Monday 26 August 2013

6 Years Locked Down


I have been on lock down for 6 years (and 5 days). WOOHOOO!!!! 

I was not able to post a blog entry on the actual day of my locversary so it is a few days late. I can't believe that I have been sisterlocked for 6 years; the time has really flown by. 

I am still experiencing problems with the ends of my locs and I really do not know what to do about them. I am still finding that some of the ends are unravelling and it seems to be getting worse. I thought that they would eventually re-lock but that has not been happening; in fact they seem to be unravelling more. I am still finding some of my ends are weak and I am continuing to loose some of them (or I pull them off). I have lost about 2-3 inches of my ends. This in combination with the unravelling is not good at all. I have racked my brains I cannot find a reason for why the ends are coming undone. It is like my hair is rejecting the locs. The only thing I can think of is because I have coloured by hair. I did use a product that contained ammonia when I dyed it and I did put onto of each other to lift the colour, the two occasions that I did dye it. That is the only thing I can think of. I have no other explanation for why mature locs would suddenly start unravelling. It is really frustrating!



When you look at this picture compring year 6 (top) with year 5 (bottom) there does not seem to be much difference. Each year I am convinced that my hair as not grown and each year I am surprised at the comparison shots. This year there does not seem to be much difference. Although looking at it again I can see there is some. I usually wear a shoulderless top to take my annual pics but I was unable to this time or you would have been seeing more than you needed to. And it was harder to take the side shots as the hair naturally parted over my shoulders. I am not so much bothered about the length as I am about having healthy hair. Sometimes I think about cutting off the dyed ends to see if that would make a difference to my hair **SIGH**


I am still experiencing dryness with my locs (I wonder if that is contributing to the unravelling). I have tried everything I can think of combat it: shea butter (horrible), deep conditioning, vegetable glycerin, coconut oil, spritzing with water and oil blends, co-washing (I can see if working if I washed my hair every or every other day but I do not so i need a proper cleanse), caster oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera juice, homemade conditioners, pre-pooing and nothing has worked. I am really stumped with this! I wonder if the shampoo is too drying? I don't remember it being this dry when I first had my locs, so I wonder if it is stress, nutrition? I have done what I can on that front so I am stumped!


I recently did a presentation on sisterlocks at a natural hair event. At that event I won a goodie bag from Love Harlem, YEAH!!! So I am currently trying the avocado butter conditioning hairdress on my locs. I tend to use castor oil or jojoba oil on my roots and use this on the length of my hair. So far it is good and I will do a full review in the future. Trying to make my own products was getting too expensive

I also got some Rhassoul clay. I have not tired it as yet but I plan to for my next wash. It is supposed to leave your hair soft and manageable and not drying like shampoo. I have never tried bentonite clay. Some people swear by it, others say that it is really drying for their hair. However Rhassoul clay is meant to be very gentle so I am excited to dry it. 

I hope that you have been following my YouTube channel: chocolatebombuk. You can also find me Instagram: @KhandeeKhane. Below are some pics of styles I have done recently. 

I call this style a twisted bun










12 comments:

Kreyola said...

You sure it not the fact that the end of your locks are colored and that is what causing your locks to unraveling at the ends? Also are you experiencing major shedding? Is that what leading you to believe that your hair is dry?

My bleach end never really budded or matured, and they for the most part, just shedded off. I don't know if I had moisturize and conditon them in the beginning, would I have retain more of my locks and would I have experience the same thing you are experiencing?

Good luck and happy 6th!!

KnottyAuthor said...

congratulations!!!! they are beautiful.

Khandi said...

Thank you

Khandi said...

Yeah I wonder if it's because I dyed my hair. I didn't have this problem before I coloured and admittedly now I did not use the best product. I know of loads of people colouring their sisterlocks so didn't think was a problem. They were mature before I dyed them. I am really considering chopping the dyed ends off

Kreyola said...

Chescalocs had similar experience and I think she said most of her dyed ends have shed or broke off as well, but she may have something on her YouTube on how to treat color locks, so maybe that are helpful to you. Check it out.

Good luck and don't cut them, just keep trying to treat them. At some point, they will shed or break off.

Khandi said...

Thanks I'll do some research

Faith Montague said...

Hello, Khandi.

Congratulations on your anniversary! Your locks are absolutely gorgeous. The products you mentioned use of are all oil based and are contributing factors to the "unraveling" you are experiencing. You should revert to using Sisterlocks (TM) products only as they are specially formulated to prevent these issues. Check out the Sisterlocks (TM) blogs - from the official website - and read posts on topics such as these from Dr Cornwell, herself. She weighs in frequently and answers questions also. You have done an outstanding job in maintaining your locks on your own. As for the drynessyou are experiencing, have you tried the Sisterlocks (TM) moisturizing spray or conditioner?

I have many tips for you. You may email me at faith@candidyou.org if you have any questions. My contact number is 301.830.6740 x101.

I am not trying to sell you anything, I assure you. I am just reaching out to show support because we are a Sisterlocks (TM) community and we're all here for eachother.

Keep enjoying your beautiful locks, lady!

Respectfully,

Faith Montague

Khandi said...

Hi Faith

Thank you for your comment and suggestions. I have never used sisterlocks products as I've never been able to get them in the UK. I have personally messaged JoAnne and never had a reply. I have contacted the home office and never got a response either. Once I get bad customer service I switch off.

The Unraveling may be due to the colouring as my consultant said she experienced the same.

I will bear in mind what you said

Thanks

Queenlocks said...

Happy 6 years!!!!!!

I just passed the 6 year mark in Oct.
Have a wonderful day!

Khandi said...

Thank you. Congrats on your 6 year locaversary!

Anonymous said...

Your locks are beautiful. I am 4.5 years in I use your updates as a forecast of how my locks will be. Since we have similar density and number of locks. :))

Khandi said...

At anonymous. Thank you so much :)

Sorry I have not blogged for aaages as I have been snowed under with uni work.