Happy (super duper belated) FOUR Month Lociversary to Me!

Wow! It's been a minute. I've missed blogging and reading blogs. Work is on the downswing - at least a little bit so I'm hoping to be back to posting. Also, welcome to my new readers. . .I still can't believe I have more than one subscriber :)

Even though I didn't blog about it on the day or even close to the day, I celebrated month 4 with a wash and re-twist. I still have very frustrating days when I just want to chop them off but I'm holding on. I was really hoping to see a loctitian but haven't had the time to make an appointment. One of my friends has recommended someone so hopefully month 6 will find me in a salon chair!

These pics are from 04/08 and 04/09 (my actual lociversary). I finally mixed the Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar and Shine & Define. I didn't measure so I don't have specifics but the two products blended together well. I was happy with the hold three weeks later.

Again, I apologize for the picture quality. This time around I used my Flip camcorder. Haven't gotten around to unpacking and finding the battery charger for my camera. 

Not too much change from month 3. I'm trusting the process. Month 5 is just a week away!

Thanks everyone for being patient with me. I look forward to catching up on all of your blogs.

- kareen

Uncoiled Locs

First, I would like to welcome my new subscribers! I very much appreciate all of you taking the time to read my musings on loc'ing.

The coils came down this past Monday morning. While the 'do worked for the weekend, it was not work appropriate. Perhaps if I had kept them in longer, the curls would have been more well-formed. I apologize for the poor picture quality; it's a cell cam. Still trying to locate the camera after the move.

Here is the result!

How I wore it to work

The waves completely dropped by Wednesday. I will definitely try the style again but maybe when I can leave them in for a longer period of time.

Heading into four months next weekend!

- kareen

Coiled Locs

So, if you're at all on Youtube you will have noticed the latest loc style rage: coiled locs. What's great about the style is that it actually works for short, medium and long locs! I took one look (okay, I watched about five vids) and knew I had to try it.

The loc tut originated with Fauryn78:



I like the way the style turned out and my hubby loved it, too. I know it looks a little different because I have less locs but I like it! I used Oyin Handmade Shine and Define and Burnt Sugar. Loved the shine!

I slept with the hairpins and this morning those coils stayed intact after I removed the pins. We'll see how long I can stretch the style. I'm looking forward to the curls!

- kareen

Happy (belated) THREE Month Lociversary to Me!

March 9th marked my three month lociversary! Month three was uneventful for my hair unfortunately. I didn't care for my babies as I normally would so they didn't get their moisture. In addition, life is chaotic and I'm sure all that cortisol running through my system didn't help either.

I was hoping to get on a three-week wash and retwist cycle but my new job is kicking my butt. You can read about a little more about all of that here. So I didn't get a chance to wash my locs until this past Thursday evening and I won't lie, my re-twist was half-baked :) I was so tired and just wanted to finish, I didn't let them dry enough. Truthfully I'm just happy to have clean hair!

Even with the lack of loving care this month, I was happy to see fuller locs even with stagnant length. Shrinkage, maybe? Am I imagining the change?

On a side note, I wanted to encourage everyone out there concerned about starting locs while job searching. It's possible! I not only got a new job but also a promotion within one month. That's the short version of the story but know that your intelligence, experience, interview skills and appropriate overall grooming play a major role in a job offer. Keep your head up and go get those locs :)

- kareen

Nubian Kinks Re-Twist

Finally! I was able to give my locs some TLC yesterday. A thorough wash followed by a re-twist using Nubian Kinks Loc Pomade. From start to finish, the process took about 90 minutes but I wasn't taking pictures in between like I did the first time around. Also, as I've mentioned before, I don't have a hair dryer so my locs air dried. I was pleased that many locs stayed intact but there were some that basically completely unraveled. Just another reminder that my locs are babies still.

NK Loc Pomade doesn't look the greatest; it's a light, muddy brown colour which I wasn't expecting but what it lacks in visual appearance (for me) it makes up for in scent. The pomade has a light but pleasant fragrance which reminds me of a Caribbean vacation.

As with any loc re-twisting gel/pomade, application was easy and I had no difficulty re-twisting. I was concerned about not having a blow dryer or hair dryer but no worries at all. When I removed the clips, my handiwork remained intact and there was no product build-up.

The only difference I noticed between the Joie MyGel and NK Loc Pomade is that this morning the locs that normally unravel overnight are still intact. The ones at my nape and by my ears held on surprisingly well! We'll see what this week holds. I will write a full review of the products I've used to so far in a separate post.

Happy Sunday!

- kareen

It's Here!

In only 12 business days my package from Nubian Kinks arrived! That's not too bad at all. Maybe their service is improving.

Now the dilemma - what should I use for my next re-twist? Oyin Handmade or Nubian Kinks. I'll have to make that decision by tomorrow. I'm starting my new job on Monday so it's going to be a wash and re-twist kinda Sunday...I hope! I'm in the middle of moving from AZ to CA for that job so we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Which products should I try?

- kareen

Product Junkie in the Making

Okay, I'm not really becoming a PJ. I'm definitely in the less is more camp with loc maintenance but after spending the last year and a half watching every possible Youtube video on locs, it's only natural for my interest to be piqued in what's available on the market, right? Right? Truthfully I'm surprised that I don't already have a cabinet full of products!

After I made it through my first self-wash and re-twist unscathed, my desire to try some products went into high gear. Well, three products in particular: Oyin Handmade's Burnt Sugar Pomade and Shine & Define; and Nubian Kinks' Locing Pomade. 

I received the Oyin products about a week after placing my order. The fragrance for both products is divine. Even my husband commented that they smelled good enough to eat! I'm excited to wash and re-twist my hair just so I can try them out. Crazy, right? 

I bought these two product after watching quotidianlight's Youtube review on the great re-twisting results she experienced by mixing them together. Definitely worth a watch!

While I know of Nubian Kink's shipping issues, I couldn't resist purchasing their Locing Pomade. Even with the reports of poor customer service, no one can knock their product so I have to try it. I'm not in a rush. I placed my order on January 30th. I received an initial email confirming my order and this week I received a second email with a tracking number and a message that the product had shipped two days ago. So I think they are making progress on improving their customer service. I'll be sure to update when I receive my package. 

Have a great weekend!

- kareen