Love, Life, and Locks

2011-04-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

March 23rd marked two years sisterlocked. I have photographed the whole journey so far. It feels great to look back to the beginning and where my hair is now. I will post a comparison picture below.

I am definitely slightly past shoulder length. When I need to put my purse on my shoulder I have to move my hair first. lol!

I am looking forward to when I will be able to color.

My hair recently (last 2-3 months) went through an itching phase. It even itched right after a wash. But lately it has been better but I haven't done anything differently.

Perm Free 3 years

2010-05-27T00:50:00.000-07:00

It's late in the night/ or early in the morning and it's late that I'm posting this. May 20th, 2010 marked three years since I last had a perm. It still amzes me, I'm content and don't miss it, but I wonder what took me so long. Glad to be nappy and glad to be locked. Happy Perm-free Versary to me!

I have a couple of dates of recognition on this hair journey.
May, 20, 2007 last perm Perm-free aversary
Dec. 22, 2007 BigChop Nappiversary
March 23, 2009 Sisterlocks installed lockaversary

2010-03-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

This week is my spring break, so I have some free time. I should definitely update a little more. Today I got a pedicure with my mom. Girly day.. .it was needed. My toe nails are blue now. Can't wait to start my sandal game. I searched three stores trying to get Monica's album this weekend. No luck. Today though, I jsut bought an iTunes card and I justed downloaded the album. So far it's great (only heard the first song. .. lol!). I have been hearing a lot of great reviews about this album. Monica has been one of my favorites since I was in elementary. I'm thinking about getting Usher's cd too. I always like his albums. Music is jsut so thought provoking. It can help you get over a situation, move you into a situation, or keep you in a situation.

I'm thinking about washing my hair tomorrow and doing some bantu knots. If I do I may post pictures. I like the curl, but I kind of want to try straight locks for a day. Mine curl even if I don't do anything to them. Enjoy the video of pictures. I posted this on facebook about three months ago. I am going to make an updated video to celebrate my lockaversary. Those of you who were natural before your locks, do you celebrate or recognize your nappiversary and lockaverary? My nappiversary is Dec.22 is the day I cut my permed ends. My lockaversary is March 23, the day my locks were installed. I do believe I am being rather technical.

2010-03-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

It is official! I have been sisterlocked for one year. March the 23rd was my one year lockaversary. I am ready for my retightening, I think my loctician decided to stretch my time span, because I have alot of new growth. I want to learn how to tighten myself, but I know that will be a task, working on my own head.

I notice that I have gained a lot of growth within the past few months. When I look from October to now... those few months make a big difference. I still have shringage, but where my hair shrinks to looks much longer than what it use to shrink to. Any tips/ advice on how to stretch locks... and avoid shrinkage after washing?

This summer I desperately (even now) want to go swimming. Any of you swim with sisterlocks in your first year? I wonder how long I have to wait. That's another question I want to ask my loctician. I want to color my hair too. have never done any real color, besides a rinse which could barely be seen and that was when I had a perm. I wonder how long do I have to wait before can color? That's question number two to ask my loctician. I don't know what color, and I just want some of the hair colored to begin with. I'm trying more styles when I go out. i'm just so excited, because the longer it gets the more styles that I can try.

Happy to be nappy! Enjoy the pictures!

Sisterlocks Day 332

2010-02-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

Birthday hair 12/17/09

Greetings sistahs and brothas out there in cyberspace! ! have been horrible at updating this blog, but life happens away from the computer. I am always motivated and inspired when I see pictures of other sistahs who are really rocking their natural doo.. be it locks or loose hair. It's all so beautiful to me. So I must drop in to share as well, and hopefully inspire others the way I have been inspired timeless amount of times. God Bless all!

Christmas updo 12/25/09: Lochawk

I have had my sisterlocks for 332 days. They have really been growing. I am at a stage that feels kind of awkward.. I feel that they need to be a little longer to achieve the styles that I would like to try. I will miss this stage when they get longer, but I long for longer. My hair grows in layers too! You will see in the pictures. I want it to be all the same length. Ha! I am just letting it do its thing so it will catch up with the other locks one day. I got my hair retightened on Wednesday 2/17/10 (Month 11). On another note, does anyone have hair that grows in between their sisterlock parts? My loctician says that it was normal, but oddly enough I still find it strange.

Gala style 1/15/10

This journey has been exciting and interesting to say the least. I get some random and funny comments and compliments from people on a weekly basis. The recent buzz from at least five individuals has been, "I love your hair!" Then they whisper, "Is it all yours?" or "Is it real?" "Can I touch it". "It's so soft and so curly... how do you get it to do that? "How much does it cost?" They are so curious and will just about ask any question. I don't mind answering though because I was once curious, but I wasn't bold enough to question others I didn't know. I even got male attention the other day... I wish I could remember what he said. It was smooth though and it made me blush. There truly is no bad hair day. Even when it's time for a retigthtening I still get compliments.

Lock goals:

Wash more

Try more styles

Sleep bonnet free on satin pillow case

Avoid rough styles that pull too much

2/2010 Month 11 retightening

Notice the layers?

Love, life, and locks

An after Thanksgiving update

2009-11-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

It's been about four months since I updated. Well, today I am dropping in to give a quick update. Thanksgiving was good. I cooked a little, just some sides. How was your day of Thanksgiving? Anyone else out there still full on ham, turkey, dressing, and sweet potato pie? I know I am. I love some ham. What I am silently dreading is that our break from teaching ends tomorrow, and we return back to school Monday. I am so counting down to Christmas Break (3 weeks). It is still so surprising that the end of the year is almsot here. It seems like it was just July when I last updated.

My hair is growing quite nicely. It actually has loosened a little. The kinkiness keeps it close to my scalp, but after the last retightening about a week ago something different happened. I am now at month 8 so i can wash my sisterlocks without banding them. The second thing is they look five times loner than when I went in to get them tightened. i attribute this to the kinkiness and curl in my hair loosening. It's beautiful. Well you will see in the comparison pictures what I am talking about.

Day 1 and day 247 makes a world of difference.

ta ta

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if I don't return before then.

Love. peace. laughter.

Happy Independence Weekend!

2009-07-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I went to see Beyonce's Tour in Atl. I had a great time. I got a chance to ride the subway for the first time as well. The weather was beautiful in Georgia and it was a great way to bring in the new month. July reminds me that the time is ticking and soon it will be time for school to start back. I think the concert marked the last hoorah before I get back to work.

Beyonce put on a GREAT performance. The Phillips Arena was packed. We also saw Tyler Perry in the auduence and the sassy and loud actress from Why Did I Get Married? Good times!

I am still playing with new styles and new ways of doing old styles. I did a twist on my mohawk style for the concert. I got tons of compliments. I am still surprised that so many people know nothing about sisterlocks. On the first two pictures I am two weeks away from my retightening. Still looking good.

When I was at the library today there was a lady who asked me about my sisterlocks, and she complimented me saying that they locked helathy and really good. People also ask so how did you get the curls... did you use rods? No rods, I just washed it and let it air dry and wahla my hair naturally curls like that. I am still amazed atthe texture of my hair and how pretty it is. When I was hooked on chemicals I would have never thought that my hair could be this pretty without it. I know better now though. Good hair is any hair that is healthy. Ladie and gents we all have good hair because we have healthy hair.

In other news, Happy belated Independence Day! What did you all do? I spent the day with family. we barbequed, and they swimmed. Sadly, no swimming for my new locks. I can't wait til they mature so that I can get back to swimming. Have any of you gone swimming with your new locks or how long did you wait? My loctician forbade it, so I figured I would listen. Last night I went downtown for the fireworks show. It was my first time going in my own city.

Side twist.. asymetrical style I tried a couple of weeks ago. I wish I had taken the pictures with my camera.. but I used my phone. Anyone have input on Tmobile's Memoir?

Have a great week! Time to turn in. I have a long week of graduate school class ahead of me.

Peace love and keep it locked!

Sisterlock'd Mohawk

2009-06-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Styles for shorter length Sisterlocks.

Style #1 Sisterlock'd Mohawk

This style was achieved by sectioning the hair across the head horizontally. I started in the front and I sectioned a smaller amount than the other sections. I flat twisted it to the right (my preference). I flat twist up both sides of the first section and the loose locks were positioned more to the right. The second section was gathered in the top middle and secured with a rubber band. All of the consecutive sections were gathered in the middle and secured with a rubber band. The style was pretty simple.

To Lock or Not to Lock... that is the question

2009-06-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

I had been debating about sisterlocks since I first heard about them over a year ago. I was like no... I can't do locks. That is too permanenet... what If I want my real hair back, as if locked hair is not real. Then I started to really consider it. The more I looked at pictures the more determined I became in starting the sisterlock journey. Then there was the question of where do I go to find someone that is reliable. After checking the SL site I recovered three numbers. But which one to choose? I guess I could have tried price checking. I assumed it would all be the same.. and once I set my mind the price wasn't much of an issue. So I decided I'd select the loctian with a slaon. I finally dialed the number and just the one step set me well on my way to lockdom. I quickly scheduled the initial consultation, and once I was told the specifics I set up my starter lock date and then the actual installation date. Iwas on pins and needles in anticipation for my installation date.

The day finally arrived on March 23, 2009. I sat for fourteen hours and my locks were birthed. I have been enjoying them every since. I hope to post as many hair styles for my length as possible. I see a shortage of styles online for short sisterlocked hair. I know you don't have to wait for it to be down your back to start styling them.

As of today my locks are 2 months and 9 days old. I got my first all over retightening on May 30, 2009. I am so thrilled about this new natural journey. My goal is to have healthy locks that flow down my back. Yes, long and lovely.

The night before installation. It's also a good view of the nine starter locks that i kept for about 3 weeks.

A Texture View of my locks on installation day

A view of how small and neat the parts are organized.

Re-Introducing the Purpose

2009-06-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged on this journal since last summer. i have been around but I just was not sure what was to become of this blog. i have been loyal to my livejournal blog. i only got this one to connect it to communicate with people I knew who had blogger and to connect it to my facebook.nI am saddened to report that I have neglected it.

I am pleased to announcing that this blog will be the dumping ground for my lock journey. I will post pictures and updates on my hair. I feel like I'm cheating only to share that aspect of my life so you will also read about what I love, who I love, and just my life adventures. I don't expect this journal to be too personal, but very perspective. Enjoy!

YOU ARE BLESSING ME, THANK YOU!

2008-06-30T21:28:00.000-07:00

When I drove up I noticed the people wrapped around the building. I walked in to the Shelby County Clerk's office today and apparently everyone else in the city had the same idea.. Gotta get tags. They weren't for me though I don't expire till later this year. I was getting the tags for my dad. So I made my way through the crowd and tore off a number, G52. I looked up at the count and it was on 66. Wait did they skip me? No they were on F66. Quite a way to go, right? They were moving pretty fast. I peered around and found me a seat next to a nice lady. I pulled out a novel, tried to sound out the noise, and I started reading. At about fifteen minutes to close one of the clerks made an announcement (were on F99 by then). One thing in particular caught my attention. WE NO LONGER ALLOW YOU TO GET TAGS FOR SOMEONE ELSE UNLESS YOUR NAME IS ON THE REGISTRATION... At that point I was like there are 52 more people before they get to me. I could sit and try my luck or not. So I called my dad, and he advised me to check downtown. I should have listened from the beginning but I absolutely dislike the downtown cluster of chaos called parking. But I headed on down there and I was in and out no questions asked. Apparently no one else likes going downtown either because up the road where I came from there were hundreds of people and downtown there were a handful.

I know you are like where is she going with the story. Well once I realized at the first office that they wouldn't be able to fulfill the service I sought... I got up and made my way through the crowd. I needed to try the other location before they closed. So as I was heading towards the door I thought, I have a ticket someone could have. I stopped to talk to a friend of the family who I hadn't seen in a while and asked her what her number was. She didn't need it because she came before me. I said, "Well I'm trying to give my ticket away." A lady in front of her turned around and said," Can I have it?" I'm like, "Sure I'm G52." She said," you are blessing me, thank you!" I don't know why that stuck with me. I don't know why I kept replaying those words in my head as I drove to the other location. "YOU ARE BLESSING ME, THANK YOU!" Six words, but even though she said I blessed her she was actually blessing me... I really don't know how yet but I was meant to hear that today.

The Anticipation of "I Do"

2008-06-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of staying up way past a nonexistent bedtime last night and I watched Essence's Will You Marry Me? The shows concept was interesting. I've seen tons of Bridezilla shows, and wedding planner shows but they never really tell about the proposal. The guys on this show were selected from the letters they mailed in that expressed their love for their girlfriends and their proposal. The letters were included in an issue of Essence magazine. They highlighted about 6 different couples. They talked about how they met each other, and they showed them planning and actually proposing. I think I even started crying when they were proposing. I think I was secretly living vicariously through their moment. lol! One lady was so nonchalant. After her boyfriend proposed her response was "Oh Sure". Another one of the couples were so cute and humble that I could feel the love through the tv screen. What was it about their union, that proposal that stuck out to me. Why did I cry with the future bride? Why did I imagine myself in her shoes?

This was the scenario: He had called their family and friends in and she was told they were going to a special movie screening. When the movie started it was her boyfriend talking about how they met, how much she meant to him, how he knew she was the one. Immediately tears streamed from her eyes. These were happy tears. When the movie stopped, he got down on one knee and said, I have known from when I first met you that I wanted to spend my life with you, grow old with you, have children with you, cherish you, and grow spiritually with you. Their belief in God and how it was him who had brought them together and how even in their union they would be faithful to him is what I think truly touched me. Most of the other couples (one other couple prayed with their minister after the proposal) made no mention... not to say they have any less of a relationship with God, but that was the difference, and what stood out about them.

Another couple had been friends for twelve years before they started dating and thus before getting engaged. They were really solidifying that friendship. I think it's important to have the friendship in any relationship... marrying your best friend. Every relationship takes work and good communication. So after the show ended I closed my eyes and I'm sure I went on to dream about my own anticipation of "I Do".

I am questions with no answers.

2008-06-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

This persistent question keeps coming to mine. You know that question that keeps you curious and keeps you wondering. The question that got you hoping, praying and wishing. I have a life planned out in my mind, but the question is what will it really be like? Can I fool myself into thinking my time line will match up with reality? Is where I want to see myself in 5 years where God plans to place me or am I living for my own agenda. We all do to an extent, but of course I want to be in line with my purpose and ultimately where I'm supposed to be.

Man this one question sends me so deep in thought that it's always unfinished so I treat it like a job. I spend a few hours working (in thought) then I clock out (to blah and to be zombied by tv ) only to return to the same question later. But man I love the payday... the answers. All answers come in due time... patience really is a virtue. Who will be the participants in my life? People who I thought would my friend for a lifetime have slipped away in the past despite how hard I wanted to hold on to the familiar. People guide us along... all stepping stones to where God wants us to go. Some people are hear for a lifetime, some for a season, and some for a reason. All encounters are meant to teach us something. You ever had that by chance meeting and felt so rich afterwards but didn't gain not a monetary cent? That person was just passing through to share something with you, enlighten you on something. I've always missed those who I've come to realize was only in my life for a season. Does that mean we were never really best of friends? What about past loves? Does that mean that person don't love me anymore? Who said you can just turn love off like that? It's not possible unless it was never there.

Friends for a lifetime man that's mighty... the longevity of a relationship. I have yet to have a friendship that has spanned many years. Experiences and different environments always allowed me to lose touch... Both parties agreeing that we let life keep us too busy to catch up with each others day to da. Goes back to the beginning... the question that keeps me thinking What will it really be like? Has my life thus far played out how I planned... not exactly. A number of things are missing... not in a certain peachtree state, no bling on my finger and lifelong love to remember, not counseling (in traditional sense), and I broke a promise I made to myself. Have I befriended the right people? Have I taken advantage of every opportunity? Interesting... I'm still filled with so many questions, but I have some answers to the last few rhetorical questions. But really what will my life be like?

Everything starts with an Introduction

2008-06-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Let me break the ice. So I guess you are here to get to know ME. Creep into my thoughts. You are bored. You stumpled upon this site. Whatever your reason, kick back, relax, and enjoy. Feel free to communicate through commenting or emailing. This is my blog so yeah you guessed it, it's all about ME. Just a warning, I just might be a little boring.

In short, I am a Black christian college graduate, Ζ Φ Β Sorority member, educator, t-mobile customer, shy at first sight, talkative upon comfort, single sister to two, and friend of many.

Now for the longer version, for those who enjoy reading. I am the one and only wittychiq! I am from Memphis, TN. I was born and raised here and I currently reside in this wonderful city. I am 24 years young. Yes, I'm a Sagittarrius. I've been told not the conventional one, but with characteristics of other signs.

I am a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I'm a proud MOC! I received my bachelor degree. My concentrations were Secondary Education and Psychology.

This year I started teaching high school English. I had ninth grade classes and one tenth grade class. I loved the challenge. I lived the first year teacher type of life... always busy.. always grading... always planning. I'm looking forward to this new year it shall be a charm. I will only have 9th grade this year; one prep is always better.

I am a dovely lady and proud member of the BEST sorority, ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC. Zphi to all my lovely sororZ and a BIG hug to all my frat!. I have a magnitude of love and respect for each one of you.

I love photography. I'm still an amateur, but I hope to become better and to buy better equipment to use.

I am a writer as well; I love writing poetry and writing stories. I may post some of my published pieces in the future. I am very serious about my writing.