Love, Life & Locks (London): 2011

Monday, 31 October 2011

Hair loss Update - One Year Later

Do you remember this (shocking) post: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly ? - when I first revealed the extent of my hairloss?

or how about this (disappointing or encouraging) picture?

Well, as we're approaching the one year anniversary of my hairloss I thought I'd post an update.

The 8 week treatment I was on at the time, failed. (You guessed that though right? Lol)

After that treatment ended, I had a family holiday, quit my job, frolicked in the summer sun and basically did some destressing.

Look at this now (4 months later):

September 6

September 29

Sorry it took so long to share it! I wrote this in October last year (2011) but then was too upset to post it... I guess the realisation of it being 12 months since my hair loss began.. with little progress (in some areas) and slow progress in others - was a bit overwhelming at the time and I didn't feel like having these pictures out there. Clearly - I am over that now :)

WELCOME TO THE TAPESTRY OF ME.... These are my words and this is my journey, from 'there to hair'! My life, the lessons learned in and through love and loves ones; and my hair affairs. http://lovelifelocks.blogspot.com

Saturday, 22 October 2011

Sisterlocks Installation Photos

More photos of Client Number 5

Younger clients can always be a bit tricky; their heads are smaller (and still growing) and their hairlines can be very fragile, fine or unusual.

You'll see that this young one has a very narrow section of hair forward of her ears which limits the number of locks you can put in without making them very very small.

The hair was quite dense and both the client and her mother requested a larger parting pattern in order to reduce the number of locs they'd need to retighten (ie to reduce the duration of sittings) since the child is particularly active (lots of extra curricular activities) and wouldn't want to spend hours sitting for a retightening. In total she has just under 400 locs.

More photos in the previous post: http://www.lovelifelocs.com/2011/05/sisterlocks-installation-photos.html

Monday, 10 October 2011

Then and Now - Niece L

Before

Then (Jan 2010)

Now

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Then and Now - Niece J

Then (18mos)

Now (3 yrs)

And this is my favourite pic of Niece L, niece J and my Golden Girl A

Friday, 30 September 2011

Hair Inspiration - Gail Porter

Gail Porter is a British TV presenter (or at least she was when she had her hair). She was cute, plucky and fun - a real typical British chick....

In 2005 she lost her hair to Alopecia. I think she had Alopecia Universalis because she lost her eyebrows as well... she spiralled into a deep depression and my heart went out to her because this painful thing was happening to her in a very public manner. I wondered - what would I do if that were me? Would I be as graceful and courageous?

In 2010 I lost my hair to Alopecia Totalis. I don't have to wonder what I'd do anymore...

Funnily enough, 2010 was also the year that Gail's hair started to grow back...
from 'fuzz'

to 'feather cut'

This post is dedicated to Gail Porter (and all the Gail Porters across the world, male and female!) - whether you have small or large patches (Alopecia Areata), traction alopecia from overtight braids or locks, or ponytails, Alopecia totalis or universalis - even androgenic alopecia (hereditary balding)... smile today...

When the next person stares at you (wondering if you've got cancer or whether you're trying to be Amber Rose) just smile at them and say: "Hi, how are ya?" with the biggest grin you've got... that'll really give em something to gawk at...

I know many of us didn't CHOOSE to part with our hair and some of us ARE recovering cancer patients... so today, hold your head high, let's not be sad or ashamed today... let's just be BALD and BEAUTIFUL.

Nuff Luv xxx

Monday, 26 September 2011

Why Did This Article Annoy Me?

Back in July I came across an article that really riled me up. It was entitled: "The Beauty of Bald".

Why should that bother me? Well, obviously I clicked on it hoping to read an inspirational story about another woman (or even a man) coming to terms with their hair loss, hoping that I'd find some morsel of wisdom to help me 'keep on keeping on' you know?

But - to my disappointment, it wasn't written by someone who was bald. In fact - I came to the conclusion that the title had been chosen simply because it sounded good or was an attention grabber. The author did have a TWA (or what we'd probably call an 'all off' or buzz cut) - but bald she was not.

Overall, it was an interesting story and detailed her exploration of self and how she came to terms with her FACE and her 'ethnicity' (she mentions how she didn't like her twa because it made her look 'too black') - but I was still disappointed at her use of the sensational headline.

Yes, you may think I am being overly sensitive and I probably am - but I live in my skin and it's me battling with this baldheadness daily so I feel I can rant or get upset for a minute - cos I WILL get over it. (I am NOW obviously) - what I'm trying to say is I know we all love our hair, and we have tons of blogs and youtube channels dedicated to Sisterlocks, traditional locks, natural hair and relaxed hair etc - I'm not saying we should shut them down because of bald people (lol) - what I'm saying is : 'a little sensitivity please?'.... if you're gonna talk about being 'bald' and you're not.... then don't. Call it as it is - you have a very low haircut... and it's beautiful... how about 'My Beautiful Fuzz' or 'The Beauty of a Buzz cut'?

Here's a Buzz Cut (see the fuzz?)

Here's BALD (no hair at all)

Trust me - there's a difference lol. OK ok, I'm done :) Have a good weekend peeps.

Friday, 23 September 2011

Sisterlocks: The Importance of Braiding & Banding

I know you've heard it time and time again: before you wash your hair make sure you BRAID and BAND it - particularly during the 'settling in period' (usually the first 6 months after your Sisterlocks installation but it can be longer) And I know that for some of you this 'braiding and banding' business gets on your last nerve... what a hassle eh? BUT it is an IMPORTANT step in ensuring you end up with the best looking locs possible - especially if you have a looser curl pattern...

Here's me shortly after my installation

See all those perfectly uniform skinny little locs?

And here's me at 13 months having abandoned braiding and banding.

Poofy, Frizzy

I felt my hair looked too thin/flat and I wanted to have BIG hair instead so I deliberately stopped to see what would happen... (my original consultant was FURIOUS when she saw... no sir, she was not at all happy with how I had 'ruined her good work' lol).

Anyway - I am digressing. I am going to show you in pictures to see if I can ram the point home. If you are a newbie then you MUST braid and band, I know it adds a few extra minutes to your washing routine but it is VERY important.

This is one of my clients just after installation (and I mean within 10 minutes of me finishing the last loc).

And this is a picture of the same client approx 6 weeks later (having missed an earlier appointment, gone swimming at least twice a week every week and washed about twice a week every week without consistent braiding and banding).

This requires a partial installation and lots of remedial work for the locs that were actually left.
Please. Don't do this to yourself... don't do this to your Consultant... it's not good.

BRAID and BAND at EVERY WASH.
PLEASE.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. These are my words and this is my journey, from 'there to hair'! My life, the lessons learned in and through love and loves ones; and my affair with my hair - my locks. WELCOME TO THE TAPESTRY OF ME....

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Love, Life & Locks (London)