Failed styling attempts

So out of boredom I started playing with my hair the other day...

As I was rummaging through my shelves looking for some setting lotion.... I stumbled upon this.

This was my grandmothers old electric rollers had to be from the late 80s or early 90s. So I figured, everyone in the SL network is so jazzed about those Carusos, these cant be too much different, what the heck and tried them out. I pulled the unit out the closet and plugged it up... After the smoke settled (lol) they where warm so I put them in my hair and left them until they cooled and this my friends is how I looked after,

Not so hot.

But it got me to thinking if you are using steam/heated rollers on locks that aren't mature won't that retard/delay the locking process? Riddle me that.

So after that failed attempt and after rummaging more I found some small perm rods. I wet my hair and put it in 5 small pony tails and then applied the rods to the ends. I slept on this and went to sleep. The next morning I took the rods out and the curls were tight but cute because they where only on the ends. However my hair still looked sectioned from the ponytails so I figured I just loosen it up in the shower. Well when I got done it didn't look too different from my freestyle so posting pics wasn't necessary. Failed attempt #2.

So after another bout with boredom I decided to plait my hair and do a braid-out. I put my hair in about 10 plaits and put the perm rods at the very ends and left it overnight. That's the look I am wearing today. I like it but still doesn't look too different from my freestyle.

Before

After



So I decided that until my locks mature I will just rock the freestyle (unless I get bored again). Because my hair has such a natural tight curl to it I figured it will lock quick and I'm extra paranoid that if I keep on playing in it it will only sow down the process.

Wino

I'm what you call a professional wine taster... lol, not really but I love me some wine.

Living in the bay area has its perks and being in such close proximity to the wine country (Napa Valley) is definitely one of them. But believe it or not I have never set foot in Napa/Sonoma or the likes and I am still privied to some of the best wines that the world has to offer.

How, you may ask? There are several wineries (where they distill the grapes and make the wine) in the East Bay and are within a 10 radius of my house.

This past Saturday was a great day for wine lovers in the East Bay as the East Bay Vinters Alliance held its 1st annual "Passport to the East Bay Wine Trail." It featured 13 local wine makers at 8 different locations in Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley, and Alameda.

To say the least I had a blast... I would have been more fun if I didn't have to be the designated driver. Hopefully I can get some pics from the event and post them soon.

The Premier

OK... so I posted pics but didn't write about my experience.. Like to hear it? Here it go.

Prior to Installation

So after my consultation I had a few reservation but nothing too major. So after getting feedback from my fellow blogger and the LockItUp community, I decided to go full speed ahead. So, after waiting 11 days I got locked by my original consultant and I can't be more happy. But let me back up a bit....
Though I said bye bye to the perm in 1999 and haven't looked back since... I have never really rocked my hair in it natural state. I'm use to pressing and weaving and after all these years I hadn't really known that my hair was really NAPPY. I mean that in the best way possible because I love nappy hair. so when I took my hair down and was rockin the puff for the day and a half before my installation, I found myself with my hands in my hair all day. So out of fear the I would alter my nappy state., I decided that after the consultation I would put my weave back in. This would be an absolutely costly and stupid decision if I didn't do it myself... so I did. I also didn't want to have any last regrets so I looked at it like I was making a life-long commitment (which I am) similar to marriage and what more appropriate for the last shebang but a Weaverette party for myself. Here are the pics:

Me and my lil cousin Nia after a long day of cooking for Easter.

Rockin it straight.

Installation day (March 30, 2008)

I couldn't get any sleep because I kept on thinking that I would oversleep and miss my appointment. It was set for 6am bright and early that Sunday morning. I kept on having a dream that my alarm didn't go off, only to pop up and realize that it was only 2am... 2:45....4:30... and just when I was finally comfortably in sleep mode, the alarm went off.

Damn... after hitting snooze a few times I got up. I had showered, washed my hair, and got everything ready the night before so all I had to do was wash my face, brush my teeth, throw on my sweats and get ready to spend GOD knows how long getting my locks installed.

I looked in the mirror and wanted to scream. Under the strict instructions of my consultant I was only to wash my hair, try not to comb it and DO NOT apply conditioner. Gulp... I was scared. I had washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo to make sure to get out any gunk and laid a towel on my pillow and let it dry overnight. My reflection was not pretty. My previous shoulder length hair had swivelled into a TWA. A lopsided one at that. Another gulp. I kept myself entertained on the 10 minute drive to her house by imagining her saying "Damn, I said that your hair should be as nappy as possible but DAMN that's nappy" HAHA.

When I arrived she had me pick out 5 movies and she went right to work. She started by sectioning my hair into four sections and started in the upper right quadrant. We watched movie after movie and before I knew it, it was almost 1pm she had finished the majority of the front of my hair. I was hungry as ever. We took a break and went over the community center at the religious school we used to attend together and got us some good ol home cooking. I was tearing up my chicken wings, grits, cheese eggs and waffle. After a lil over an hour we got back to work. I picked out five more movies, a friend came over to keep us company and the whole event was over at close to midnight.

I had promised myself that I would take pictures of the process and the final results but I just wasn't in the mood (SORRY). Long story short, I had my doubts and fears, but the end results left me speechless. I loved my tiny starter locs and the length. I had to be at work at 8am the next morning, so I did two french braids, tied them up and called it a night.

Rave Reviews

They like it... they really really like it. When I got up for work the morning after my install, I felt like a new woman was born. I took my french braids down, let the moisture of the shower mist my hair, got dressed and you couldn't tell me nothin.

I felt strong, proud, beautiful and energized. I walked into work and to my surprise everyone was pleasantly impressed. Even the janitor, who vowed to never be my friend again if I wore short hair, said that I was "Muy Bonita." I couldn't stop looking in the mirror or through anything that showed a reflection.

Then the real test came... My boss (the director of nursing and a Jewish princess) walked by. She's always in a rush but when she say me in passing she grabbed her own hair then proceeded to give me two thumbs up while saying "I love your hair."

I am so happy. Even my guy friend loves my hair... Everyday he looks at me and tells me how happy he is that I got my locs and how they are great and look better every day. But I don't really pay him too much mind because he always gives me compliments. HeHe.

My Consultation

I met with the consultant today at around 6pm and it was great. I am so excited about my locks that I can barely wait the almost two weeks that it will take for her to be able finally do the installation. As it turned out I went to elementary school with my consultant and I felt an instant bond with her.

She sat me down and showed me the book with the different styles and discussed the optimal size. She said that since my hair was natural it would hold well and would probably lock in months. Its paying off to be nappy. In the little time that we were discussing the process she did 16 samples. My only concern is that the parts aren't straight and though I like the size of the locs think that the parts should be smaller. Maybe I'm just nit picking... see for yourself.

I'm already in love with my hair. I set up the appointment for the installation on Sunday, March 30th. Because I have such a small head she said that it would only take one day! Yeah.... More to come.

Transitions

For the last year my life has been in transition. Its time for a new start, things are now starting to fall into place and I have decided to share my experiences with the blog world.

Where was I a year ago?

A year ago this time I was living in Los Angeles (Inglewood to be exact) and was an administrative fellow for one of the nations largest health care organizations. It seemed like I had it all, I was the owner of multiple properties, was on promising career path and for my age I was doing financially well. But in my core I wasn't happy... WHY???

1. Corporate America just isn't me. I couldn't deal with the bureaucracy and I have too strong of a personality to cope.


2. I have always hated LA and I felt like I was trapped. 4 years of undergrad at USC followed by 2 more of grad school. Then 2 more year in an administrative fellowship. I felt like the walls of pretentious people and traffic were closing in on me.


3. It was a time for change. It was now or never. It was time to stop doing what others thought I should and follow my heart.

What did I do?

I quit my job, moved to Houston and started taking my prerequisites for Nursing school. WHAT MORE SCHOOL???? I know... that was everyone's reaction. Yep, more school. I have always wanted to open my own community health center and I decided that I wanted to be not only the administrator but the practitioner as well. So begins my voyage to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Where am I now?

After only six months in being in Houston I moved back to my home in Oakland. Now Houston was great but after hearing that my PaPa (my paternal grandfather) was sick, I didn't want to be too far. All for the better though, after taking loads of classes and applying for several nursing schools throughout the country I received my acceptance from the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing. This means that I can stay in Oakland and spend time with PaPa.

My Hair?

Now that you have a lil background info let me get down to business. I decided to blog mainly to document my hair transition. I have been natural since 1999 but have had been back and forth between the press and the weaves . But today is my consultation. Inspired by the Sisterlock blogs and the postings on LockItUp, I am ready and excited. Sisterlocks here I come.