Comparison

The night I cut my ends off. (sorry for the poor quality) 1 day later
3 days later

Besides the fact that my locs need to be retightened. Do they look different? Are they drawing up? They are definitely fuzzier.

Wow, big difference. That's probably a good 3 to 4 inches gone. In some places I probably cut 5 inches off.

Milestones

My oldest child

Saturday, July 25th I celebrated my halfway point through cosmetology school. We had a great time. I don't always get time to spend with friends and family and so this was much needed.

I forgot to ask my other guests if I could post their pictures. Though this guest here didn't mind.

My niece

Also......

I did it! I got rid of those stringy, dangly, lifeless relaxed ends! Freedom. I must say that I was very fearful of cutting them, but they had to go. Turns out my hair isn't as short as I first initially thought. I feels great and looks better. To me anyway. I sure there are others that think other wise, but I'm the majority when it comes to my hair and soo it looks good.

click the pictures for better detail

Now if I can only get rid of this issue of my scalp flaking. That's what I'll be up on next.

My new ear-rangs

I'm so thrilled about my earrings. These fabulous pieces where created by the beautiful Naturallynewbie.

They changed my whole look. I was telling her that the top I'm wearing in the pic, I have worn to work a million times. Well the compliments just keep rolling in. They are saying "Wow, you look great!" I told Naturallynewbie that I know it's the earrings.

Featured in my picture is a pair she named "Rasta". She has so many others that are great. She can also customize colors to your preference. Check out her Thread Girl Boutique.

Thanks NaturallyNewbie!

Something different

I tried a new style today. I'm not sure if I like it, but at least it's different. Now only if I could change the scenery. I'm sure folks are tired of looking at my burlap wall and blue office chair :-) I need to get out more and take pics.

7 months update

Seems like I just did a post for 6 months. Well here are my locks at 7 months. I'm ready for my relaxed ends to go, but still a little afraid. I'm scared I won't look right with approx. 4inches of hair. On the other hand, I'm not going to let fear stand in my way. I've set the date. The first anniversary of my locs I WILL be receiving a hair cut. (I feel nausea setting in) I believe that once these stringy wild ends are gone, my locs will take off instead of being hender by the bunching of the relaxed hair. I dunno. Maybe it's all in my head. Here's also a style I've worn to diguise the 2 textures.

Almost 1 year with out a relaxer

I was just sitting here thinking, a couple of years ago I would had not even thought about going a year without a relaxer. What! Walk around with a nappy head. I don't think so. But as I was taught a long time ago, never say what you won't do.

Hi, my name is Kiki and I was a creamy crack addict. It has almost been a year of being clean.
Here are some of my "crack head" days.

I'm really cracking myself up right now. Ok, I'll stop.

oh yeah, bleached golden highlights.

Chile, You couldn't tell me "nuthin" in this pic

This was THE flat wrap, hear me.

Bra strap length hair in a rollerset. I suffered from "white girl syndrome" during this time. I heard this syndrome can lie dormant for a while and then come back with vengeance when my locs grow longer. It is reported to be triggered by wind blowing in your hair. Hmm...I'll see.

Yep, had a little chop. Split ends will do it everytime.

Now this is what I would do to my hair when I went about 8 to 10 weeks without a relaxer. This was "Old Betsy" the ponytail. She hid my kinky new growth every time. And her trusty side kick "Humpty." It took care of the front.

Just a rollerset, but what was I wearing? The chemicals must had got to my brain and clouded my judgement? I'm not feeling the shirt at all.

Did I have withdrawal symptoms? Sure I did. Within the first week of getting my locs, I woke up one morning and headed straight for the bathroom. I stood in the mirror to take down bantu knots. After I was done, I grabbed a comb. For what? I don't know, habit I suppose. At that very moment I took all the combs out of bathroom. I didn't need them anymore.

I thought I was pretty dogone cute back then, but I was a slave to my hair. It had a life of it's own and I had to obey. A strict 6 to 8 week relaxer schedule. Every 2 weeks to be styled or bleached. No swimming. No being out in the hot sun to sweat. It didn't do rainy days, and absolutely no late night meetings in the bedroom the first day or two from the salon. I wanted liberty! And now I have been liberated. Trust me, I still like to rollerset my hair. I still like to style it. The beauty of it all is if I don't want to, I don't have to. I'll still look great! Rainy day spainy day. A little rain won't hurt. If I forget my umbrella, no more waiting for the rain to let up to go to my car. No more finding some plastic bag to put over my head either.

This was a great decision for me to go natural. I love it!