Dreadlocks - A Two Year Loc Journey

Hey Gang.  This is an update to a video and a post I wrote 2 years ago.   What you’re about to see is my good friend and client, Shannon.  I started her locking process 2 years ago.  Although she had some damage/breakage around the temple area and dryness at her tips because of the color in her hair, her hair for the most part was healthy.  Shannon’s hair was also coarse and I knew that she would lock in no time.  Here is one of the actual videos from 2 years ago. I apologize for the delay in the video.  That’s something that has happened since it’s been on YouTube and it’s out of my hands to fix.  Content is still good though.  Click here to view it. 

The first 9 pictures represent Shannon’s initial coiling session and then returning 4 weeks later for her first grooming.  The last 4 pictures represent Shannon’s hair at the 1 year mark right after a grooming.  You’ll notice that her hair appears like it didn’t grow that much (the length is just a "little" longer at 1 year than it was at the very beginning of her loc journey).  Actually you can definitely see how the coils have drawn up, condensed, expanded and transitioned into short locks.  On the average, it takes about 10 -18 months for the coils to transition to this point - it’ll take closer to 2 years for those of you who have the smoother and straighter hair textures.

Click on any photo  below to enlarge and more times for extreme close ups and detail.  Read and view below to see how Shannon’s locs have come into their own!

This month (November 2009) represents Shannon’s 2 year loc anniversary.  I took the photos below after her grooming session two weeks ago.  Shannon (opting for the healthiest locks possible) has not colored her hair again.  I want you to notice how the hair compresses so much that there is only a little color on the tips left. (Shannon’s locks have never been cut or trimmed).   

The stage that Shannon is in right now is considered the "Falling Off The Shelf" stage.  It will seem like her locks are growing very rapidly and she will notice significant length each year from here on out.  I groom Shannon’s locks every 6-8 weeks and and we both maintain them with the Healthylocks Daily Conditioning Mist and the Soul Purpose body balms.  These products keeps her locks soft and pliable and helps her to maintain a light and natural sheen.

Congratulations Shannon!  Your locks are absolutely FAB-U-LOUS!

The photos speak for themselves.  Just hover over the picture to access the controls…Enjoy!

 

 

Conditioning Sisterlocks/Locs With the Soul Purpose Shea Body Balm

Hey Gang!

This video is #3 of the 3 part series on shampooing and conditioning long locks, dreadlocks and natural hair.  If you’re doing any type of clarifying shampoo first, you will be thoroughly washing away all of your natural oils.  Well, those oils will need to be replaced.  Now the natural oil that your scalp produces (sebum) will work to help condition the hair closest to the scalp, but if you have any length to your locks or if your locks are color-treated, the rest of you locks will become very dry over time.  Since I and my clients have always “dry conditioned” our locks and use lock-friendly products, dryness is not really an issue.  Healthy locks are clean, supple and have a naturally soft sheen when well moisturized. 

As always, if you’re currently using products that you absolutely love and are working for you, then by all means continue to use them.  But if dryness continues to be an issue for you, then try a few of the Soul Purpose products along with the Healthylocks Conditioning Mist.  I highly recommend them.  Enjoy the video!

Have A Great Hair Day!
Phyllis Johnson
Your Video Locktician

Great Photos of Shannon’s Baby Locks - Dreadlocks Pictures

I’d like to introduce all of you to Shannon my newest client and brave soul. She has graciously allowed me to post her videos and photos for your viewing pleasure. So please, give her your support and as always remember what our mothers taught us…”if you don’t have nothin good to say”…(you know the rest). Shannon’s hair locking journey will be documented on this site-so stay tuned.

Shannon had color and texurizer on her ends. Of course this affected her natural curl. Her ends were damaged and would not readily coil. She held a very good coil near her scalp, but as I continued to coil, the ends remained loose. Many of her ends had to be clipped. The clipping of Shannon’s ends will probably continue for the next few groomings. Shannon is on a 4 week grooming schedule.

Shannon has great hair texture for locking and an incredible positive attitude for going through the locking process. It’ll be fun watching her transition and documenting her loc journey. Thanks Shannon! If you haven’t seen her interview, check it out.

Click on the dreadlock photos to enlarge. Click on the photo once more to get an incredible close up and then use the scroll bar to move up and down the page. What detail!

Have A Great Hair Day!
Phyllis Johnson
Your Video Locktician

Dreadlocks & Locs In The Work Place - Can I?…Will I?

Shannon is my newest client and I’m excited to have her as part of our "Healthylockers" family. She has new locks, which are considered "Baby Locks or Baby Locs". Shanon will be sharing her locking process from the perspective of a woman working in a professional environment. I hope this will help a lot of sisters who are hesitant about going natural or locking their hair because you don’t know how it will be accepted or what people will think of you. Great insight here. Click on the videos (Part 1 and Part 2) to see how the interview went.  Then…

click here to See Shannon 2 Years Later…