First Self-Wash and Re-Twist w/ Pics

Okay. Finally got the pics off the card and onto the 'puter. Almost had a meltdown when I thought I would never be able to access them.

I digress.

After a couple of weeks of consistent exercise my scalp was screaming for a wash. The problem? I was just too terrified to wash my own hair and to deal with the mess afterwards. I didn't have the time to travel to my loctitian (7.5 hours away) so I knew it was time. Six days shy of my two month lociversary, I took the plunge. . . and LOVED it. Well, at the very least my scalp was thankful!

Here's a pictorial of how it all went down. (p.s. I'm still working on taking self-portraits so I continue to ask for your patience and also thank you for indulging me) 

Before the wash. The locs really held up this month.

Suave Clarifying Shampoo (first time using and had great results) + Joie MyGel + Clips = Re-twist!

The aftermath. I was a little bit overwhelmed at the though of re-twisting.  

During and after the re-twist. Couldn't believe how much more budding developed!

Here we are the next day. Second pic is a little fuzzy but shows all the budding.  Definite thickening up!

More next day pics. Loving my locs!

I was proud (and still am!) of my efforts. Seven days later the locs are crazy fuzzy but that's life. I don't own a hair dryer so I had to let my hair air dry. Maybe that has to do with the quick return of the fuzzies. Who knows.

That's it for now.

- kareen

iRockLocs Giveaway! I WON!!!

Thanks to Kim @ iRockLocs and Lockology, I WON (yes, won!) my very first loc jewel! Super-duper excited!!

I won 'River'!

Be sure to check out the other winners. There were six!

- kareen

First Self-Wash and Re-Twist. . . Teaser

Well, I took the plunge and washed my loc babies and re-twisted them! Full deets and more pics to come this week.

Half-way through the process!

Hope you had a great weekend!

- kareen

Shrinkage and Buddage

Someone asked me if I was experiencing hair shrinkage. I immediately answered 'no' and indicated I was patiently waiting for it to hit. 

Well, it's here.

I've been putting my hair into a modified low bun the past couple of weeks. (nothing fancy so I haven't taken any pics) After my re-twist, I was able to fit more hair into the bun and the shorter locs near the front would lay flat on their own. Not too many clips or hairpins needed. Soon I began to notice that the shorter locs were more prone to sticking up and less and less of the locs in the back wanted to cooperate. The last indicator of shrinkage, I am using more pins and clips for the same style. 

While the shrinkage is annoying; it's also exciting! My hair is loc'ing! And that's all I need it to do.

 The number of locs with buds is increasing but really only on the right side of my head. The left side is almost completely bereft of buds :( They are decidedly still very much comb coil in appearance. Anyone else experience this asymmetry? 

So, back to the right side - the buds are getting bigger! Is the size of the bud an indicator of how thick one can expect a loc to become?

Just another 1.5 weeks till two months! I'll of course have pics then. I especially want to introduce you to Sally, my already loc'd buddy. She's an overachiever and I heart her :)

Just a quick update. Hope you're all enjoying a great and safe weekend.

- kareen

iRockLocs Giveaway!

CONGRATS to fellow loc'er Kim for reaching 200 subscribers on her blog! She's celebrating with a great giveaway! How neat!



Be sure to check her and the contest out: iRockLocs!

- kareen

The Journey So Far

At the recommendation of Rennae, I found Picnik. It's an easy to use photo editor and so I've been having a little bit of fun with it. Here are a couple of collages of the loc journey so far!

See you in a few!

- kareen

Is this budding?!?

So, I'm asking the ultimate newbie question: is this budding? Thought I'd know budding as soon as I saw it but after a re-twist, not sure if they are buds or just bumps formed from manipulation. The 'buds' are not appearing on all locs. No matter what, this process is exciting!

So what do you think?

- kareen