl can have, thanks again for your advice!!!

I'm FREE AGAIN!!!!









LaChanda

Creyole's Exodus, or Not????

When I chose to name my blog "Creyole's Sisterlock Exodus" (flight) , I had no idea it would turn into just that! It’s like a real trip, at times a smooth ride, occasional turbulence, and those never ending questions. Will I ever get to the end of my journey and my locks are settled? I know it's coming! How long has it been since my SL’s were installed? Will mine ever look her hers/yours/his? Well, I now need the advice from my Sisterlock Community....... I spoke briefly with Brunsli today ....thanks for being a listening ear and also for your wonderful support.

It's been six months since I've had my locks and I truly LOVE everything about them, my pattern is in good shape, the locks are starting to bud and I've taken the SL retightening class. So, you ask, what is the problem?? (Click on picture view larger image)

Well, if you look closely you will see that my parts are not uniform. My hair is very thick and although you cannot see the parts unless I pull the hair a part, when I try to part down the middle, side, back there are no straight lines.

Having 8-9 inches of natural hair...my investment was no joke! I did bring the situation to my Trainee Consultant (TC) who installed my locks and she thought she did what was best at the time of installation. That's where I'll leave it because I took it to my TC first and I feel good about it.

I did my best too, I had the consultation, tester locks and I trusted because she too wore SL's. The installation took 60 hours over a three day period and I left myself wide open all in the name of "emotional excitement." Where does that leave me now? Well, shame on me for not doing my homework and knowing that the parts are such an important part of the process. I can kick myself for not doing more research but I'll work through it, there's a blessing in every lesson!

My Consultant has offered to take down my locks and re-install. What a jewel!!! This process would be done next week if I decided to do it. Additionally, I spoke with Dr. Cornwell and she suggested that I could have my Consultant groom the parts into squares if I did not want to take them down and start over. That's a thought.

I expressed to Dr. Cornwell that my TC was great to work with and that this situation is based solely on "principle" and not "personal." We are Queens and should handle our business as such!!!!!

Before I make my final decision here's what I'd like to know from my SL community:
1. How important are the parts to you?
2. Do you wear styles that would warrant many parts?
3. Would you advise taking down and starting over?
4. Should I even deal with it or just leave it alone?
5. What would you do?
6. Does anyone out there have parts that are not so straight?
7. Any other comments, suggestions??

I'd appreciate any feedback you may have to offer, trying to do real homeowrk this time. Peace my sista's!

Amendment:
Just for the record, I want to make sure I did not convey the wrong message. The retightening class had nothing to do with this issue. My Consultant and I had been entertaining this matter for a minute and after visiting with her today I felt the urge to express myself and ask for opinions.