Updates and Randomness

So being the procrastinator that I am, I have not dyed my locks.  And once I do, I was actually thinking about making them black.  But then again, maybe I'll just wait until they grow long in order to do that.  

Anywho, I have some randomness that I wanted to share today.  A couple weeks ago, I took my mother to the movies and while we were in the bathroom, I asked her what kind of person she'd think I was based on my appearance.  She said, "A person who likes to take long walks, eat nuts and ride your bike through the forest."  LOL  I have been laughing about this everyday since.  That woman cracks me up.  On another note, something I said must have stuck with her, because she's planning on locking her hair up in the near future.  I am very shocked at this decision but hope that she knows what she's getting into.

So yesterday, I asked a coworker and very good friend a similar question.  I'm moving into a new apartment and have been fervently decorating, painting and planning for my home-warming party.  I asked him if he didn't know me and had to guess how my apartment would be decorated based on my appearance what does he think it would look like.  He says, "An IKEA'd up dorm room, with strobe lights, doorway beads and colorful bean bag chairs."  I thought that was hilarious considering the direction my living room is taking.  I guess my church members will be in for a surprise.  I'll post a picture next post.

Don't Just Lay There . . . DO SOMETHING!

I feel limp and boring.

I live by the rule that if your hair looks great (or if you can accessorize your bland outfit) it gives a boost to the rest of your appearance.  Maybe because it's wintertime and I don't know how to accessorize under sweats, big stuffy coats and snow boots, I feel and look like this lately . . . 

And I'd much rather feel and look like this . . . 

Sigh . . . can't wait for summer!

My first ponytail

Aaaawwww Shucks!

Is that a ponytail yall?

I can't tell, I need a second opinion.

Yep, by dictionary definition, that is indeed a ponytail.  Granted this picture was taken after a wash and retwist some shrinkage has since occurred and my hair is not able to fit into such a neat ponytail anymore, but this is a momentous occasion folks.  One which I'm glad to be able to share with you all.

So um, what's new besides the ponytail?

Chris and Ri-Ri

The economy

Oh!  What's new with me, you mean?  Nothing really.  Same ol' stuff.

I am thinking about dyeing my hair within the next couple days.  I have no idea what color or whether to do just the tips or the whole thing.  I was thinking about dying it black to bring out my features, but then I thought maybe the traditional light brown tips.  I dunno.  Any suggestions?  I'm open to anything.  I know that most people start to dye when they get around to the length I'm at now.  Most times I like to go against whatever people are doing (so in my case I wouldn't dye it at all) but I need to do something different with my hair these days.  So we'll see.  That about it!

Happy Snow Day everybody!!!

Lookit What I Did!

Gosh, I'm so corny, but I was excited to be able to successfully wrap my hair in a different way than usual and wanted to post these pics.  That's about it.

Oh and um, I washed my hair not too long ago . . . same routine as usual.  Check it out!

My hair is sooo heavy now when I wash it.  I didn't anticipate the amount of shampoo and conditioner I would have to start using.

It's gettin there yall!

My hair is not African, it's American...like me and other randomness people should know

So my mom came by to visit me and we went to church together this past Thursday. Upon her arrival, she asked if I had a hotcomb (which, oddly enough, I did) and proceeded to flame torch her tresses bone straight. My mom wears her hair natural as well, but likes to straighten it, gel it up and pop on a thick, lush ponytail. Of course, being a happy nappy I said, "noooo, don't do that." I figured if she wanted hair that looked straight she might as well just use the oldest trick in the book and gel it all back into a ponytail. Her hair is naturally soft and curly so it doesn't take a hot comb to smooth it all back into a fine textured ponytail, just some water a hair brush and some grease (like back in the day, remember?). But she was desiring a fluffy little bang up front to match the fluffy ponytail in the back (moms was a big fan of the eighties y'all). So I let bygones be bygones and when she left I sent her packing with my little gold hotcomb and a little bit of the burnt hair that she left in it. Sigh! Can't fight'em all.

Anywhoo...at work the other day, my clueless but very friendly coworker proceeded to sing "Three Little Birds" and tell me that I reminded her of Bob Marley. Although, me and Bob both share the hairstyle commonly known as dread locks and yes, we both have a love for Jah...um, I wasn't flattered. She could tell by the *crickets* that her little comparison didn't go over, so she decided to do one better. "Okay, how about this...my African Queen, Princess from the Motherland, Nubian Goddess..."

Calmly and slowly, I said, "You're killing me. Please stop." And thankfully, she did. I gave her the brick face the first time, because oddly enough, I didn't know why she connected me with Bob Marley. My brain was kind of slow (it was 5am in the morning) but when she went into the African Princess stuff it occurred to me. She must have thought that my wearing locks was an attempt to live like/look like a rastafarean or to look African. I guess I didn't get it because I've never acquainted dreadlocks/natural hair with a culture, just an ethnicity. In other words, I didn't think it was an African thing or an island thing, I just thought it was a Black thang! -Says, "heeeyyy" and raises the roof-

So once I came to that conclusion, my mind went twenty different directions. Like if she thinks wearing natural hair is an African thing, then what the (insert expletive here) does she think she's doing by wearing a perm?  The "American thang?" -Says "heeeyy" weakly and half heartedly raises the roof- Um, I hope not because there are plenty of island and African perm-wearers that would take offense to that.

She wasn't the first person to say something like that to me. When I went to some model scout, casting call thing a couple months ago, the lady told me that she liked my Afro-centric pictures. I remember being confused and thinking to myself, what's so afro-centric about my pictures? But now I know. The lady was sadly mistaken as to what afro-centricism truly is.  So for the record, here's a PSA...not that any permies are looking at this blog anyway, but you never know.  And maybe one day you might need to use this PSA for someone else (whether you are locked up or not).  lol

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

MY HAIR DOES NOT BELONG TO ANY SPECIFIC CULTURE.  IT IS NOT AFRICAN HAIR.  IT IS NOT JAMAICAN HAIR.  IT IS NOT RASTAFAREAN HAIR OR NIGERIAN HAIR.  IT IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY, THE NATION OF ISLAM OR THE REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT PARTY.  IT IS JUST HAIR.

My hair is not on its own spiritual journey.  I am not actively making a statement.  While I respect and admire other cultures, I do not identify myself with any culture outside of my own (insert your culture here, mine is American).  My ETHNICITY, is (Black African origin) and that is why my hair is naturally curly and kinky.  Not because I am making a statement and underwent some chemical transformation to help me identify with a tribe in (insert country here).  

This is NOT what I'm trying to do...

...not that there is anything wrong with either one of those things.

This is what I'm trying to do...

My hair did not originally start out like this...

It started out like this...

And I decided to keep it that texture.  Not because I am lazy or militant or rastafarean or angry or happy or strange or African or Jamaican or (insert adjective here) but because I LIKE IT THIS WAY.

That's it yall!

Peace, Blessings and Jah!

"Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally discredited and abandoned...WAR! So that is prophecy, and everyone knows that is truth. And it came out of the mouth of Rastafari."

"I don't stand for the black man's side; I don’t stand for the white man's side. I stand for God's side.

-Bob Marley

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Meeeee!!!!

Guess what today is? Drum-roll please...Ah, forget it, you already know. I have officially been locked for one year. And I have absolutely nothing planned. Maybe I'll use this as an excuse to get the boyfriend to take me out to dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant. But here's how I'm going to do it on this blog. I'm going to make an attempt to post as many pictures of my journey as possible- kind of an attempt at showing the growth thus far. (That will be tough considering that some a** monkey from my job deleted all of the pictures off of my first digital camera-grrr!!! But nevermind that-I will do my best). I will also list all of the ups and downs I experienced in my first year of locking. First things first...

Jan. 17th 2008

One year ago today.  I was very unsure about my brave new hair do.  But I sucked it up and decided to live dangerously.  I washed my hair and my mother palm rolled it using ORS hair locking gel.  I would never suggest anyone start their locks with palm rolls if their hair has a little length to it.  They do not stay for anything.  I would probably suggest braid locks or two (or three) strand twists (but that's just my humble opinion).

A closer view of my head on day one.

3 Weeks into my journey

Uh, yeah, did I forget to mention that in the beginning stages locks don't stay for anything.  I think this is my first wash.  Or maybe just one of the many washes that completely obliterated my beginner twists.  Whatever it was, it was very frustrating to say the least.

circa March 2008

This is around the time I became a diy'er (do-it-yourself-er).  I was mixing up all kinds of concoctions that are still sitting in my cabinets now.  Bottom line...the main thing that consistently gets used on my hair nowadays besides my favorite shampoos are apple cider vinegar, honey, and olive oil, olive oil, olive oil.  I still use the occasional spray bottle concoction, but not often.

Early April 2008

Wore my hair up A LOT around this time.  I was a huge fan of the up do.  Still am, to tell you the truth.

April 2008

Around this time I was learning to accept my locks.

And my hair was definitely budding during this time.

May 2008

Love these model pics.  They helped to boost my confidence, showed the diversity of locks and my newly gained length and introduced me to my new favorite do.  THE BUN.

But a funny thing happened while my

 hair was in a bun.  It was secretly growing.

circa November

Some days it would lay down wrong and some days it would lay down right.

(But whatever it did, it was dy-no-miiite! - just had to throw that in, lol)

Around this time, I was noticing some knotting.  And it was driving me CRAZY!!!  I even considered cutting the tips off of my locks.  Think of that! (But I didn't and I'm glad I made that decision.)  Chunky tips and yes, even knots are normal for some people during the locking process.  (My advice is to continue palm rolling, twisting, latching and focus on maintaining the tips of your lock just as much as the base. - which is something that I wasn't doing at the time.)

circa October

I was getting bored and decided to try some new things.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my hair took well to rollers.  So...

Also, I got a little spoiled by my sister (aka "the braiding machine") and got to wear the best hair do ever.  I suggest anyone who is wearing locks to go to a hairdresser or do an extravagant style like this occasionally.  I think we all need reminders as to how versatile locks are.  And in the beginner stages, anything different you can do with your hair to occasionally break out of the cycle is good for your spirit.

November 2008

Typical look for me from day to day recently.

 December 2008

So here I am ( in one of my staple hair accessories; the net hat or bonnet, whatever you wanna call it).  I'm one year in and ready for more years to come!

      

January 2009

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LOCS!  I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!

Guess who's getting a bath today?

I'll give you a hint.  

It's the four legged (angry looking guy) in this picture.  He is not happy!

But anywhoo...I have been muy busy lately, since my last work project is now complete.  Living in the freelance world, I am now at that spot that nobody likes.  Looking for the next gig.  I am catching up with things that have gone awry in my life.  Like my credit score for one.  (Some hooligans decided to steal my social and now I have to pick up the pieces).  Also catching up on laundry, cleaning and looking for a new place.  Lots to do.  (Sigh!)  Haven't been focusing on the hair really, but it's still growing.  I will be washing and re-twisting this evening.  That's it for now.  Here's a pic to keep up with the theme of this blog.  (Maybe I should make this a general blog, moreso than a hair blog).  Hmm . . . maybe.