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

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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

Sisterlocks: The Importance of Regular Retightening

My summer whizzed by - instead of having hot days filled with day trips and family outings, I found myself busy as a bee with installations and mature clients transferring in for retightening appointments. (Kid stuff was poured into every gap in between!)

I was going to write an article about the importance of retightening (or regular maintenance) but then I remembered that Blaq Kofi has already said it quite nicely (http://blaqkofi.blogspot.com/2011/03/importance-of-retightenings.html).

While adhering to a strict 4 week schedule may not be financially feasible (or time possible - for those of you who DIY) - it IS important to choose your frequency and stick with it as this will give you the BEST POSSIBLE result over time.  If you normally go every 6 weeks and have to stretch it to 8 weeks once or twice in a year - your hair shouldn't fall off your head (although Blaq Kofi did lose a loc or two doing that), what WILL happen is that your retightening session will take longer than you're used to and may cost more.  

If you regularly switch it up - 5 wks, 8, wks, 6 wks, 4 wks, 10 wks - you are likely to end up with lumpy, bumpy or even ropey locs... as a result of the uneven tension that will inevitably have been applied.  Let me explain - your hair normally grows at different rates. At 4 wks this may not be significantly noticeable, at 6-8 weeks your Consultant may notice one section (or more) requires more rotations than another section due to increased growth there... you can extrapolate...

The more new growth there is the greater the likelihood of uneven tension being applied by your Consultant or even yourself  (e.g. she may have another client on the way, you may be in a hurry, you may start day dreaming in the middle of a rotation, someone could interrupt you, your arms start to get tired etc etc etc). It is this uneven tension during the rotation that leads to mr lumpy, mr bumpy and mr ropey living in your head. If you don't mind this - then coolio - but if you paid for Sisterlocks/microlocks because you loved the UNIFORMITY of those many tiny locs - then please pay attention to your retightening.

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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

Had to share this one

Welcome to September my lovelies.

I have so much to fill you in on... but first lemme share this link.

I have been following the story of Vybz Kartel and his changing complexion with interest...

now he has launched his own range of cosmetics...  Wow...

---"Vybz Kartel has previously explained that his use of skin lightener is purely for style – that he sees it as being no different from women straightening their hair – and in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine he made his feelings on the subject clear: "I have said in a statement that when everyone stops doing all of that shit, we can all live naturally ever after. But until then, fuck you all.""---- The Guardian, Sep 7, 2011

They don't look too bad... simple labelling, (very) interesting colours.. nice frosted glass aluminum top combo - not bad... 

picture credit: The Guardian

but I'm still not buying it. I'm happy in my own skin thanks - as mottled, or scarred, or pitted and pock-marked as it might be.  I will however continue to watch in interest, particularly to see whether this brand takes off -because if it does, it will definitely be telling us all something.

Full Article (once again) - The Guardian, Sep 7 2011

Related Articles

http://www.theheatwave.co.uk/blog/item/vybz-kartel-takes-on-all-comers

http://urbanislandz.com/2011/01/22/vybz-kartel-bleaching-the-subject-of-extensive-media-bashing/
http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/vybz-kartel-addresses-skin-bleaching-controversy-with-hot97-morning-show/

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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