“When Can I Style My New Sisterlocks?”

This post is in response to a question I received from a reader with newly installed Sisterlocks.  She wanted to know if she could start roller setting her new locks.  I decided to make a post and respond to her question here so that more readers can benefit from the answer I gave her.  You can read it below.

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Hi Darlene.  The only time I ” roller set” the Sisterlocks is after the initial installation and only if the locks are straight.  Some of my clients have very coily,  highly textured hair and require no roller setting after the initial installation.  I then encourage my clients not to do too much additional styling during the first several months so that the locks have a chance to settle. 

Over the next several weeks your new Sisterlocks will change in their appearance.  They will loosen and “draw up” giving a shorter appearance to your locks.  Your hair will become more full and your parts will be less noticeable (until your next re-tightening).  Your locks may develop little spirally ringlets on the very tips and overall your locks will be more “fluffy”.  This is normal.  But, if you continuously style, by roller setting, plaiting, twisting, pulling it  back, or any type of additional styling, you may be stressing the locks and hindering the locking process.   It’s best to leave your new Sisterlocks alone doing the least amount of styling as possible.  When you’re manipulating your new Sisterlocks to obtain a style, you’re pulling and stretching at the lock that should be in a natural “contracting” stage, which is a stage that occurs before the hair starts to mesh together to lock.

So in a nutshell…less is more when it comes to your new Sisterlocks.  Enjoy them at this stage and allow them to develop so that you will have healthy, uniform and consistent looking Sisterlocks down the road.

Just a little side note…hair that is highly textured, kinky and coily - You know, the good ol’ “nappy” hair, can withstand more styling early on than hair that is smoother and softer in texture.  I have a few clients that have been able to curl and style their hair from day one.  I also have one client that comes to mind who suffers from major slippage because of the smooth, silky texture of her hair.  Click here to read her story

It has been my experience, however,  that the more you  manipulate your new Sisterlocks, the more slippage, unraveling and stretching of the locks will occur and you don’t want your locktician upset with you, especially when she’s already in you head for hours:)  Great question, Darlene.  Have a great hair day!

The Satin Bonnet

Hey Gang!

Here’s a great post about how I protect my locks at bed time.  See if any of this information can work for you.  Remember, for those of you who are going through your “personal summers” and can’t imagine covering your head while sleeping, just cover your pillow with a satin-like pillow case or purchase a piece of material from the fabric store and tie it around your pillow.  It serves the same purpose.  Check out the video!

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…

 

 

Dreadlock Interview Part 3 of 3 - Phyllis’ Dry Conditioning

Here’s Robin returning the favor!

Interview w/Robin - Part 2 of 3 “Dry Conditioning Your Locks”

I’ve coined the term “Dry Conditioning”. It’s a great way to keep your locks moisturized and healthy. This technique does wonders for dry thirsty locks and especially color-treated locks. The two main products that I use is the Healthylocks Conditioning Mist (my own creation and secret recipe), to condition the locks and add moisture and the second is the Anahita Conditioning Hair Oil by Warm Spirit. It smells incredible, it keeps my locks soft and helps to hold in the moisture. My clients love them. I’ll be creating a post featuring my favorite products real soon. In the meantime, you can visit www.Pamperdiva.com for Warm Spirit products including the Anahita hair oil. You can contact me directly from that website if you’re also interested in the Healthylocks Conditioning mist.

Click on the picture to see how to “Dry Condition” your locks!