Love, Life & Locks (London)

51 years of marriage

2012-02-11T16:29:00.000Z

No. Not Me... (not yet at least) but my parents.51 years... that's a lot... a whole lot longer than I have been alive (obviously lol). I am married myself and marriage is not a bed of roses.. unless of course you count all the thorns and leaves... and bits of soil too. It is definitely what you make it - some days are good and some days not so much. There are ups and downs and smiles and frowns - just as there are with any relationship - be it fraternal, parental or the friendships you have with your BFFs!

I know we should never look to celebrities to be role models... and these days I am increasingly discouraged when I see yet another long term marriage headed for divorce (Seal and Heidi Klum spring to mine... and the ongoing rumours about Will and Jada calling it quits)... wouldn't it be so nice if we could see more 'celebrities' rocking up with long term partners and saying "Yup, I still love you... look how far we've come babe!"

When all is said and done - I want my children to look to their grandparents (both sets) for positive role models or proof that marriage can last a lifetime. It CAN still happen.. it CAN. At least that's what I choose to believe.

Any of you/your parents/relatives been married for aaaaaaaaaaaaages? Lemme know - after all - it IS the season of love eh? Happy Valentine's y'all

:)

My parents after the memorial church service (last year) with 5 of their 13 grandchildren (and my sister)

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

Upcoming Event: Natural Noire in Norwood

2012-01-26T13:51:00.001Z

2012 has started with a series of natural hair (and locs) events. I am really loving the show of love, the increased number of events is a good indication of the growing demand for these workshops and it is heartwarming to see a growing hunger for 'things' that embrace our natural beauty - whether this be holistic health, natural hair events, or culture & fashion shows.

The Natural Noire (@naturalnoire on Twitter, Natural Noire on FB) event showcasing top natural hair stylists & barbers and inspiring cultural fashion will be held this Sunday 29th January. Sisterlocks consultants will also be in the house to answer your questions!

Tickets £12, children under 12 are free. Food, fashion & products will be on sale. 07903 533 490 for more info. (Ask for Tiare)

@ Scandals,
82-84 Norwood High Street, West Norwood,
London SE27 9NW
United Kingdom
Tickets: £12 (under 12's free) http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213905
See you there!

Hair Loss Update - 12 months in (Reposted)

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000Z

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 :)

I think my original post got lost in the wind somewhere, so I am reposting this in defiance.

I also want to say this:

"Losing my hair was (is) painful. It is often embarrassing and very exposing. I have nothing to hide behind. I have to make sure my eyebrows are always done. I can't afford to have blemishes or a 'bad skin day' There are only so many scarves, head wraps and hats that one can wear... in the face of this (some may say trivial) adversity I AM STILL STANDING. I have good days and bad days, ups and downs. Days when I could care less (about the missing hair) and days I mourn for my Sisterlocks... even a TWA will do! But despite all of this - I AM STILL HERE."
Thanks to those of you who continue reading and who continually send me messages of love and support. I haven't given up. I hope to see every hair restored.. til then.. I'll just keep doing me"

Originally drafted 31 Oct 2011

---------------------------------

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

I am using my own blend of essential oils and additives, along with scalp massage and good old fashioned prayer :) Stay tuned.

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://www.lovelifelocs.com
Twitter - @avocadoholistic

Tell Me About: Shampoo Bars...

2012-01-22T11:53:00.002Z

image credit

First of all - Happy New Year and apologies for my 'disappearance' :) The past couple of months have been filled with clients and you can imagine how busy it gets in the run up to the Christmas and New Year's eve celebrations!

Today, I want to talk about shampoo bars. There is a lot of 'buzz' on the internet about them and I wanted to add my two cents in the hope of helping to clarify a few things.

Last year - the following article appeared on CurlyNikki.com entitled: "The efficacy of shampoo bars"; generally speaking, the overall conclusion seemed to be that shampoo bars might not be so good, unless you religiously follow your routine with say - an ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse in order to restore appropriate ph balance to your hair.

I'd like to add to this... for one - the shampoo bars evaluated for the study were all cold processed soap bars. This is a shame because not all shampoo bars are cold processed soap. I will repeat that - not all shampoo bars are derivatives of soap. Therefore the 'issues' listed - such as soap scum residue or build up when used with hard water, and the high ph value of the product do not apply in a blanket manner to all types of bars.

Lush Solid Shampoo Bars (image credit)

Shampoo bars broadly fall into three categories:

cold processed soap derivatives (using hair loving oils and additives, very likely to be superfatted to increase the conditioning properties of the final product) - e.g. Karen's Body Beautiful Bodacious Bar. This product is usually opaque
glycerin shampoo bars which combine hair loving oils and additives, humectants (namley the glycerin) and surfactants to create a lathery but solid shampoo. This product can be y clear, translucent or semi-opaque. E.g Anita Grant Babassu Shampoo Bar range (which state they are already ph balanced).
Solid Surfactant bars - these are created by blending combinations of 'dry' surfactants (noodles, pellets or pastilles) - usually the same ones you would find in a liquid shampoo - with oils and or butters to create a solid product. This product is usually opaque. eg. Almocado Clean* or Lush Solid Shampoo range. Since these products tend to use the same or similar recipes to the liquid shampoo versions minus the water and water soluble ingredients - the ph balance of the product tends to be much closer to that of the liquid shampoo (i.e. closer to 6.5 or 5.5 than the ph of 8 quoted by the afore mentioned article).

This is why I say it is important to note that not all shampoo bars are cold processed and therefore the ph of the bars will vary - some cold process formulations will have included ACV or citric acid in the processing to help lower the pH of the end product.

Some bars may leave residue in hard water areas and some will not. Some will need you to rinse with ACV after use and some will not.

So - should you avoid shampoo bars? Not at all. The best way to evaluate any product is to try it for yourself. Just as some people have no issues with washing their bodies with soap and others prefer shower gels or creams - some people will have no issues with washing with a cold process soap bar- others will prefer a liquid shampoo or a glycerin or 'solid surfactant' based shampoo bar. There are plenty of options to choose from.

Here are some useful tips:

Cold Process Shampoo Bars

Often handmade by homecrafters who love all things natural (and I'm all for supporting homecrafters and small businesses) Lye is a product used to help create the soap but no lye remains in the final product.
Pros: usually chock full of natural oils and lovely stuff we like. SLS free. Can be superfatted (extra oils and butters to help condition your hair). Good lather. Can be filled with liquid herbal extracts.
Cons: some brands can leave residue/build-up, an ACV rinse after shampooing is recommended.

Glycerin Based Shampoo Bars

Also frequently handmade, using a combination of glycerin and mild surfactants (formulas will vary).
Pros: tend to be milder than CP shampoo bars, the amounts of oils and oil based additives is limited (it won't stay hard if its too full of oil). Homecrafters will add as many natural goodies as they can. Normally SLS free (check the labels) and can be pH balanced.
Cons: may not lather as much as CP shampoo bars; may not be as clarifying as other shampoos.

Solid Surfactant Shampoo Bars

A combination of solid surfactants (powders, pastilles, noodles) and anhydrous additives - including butters and oils. Can have very rich lathers depending on surfactants used. Ph can be regulated by through the use of citric acid etc. Fewer homecrafters tackle this one, but big companies (e.g. Lush cosmetics) will.
Pros: Good lather, fewer ph worries, can be clarifying. Powdered extracts and clays can be added. Can be SLS free.
Cons: Can contain SLS noodles (check the label); Only anhydrous (dry) ingredients can be used - so no liquid herbal teas can be added (powdered extracts can be included though). Can be too clarifying in some cases (check the ingredients and choose wisely, failing that - trial and error will let you know what works best for you)

Whatever you decide, I recommend that those of you with loose hair and mature locs use a conditioner after shampooing because of the benefits it imparts to your hair and its ability to help smooth raised cuticles and rebalance your hair's pH. (Conditioning immature locs can lead to excess slippage and softening which is detrimental to the early stages of the locking process).

What are your experiences? Love em or hate em? I loved Anita Grant's peppermint & babassu bar for my Sisterlocks and I use All Clean on my daughters.

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Hair loss Update - One Year Later

2011-10-31T05:35:00.011Z

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

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 Installation Photos

2011-10-22T17:14:00.001+01:00

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

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

Then and Now - Niece L

2011-10-10T09:09:00.003+01:00

Before

Then (Jan 2010)

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

Then and Now - Niece J

2011-10-05T01:20:00.001+01:00

Then (18mos)

Now (3 yrs)

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

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

Hair Inspiration - Gail Porter

2011-09-30T01:16:00.000+01:00

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

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?

2011-09-26T09:13:00.001+01:00

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.

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

2011-09-23T00:09:00.001+01:00

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 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

2011-09-20T13:08:00.002+01:00

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.

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

2011-09-08T09:45:00.001+01:00

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

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/

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

Fearless Baby

2011-08-11T19:43:00.001+01:00

The past few days have had us in a form of fearful limbo, on occasion 'uncertain' (I refused to say 'afraid) to leave home to head into our regular shopping areas as our neighbourhoods were attacked by angry youths and lawless louts hell bent on causing chaos and destruction while having a 'good time' looting shoes, clothing and electronics...

It kicked off in Tottenham - affecting my fellow blogger Nai... and then spread like a bacteria, infecting normally peaceful neighbourhoods like a flesh eating virus. I watched in disbelief as our local high streets burned and broke under the frustration of a seemingly 'lost' generation. I prayed for peace... noone I know was injured or had their businesses damaged but the aftermath is leaving a bad taste in our mouths which is just as awful... "those Black ppl again, a bunch of good for nothing degenerates... can't even control their kids"... but this wasn't about race and it wasn't just 'the Black people'... it was generational... so how are we going to deal with a generation who value materialism and keeping up with the Jones more than hard work and discipline and have no respect for public property (or the law enforcement agencies) or their parents.. or you.. or me?

I don't know... but I want to write about something happier.

Today was about teaching Bajan Baby (Paz) and her brother (the Little Prince) to be fearless;

picture this: a wooded pathway....

... dotted with snails and slugs,
Prince and big sis gingerly picking their way through - Bajan Baby trudging along totally oblivious. I wanted to introduce her to these little creatures without calling attention to them in a negative way (cos big sis is terrified of them and I don't want Baby to develop the same phobia!)

So I said: "Hey Ari, look at the snail"... as it crawled across the path in front of her. Her response was to pick it up and put it in her mouth

Picture my face transfixed in horror while Big Sis and the Lil Prince scatter in different directions screaming at the top of their lungs...

End of today's lesson.

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

Tek Yuh Hand Out Ma Child Head!

2011-07-19T19:23:00.000+01:00

Yes, I'm back.. and I'm angry (lol)

First things first - what happened to me? (LOL)

The day after I published my last post (in which I mentioned I had gone awol because my son had chicken pox for 2 weeks) - my baby daughter manifested the same disease... chicken pox must have been in season because a few of my friend's children got it too and they hadn't seen us in aaaaaaaaaages and their kids don't go to the same nurseries either!

So.. little Miss was sick AND I resigned from work - so at the moment I am a full time SAHM (stay at home mum) or rather I am a full time Sisterlocks 'Consultant' and loctician. I'll fill you guys in on all of that later - I just really wanna get this off my chest (which used to be the name of my blog "Off My Chest", lol)

On with the show...

Little Miss has a rather loose curl pattern, (y'all have seen the pics), cornrows and plaits work themselves loose in about 24 hours or so. I have learned that trying to 'contain' her hair in intricate designs or neat rows of braids is a complete waste of time - because they will look awful the next day (sometimes the next morning) no matter what we do and I am not going to put holding gel or wax in her hair for the sake of a style. Most days she wears two, three or four afro puffs and everyone is happy. Or almost everyone...

On more than a few occasions when I've sent Paz (the baby) to nursery with her hair done one way... her daddy or I will pick her up in the evening with her hair done ANOTHER way... At first this was amusing.. and once or twice (when I'd been run ragged nursing her brother back to health) it was even helpful ... but things have gotten out of hand now.

Back when it was still amusing, I asked who was doing her hair, the lone AfroCaribbean worker in the school nervously raised her hand. This is the worker that my daughter ADORES, every morning she will squeal and run to this lady and laugh and giggle... and Paz even goes so far as to blow kisses to this woman when she is leaving for the day. (Yes I am rolling my eyes).

How could I chastise her? Plus she seemed genuinely frightened (maybe she thought I was going to report her to OFSTED or something...) so I just said: "Thank you, I was busy with so didn't have time to do it" - to which the Worker replied: "Oh it's no trouble, I LOVE doing her hair - its so soft and curly" literally gushing with enthusiasm... warning bells should have gone off in my head... I should have nipped it in the bud then, it would have saved me from ranting about now... but I thought it was harmless.

Over the next month I found myself frequently having to loosen hair bands that had been wrapped so tight that those tiny white hair bumps were appearing around Paz' hairline (Grrrrr...) I started to wonder how much hair was being tugged out during these daily hair REstyling sessions...I started to get annoyed BUT the Worker was never there when I arrived to take Baby home, nor when I dropped her off in the mornings...

Last night I made a batch of Hair Milk and Detangling Spray samples for cosmetic assessment. Before mailing them to my testers I decided to run a quality check (using my daughters of course - I aint got no hair! lol). I spent maybe half an hour, defluffling (removing lint and debris), detangling and twisting baby girl's hair.

This morning I took down the back section (she had an awesome twist-out but I put it into two puffs), and I left the top front section as a cute curly twisted fringe. Even my older daughter commented on how cute she looked as we toddled off to school...

Fast forward to this evening. I collect Little Miss and as I look at her I feel sick. "What happened to your fringe?"

Not only was the fringe untwisted... it was non-existent. Baby Girl's hair had been combed through (so much for the defined remnants of the twist out) and scraped into two tight puffs) - well la-di-da. I was absolutely livid. In fact, I still am.

"Mrs Worker,

Do you have any idea the time and effort it took to put those twists in in the first place? I only did that last night.. why the blazes would you comb them out today? They weren't even frizzy yet? Did she fall into a vat of water? Did some kid wipe his spaghetti-os in her hair? What happened? All that effort for nothing -

What a blooming waste of my time.Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? "

Here's what I think you should do from now on (in measured Bajan dialect) : "Keep yuh so and so hands outta my child head before I drive a kick in yuh."

Seriously people - what would you do? .... Even Paz wants to know

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

UK Sisterlocks & Natural Hair Event - 26 June 2011

2011-06-19T20:21:00.000+01:00

This post is a merging of two posts by two UK based bloggers (must give credit where due!!). Thanks to Nai and the Natural Lounge for originally publicising this event. My original comments are italicised, everything else will have been summarised from their posts.

I'm thinking of grabbing a couple of my clients and friends and heading on down... however, I may flake out at the last minute because it'll be the first sort of natural/sisterlocks event that I will attend without my locks... that said _ I went to Royal Ascot this weekend and didn't feel awkward (maybe because I hid behind my hat???) - anyway we'll see.

The event is being organised by the team (Liz and Judy) at Locks Royale - now Liz is one of the first British Sisterlocks Consultants... if you have the Sisterlocks journals - you will find a photo of herself, Carol (Tassahai) and Marie (Cammalocks) from back in the day. I have always admired Liz - she gave it to me straight when I asked her how much it would cost to get Sisterlocks whereas others were reluctant to give ball park figures over the phone. Bless!

I think it's a brilliant idea, and the only reason I've taken so long to talk about it is because I have been out of commission nursing my 2 yr old who went down with chicken pox (Man Down! Man Down!) He's perking back up now - so life can sort of return to normal. (This also explains my lack of posts re: the 30 day challenge!!! Sorry)

The Sisters Who Lock - Annual Social Gathering

Date:	Sunday 26th June
Time:	5pm - 10pm
Cost:	£10 which includes a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink; – light refreshments will be on sale.
Location	Welbourne Centre, Chestnut Road, London N17 9EU. (5 mins walk from Tottenham Hale Station)
Guest Speaker:	Life and Relationship Coach Des OConnor. (7pm sharp)
Who Should go?	Everyone is welcome: locked sistas (traditional or micros!!), naturals AND permies.
What else is on offer?	Well, for those of you who remember 'Adornment' (I do!!!) there will be a mini 'Adornment' style sale. This basically means that there will be Culturally inspired designers exhibiting their jewellery, clothing, greeting cards, bags etc. Sisterlocks products will also be on sale and to top it off, there'll be a photographer on hand to take your photo (which will be available for same day purchase). How cool?

This will also be a good opportunity for anyone thinking about starting sisterlocks to see them in their abundance, ask questions and share the experience of other sisterlocks wearers.

For more details please visit their website: http://www.locksroyale.co.uk
or give them a call: Liz Joseph (07956 346 385) or Judy (07950 703 789)

For details of other upcoming UK based events , please head on over to The Natural Lounge where Angel has compiled a very good list. (Make sure you subscribe to her blog to stay in the loop).

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

30 Day Challenge #5:

2011-06-05T00:34:00.002+01:00

Things You Want to Say To an Ex....

That's so easy :)

"Thank You"

Thank you for every denigrating action, every humiliating reference, every negative word. Thank you for the way you completely crushed me, stepped on me, pushed me to the bottom and made me feel as though I was and had nothing of value to offer anyone -

because ... when you've reached the bottom - the only way is up. And had I not been completely broken, I would never have had the opportunity to rebuild, reinvent, repair and recreate - the stronger, smarter, confident woman who stands before you today.

Had I never met you and suffered under you - I would never have the sense of self I have now, I have such an understanding of my real self worth that I do not allow anyone to take me for granted. I demand respect wherever I am now - whereas before I would have let 'things slide'... or settled for less. Having met you - I know I deserve more. I AM worthy, no matter what anyone tries to say. And this is the message I take to all young women - to protect them from people like you in the hope that they can avoid the same pitfalls: poison dressed up as sugar... vinegar masquerading as wine.

Thank you for showing me everything that a partner shouldn't be, so that I was able to recognise the 'good stuff' when it came along, instead of mistakenly thinking that your 'crumbs' were morsels of 'goodness' I should be grateful to receive. Some people are abusers and users - thank you for showing me what that looks like so I can warn my sisters and daughters to be on the lookout.

Thank you for teaching me how to forgive, because I am not bitter nor do I hold any malice against you. I am glad I met you. I am thankful for the experience, all those years... they made me who I am today and I like me very much now.

You tried to destroy me - yet here I stand on the other side laughing.. stronger than ever... HAPPY and BLESSED.

This song meant so much to me on so many levels (literal and metaphoric) back in the day - so I'll just let British songstress Jamelia sing the rest ...go ahead girl, tell the people!

"Thank You"

[Verse 1:]
The fights, those nights -
I tried to pretend it don't hurt
The way, I prayed
Someday that you would love me
Really, completely
Just how I wanted it to be
But no, so wrong!
Can't believe I stayed with you so long!

[B-Chorus:]
You hit, you spit, you split, ever-y bit of me, yeah
You stole, you broke, you're cold
You're such a joke to me, yeah

[Chorus:]
For every last bruise you gave me
For every time I sat in tears
For the million ways you hurt me
I just wanna tell you this
You broke my world, made me strong
Thank you
Messed up my dreams, made me strong
Thank you

[Verse 2:]
My head, near dead - Just the way you wanted it
My soul, stone cold - Cos I was under you're control
So young, so dumb
Knew just how to make me succumb
But I understand
To make yourself feel like a man

[B-Chorus:]
You hit, you spit, you split, ever-y bit of me, yeah
You stole, you broke, you're cold - You're such a joke to me, yeah

[Chorus:]
For every last bruise you gave me
For every time I sat in tears
For the million ways you hurt me
I just wanna tell you this
You broke my world, made me strong
Thank you
Messed up my dreams, made me strong
Thank you

[Middle eight:]
You coulda had it all babe
It coulda been so right
I woulda given you everything
Morning through night
Yeah, you taught me some lessons
Those are my blessings
That won't happen again
Thank you

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

30 Day Challenge #4:

2011-06-05T00:11:00.000+01:00

Bullet Your Whole Day....

(Click here for details of the 30 day challenge)

Alright - this post is going to be boring... my life isn't THAT interesting... anyway here goes! (NB. I am skipping anything like 'brush teeth, have shower etc')

Get kids breakfast and ready for the day.
Pick up clothes off the line. (Throw stones at the 5 foxes who think they own the garden).
Cart eldest kid off to Youth Group (Sunday School). - Yes, I should go too but I can't today because of point below.
Attend pottery making & painting class (with the younger kids) as part of friend's hen day activities.
Have Sunday Lunch with family (including daddy who is here in London on holiday).
Put younger kids down for their afternoon nap.
Revise for upcoming Anatomy & Physiology exam.
Fold laundry, do ironing, tidy up.
Check over oldest child's homework.
Make sure oldest child's school shoes are polished (by HER not by me) and uniform is good to go.
Make sure all relevant reports are ready (for work) and laptop is in the right bag.
Make sure all loctician tools are sterilised and stored - ready for this week's clients.
Pray for God's guidance and providence for the upcoming week.
More revision: anterior and posterior muscles of the upper and lower leg.

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

30 Day Challenge #3

2011-06-03T14:28:00.000+01:00

A Book I Love

This was a tough one. I love books... loads and loads of them - which makes it very hard to choose just one for this.

I have decided to go with "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hossein (Amazon) : the book gave me an insight into the lives of women in Afhganistan. It is fiction but it is symbolic and representative.

This story touched me because - having lived in the so-called 'Western world' all my life, I have never given much thought to the plight of women elsewhere. Apart from the (seemingly few) Muslim women who campaigned against wearing a hajib or full dress, I assumed the women were happy and well cared for. This book ripped the blinders from my eyes and showed me that women can be unhappy and abused no matter the location or religion.

I felt for the women... the 'plain Jane' who lost her father and after a happy childhood was served up years of sorrow and misery. And the beautiful girl who thought she had the world at her fingertips but whose life took a twist that sent her down a bitter road resulting in her collision with the older (and wiser) 'Plain Jane'... who saved her.

The alliance these two women formed... in the face of cruelty and abuse... they had eachother - until one of them made the ultimate sacrifice. OH! What a story.

After I read this book I walked away feeling incredibly grateful for my life: warts and all.

Woman - Arise!

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

30 Day Challenge #2:

2011-06-02T14:13:00.000+01:00

Something I feel strongly about

Click here for the original rules etc

Marriage & Fidelity

I've read the other challenger posts and I feel strongly about some of those things too - child abuse and animal cruelty for example - but since they've already been written about - I'll talk about this topic.

I feel strongly about the sanctity of marriage. If you do not or cannot commit to being completely faithful to your husband/wife - forsaking all others and cleaving to him/her only - then please don't bother. It really annoys me when I see or hear a married party (most often a man I'm afraid), glibly discussing his 'outside woman' or external conquests without a care in the world - and when called out on it, the answer is something along the lines of : "Well, my wife knows I always come home to her". Really now?

Do I want to lie down next to someone who has spent the afternoon sniffing around behind every bamsie in the village? I don't care how discreet. If you want to 'have your cake and eat it too' don't get married. I don't condone it in unmarried relationships either but to me it just feels WORSE when you're married.

I do understand that people are human and therefore fallible. I understand that you CAN get married with the best intentions in the world, with no thoughts of adultery and 'situations' can conspire against you to cause you to 'slip up'. I aint talking about that.

I am specifically referring to people who get married, knowing full well they will 'step out' as frequently as they wish - with whomever they wish - as the opportunity presents itself. And some of these same individuals would crap themselves if they thought their spouses would find out : ready to call you all the worse names and tell you to 'mind your own business' if they think you'll uncover their secret to their spouse...

I'm just saying: if you know... that you cannot be satisfied with the woman/man who wants to marry you - don't marry her/him. Let them be happy with someone else.

Getting married and not taking it seriously is just making a mockery of the whole thing. And God will not be mocked.

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

30 Day Challenge #1:

2011-06-01T11:14:00.000+01:00

1. Five Ways to Win Your Heart

I'm going to answer this question from a romantic perspective (*grin*) These are things HRH has done to win and keep my heart over the years.

Bring me flowers. I love them. They can be freshly cut or you can bring me a whole plant. It can be as simple as a single rose or calla lily or as elaborate as a mixed bunch of gerberas, leafy fronds and asiatic lilies. Flowers lift me. HRH doesn't like to make ostensibly 'romantic' gestures. The way he is - he just likes to move to his own beat, and is always moaning about 'who said this is the right thing to do?' so when he brings me flowers - it's definitely a heart warming moment and a treasured occasion
Breakfast (in bed - *huge grin*). I'm not just talking about the 'expected' occasions like say 'Valentine's Day' or my birthday. The ones that really stand out for me are the times when I've least expected it. Like when I was recovering after the birth of our son (C-section delivery) and he faithfully brought me breakfast in bed EVERY morning for almost 8 weeks. How sweet was that? And when I was bed-bound for almost 2 months in 2007 after suffering an injury to my foot, again, he would bring me breakfast every morning before he went to work, even if I was too drugged up to notice or thank him for it. I would wake up to a mug of hot steaming tea and and a pile of toasted of sandwiches... every morning.
Be Confident. A healthy dose of self belief adds some genuine swagger to your stroll. I'm not talking about arrogance, or over-confidence or conceitedness but it's a real 'switch on' to see someone 'own a room', to be fully aware of what he (or she of course) can bring to this 'party' in a manner that shows they are not prepared for anyone to try to take that away from them (in some derogatroy, or humilitating or self-denigrating way). Know yourself. Know whom God called you to be, and don't let any MAN (or woman) try to tell you different.
Stand Up. Take responsibility for your family. There is nothing as heart-warming as watching a father (biological or adopted) 'own' his kids. HRH became a different man when he became a father. I saw him giggle like a child and rough house with them like a pile of puppies. I've seen him step and change the foulest nappies and mop up kiddie vomit from the walls without a single complaint. I've seen him whisk away away a whingey babe and settle them in their beds like he was the Pied Piper... He has been involved in every possible way, from choosing names, to selecting nurseries, to taking the day off to nurse a sick child when mummy had to be at work that day. Mothers have a special role in raising children - but so do daddies and when both work in unison it can be a really beautiful thing. So dads - don't leave it all to mummy, carve out your own niche and make it your thing.
BE HONEST. Don't hide stuff from me. Just bring the truth, straight up. If I can't count on you to warn me when I'm about to make a mistake - who can I count on? Have my back but don't just be reactive, be engaging and encouraging. As my partner we are in this together - and while you don't run my life, my decisions will ultimately affect OUR life so show an interest :) two heads are (most often) better than one lol.

Over to you Yahvinah *grin*

Click here for the Original Challenge and rules

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

Her Best Hair: 30 Day Blog Challenge

2011-05-31T21:11:00.001+01:00

Tia Shauntee - 30 Day Challenge
Her Best Hair: 30 Day Blog Challenge

I'm game: anyone care to join me?
I plan to start when I get back to London in 2 days. I'll add the image to this page as well so you can see what you're meant to write each day.

And thanks a million for the supportive and uplifting comments you left on the 'Good, Bad & Ugly' post. I was weak, but I felt strengthened. On with the show eh?

Xx

Dark Girls - upcoming documentary

2011-05-26T21:34:00.000+01:00

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

Thanks to Toshia from On The Road to Queendom for switching me on to this.I'd love to see the whole thing.

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

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

2011-05-20T13:32:00.000+01:00

Mostly the pictures speak for themselves.

June 2010

July 2010

September 2010

December 2010
I found it very hard to take photos after I lost all my hair on 31st October... I've just been looking back and this is all I could find, no shots of the back of the head because it upset me so much I deleted any as soon as I found them! However you can see the horseshoe beginning to emerge at the front, particularly in the lower picture.

Oh and that's my younger brother and his baby locs - he has THE most unruly hair that I've ever come across! Seriously... this was neat when I started them - since then they've taken on a life of their own, thick curly naughty locs :)

January/February 2011
After 8-12 weeks of topical steroid treatment (applied directly to the scalp in an attempt to stop my immune system from attacking the hair follicles). I was also using a modified version of this natural recipe (thanks Ofo).

In the first picture you can see loads of scars - a legacy of whatever irritation was contributing to the hairloss. It was a shock to see so many small scars as my scalp was not sore or itchy but clearly something was going on. I hate that picture but I'm showing it because I promised I would keep it real and show the 'bad' and the 'ugly' as well as the 'good'.

February 2011

Walking around in Barbados with no hair was an UBER challenge, especially since people had seen me with a full head of hair just a few months prior. I still owe you a post on that... but this pic was taken by my favourite Bajan artist Kraig. Yearwood of 3rd Revolt. He always makes me smile!

March 2011

The scars have healed over and it doesn't look so 'ugly'. This pattern is what my husband calls the 'map of Africa' What I think he means is it looks like a continent. My sister-in-law says that if it grows it will become a natural mohawk! However, it never grew longer than this.

May 2011

I am now on week 3 of a more aggressive treatment. So.. additional growth in the 'Map of Africa', no significant growth elsewhere i.e no filling in of the patches.

And just in case you want to see these 'UGLY' but GOOD pictures side by side...

I have 5 weeks of treatment left. It has been 7 months since I lost the last loc.

I will continue 'hoping' for another 5-6 months and after that I will accept that my hair probably isn't coming back - by then I should also have an afro, kinky twist or loc wig that I will wear - cos I can't be dealing with shaving 'the map' every couple of days.

Comments? Suggestions? (Words of encouragement? )
Weigh in below...

Later!

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://www.lovelifelocs..com

Sisterlocks Installation Photos

2011-05-19T16:14:00.001+01:00

So.. I just realised that I posted my first install and then nothing... I've completed 5 heads now with number 6 booked in. Why haven't I shared this??? Hmmmmm

Maybe I wanted to keep 'business' and pleasure separate (?) Or maybe I didn't think it would be interesting... Either way I'll post them below just in case someone is interested or would like to send a client my way *huge grin*

How am I doing on a personal level? Well..., lately I have been a bit down in the mouth. I have been following your hair journeys and rejoicing with you over your new hair colours (Gigglz is rocking that honey blonde), repairs/restoration (Yahvinah's edges are filling in after her postpartum shedding), and your growth updates (too many to list) - and I must admit I've been missing own hair TERRIBLY.

It's all well and good for people to (often flippantly) say : 'It will grow back' - but it's been 7 months now... with no significant difference. I have a horseshoe shaped ring of hair at the front ony my head and a small 'map of Africa' at the back and that's it.. swaths of BALDNESS in between...

And, while I am grateful for the growth in those places, it's 'a madness' cos really I'd rather have all or nothing.

Seriously... cos you can't walk around with scrubby patches and if you shave the patches off too often you get razor bumps... eugh! I promised Euphoria I'd post some pics and I will... in the NEXT post (honest hehhe).

One time I forgot to put on my hat/wig before answering the door and the plumber's eyes almost fell out of his head... after picking his jaw up off the floor he recovered rather well: "Well, it's a good thing you're pretty" he said, "Cos it would be absolutely awful if you were bald AND ugly!"

Gotta admire some people's honesty! LOL.

So back to what I really came here to share with you -
Sisterlocks installation photos.

You've already seen Client Number 1

Here's Client Number 2:

Starting Length: 14 inches of thick curly hair. See how it still looks erm.. 'frizzy' at the root despite being freshly installed? That's all down to hair texture - we definitely could not make any more rotations, the loc was tight all the way to the root but it LOOKS loose.

Client Number 3 started with 3-4 inches of tightly coiled hair.

Client Number 4 had 9 inches of very fine hair with a looser wavier curl pattern.

(Note the larger partings at the lower back due to 'sparsity - density' issues; no point have 6 locs with only 2 strands of hair in them instead of 2 locs with 6 strands)

Client Number 5 started with 6 inches of coily springy hair. My card reader is broken so I only have these two for ya - sorry.

I really love Sisterlocks :)

(NB not hating on other types of locs before someone tries to bawl me out in the comments section. I love locs period. I'm just saying that I really love teeny tiny locs).

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

Hair Story: Shaherah Jordan

2011-05-10T12:40:00.000+01:00

I was about to ask one of my friends if I could do a profile on her for my 'Hair Story' series (yes, it's been a while since I did one, my bad!) - and wouldn't you know someone else beat me to it? LOL

So - rather than badger her with similar questions, I think I will share the original post here:

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a marketing professional, freelance sports writer and fitness enthusiast. I was born in London but spent a large part of my life in

America

- California and

Georgia

. I currently reside in South East London.

When did you go natural?

I went natural towards the end of 1999 after a break up. When I was going out with said individual he was adamant that locks were ugly so I took a strange pleasure in cutting my perm completely out and wearing my hair natural. I wore my hair very short for about a year or so before experimenting with twists and then decided to 'locks up' around April 2001.

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

Best Hair Loss Article I've Found So Far

2011-05-02T10:55:00.000+01:00

This article really explains all types of alopecia (pattern hair loss) in an easy to understand format. I started with alopecia areata and telogen effluvium then moved into the (not so pleasant and more widespread realm of alopecia totalis which is where - instead of one or two dime shaped patches - you have widespread or complete hairloss from your scalp and extending to other areas of your body. I hope you find it informative.

March 1, 2003 Table of Contents

Alopecia in Women

C. CAROLYN THIEDKE, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

Am Fam Physician. 2003 Mar 1;67(5):1007-1014.

Patient Information Handout

Alopecia can be divided into disorders in which the hair follicle is normal but the cycling of hair growth is abnormal and disorders in which the hair follicle is damaged. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in women. Other disorders include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, cicatricial alopecia, and traumatic alopecias. The diagnosis is usually based on a thorough history and a focused physical examination. In some patients, selected laboratory tests or punch biopsy may be necessary. Topically administered minoxidil is labeled for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women. Corticosteroids and other agents are typically used in women with alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium is often a self-limited disorder. Because alopecia can be devastating to women, management should include an assessment for psychologic effects.

Although alopecia can occur anywhere on the body, it is most distressing when it affects the scalp. Hair loss can range from a small bare patch that is easily masked by hairstyling to a more diffuse and obvious pattern. Alopecia in women has been found to have significantly deleterious effects on self-esteem, psychologic well-being, and body image.1,2

Pathophysiology

Every hair follicle continually goes through three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (involution, or a brief transition between growth and resting), and telogen (resting).3 Disorders of alopecia can be divided into those in which the hair follicle is normal but the cycling of hair growth is abnormal (e.g., telogen effluvium) and those in which the hair follicle is damaged (e.g., cicatricial alopecia).

Diagnosis

A careful history often suggests the underlying cause of alopecia. Crucial factors include the duration and pattern of hair loss, whether the hair is broken or shed at the roots, and whether shedding or thinning has increased. The patient's diet, medications, present and past medical conditions, and family history of alopecia are other important factors.

The physical examination has three parts. First, the scalp is examined for evidence of erythema, scaling, or inflammation. Follicular units are apparent in nonscarring alopecias but absent in scarring types. Second, the density and distribution of hair are assessed. Third, the hair shaft is examined for caliber, length, shape, and fragility.4

The “pull test” is an easy technique for assessing hair loss. Approximately 60 hairs are grasped between the thumb and the index and middle fingers. The hairs are then gently but firmly pulled. A negative test (six or fewer hairs obtained) indicates normal shedding, whereas a positive test (more than six hairs obtained) indicates a process of active hair shedding. Patients should not shampoo their hair 24 hours before the test is performed.4

If the diagnosis is not clear based on the history and physical examination, selected laboratory tests and, occasionally, punch biopsy may be indicated. A stepwise approach to the diagnosis of hair loss is provided in Figure 1.5,6

Evaluation of Alopecia in Women

FIGURE 1.

Suggested approach to the evaluation of alopecia in women. (DHEA-S = dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; ANA = antinuclear antibody)

Adapted with permission from Healey PM, Jacobson EJ. Common medical diagnoses: an algorithmic approach. 3d ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2000:208–11, with additional information from Drake LA, Dinehart SM, Farmer ER, Goltz RW, Graham GF, Hordinsky MK, et al. Guidelines of care for androgenetic alopecia. American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996;35(3 pt 1):465–9.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia, or hair loss mediated by the presence of the androgen dihydrotestosterone, is the most common form of alopecia in men and women. Almost all persons have some degree of androgenetic alopecia.7 The hair loss usually begins between the ages of 12 and 40 years and is frequently insufficient to be noticed. However, visible hair loss occurs in approximately one half of all persons by the age of 50 years8 (Figure 2). In women, hairstyling may mask early hair loss.

FIGURE 2.

Androgenetic alopecia.

Hair follicles contain androgen receptors. In the presence of androgens, genes that shorten the anagen phase are activated, and hair follicles shrink or become miniaturized. With successive anagen cycles, the follicles become smaller (leading to shorter, finer hair), and nonpigmented vellus hairs replace pigmented terminal hairs. In women, the thinning is diffuse, but more marked in the frontal and parietal regions. Even persons with severe androgenetic alopecia almost always have a thin fringe of hair frontally. The remaining hair configuration may resemble a monk's haircut.

Women with androgenetic alopecia do not have higher levels of circulating androgens. However, they have been found to have higher levels of 5α-reductase (which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone), more androgen receptors, and lower levels of cytochrome P450 (which converts testosterone to estrogen).6

Most women with androgenetic alopecia have normal menses, normal fertility, and normal endocrine function, including gender-appropriate levels of circulating androgens. Therefore, an extensive hormonal work-up is unnecessary. If a woman has irregular menses, abrupt hair loss, hirsutism, or acne recurrence, an endocrine evaluation is appropriate. In this situation, total testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and prolactin levels should be obtained.6

Because the hair loss in androgenetic alopecia is an aberration of the normal hair cycle, it is theoretically reversible. Advanced androgenetic alopecia, however, may not respond to treatment, because the inflammation that surrounds the bulge area of the follicle may irreparably damage the follicular stem cell.

TREATMENT

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

The currently preferred treatment for androgenetic alopecia is topically administered 2 percent minoxidil.6,8,9 Minoxidil appears to affect the hair follicle in three ways: it increases the length of time follicles spend in anagen, it “wakes up” follicles that are in catagen, and it enlarges the actual follicles. The mechanism by which minoxidil effects these changes is not known. Vellus hairs enlarge and are converted to terminal hairs. In addition, shedding is reduced.

In a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial involving 550 women 18 to 45 years of age, treatment with 2 percent minoxidil solution resulted in a higher hair count compared with placebo.10[Evidence label A, randomized controlled trial] In another study,11 50 percent of women treated with 2 percent minoxidil had at least minimal hair regrowth, and 13 percent had moderate regrowth. No significantly increased benefit has been shown for the 5 percent minoxidil solution compared with the 2 percent solution.8 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled topically administered minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. A dropper is used to apply minoxidil solution directly onto dry scalp twice daily. After each use, hands should be washed thoroughly to avoid inadvertent application to other parts of the body. Minoxidil is listed as a pregnancy category C drug. It is not recommended for use in persons younger than 18 years.

The primary side effect of topical minoxidil therapy is hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth). The hair growth is most often noted above the eyebrows, in the malar region, and on the lateral cheeks. It occasionally occurs above the upper lip and on the chin. Facial hypertrichosis has been reported to affect 3 to 5 percent of women treated with the 2 percent solution and more than 5 percent of women treated with the 5 percent solution.8

Hypertrichosis disappears after a year, even with continued use of minoxidil, and remits within one to six months if treatment is stopped.8 Bleaching of longer, darker hair is helpful cosmetically. Hair removal procedures are seldom necessary. Explanations for the occurrence of this side effect include local intravascular spread of minoxidil, inadvertent manual transfer of the drug to the face, and transmission of residual minoxidil from pillows.8

Commercial preparations contain minoxidil in a propylene glycol base. Allergic reactions to this base limit the usefulness of minoxidil therapy in some women. A compounding pharmacist can prepare an alternative preparation in which minoxidil is suspended in a less sensitizing agent such as polyethylene glycol.12

Exogenous Estrogen

In the past, exogenous estrogen was used to treat androgenetic alopecia. This treatment is used less often now, because minoxidil is more effective. In fertile women with androgenetic alopecia who request oral contraception, it is important to select a pill containing the least androgenic progestin, such as norgestimate (in Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen), norethindrone (in Ovcon 35), desogestrel (in Mircette), or ethynodiol diacetate (in Demulen, Zovia).8

Spironolactone (Aldactone)

This drug is a weak competitive inhibitor of androgen binding to androgen receptors. It also decreases the synthesis of testosterone. For these reasons, orally administered spironolactone has been tried in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, although questions remain about its usefulness. Spironolactone can be beneficial in women who also have hirsuitism.13 However, the FDA has not labeled this drug for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Finasteride (Proscar)

This agent has been shown to be effective in men with alopecia. However, finasteride should not be used in women of childbearing age, because 5α-reductase inhibitors may cause abnormalities of the external genitalia in the male fetus. Moreover, finasteride has not been shown to be useful in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia.8

Tretinoin (Retin-A)

Topical tretinoin therapy as an adjunct to minoxidil has shown some promise.6,14

Other Treatments and Hair-Care Practices

When hair loss is extensive, wigs may be worn. The use of minigrafts, rather than larger plugs, in hair transplantation provides a more cosmetically pleasing outcome.15

Hairstyling, teasing, coloring, permanents, and the use of hair spray are supported, rather than prohibited, as means of dealing with the cosmetic effects of androgenetic alopecia. Women may shampoo their hair as frequently as they wish without fear of worsening hair loss.8

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is patchy hair loss of autoimmune origin7 (Figure 3). It usually presents as a single oval patch or multiple confluent patches of asymptomatic, well-circumscribed, non-scarring alopecia. Severity varies from a small bare patch to loss of hair on the entire scalp. So-called “exclamation point” hairs are a hallmark of the disorder. These hairs are usually located at the periphery of the patch and extend several millimeters above the scalp.16

FIGURE 3.

Alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata occurs in 2 percent of the general population, with men and women equally affected. The condition may be present in persons of any age, but is more common in children and young adults.16,17

The course of alopecia areata is one of spontaneous remissions and recurrences. Although patients with this disorder are usually otherwise healthy, some have comorbid conditions such as atopy, thyroid disease, or vitiligo. Alopecia areata has been strongly associated with certain human leukocyte antigen class II alleles.17

TREATMENT

Immunomodulating agents used in the treatment of alopecia areata include corticosteroids, 5 percent minoxidil, and anthralin cream (Psoriatec). Topical immunotherapeutic agents (e.g., dinitrochlorobenzene, squaric acid dibutyl ester, and diphenylcyclopropenone) are also used, although management regimens for these potent agents are challenging. Dermatology consultation or referral may be necessary. All of these agents stimulate hair growth but do not prevent hair loss. Moreover, they probably do not influence the course of the disease.

Unless alopecia areata is mild and easily masked, psychologic distress can be extreme. Therefore, most physicians feel obliged to offer some form of treatment to affected patients.

Corticosteroids

The most common treatment for alopecia areata is intralesional injection of a corticosteroid, preferably tri-amcinolone acetonide (Kenalog). The recommended dose is up to 3 mL of a 5 mg per mL solution injected into the mid-dermis in multiple sites 1 cm apart.17 A 0.5-inch-long 30-gauge needle is used, and 0.1 mL is injected into each site. Hair growth usually becomes apparent in four weeks. Treatment can be repeated every four to six weeks. Local skin atrophy, the predominant side effect, can be minimized by taking care to inject into the mid-dermis, rather than into the more superficial epidermis or the subdermal fat.

Topical corticosteroid therapy can be used, although it is not as effective as intralesional injections. Twice-daily application of 1 mL of an intermediate-potency corticosteroid solution or lotion to the entire scalp is routinely used to supplement corticosteroid injections.16 Regimens that combine topical corticosteroid therapy with anthralin or minoxidil also can be beneficial.

Although oral corticosteroid therapy is effective in the treatment of alopecia areata, it is seldom used because of potential adverse effects. Systemic treatment may be indicated in women with progressive alopecia areata. For active, extensive, or rapidly spreading alopecia areata, the recommended treatment in adults weighing more than 60 kg (132 lb) is prednisone in a dosage of 40 mg per day for seven days; the corticosteroid is then tapered slowly by 5 mg every few days for six weeks.8 For less extensive alopecia areata, prednisone is given in a dosage of 20 mg per day or every other day, followed by slow tapering in increments of 1 mg once the condition is stable. Oral prednisone therapy can be used in combination with topical or injected corticosteroid therapy, as well as with topical minoxidil therapy.

Minoxidil

Topical administration of minoxidil, particularly the 5 percent solution, has been found to be somewhat effective in the treatment of alopecia areata. In one study,8 this treatment produced acceptable results in 40 percent of patients who had lost 25 to 99 percent of their scalp hair. The FDA has not labeled topically administered minoxidil for the treatment of alopecia areata.

Anthralin

Treatment with anthralin, a nonspecific immunomodulator, is safe and effective, particularly in patients with widespread alopecia areata. Anthralin is available in 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 percent creams, which can be applied once daily at home for progressively longer periods, starting with five minutes at a time and working up to as long as one hour. After each application period, the scalp is rinsed thoroughly with cool to lukewarm water and then cleaned with soap. New hair growth becomes apparent in two to three months. Approximately 25 percent of patients have cosmetically acceptable results within six months.18

Selection of the optimal treatment approach depends on the extent of the hair loss (Table 1). If less than 50 percent of the scalp is affected, intralesional corticosteroid injections alone or with topical corticosteroid therapy can be tried. If more than 50 percent of the scalp is involved, a multiple-agent regimen is appropriate. Treatment should be continued until remission of the condition or until residual bare patches can be covered with newly grown hair. Hence, treatment may need to be continued for months to years.

TABLE 1
Treatment Options for Alopecia Areata in Adult Women

Less than 50% scalp involvement

Intralesional corticosteroid injections once a month (triamcinolone acetonide [Kenalog] preferred)

Intralesional corticosteroid injections once a month, plus topical application of intermediate-potency corticosteroid solution or lotion twice daily

Intralesional corticosteroid injections once a month, plus topical application of 5% minoxidil solution (Rogaine) twice daily

Prednisone, 20 mg taken orally every day or every other day

Greater than 50% involvement

Topical application of anthralin cream (Psoriatec), plus 5% minoxidil solution once daily

Topical application of corticosteroid solution or lotion, plus 5% minoxidil solution twice daily

Prednisone, 40 mg per day orally for 7 days, then tapered by 5 mg every few days for six weeks

Referral to dermatologist for topical immunotherapy

Scalp prosthesis (wig)

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is diffuse hair loss caused by any condition or situation that shifts the normal distribution of follicles in anagen to a telogen-predominant distribution.3 Women with this disorder usually note an increased number of loose hairs on their hairbrush or shower floor. Daily loss may range from 100 to 300 hairs. If hair loss is at the lower end of the range, it may be inapparent. Telogen effluvium may unmask previously unrecognized androgenetic alopecia.

A number of conditions are associated with telogen effluvium (Table 2).19 Although stress is the most common underlying cause, the disorder also can develop because of normal physiologic events (e.g., lengthening of telogen in the postpartum state), some medications,20 and several endocrinopathies (thyroid, pituitary, and parathyroid disease). Telogen effluvium usually begins two to four months after the causative event and lasts for several months. If telogen effluvium is suspected, a thorough history should be obtained.

TABLE 2
Causes of Telogen Effluvium

Physiologic conditions	Injury or stress	Drugs and other substances
Early stages of androgenetic alopeciaPhysiologic effluvium of the newbornPostpartum effluvium	Crash or liquid protein dietsHigh fever (e.g., malaria)Hypothyroidism and other endocrinopathiesMajor surgerySevere chronic illnessSevere infectionSevere psychologic stress (e.g., life-threatening situations)	Anticoagulants (especially heparin)AnticonvulsantsAntikeratinizing agents (e.g., etretinate [Tegison])Antithyroid agentsHeavy metals Hormones

Adapted with permission from Sperling LC, Mezebish DS. Hair diseases. Med Clin North Am 1998;82:1160.

Treatment is based on identifying and treating or correcting the underlying cause of telogen effluvium. It can be reassuring for women to understand the relationship of their hair loss to a specific event or agent, and to know that hair regrowth is probable (Figure 4).

FIGURE 4.

Short hairs frontally, reflecting new growth after telogen effluvium.

Alopecia from Damage to Hair Follicles

Cicatricial alopecia is hair loss resulting from a condition that damages the scalp and hair follicle7 (Figure 5). In addition to a bald spot, the scalp usually has an abnormal appearance. Plaques of erythema with or without scaling or pustules may be present. Conditions that can be associated with cicatricial alopecia include infections (e.g., syphilis, tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, herpes zoster), autoimmune disease (discoid lupus erythematosus), sarcoidosis, scalp trauma (e.g., injuries, burns), and radiation therapy.7

FIGURE 5.

Cicatricial alopecia with damage to the underlying scalp.

If the cause of the disorder is not readily apparent, a 4-mm punch biopsy of the scalp can be helpful. Frequent findings on biopsy include lymphocytic proliferation around the follicle, destroyed follicles, a thin and atrophic epidermis, and a densely sclerotic dermis.

Traumatic alopecia can be caused by cosmetic practices that damage hair follicles over time.7 Cosmetic alopecia has been linked to the use of brush rollers, curling irons, hair brushes with square or angular tips, and tight braiding of the hair (Figure 6). Chemicals used repetitively on the hair also can damage follicles. Examination of the scalp shows short broken hairs, folliculitis and, frequently, scarring.

FIGURE 6.

Traumatic alopecia caused by tight braiding.

Trichotillomania, another cause of traumatic alopecia, is a compulsive behavior involving the repeated plucking of one's hair.21 The behavior is frequently a response to a stressful situation. Women display this behavior more often than men, and children more often than adults. Children are often aware that they are plucking their hair and may be amenable to behavioral interventions. When the behavior persists into adulthood, patients may not acknowledge the behavior.

Trichotillomania is often difficult to treat. A variety of pharmacologic agents, mostly antidepressants, have been tried with some success.22 A combination of pharmacologic and behavioral therapies also has been attempted.23

The Author

C. CAROLYN THIEDKE, M.D., is assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, where she attended medical school and completed a family practice residency. Before entering academic medicine, Dr. Thiedke was in private practice for 10 years.

Address correspondence to C. Carolyn Thiedke, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Family Medicine, 295 Calhoun St., P.O. Box 250192, Charleston, SC 29425 (e-mail: thiedkcc@musc.edu). Reprints are not available from the author.

The author indicates that she does not have any conflicts of interest. Sources of funding: none reported.

REFERENCES

1. Girman CJ, Hartmaier S, Roberts J, Bergfeld W, Waldstreicher J. Patient-perceived importance of negative effects of androgenetic alopecia in women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 1999;8:1091–5.

2. Cash TF, Price VH, Savin RC. Psychological effects of androgenetic alopecia on women: comparisons with balding men and with female control subjects. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;29:568–75.

3. Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:491–7.

4. Shapiro J, Wiseman M, Liu H. Practical management of hair loss. Can Fam Physician. 2000;46:1469–77.

5. Healey PM, Jacobson EJ. Common medical diagnoses: an algorithmic approach. 3d ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2000:208–11.

6. Drake LA, Dinehart SM, Farmer ER, Goltz RW, Graham GF, Hordinsky MK, et al. Guidelines of care for androgenetic alopecia. American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;35(3 pt 1):465–9.

7. Dawber RP, Van Neste D. Alopecia areata. In: Dawber RP. Hair and scalp disorders: common presenting signs, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1995:41–138.

8. Price VH. Treatment of hair loss. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:964–73.

9. Tosti A, Piraccini BM. Androgenetic alopecia. Int J Dermatol. 1999;38(suppl 1):1–7.

10. Jacobs JP, Szpunar CA, Warner ML. Use of topical minoxidil therapy for androgenetic alopecia in women. Int J Dermatol. 1993;32:758–62.

11. DeVillez RL, Jacobs JP, Szpunar CA, Warner ML. Androgenetic alopecia in the female. Treatment with 2% topical minoxidil solution. Arch Dermatol. 1994;130:303–7.

12. Scheman AJ, West DP, Hordinsky MK, Osburn AH, West LE. Alternative formulation for patients with contact reactions to topical 2% and 5% minoxidil vehicle ingredients. Contact Dermatitis. 2000;42:241.

13. Bergfeld WF. Retinoids and hair growth. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39(2 pt 3):S86–9.

14. Sommer M, Wilson C. Therapeutic approaches to the management of common baldness. Int J Clin Pract. 1999;53:381–5.

15. Avram MR. Hair transplantation in women. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1999;18:172–6.

16. Bertolino AP. Alopecia areata. A clinical overview. Postgrad Med. 2000;107(7):81–5.,89–90.

17. Madani S, Shapiro J. Alopecia areata update. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42:549–66.

18. Fiedler-Weiss VC, Buys CM. Evaluation of anthralin in the treatment of alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1987;123:1491–3.

19. Sperling LC, Mezebish DS. Hair diseases. Med Clin North Am. 1998;82:1155–69.

20. Tosti A, Misciali C, Piraccini BM, Peluso AM, Bardazzi F. Drug-induced hair loss and hair growth. Incidence, management and avoidance. Drug Saf. 1994;10:310–7.

21. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1994:618–21.

22. Keuthen NJ, O'Sullivan RL, Goodchild P, Rodriguez D, Jenike MA, Baer L. Retrospective review of treatment outcome for 63 patients with trichotillomania. Am J Psychiatry. 1998;155:560–1.

23. Ninan PT, Rothbaum BO, Marsteller FA, Knight BT, Eccard MB. A placebo-controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy and clomipramine in trichotillomania. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000;61:47–50.

Members of various family practice departments develop articles for “Problem-Oriented Diagnosis.” This article is one in a series coordinated by the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Guest editor of the series is William J. Hueston, M.D.

Copyright © 2003 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact afpserv@aafp.org for copyright questions and/or permission requests.

source: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p1007.html

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

UK Based Sisterlocks Trainees, Consultants & Bloggers

2011-04-28T12:45:00.000+01:00

So what else have I been up to?

Well before I even thought about taking the Sisterlocks training class I wanted a registry that would list all the Consultants (and Trainees) in my neck of the woods. Many of the entries on the 'International' pages of the official Sisterlocks website only said: 'London', which meant that I would spend aaaaaaaaaaages (and $$$) calling people only for them to tell me they were yonks away from me.

And so 'Sisterlist UK' was born.

Sisterlocks Consultants in the UK

The main registry of Sisterlocks Consultants and Trainees is held by the Sisterlocks Home Office (in the US) on their Official website:http://www.sisterlocks.com (currently being redeveloped!!)

International Consultant Registry *
International Trainee Registry*

(They started redeveloping their website in March 2011 and these links keep changing so please don't be mad if they're incorrect when you click - I'll keep updating them!)

If, however, you just want the SL graduates who are based in the UK - then this directory is for you. Sisterlist UK lists Sisterlocks Consultants & Trainees, Bloggers and Vloggers all based in the UK.

You can use it to search by area e.g. Birmingham or London, or postcode e.g. NW10 or even for a Trainee or Consultant.

Go on - click the jump and have a butchers: remember to show some love by subscribing or following and telling all your friends about it!!

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

The progressive power of embracing our natural hair

2011-04-27T12:36:00.000+01:00

Angel from the Natural Lounge wrote a post on this topic quite recently. She felt that some 'veteran' naturals were reluctant to embrace the newbies claiming it was just a trend or that the newbies were just 'jumping on the bandwagon' while the veterans were the real 'trendsetters'.

Angel's response is a very lovely diagram extolling the benefits of more naturals within our Black communities. I loved the idea so much I asked if I could share it - so said, so done.

Isn't it cool? I really like the bit about better products... ;)

Click here to read her full article.

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

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-04-24T21:07:00.004+01:00

How cool is that? I got nominated not once - but TWICE for this award... 3 cheers for the Bald-headed Blogger! Altogether now... *grin*

A big shout out to Thandi (over in the 'motherland') and Yahvinah (down in Oz) for the nominations. Funnily enough I would've nominated them even if they hadn't tagged me!

Their reasons for giving me this award:

total hair loss, (shares about) alopecia..life
Shares about locking ups and downs, being a locktician and life

So - not because I'm beautiful or anything lol.

Anyway, here are the rules:

Thank and link back to the person that awarded you this award
Share 7 things about yourself
Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

So here are my 7 things (sorry, if I've already shared them):

Although I was born in London and spent most of my childhood here, I was educated in Barbados and would probably say I was more Bajan than British although I love both parts of my heritage (fairly) equally. I love Barbados - and while it is not perfect (what place is when you start to think about politics or economics and social welfare etc?), it is my version of paradise and I feel blessed to have that connection. My friends and family tease me because I speak Bajan dialect at home and within my community but automatically switch when meeting strangers or at work. I don't even know I do it lol. When I am burned out or stressed out or unwell - I go home. Barbados is definitely where my heart is.
I am exactly 152cm 'tall'. This makes me an inevitable target for people I call 'tallerists' - anyone taller than me who doesn't look where they are going and/or steps on me, whacks me in the face with their stupid handbag or newspaper on the train... that kinda stuff - all because they're not aware of the people who don't share the same breathing space. So point number 2: I don't like tallerists.
I have a host of postgraduate diplomas, associate degrees, a combined Bachelor's degree, various certificates etc but what excites me right now is the fact that I will (very) shortly be a qualified Holistic Massage Therapist and Certified Sisterlocks Consultant. Instead of just making money, (and helping others make money), I now have the opportunity to assist someone's journey towards greater wellbeing and self acceptance, I can make someone feel better about themselves and while it may not pay (anything near) as much, I do get a real sense of achievement when I see appreciation in my clients' eyes.
I have three children (now who didn't know that? lol) but we almost lost the last one. That was a huge wake up call for us as a family.... seriously, EVERYTHING CHANGED that week. I always believed in the principle of 'CARPE DIUM' (Seize the day) but it's now part and parcel of me, TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED and MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY. Every single one! Oh, so number 4 is : I live my life without regrets.
I am a PADI certified open water scuba diver... and a very strong swimmer... but very deep water makes me nervous. I just hate the idea of not being able to touch the bottom with my feet (and given point number 2, this happens a lot closer to the shore than most people hahaha). I don't freak out or anything - but I am always very aware of the tenuity of life. Maybe it's because Bajans always say 'the sea has no back door' or maybe it's because someone close to me drowned when I was 14... who knows?
I am a practical joker and love to laugh. I'm the type of girl who (even at 19!!!) would hide in the coat cupboard for ages, just so I could pop out and scare you! If you fall, I will catch you (assuming I am close enough and not too puny)... after that I will laugh at you... and I will remind you every couple of weeks about 'the time you did skin up and nearly brekk yuh neck'. My brothers are exactly the same... my sisters not so much... but my sister-in-law? Yes - she's one of us. If something happens on TV, we will pause, get everyone to come and rewind it endlessly. If we catch you goofing up on a home video - trust that we will play it everytime you come over...
I have been natural for 5 years, before that I was natural for almost 10 years. I find it ironic that when I finally embraced my curls and found myself with Sisterlocks - I lost every strand of hair I had. I am now bald. i have ALOPECIA TOTALIS (and sorry for those how know but I gotta spell it out again for those who don't): it is not caused by tight hairstyles or braids or having locks. If it was - it would be restricted just to my head - and it is not. I have no hair on my legs, arms, armpits etc. (I do have my eyebrows and eyelashes so it is not ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS). It is an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE triggered by stress, shock or some other traumatic event (see point 4 above). There is no cure - just some best fit scenarios with various treatments that may or may not work (can't help but try eh? ). Although losing my hair was (and still is if I'm honest) deeply painful, I choose to talk and laugh about it ("If you don't laugh you will cry" - another Bajan saying :) ) ... maybe I should rename this blog: 'Adventures of the Bald & Beautiful Bajan' lol.

Right, I probably wrote far too much in my 7 things, but so what? It's my blog... *grin*

Now here are my nominees...

Thandi: because she has opened my eyes to another culture and explained much about homeschooling and SDA. I love her devotion to her husband and children: she finds time for them without disappearing into them. And of course - she is incredibly dedicated to her faith. I like people who are sure about what they believe.
Yahvinah: firstly because she went through the same hyperemesis gravidarum ick with her pregnancies and is now mother to a cheeky boy (check out his grin on her blog), and an adorable baby girl.She has braidlocks and an awesome husband who retightens her hair.(How cool is that?)
Ofo: because she writes good posts on herbal rinses and treatments for locks, and is an avid DIYer; also dealing with thinning issues and is incredibly creative with making loc pieces and products;
Njoi: fellow UK Sisterlocker, devoted Christian, teacher and product junkie :)
Kreyola: because she has experienced alopecia areata and survived (*grin*) and writes fairly informative articles on Sisterlocks and hairloss.
Carib Chronicles. Sisterlocks in Jamaica!
Nicoleisthenewblack: Sisterlocks in Berlin and..... homecrafting!
Kim: from I rock locks, because I love the weekly Friday pictorial showing lovely locked people. She's 5 months into her (traditional) lock journey.
Keep Me Curly: 'pink mum brown baby', this young mother has two adopted daughters and some serious braiding skills. One of her daughters has braidlocks and the other is a loose natural.
Sofull Sista: outfit of the day (usually quirky) and sometimes hair talk

There are lots more blogs I follow - but I've been writing this post for ages - I think 10 is enough.

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

Making A Loc/Sisterloc Wig - Drawing board

2011-04-16T23:01:00.001+01:00

Some of you may recall that when I first started losing my hair I contacted a lovely lady (Gerrylocs) in the US who was both understanding and sensitive to my situation. She wasn't able to help me in the end due to the extend of my hair loss but I will never forget how gently and sensitively she handled me. I hoped that I would be like that with my own clients - she really left a mark on me! (Check out her work - isn't she awesome?)

A fellow UK blogger has been dealing with her own hair issue (thinning) and has published a few posts on suitable hair pieces for (Sister)locked women. Her latest post talks about a loc bridge - you gotta click on the link to really see what she's on about.

I like the concept... I've been thinking (for what seems like forever) about how to make a full cap wig of locs. I was gonna rope in a locked colleague, do several (bazillion) afro-kinky twists and attach them to a weave cap but I hadn't quite figured out how (to attach them) maybe I can incorporate this yarn string idea.

Since January I've made 3 or 4 'straight haired' wigs, so I'm pretty good at it but the loc wig needs a lot of thought because it has just got to be 'right' cos I don't wanna be looking like this:

Any suggestions?

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

Three-headed Review: Lush R&B (Revive & Balance)

2011-04-11T01:34:00.001+01:00

Last month, I submitted my name at the Natural Haven, offering to review a hair product on behalf of the (natural) community.

To those of you who (still) don't know, the Natural Haven is a blog run by a UK scientist, JC (I think she's based in Scotland) who provides the no nonsense plain English science behind our most popular hair products and practices. She has written extensively on shampoo/no-poo, sulphates, coconut oil, afros, protective styling and much more. Furthermore she is always willing to respond to comments and questions which is a real breath of fresh air.

Imagine my excitement when I was informed that my name was 'first out of the hat' and I would therefore be the first 'peer' review!

A couple of weeks ago I received a mystery pot in the mail. As I opened the packaging I could already hear Nai (Njoi Naturally) in my ears whispering: 'cantu shea butter?' but no, it was a product by Lush cosmetics called R&B, (Revive and Balance). I am familiar with Lush cosmetics (soaps and bath bombs) but had never heard of this line before - heck I didn't actually know they did hair products, let alone hair products for the 'tightly textured'!

The information leaflet that came with it said:

"Three of our UK shop managers came up with this one to moisturize their wayward follicles. It works well with African American or curly hair ".

How to Use: Rub between your fingers and scrunch and smooth it into freshly washed hair as often as you like

Being the information junkie that I am - I also googled it and came up with this video of one of the 'originators' describing how to use it .

If you google this product you will find it has a ton of glowing reviews, unfortunately this is not really one of them. Here's my summary - keep reading if you want the full details.

Price (RRP): £9.95 for 100g
Smells like: STRONG perfume (Jasmine), almost overwhelming. The fragrance itself is like marmite: you will either love it or hate it. (See below)
Feels like: egg mayonnaise but can feel sticky on some hair types.
Moisturising Factor: doesn't last long enough but did add some shine (albeit temporarily).
Pros: The smell, it's light, adds temporary shine, aids detangling.
Cons: The smell! Shine didn't last. Moisture didn't last (Not for thirsty/thick hair). Starts 'soaping' when it makes contact with skin or scalp. Came across as sticky on one child's hair.
Official Company Info, Online Sales & Reviews (UK site)

What's Under the Lid?

When I first sniffed it, I wasn't sold on the smell. Actually I was almost knocked out. It has the overpowering aroma of jasmine and neroli, which gives it a spa like/expensive aroma BUT this also reminded me of a mature lady's cologne and I wasn't sure I would want my hair to smell like this. After it has been on your hair for a little while (or in my case hands since I'm currently bald) you start to detect a coconutty (sic) undertone with hints of citrus; this 'second whiff' isn't so bad but I think I would have like the whole thing a lot more if it were much more subtle. I honestly felt as though one of my kids had knocked a jar of perfume over... however, I did find myself sniffing my hands for the rest of the day trying to decide whether I did or didn't like it.

The product itself looks like egg mayonnaise, and it feels like egg mayonnaise. Nothing wrong with that - just letting you know. I didn't know what to expect (having purposely NOT read any reviews etc until AFTER I had finished our evaluation) so this was all exciting to me.

It is thicker than say a Hair Milk by Carol's Daughter, Almond & Avocado or Crown Pride Naturals. If you shake the pot - the product will not wobble, but it is not as thick as whipped shea butter. It is fairly light and glides easily when rubbed between your fingers.

What's In It?

Oat Milk (Avena sativa), Glycerine, Organic Avocado Butter (Persea gratissima), Fair Trade Olive Oil (Olea europaea), Glyceryl Stearate & PEG 100 Stearate, Perfume, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Organic Cold Pressed Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Bay Oil (Pimenta racemosa), Orange Flower Absolute (Citrus Aurantium dulcis), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum), Cupuacu Butter (Theobroma grandiflorum), Candelilla Wax (Euphorbia cerifera), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Isoeugenol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Farnesol, *Limonene, *Linalool * Occurs naturally in essential oils.

So nothing bad here. I imagine 'oat milk' is a water product containing oat extract since you and I both know oats don't make milk. Glycerine is a humectant - good for attracting and retaining moisture. Avocado butter (or oil) and olive oil are both deeply moisturising oils, coconut oil has conditioning and softening properties, while jojoba mimics the body's natural sebum and is good for both hair and scalp. Bay E.O can be toning for hair, but Jasmine and Orange flower are likely to be here for their fragrant properties rather than their hair benefits (IMHO). Cupuacu is another moisturising butter and the candelilla wax is probably there as a product thickener given its position in the listing. This is followed by the preservatives and trace amounts of things which occur naturally in essential oils. Glyceryl Stearate and PEG 100 Stearate are the emulsifiers (used to help bind the oils and butters to that oat 'milk').

How I Used It

Being bald myself, I figured that the only reason I would use it would be to perfume my head and that review would be of no use to anyone - so I tested this product over a period of one week on the heads of my lovely children.

Head 1: Two Year Old Boy, Buzz Cut

Firstly - not the right fragrance for him at all.
Second - he has a buzz cut, and this product does not like being rubbed into the scalp AT ALL. I placed a small amount (less than pictured above) in the palm of my hands and rubbed it over his hair. What happened? He looked as though I had pasted his head with mayonnaise. Not a good look. His dad gave me the side eye and I spent the next five minutes wiping it out as best I could. Rubbing it just made it whiter (the soaping effect*, see end note) and it was a right effort to get it to blend in. Little man was so annoyed with all the rubbing/wiping that he ran off as soon as he could - so no pictures. Sorry. If you're rocking a TWA this is probably NOT the product for you.

Head 2: Thirteen Year Old Girl, 8 inches of very thick, tightly coiled hair

I thought that the experience with my son might have been a one off, so I applied a little to her scalp just to see what would happen. (NB. the instructions do not say 'apply to scalp', I was just trying to replicate what happened with the lil Prince so I could take a photo). True enough, the product just sat there (on the scalp) and it took a vigorous amount of rubbing before it 'blended in'. [see pictures below]
My daughter is participating in the '3-in-6' challenge (where some naturals are aiming to retain 3 inches of growth in 6 months by eating healthily, exercising and using protective hairstyling etc) so her hair has been twisted. It had been freshly washed (Jason's Organic Sea Kelp Shampoo) and I planned to use Lush R&B to retwist and moisturise.
I applied a dab of the product to her roots and smoothed it down the hair shaft - it still took a bit of smoothing before the product actually disappeared. [see photos below].
However, the freshly retwisted hair looked fabulous: shiny and strong. It felt soft, not crunchy and of course it had that jasmine-coconut aroma. [see photos]
Unfortunately, the shine and bounce did not last. I retwisted one evening and the following morning my husband actually questioned whether I had really done anything with the child's hair. It looked rough and untidy, there were lots of fly aways and the hair itself felt dry - AND before you ask, YES, she slept with a satin bonnet and YES, I did check to make sure it was on properly both before bed and when I went to wake her up. So, I wasn't impressed. Her hair still smelled 'nice' though.
Product in Hair (click to enlarge)
Still visible after some rubbing (click to enlarge)
After Retwisting - using R&B as a moisturiser (if only this shine had lasted more than a few hours!)

Next Day - close up

Head 3: 1 Year Old Girl, 6 inches of loosely coiled/ wavy hair

By this point I was wondering whether this product was better suited to 'less coily' hair types. However, the Lush marketing said it had originally been specifically aimed at African American hair types, so maybe I was doing something wrong. It wasn't too good for short hair (because it got stuck on the scalp), and it wasn't fantastic with super coily thick hair... so maybe third time lucky. The little one was due for her styling so we washed and conditioned and scrunched it through 'damp dry' hair.... drum roll please... we got some curl definition! However, this convinces me that this product might be for looser hair types (?????)
I used a little bit more to help moisten her cornrows and secured the ends with cloth covered bands. Next morning, she had no fly aways, although the hair didn't feel as 'moisturised' as the day before'. One thing I did notice while braiding her hair was that the product left it feeling a bit sticky (and no, I didn't use tons of the stuff! I believe that less is more - so the stickiness is weird), my guess is - it's the glycerine, as although this is a humectant it can feel rather sticky at high percentages within a product.

loose section before product applied.

After product applied (Click to enlarge)

Anyway - that's my looooooooooong three-headed review. Have any of you tried this product? How did it work for you?

*The Soaping Effect:

The soaping effect is defined as "an undesired foaming phenomenon observed in skin creams formulated with soap based emulsifiers". You may have noticed this in your lotions - the white streaks when you rub the lotion on and a slight tacky feeling on your skin. This is saponification!

The fatty acids in the lotion, combined with an alkaline ingredient, create a soap, which acts as the emulsifier in your lotion. (A common combination is triethanolamine and stearic acid.) When using a stearate or oleate based emulsifier, (Lush is using Glyceryl Stearate & PEG 100 Stearate) you are bringing the water and oil together in your lotion by creating a soap, which is going to leave those white streaks when you apply it." -- source

There are ways to avoid this - but that's a topic for another post :)

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

Battles of perception - Free Your Mind!

2011-03-18T12:55:00.001Z

How often to we cage ourselves within prisons in our mind? What's your self-built prison that noone else can see?

Maybe it's a 'cant do' mentality or 'I'm too fat/old/ugly for that dress' kinda thing. Maybe it's 'my voice doesn't sound like Yolanda Adams' handicap - when really, if you just faced the fear, grabbed hold of the altar and sang your heart out - people would be blessed with the most amazing voice... don'y curtail your ministry!

I don't know what your prison is - what holds you back in certain areas or hinders you from following a particular dream - but while rummaging through the attic of my mind the other day I came across something very peculiar.

My upbringing was strict and strait-laced. I can't remember my mother hugging me until I graduated from university (hahah). Looking back, I find it amusing the way my younger brother and I would dodge the congregation or nip to the loos when they would have 'Love day' at church; or the pastor would instruct us all to 'turn and greet one another with a brotherly hug' lol, physical contact was so foreign and embarrassing! Eventually however, we were 'schooled' and by the time our children were born (we each have 3) we had vowed to shower them with affection so they wouldn't be awkward teenagers like we were. (applause)

Imagine my surprise then to find myself withholding public displays of affection from my youngest baby!!!!

I love Paz, she is just the cutest lil thing. As were her brother and sister before her. And honestly, I love them ALL equally, BUT right now she's the baby so (at home) she's the one likely to be sitting on my hip, pulling at my face or getting raspberries blown on her tummy. When the older ones were younger I did the same for them. They have all been MY BABY in turn. So why is it that when we go out I subconsciously tone down on her kisses and cuddles?

Answer: It's the power of perception

A lot has been said (mostly in jest) about Paz's complexion. While our firstborn, the Golden One (pictured below with her grandmother) is dark chocolate personified;

and God wrapped the little prince in maple syrup and fudge (yummy),

our final princess looks like she came out the oven too early, with her sandy brown sugar skin and gingerbread hair.

For months friends and family made jokes about her true paternity (probably the local chinaman) as she is much lighter than either myself or HRH who himself once joked that she might be an albino cos he couldn't see why she was so pale. NO OFFENSE TO ANY SUFFERERS OF ALBINISM.

I must admit that during the early stages, even I, despite my education, did at one point wonder if those UV lights they kept her under inthe neonatal ICU had bleached her out (Laugh with me here :) ).

In my humble opinion, Paz is cute - all babies are of course, but I do bristle when someone says :'oh she's so pretty and light-skinned' especially when my 'darker' children are about, especially because it makes it seem as though perhaps she is pretty BECAUSE she is lighter...

When My son was born, certain people accused me of favouring him over the Golden one.

"Mummy's like their boys you know",

"you're not like that with her".

That made me mad because I treated the lil prince exactly the same as I treated his sister WHEN SHE WAS HIS AGE, but with them being 12 yrs apart of course I am not going to treat them the same NOW!

If he topples over at 11 months of course I will cuddle him, and fuss (a little); if she topples over I might not bat an eyelid unless she has sprained her ankle, dislocated her knee or gashed open her thigh (ROFL). She's big enough to get up, dust herself off and move on without needing mummy to kiss it better or wear a 'mr men' plaster!

But those comments have clearly seeded in me because I temper my public displays of affection for baby Paz in fear that I will be told:

' See you like her the best cos she is red'

Aaaargh! And going back to the self built prisons: noone has EVER said that to me, EVER!

It's all in my head!!!!

Yet, I'm modifying my behaviour and denying my pumpkin her cuddles all based on the fear that I will be perceived to be favouring this child over the others: how dumb is that???? Stupse!

Anyway, now that I've caught myself doing it I can stop it cos it's just silly.

Even if ppl do think that so what? I know it's not true and it's not my business to battle with other peoples thoughts. My job is To make sure that my children: all 3 of them know and understand that they are loved equally.

They are individuals and I love their individual shades of chocolatey sugary goodness. And that's all that matters.

Free your minds and the rest will follow!

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

Homecrafting - Stuff to do at the weekend

2011-03-12T18:25:00.001Z

Last weekend I had my brother's three daughters over; this is part of our 'reclaim your life from the children' bid. They have three and we have three children; we both find it very difficult to find babysitters for our families and so invariably spend the weekends (and many week nights too!) carting kids from one activity to another (ballet, gymnastics, theatre school, parties...) and having little or no time at all for quality 'couple' time. Our plan is to routinely babysit eachother's kids - for a night or a weekend so that as couples, both my husband and I; and my brother & his wife, can have some grown up time!!!

So there we were in the house with 6 kids: the 13 yr old and the 7 yr old disappeared with their DSis... leaving us to entertain the 5 yr old twins, the lil prince (who is now 2) and the baby (who will soon be one yay!)

We visited the park and the playground and watched a movie (not in that order) and when we'd almost run out of things to do I pulled out my glycerin melt and pour base.

Taking the natural cosmetics course last year really helped move me forward in understanding chemistry and the principles of formulating, and once you know how and have the right tools/ingredients it can be EASY as well as FUN. Making soap using a glycerin base is a doddle - your kids can help you and feel like little princes and princesses next time they take a bath/shower with their own soap!

I call this :'Mango & Shea Butter' Glycerine Soap

GETTING STARTED

You'll need: A decent set of scales, some Shea butter, mango butter (if you can't get this, leave it out and use all shea butter instead), glycerine soap base (any good supplier will stock this, you can request that it is SLS free and/or specifically vegetable glycerine based if you like). If you're doing this for the kids, you may wish to use some water based colours and of course some fragrance. You could use essential oils for fragrance but many E.Os are NOT safe for use on children so I'd rather use an allergen free fragrance or an aroma flavour instead. Oh yeah - you need a soap mould too, but you can always improvise, come on it's for fun! :)

This recipe gives you approx 50g of soap for 5 children (I decided the baby was too young to use or help make this, so we did it while she slept).

We also added some dried flower petals simply because the kids wanted to throw them in but I'm not going to include that in this recipe because they all floated to the top of the soap moulds and therefore the soap had petals on one side only. If you want to add petals (or exfoliants like oatmeal or poppy seeds) you'll need to get a 'suspension base' which will allow you to 'suspend' things in it.

If you want your soap to be more 'bubbly' then you can add up to 5% cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) to your mix (if you have it lol).

Some Science on CAPB
CAPB can have a different charge depending on its PH value (amphoteric): In alkaline solution (over pH 8) it behaves as an anionic surfactant with good foaming and detergency properties. In acidic solution (under pH 6), it behaves as a cationic surfactant that is substantive to our hair and skin that can increase mildness. So in layman terms it will either increase mildness and do nice things to our hair and skin or it will help clean and give us bubbles depending on how we use it! In shampoos, it behaves as a humectant and a light conditioner. In body washes, it behaves as a humectant and offers some moisturizing to my skin. In bubble baths, it offers good flash foam and stabilization to the bubbles. In very mild or baby type cleansers, CAPB might be used as the primary surfactant with something like decyl glucoside (non-ionic) for a very very mild cleanser without a lot of foaming, a nice feeling of moisturizing, and some conditioning. Ok - science over.

SIMPLE RECIPE (for 100ml/g of soap)

90ml/g of glycerine soap base
10ml/g of shea butter
1 ml fragrance oil

MY MANGO-SHEA RECIPE
INGREDIENTS (in grams because I measure everything but you can convert to ml)

250g glycerine soap base (this comes in clear or opaque blocks which you cut down to size)
28g shea butter (or 18g shea butter and 10g mango butter)
14g of CAPB (OPTIONAL)
2g of allergen free mango aroma (as a rule of thumb you shouldn't exceed 1%)
2-6 drops of allergen free or hypoallergenic water based colour (I let the kids choose their colours and splash them in as they wanted, hence why we have such vibrant colours lol - you may want to use something like 1-2 drops because the colours are very strong!)
pinches of dried rose and chamomile petals (just because the kids saw the bags I had for something else and thought it would be fun) -- OPTIONAL

WHAT TO DO NOW?

melt the glycerin soap base in a saucepan or if you are particlar like me - use a pyrex jug or beaker (that you will always use for homecrafting) and a baine marie or double boiler. (Ikea had some pretty decent ones for about a fiver). The older kids were quite happy to do this and had fun making sure it was stirred and fully melted.
Once the glycerin has melted, remove from the heat and add your butters. Stir them in gently - don't whip them as we don't really want bubbles in the mixture.
Add the drops of colour. The kids all wanted different colours so I separated the melted mixture into vats: one ofor the red, one for the blue (lil prince of course) and one for the yellow. Strangely noone wanted to try mixing the colours to make orange or purple or green! If I had been doing this for me, I would have made this orange or stuck with the yellow.
If you want to increase the foaming ability of your soap - now is where you add the CAPB (and any flowers, exfoliants etc)
Blend together with a teaspoon (or glass stirring rod if you have those heheheh) and bear in mind steps 3 and 4 should be done speedily as your soap will start to harden the minute you remove it from the heat, so don't faff about: plan ahead and be organised :)
Allow mixture to cool until its the consistency of a thick soup (NOT TOO HARD), this is because the fragrance (or E.O) have to be added at temps at or below 45C... however, if you wait too long it will cool and go hard in whatever container you've got them in (eg your pyrex jug) and thats no good for you lol.
Stir in your fragrance oil and pour into your moulds.
Allow to cool and harden. You can put them in the freezer or leave them for a couple of hours - your choice,
Once they've set you can tip them out and wrap them in cellophane bags or cling film. (The cling film will stop them 'sweating' in warmer climes).

That's it - you're done! Here's what we made earlier....

If you're really into this, you can immerse a piece of cut loofah for a cool looking exfoliating bar:

(I'd probably not want mine to be blue though...)

and if you want to get all super crafty with this, you can make these goldfish hehehe

you can just calm it right down and go the natural route (or what I like to call - the as natural as possible route) and leave out the CAPB, go light on the colour (or leave it out too), add an exotic oil (like babassu), use essential oils for fragrance (and their relative properties) and tie it with a rootsy looking cord like this:

nice eh? Your turn.

Since I don't currently have any exciting hair news, and this blog is supposed to be about life and love too - I think I'll share more of this side of me this year. Well, I'll try it and see how it goes :)

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

Oh....Ok, I think I understand now.

2011-02-28T17:25:00.003Z

Photo Credit

Tonight I watched 'House' (season 7, episode 11) and had one of those 'eureka' moments. The dynamic between Dr Cuddy and her mother really struck a chord with me. In fact I'm still teary eyed as I write this. Don't worry if you haven't watched the episode or don't follow the series - you don't need to - stay with me.

My mother- God bless her- was always hard on me. Much harder than on my younger brother (I can't speak for my older siblings because the gap between us is so large I can't really compare how they were treated when they were my age).

He was taller than I was (and cuter some might say) and he was always better at maths than I was. When preparing for our Common Entrace (11+/SATs), we'd do past paper tests together and he'd consistently score 100% whereas I spent months slowly working my way up from low 70s to 90s. I would hear him outside playing cricket with the boys from the neighbourhood while I had to stay at the table and correct my mistakes or relearn some equation. I won't count how many sunsets I missed this way, because in the end the sacrifice was worth it, I gained entry to one of the top secondary schools in the island (number 2 in the rankings). My brother of course passed for the number 1 ranked school but I was happy with my lot because it was where I wanted to go: 'the pink school with the blue uniform' was good enough for me!.

During secondary school the disparity continued. I'd bring home a brilliant report card 'marred' by say one or two Bs and be berated for not bringing home all A grades; while lil brotha would roll in with C's and D's to hugs and reassurances that he'd done his best, better luck next time. WHAT??????

Photo credit

This burned me year after year; nothing was ever good enough. My artistic interests like music, art and street dance were frowned upon; while my brother's athletic trophies gleamed in the cabinet in the 'front house' for all to see. I felt that he had free reign to be whomever he wanted to be while I had to constantly fight for a lil self expression.

photo credit

My mother was always on my back. I felt like a right jack... Nothing was ever good enough. Is it cos he's a boy? I used to wonder. He was always her darling.

And I tried everything I could to make her like me.

She even chose my streams for me, she felt my forte was in languages (clearly not math hahah) and so I spent a good few years learning Latin (!!) and French and Spanish. She would have added German too had it been on the curriculum lol. She wanted me to be a translator for the UN. I wanted to be a dancer/actress/singer/songwriter hah!

(Looking back, she was right about the languages and had she not been so ironhanded about it, I probably wouldn't have rebelled and dropped them after my o level exams!)

I spent the years after high school proving to her that my choice of A levels were good and I could and would do well in them despite her disbelief. "No mummy, I am not going to be a washout or a failure", "Going my own way will not end up in failure".

In setting out to prove her wrong I won myself a (partial) scholarship which gave me the opportunity to attend Cambridge University (UK) with all the prestige and acclaim attached. I was not in Barbados when those A level results came out and she saw my name in the newspapers (lol - that must've been something!) However, I still remember during her 'congratulatory phone call' - she lamented that I did not win the full scholarship SMH. I was like 'this is still GOOD, mummy!' but as I said, nothing was ever good enough.

During university, she and daddy did their best to supplement my scholarship and grants, and I am glad I had their support. I remember the encouraging phonecalls when I was upset or confused (the university during that era could often be quite marginalising for some of the Black students); and the shedloads of wisdom she shared. All in all - a good proving ground but she wasn't the happiest mum at my graduation because she rightly - believed that I should've achieved a Higher class in my degree (which I probably could've if I wasn't caught up and distracted lol!)

I remember being so excited when I landed my first (post)graduate employment contract. Surely this would make up for my 'failure' at uni. I remember her lukewarm 'less-than-impressed' reception despite the job being with an investment bank paying more money than she and my dad had ever earned (combined). I thought she'd be proud But no I failed again.

As the years passed and the pay rises and bonuses and the masters came and went she still didn't seem impressed. At least she never let on to me that she was. I have never heard her say: 'This is my daughter 'Lily'', with the same warmth and pride as she says: 'This is my son, Goldenballs The First' hahahah !

The proudest I've ever seen her (with reference to me) was when I got married to HRH: probably bcoz she thinks he's made of moondust or sthg! Lol!

All jokes aside, my mother is shrewd and astute. She has a savvy head on her shoulders. It is virtually impossible to put one past her and I would seriously hurt anyone who tried. If she is in your corner she will fight tooth and nail to see you succeed and having watched this episode I can now understand why she rode me so hard!

We didn't have much and even if we did there wouldn't be much to inherit with five of us to split it between, so if we were gonna make it in this world we would have to leverage whatever resources we had. The older siblings were already flown or preparing to fly from the nest. My brother had his athletics, therefore I was forced to use my brain. That constant maternal attrition created a driving ambition in me, a burning hunger for success (not necessarily material trappings but personal development too). I think Cuddy summarised it best when she said:

"...you were always harder on me... And I understand why now. You saw something in me that you didn't see in (my siblings) or in yourself and you wanted that something to grow and blossom into something special. "

Mum, That's why second best has never been good enough. You knew I could do better. And you were right. I only wish now I'd realised this sooner instead of spending the last 3 decades fighting against you, often deliberately doing just enough to get by ( because, hey, if you were gonna ride me for getting an 'A -' I might as well just get a 'B+' and take the same cussing for less effort lol ).

From today, in honour of you and to thank you for all that you've done for me - even when it didn't feel like love at all- I promise that everyday whatevr I am doing I will be the best that I can be. God made me smart for a reason, let me figure out how to make the most of it.

Oh and yes, my lil brother is still her darling but so what? I realised that I don't need to achieve in order to impress her; I can do those things for me - just for the hell of it or just because it interests me. I don't have to do anything to gain my mother's love: I already have it: I always did. I just didn't know how to recognise it. Let the woman have her 'sweet boy', I'm good.

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

The next couple of posts...

2011-02-25T16:20:00.000Z

As you know I've been off the radar for a lil while, just popping in to wish myself a happy birthday and then back out again (lol);

I've been attending doctors' appointments and having therapy; and viewing nurseries and montessori schools; and I even took a short trip 'home' to Barbados to surprise my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary - add this to the hair/health appointments and massage school and of course the day to day drama involved in running a household - (posts to come I promise!) so... can you forgive me?

I've taken to reading everything on my phone, I was bad before but now I am really bad - I use my phone so much that I am hardly ever on a real pc/laptop: hence the lack of posts. I have been reading everyone's posts and writing my own (on my phone!!) - I just never seem to get around to actually posting them!

So - the next 5 or more posts will not be in any specific order and when you read them you may realise the date has long past but the overall content is still relevant (at least it is to me) so I hope you get something from them.

At one point I wondered whether in today's world where YouTube and FB seem to reign supreme - what point was there in me typing words onto a blog??? Then I decided that I like to read, sure I like videos, but late at night when I'm feeding the baby or when I want to take a break from describing the origin and insertion points of the erector spinae, I like to flip open my phone and read (Google reader is great!) And I figure, that I cant be the only one who likes to do that. I'll watch the videos when I want a tutorial or a slideshow but for the most part - I am reading adn researching and just catching up - even if I don't leave a comment. So - if you're still following me, and even if you're not - I'm still talking. It helps me sort my thoughts out.

oh yeah and here's a pic.

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

Happy Birthday

2011-01-31T10:46:00.000Z

To me!

I'd like to say I did a really fancy hairstyle and went out on the town.... but I didn't - I just rocked the old bald head lol.

And I'm taking the day off: that's right - not doing any laundry or housework or coursework and the kids are in daycare so I am going to make the most of it.

Oh yeah - bring it on!

ps - tomorrow it'll be HRH's birthday, and I'll be doing all the work again lol. Happy birthday honey :)

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

A good day

2011-01-10T16:50:00.000Z

I'm still getting used to the 'no hair' me.

I still don't like it 5 days out of 7.

I still don't see any significant regrowth.

but.

sometimes...

sometimes I have a day like this where I get dressed up and my daughter (the golden one) says: 'quick, lemme take a pic' and it turns out like this!

Now all I gotta do is keep working on getting rid of those scars from that breakout (skin) I had at the end of November :)

I'd like to say I went out looking like this - but I didn't. I chickened out and wore my wig ;P

Happy January 10th

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

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T01:01:00.000Z

Hello everyone and happy new year!

Yes, I've been awol for a while, but rest assured I wasn't hiding the cupboard sulking or weeping and wailing and gnashing my teeth (although I must admit the thought crossed my mind ... heheh)

Not only did I have my 3 kids 24 hours a day for the holiday period (CAN YOU SAY EXHAUSTING???) but my Sisterlocks business really picked up and I have completed all three of my qualifying heads with numbers four and five scheduled for January and February. I actually have to slow things down a bit because I won't have time for (weekends with) my family otherwise!

I had a bit of a conundrum trying to decide what to do about my Sisterlock-less head when meeting my clients. In the end - I just bared my bruises so to speak. I have been fortunate in that none of them ran away screaming and were all rather encouraging with their comments - so far being bald has made no difference to those who have come for me although I still feel bad that I can't show them my own locks so they can have an idea of what to expect.... I suppose I could always dig out 'the bag' but seriously that might freak them out hahahah.

I've also been working on perfecting recipes for a line of natural cosmetics (not makeup, hair oil, hair and body butters, rich moisturisers, shampoos, conditioners, spritz, bath melts -that kinda thing). AND AND oh yeah I forgot to say this aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages ago - I'm back at College (again hehehe) training to become a Holistic Massage therapist (more on that some other time).

I can't sit and moan about what I've lost - I must focus on what I still have to give... on more than one occasion I've been told I have 'healing hands' so massage therapy looks like a good choice for me. Wish me luck!

What else? Well - baby boy turned 2 (wow!) and the golden child (i.e my eldest) received an award (for academic excellence) at her school's speech day. Had the family over at ours for Christmas and had loads of fun calling the rest of the clan over in Barbados and Trinidad and hollering our greetings at the tops of our voices.

So all in all - I've been busy - after all, the show must go on! Thanks to those who are still following and of course to those who are believing with me for healing. Some day eh? MUAH Big kiss and hug and THANK YOU!

Now for some photos cos otherwise this will just be a boring bunch of text.

With love from London

some of my products..

The Little Prince

The Princesses (Gold & Silver)

Me & My eldest

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

Thank You

2010-12-10T19:07:00.000Z

Hey everyone,

It has took me an awfully long time to comment on this post - because it was soooooooooooo painful. At the same time I found it strangely cathartic and healing for me. So here I am to say Thank you all for your very kind words and your continued support (especially since there aren't many locs to show at the moment but hopefully it'll grow back someday).

@BajanPoet - those were the words I needed to hear - especially from you. Thank you.
@Nai - I love you, big sis, you're always there encouraging me from across the M25 (lol)
@Kittylocks - "where there is life there is hope" - how awesome a quote is that? Thanks for sharing it.
@anthia-ofo - another sister, thank you. It's hard with clients sometimes but they have so far been understanding.
@Gigglz - thank you, I considered you one of my SL loc buddies because we started out around the same time. I will continue to follow your journey (with envy now lol)
@Yahvinah - my girl, how are those babies doing? Me? An inspiration? Aint those some apples hehe. Thank you. I will be watching for when your 'areas' fill in - your hair has been looking fantastic lately.
@Nubian1 - I wore the hair replacement unit for about 2 weeks but I hated it. I felt like a big fat FRAUD. I have a post about it - just havent published it yet hahaha 'too shame!'
@CaribSun - thanks for the 'inner light', sometimes it feels all but extinguished... comments like yours remind me that the way I see myself (UGLY and BALD) isnt always the way others see me.
@MsFullRoller - Madame 'Shake those locs' (yes, I still remember that video), thanks for the hugs, I will hold my head up high.
@Madame Hercules - Welcome to my blog and thank you for your prayers. I appreciate them.
@Euphoria - thank you also for your prayers. I have seen SEVERAL dermatologists. The prognosis isn't good. Ho Hum.
@V - I tried to tell ya (lol)... I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Thanks for your admiration and ongoing encouragement (from pregnancy til now); it was nice to have someone who understood what I was going through. Respect.
@Mrs Mac - girl I am leaning like the Tower of Pisa!!! I've decided to BE the sunshine - thanks for seeding the thought - and for being YOU!
@The Woman Inside - thank you sweetie, how's that pregnancy progressing? Is baby here yet? I don't feel as strong as people say I look but if it fools them I might fool myself lol.
@Denise - thanks girl, has your hair issue fully resolved itself then? I hope so :)
@Shari - Welcome to my blog and thanks a million for your comments. They lifted me when I was feeling a bit grubby. Thank you.
@Kristina my sister - you can keep the positive vibes, send me the hair hahahhaah (just kidding)! Nuff Love gal.
@Thandi - the speed of it shocked me too. Hair today , gone tomorrow (hahahah - bad joke I know but I gotta laff at myself). I haven't said this before but your blog is a source of education and encouragement. God bless you.
@Trinita (Anonymous) - the iron and ferratin levels were low... I'm up to 16 now but need to reach 70 for optimum hair growth. Bring on the supplements!
@Spicylocks - good to see you again, haven't seen you for a while (or maybe you were silently lurking heheh. Thanks for the encouragement
@those who commented via FaceBook: Alice, Akima, Ardith, Wayne, Lola, Pam, Miranda, Ricki, Brenda, Lucy, Laurelle, Cherie, Kraig, Karen S, Safiya, Kerry, Natasha and Claire (apologies to anyone I missed) - I love you all and am privileged to have your love and support.
@Ms KS - I put myself out there because noone likes to be alone or suffer alone. If there is someone else somewhere out there suffering from something similar I would want them to know they are not alone, don't give up hope. Your hairloss may be permanent or your hair might grow back - but you are more than your hair: don't give up on life and don't give up on yourself. Make the most of whatever you have.

That's all for today :)

Peace xx

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

Bald Like Me

2010-11-29T21:00:00.000Z

I found this image on Karen's blog (Naturally Beautiful Hair).

It gave me some inspiration (although I don't have freckles).

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

3 Months of Healthy New Growth - Phil

2010-11-25T14:38:00.000Z

Here's another of my clients. This gentleman had over three months of new growth and has lovely thick hair which grows like a weed!

Before we began

After the 1st row (There is some product build-up and lint visible here but I can assure you the hair is clean)

Contrast between newly rolled locs and new growth

More Roots

Finished!

Lots of lovely locs!

4 sept

Then and Now - Progressive Images

2010-11-16T18:01:00.001Z

Today is not a good day for me so I'm not going to say that much.

I just wanted to share these images. I took them to document the advance of this 'condition' whatever it is.

When I started charting this, I never for one moment truly believed that I would lose all my hair. Not all of it.

Oh well.

If you need to catch up, here's a list of related posts:

Just after Paz (the baby) was born.

1st patch, June 23rd

July 2nd

Another week later

2 weeks after the above photo

Extensive thinning at the front

2 months after the 1st patch appeared - this was the hardest period

crown/top

back (diffuse thinning)

Original patch significantly larger

I really struggled through this period of my life. It all happened so fast. The feeling of helplessness and frustration were so overwhelming. Through it all I thank God for my husband and my children who gave me reasons to keep getting outta bed every morning and who never once laughed at me despite how horrific I looked.

And this is me now four months after the first patch appeared.
I did not need to shave my head - my hair left of its own accord.

(If you are reading this on facebook you may need to click through to the actual blog site to see all of the images)

I feel fragile and vulnerable but I am STILL alive.

The game isn't over yet.

"And still like air... I rise!

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

First Sisterlock Installation

2010-11-11T19:41:00.005Z

Hey family!

I know I still owe y'all a couple of posts e.g. the one about my experience with the hair replacement people... the progression shots of my rampant hair loss and one about the Consultants' class (at least those are the ones I can remember) but I am so excited about this that I had to switch stuff around.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have just completed my first FULL SisterlocksTM installation (cue: cheers!) With my working hours synchronised with school and nursery timetables - it took me about 3 days. My lovely client is a seasoned professional, owner of her own organic skin and hair care company and had 9 inches of soft Black hair. (Just like me when I started!)

This lady waited patiently for over a year for me to take the class, and I am so glad that I didn't attempt an install beforehand because I was able to offer her a much better service based on what I learned. Seriously people, don't settle for step-sisterlocks [please note - I am not talking about tiny locks you've done yourself, (hats off to you if you can do this) or microlocs you've had installed by a reputable loctician: I am referring to locks installed by someone who saw it on Youtube or watched over a Consultant's shoulder and figured they could 'copy that' lol :) ]

If you can afford it - treat yourself to the full experience. (Let me take a moment to emphasise that I really admire ladies like Yahvinah and Thandi who installed their own (micro)locs and rock them like LOC-STARS! (cue: more cheers!). The initial expense of Sisterlocks can be prohibitive for some (in which case rock on wid ya badself and do yo' ting!) and of course Sisterlocks are not for everyone - traditional comb coiled or palm rolled locks are just as HOT! (So don't start a war on my page ok?) Just beware of paying SL prices for something that is NOT Sisterlocks... cos that just sucks.

Anyway - I've digressed enough. This is my first client - to respect her privacy her face has been omitted. I just wanted to share a sample of my work, and let y'all know I aint playing around here lol.

Although this was a time intensive (often exhausting) 'thing', one of the best parts of this experience was at the end - when she surprised me with two bags full of gifts!!! Now who was expecting that?

I received a selection of books and an incredible Himalayan Salt crystal lamp - which is supposed to help remove negative energy and promote healing. (She is aware of my hair loss and ongoing health battle). (Read more about them here).

Her generosity and thoughtfulness brought me to tears. I really hope my hair grows back soon. Sectioning locks for her hair really made me miss my own that much more. Oh well - on with the show.

Have a good weekend xxx

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

Length Check

2010-10-30T01:48:00.000+01:00

Having 'unpicked' (taken down) this lock in order to remedy some bunching (and just to see if it was actually locked yet) I decided to do a quick length check to see just how much my hair had grown since installation.

Given that the hair in this area of my head originally reached my nose I think that's pretty good for a year. Nice to know.

I decided to leave this one loose just to see whether in 12 months it would be the same length as or longer/shorter than the locks near to it.

*NOTE: This was in June 2010, 4 months later I am completely bald so really I will never know whether it would have been longer or not.

http://lovelifelocks.blogspot.com 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.

Sisterlocks UK Trainees - Class of 2010

2010-10-28T18:55:00.000+01:00

Yup, that's me (in the black hat)!
I did it!

I am now an official Sisterlocks Consultant in training. Woo hoo!

They only hold training classes once a year in the U.K. and I couldn't attend last year's session because it started on the same day I was due to return to work (from maternity leave).

Needless to say it nearly killed me to wait twelve months for the schedule to come round again - but I did it! I've done two consultations so far and hope that soon I will be on my way to full certification.

One of the unfortunate things is the topic of my hairloss. I have been asked by a few of my potential clients:

'How can you be a Sisterlock consultant if you're bald?'

That is a painful question, but I am open and honest with them. Having no hair doesn't affect my ability to do locks, but it does mean I can no longer be a walking advertisement for my craft. Oh well - I guess that's something I'm going to have to get used to. These photos are the last pictures of me with my locks so it makes me kinda sad to look at them, cos I do miss my locs but que cera cera. Much bigger things to worry about in this world these days. ON WITH THE SHOW!

Back to School Hair!

2010-10-26T01:24:00.014+01:00

As mentioned before, I still have loads of pics from this summer's shenanigans that I can share with you despite my current hairless state.

These are a few of my favourites from a 'Back To School' event in Barbados. I went with my sisters, nieces and cousins (who else?) I really liked how full my hair was at this point, I think it was the most hair I'd ever had since childhood and seeing those ponytails again makes me laugh. I sure had fun.

I just love the versatility of Sisterlocks.

Enjoy!

My super sister

My Steve Urkel look.

OK, this is clearly not me but her locs were soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nice I had to ask for a pic!

Nutty Niece and her crazy friend 'Sheldon'

Two tone locs on Edwin

Family

The Late Rt Hon. Prime Minister David Thompson

2010-10-25T17:08:00.000+01:00

"Barbados has been plunged into mourning with the death of Right Honourable Prime Minister David Thompson.

Prime Minister Thompson passed away at 2:10 a.m. on the morning of Saturday October 23rd, at his home in Mapps, St Philip with his family by his side.

Thompson served as Prime Minister of Barbados from January 2008 when the Democratic Labour Party won the government.

It was during May that Thompson, accompanied by his personal physician Dr Richard Ishmael, announced to Barbadians that he was not well and was seeking medical attention. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September.

On September 30 Thompson gave his last address to the nation, where he also announced a Cabinet reshuffle.

Thompson, 48, leaves to mourn his mother, his wife Mara and three daughters."

This is rather 'close to home' for me. Growing up in St. Philip, the areas of Mapps and Sandford might as well have been one. Although the combined land area was large, there weren't that many houses, so the 'Neighbourhood Watch' residents association covered them both.

The late Prime Minister was my neighbour. He attended neighbourhood events and always had a welcoming smile - he never made us feel like 'stupid children' or 'lesser mortals' because of he was a 'big-up politician'. My brother and I used to ride our BMXs up and down his incredibly long and smooth driveway (when we thought he wasn't home) and he never once scolded us for being a public nuisance (can't believe I did that!!!) Whenever he passed us in his blue jeep, we would shout our greetings and he would 'beep' in response. He came across as a humble jovial man and I genuinely liked him.

His passing reminds me of how fragile life is and how tomorrow is never promised today. Only two years ago he became Prime Minister - having waited in the wings for what felt to me like forever! Only this May did the rumours of his poor health begin spreading like wild fires - he asked us to pray... the nation responded.... Only last month did they confirm it was pancreatic cancer... only last month.... and now... he is with us no more. Take nothing for granted.

This really hits home with me, only in May did I really get into the groove of these locks and start experimenting with some serious curling and styling; only in June did I first notice a small bald patch at the back of my head... now in October - only four short months later - I am completely bald. Who would have thought?

As my doctors continue to hypothesise and search for a cause or definitive explanation for my sudden and complete hairloss, (and thus the most appropriate form of treatment) I am reminded once again to be thankful for what I do have.

I am still here with my family.
The Thompsons have David no more.

R.I.P

You don't Say?

2010-10-22T02:10:00.002+01:00

I'm posting this video - not because I am going to visit 'Sabrina the dreadlock extension Queen' (although maybe I should????) but because it'll give you an idea as to what my hair/head looked like before all of the loccies dived off.

http://www.realitytv.it/video/GQoAV4iwGSY/Repairs-to-Sisterlocks-Dreadlocks-by-SaBrina-323-937-8870.html

I wonder if those 'new' locs broke off at the root after a month or whether they are still attached (to what little hair was left on the lady's scalp). Hmmmmm.

@Anthia & Anonymous - the wonderfully friendly lady you both recommended to me is currently quite ill, please remember her in your prayers. I'll do a post on her and that experience later.

http://lovelifelocks.blogspot.com

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.

1 day and 30 locs

2010-10-18T22:40:00.002+01:00

Heads are rather funny shaped things. You don't really notice until they are devoid of hair... and I mean ALL hair because with SOME hair (like a TWA or even the tennis ball fuzz) you still have some sort of moulding and shape diffusion going on. With a bald head - everything is laid .. well.. bare.

Today I lost 30 locs.
The first two or three loosened and fell in solitude.
I leaned over to put something in my bag - and picked one out of the bag on my way back up;
I lifted another from my collar when I turned to talk to someone... the third dropped onto my desk as I wrote in my notebook.
Disturbing but 'dealable' (ie I could deal with it).

The other 27 left my head like they were the Israelites following Moses... or maybe they were running the London Marathon and some announcer somewhere unbeknownst to me had just said:
"on your mark, get set, GO!"
Maybe it's some new form of bungee jumping:
"Hey locs and loose hairs, on the count of three, everybody jump off... ready? 1-2....!"

I dunno ...

but they all left.

It took me 3 years to grow my hair (1 year to grow a set of locks I was actually rather fond of) and onlyy 4 months to lose it all. What is this - a casino? I feel like a gambler who amassed a small fortune and then blew it all during a whimsical trip to Vegas.

Some people think I am exaggerating. Well I'm not (see pictures below post).

I think my husband thinks I am having an affair with my GP (doctor). I see him every 2 weeks.

He looks at my head with a magnifying glass and insists that he can see new growth. Personally this growth must be microscopic cos I can't see it - or maybe you just need an infrared light to shine on it first... (or maybe he's just lying). Anyhoo - he tries to convince me all hope is not lost and I give him my "do I look like I am buying this?" look and he tells me to come back in two weeks and we'll see he was right.... only for me to come back, snatch my hat off and say: "the only thing that's growing is this bald spot..." Honestly, I think I just go there for some comic relief these days cos it's just ridiculous. That said he is cute so I might as well enjoy the view while I'm there. Additionally - he is balding himself and for some sad mean reason - I find that consolatory. I suppose 'misery really does love company!'

My friend Joratio (clearly not her real name, but she thinks she's the female version of CSI Miami's Horatio) - well she likes to drop cheesy one liners (like Horatio). She says I should look in the mirror and just be beautiful. I pointed out that I don't like to look in the mirror anymore because all I see is FACE. Honestly... face and HEAD. Not my favourite view. If the mirror had a switch I would change the channel. lol. I don't need to see my teeth to brush them - let's just hope I'm not walking around with last night's cabbage stuck between them!

Frequently, people ask me what caused my hair loss. Well I don't think Sherlock Holmes, Magnum P.I or Grissom, Mac and H together could figure this one out (although I wouldn't mind being interrogated by Detective Flack or that scrumptious Hill Harper bloke - hey bald headed women have to have fun somehow!). The lead suspects thus far are :

post partum shedding aka telogen effluvium (severity increased due to me having two babies back to back with little recovery time in between)
post partum thyroiditis (an autoimmune condition of unknown cause)
hypothyroidism
alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition of unknown cause)
post partum hair loss caused by prolonged vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to malabsorption during pregnancy (caused by hyperemis gravidarum) and/or insufficient time to allow for accumulation of said minerals and vitamins between pregnancies.
because I am female/short/Bajan/British/Black/
for no reason at all

Seriously, I am not convinced I will ever know why and these days I don't even care. I'm currently staying in a hotel and far more annoying that looking at my bald reflection in the mirror is the annoying kiddie music coming from the room next door.... listen kiddies, it is WAAAAAAAAAY past your bed time - don't you have school tomorrow? No? Well I do... think you could let me sleep?

Anyway - since I'm weird like this - this post is dedicated to the 30 locs who jumped off my head today.

Why you jumped we may never know... but you will not be forgotten, no, I'll remember you and shake my head because things must really be bad up there if you'd rather lie on the cold cold floor than on my warm (un)round head.

Hasta La Vista babies.

NB: click on photos for credit (except the photos of the locs which are mine so clicking on them will only make them bigger.)

http://lovelifelocks.blogspot.com
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.

Down but Not Out

2010-10-08T18:46:00.000+01:00

Hey everybody (and welcome to all the new subscribers, y'all snuck in there on me!!)

I just wanted to say 'Thanks'. I know it sounds cliche - but I really do appreciate every word of support and encouragement. Even when I am too 'down' to 'blog', I come and read these comments and remind myself that there is plenty of happy still left for me!

What am I going to do next? Well, I'm not going to stop blogging. I have loads of photos and plenty of locks/hair-related material from summer (and earlier) so I'll just go ahead and upload them as originally intended.

I'm also gonna do the 'crazy' and post pictures of the bald spots (before they became one big bald head of course). I've wrestled with that for a while - like - would that be showing TOO much of me? Should i just keep my hair loss private and personal? BUT I have come to the conclusion that - people like Kreyola and Brown Buttahfly inspired and encouraged me with their handling of their own hair loss scenarios - so who am I to withhold a similar blessing from someone else? I will do it... I will.. (hear me psyching myself up lol)!

Anthia-Ofo and an anonymous poster recommended a particular Hair Specialist (US based). I'll let you know how that pans out; and of course, tomorrow is the day I go so the Hair Replacement People in London (((nervous tremble)))).

I miss my hair (it's cold outside!!!) but one of the good things about looking more like Alek Wek/G.I. Jane is that my husband can't call me Lady Predator anymore LOL!!!... seriously - it was not a good look.

And to end on a happy note: here is a pic of me and my sisters back in early June.

Welcome to http://lovelifelocks.blogspot.com 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....

Lost This Battle (can I still win the war?)

2010-10-04T23:23:00.001+01:00

Since June, I have tried to remain upbeat and focus on the positive; I have spent many a evening counting my blessings, and each morning brings a new mercy to give thanks for... But today, my heart is heavy. Today I acknowledge that this battle is over.
I have lost my locks.
Funny how- when I finally fell in love with my hair, every strand, kink, curl and knot- that's when I lost them all: every strand, kink, curl and knot.

My last retightening session was the last week in July. I used to need a session every 4-6 weeks but it has been almost 11 weeks and there is still no new growth.

Instead, there have been handfuls of lost locks. Over a third have already left my head, the rest are hanging by strands. I have such large bald spots that covering them with my own hair is no longer possible. This weekend I will visit a wig specialist. Had there been new growth amidst the bald patches there may have been hope for repairing the thinning locks and reattaching the lost ones. However this is not the case. I am facing total hair loss from my scalp which leaves me with two options: walk bald or hide under a 'hair replacement unit' . I'm not looking forward to having straight hair ( I've never seen a lock wig)!

Being ill sucks.