SNOW! And Apple Cider Vinegar for hair care

At around ten o'clock last night, It started snowing in the greater Atlanta area. Below you'll see some pics taken from my second floor window.




Now, I'm no hater when it comes to snow, but I'm definitely going to actively put my confidence in Cobb and Fulton County making sure to clear the roads for commuters, cause I begin my massage career, officially, on thursday, with signifigant prep work on wednesday. That aside, it'll be really cool travelling among the snow! I'll take some pics to share.

Now for the brazen tacks.
On previous posts, I've mentioned the homemade spray I use to keep my locs infused with useful stuff. For anyone with locs, braids, or any natural hair style, there are three things that must be in your spray. They are:

WATER
OIL
ACV

Keep in mind that of these three, only the oil will leave a scent, so a fourth ingredient would usually be some essential oil to add fragrance to hair that would otherwise smell like, iono, ganja smoke, cig smoke, dandruff, or whatever environment your hair is in on the regular. (hair soaks smell)

That being said, we're gonna hit this list from the bottom up, and tackle the importance of ACV, or Apple Cider Vinegar, as it pertains to a spray that can go on your hair at most anytime.

I'm not going to go into the blown up plug for ACV, I'm only gonna tell what I think is prevalent to our discourse, (locs, thinning hair, hair care in general) That being said...

ACV has three primary benefits:

Conditioner

ACV has a ph of about 2.9, which is close to the 4.5 to 5.5 of hair. (doesn't seem close, but acidic is acidic I suppose) While most shampoos are highly alkaline ( a ph of 7 and above) it also helps to close the hair cuticle which helps protect the inner shaft of hair. To this effect, ACV has a softening effect on hair, while not strong enough to slow up the locing process.

Cleaning agent

We've all seen the sites out there that spit, or speak, on ACV rinses being a boon to natural hair enthusiasts. I've done it once on my locs, but since I don't use wax on them, not much is going to happen. At any rate, if ur locs have lots of build up, consider a simple rinse of ACV and baking soda. I'll let you peruse the net for that recipe.

Germ killer

Dandruff has a clinical name that I won't go into spelling here, but the bottom line is, it's caused by a bacteria that eats ur scalp. ACV neutralizes it. That's why so many people like to use ACV for dandruff relief. I will say that dandruff usually improves in severity after your hair gets used to being loc'd, as the amount of oil ur head produces changes. Anyway, germ killer, Hell yeah!

All this adds up to alot of folks with locs finding value in using ACV. But did you also know it works for hair loss?

Not to be anticlimatic, but the reason it aids in hair loss is because of the effects touted above. lol. Also, remember to get the ACV with the cloudy stuff at the top and bottom. this is where all the power is. I use bragg's, you can find it most anywhere.

Next blog, we're going to go into the next portion of a decent spray for natural hair, OIL. Along with what ever else is going on in the region I reside in.

LUV, LUX, and LOCS

P.S.- I know ACV has a sour smell, but in a spray, the smell disappears as it dries, so don't worry about that. Here's some of the sites I used to get my info:


ACV Benefits
More ACV benefits
As if that weren't enough :)

Ah, freeforming. My method...

So now that we've seen how freeforming has truly helped me to regain strength in hair follicles that were losing gusto (see pics from last post, and my lamenting in previous posts) I can testify to what I've found is the biggest benefit of freeforming, and how for those with thinning hair, manicuring becomes an addition of insult to injury.

Now, when I had my locs manicured, I loved how they looked, except I could easily see my thinning hair, and just, iono, felt, that my hair was getting thinner due to the twisting. when you've developed traction alcopecia, why add more traction by having them manicured all the time?

Also, I knew from the outset that when my locs were developed, I would have a problem. See, because I had thinning hair up top, my loctician thought it would be best to make fewer locks. I admit fault for not telling her to make more on the top of my head, but that's what a lack of foresight gets you. Sometimes its good to put your foot in your mouth, and just say what is coming up. Believe that.

So yes, I went through the arduous process of creating new locs while at the same time treating my older locs accordingly (feeding them water and shampoo). Which of course really slowed the locking process for the noobs. Many a day spent with my bandana on when I would have preferred to rock my locs...

The clinch for me was the amount of... of versatility in influencing how these locs would start and develop (newbies) now I have a total of six locs where before I had two. had I continued to have them manicured, even if less often to combat the traction, I would have developed a very few, slowly thinning locs on top of my head.

So my message to those who have thinning hair and are considering locs... First, determine what your goals are.
If you want to cultivate locs in order to try and strengthen hair growth, then have a loctician start them, but only after you've discussed that you believe your hair can grow back, and you want the begining locs to reflect that belief. Have them wash and twist them, but don't pin them down to the root when going under the dryer. allow some breathing room (and growing room) for the hair that can't take that stress.

If on the other hand, you want locs and are unconcerned about continued alcopecia, then so be it. but if I know the human condition as far as aesthetics, then we all want a full head of hair (read: locs) so do what thou wilt.

Love, Lux, locs.

No more massage therapy school....And updates on mi locs

SO yesterday was my last day of class at Massage therapy school. Saw that I'd passed the last test, and let rip a "WHOOP" that the new students will remember for a few weeks.

I've been involved in that school for almost the last year! So many things coming full circle... But of course, when things come full circle, new things start the merry go-round. I've decided that I'm more than capable of continuing on with school, until I have a bachelor's, or at least enough certifications to earn me a prosperous doctor's wage.

I believe that the next step is personal training. Gonna see what pops up soon.

My locs are wonderful! I have been having some trouble though. This cooling weather's got them getting dry. REALLY dry. Two days after I wash, they're flaky again... Just a shower of dandruff. When I spray a lot of spritz, they're kosher, but do I really soak my hair, and then throw a beenie on, or even less safe, go out into 50 degree weather with a head full of moist locs? I believe I should start oiling them again. I stopped when I started spritzing more heavy, thinking that would do it, but I'd prefer oil to a spritz, now that the cold season waxes fat.

I been massaging my scalp a bit more consistently, and must say I like the results. Just feels more comfy.

I was thinking about cutting my hair down into much shorter locs, if not completely shaving, in order to obtain employment now that I'm done with school. I went to my sister's to visit, and mentioned this to her, and she gave me one of the most sincere compliments I've ever heard her give. Told me that my hair identifies me as being a unique person, and that it would help me communicate my "earthy" quality, as it would apply to the healing I would facilitate.

OK, she didn't say all that, but that was a decent paraphrase. It was weeks ago, people, I'm gonna sensationalize. I've already told this story to a half million folks anyway...lol

so I'm not cutting my hair.

but I do want some good ole' employment...

Eh, we'll see what manifests. Recieved some citrine as a graduation gift from a good friend. All ready to be using that to make money happy here.

Lov, Light, y Lucini

For Real Freeforming

Hello all, it's been quite awhile since I have posted. And while much has been going on in my life, we'll take things slowly.

First locs, then love, then life.

LOCS

My hair is... no words can describe it. the two locs in the front got clipped of much of their length, because I was bent on the hair at my crown being more evenly distributed. In stead of two locs, there are three now.
I'm deep off into the freeform. Just wash, oil, and go. and even the oiling has become much more simple: spread some jojoba on my hands, rustle them through the drying hair, and that's about the story of oiling. the length of hair that was comb coiled is definitely loc'd, while the new growth is in varying stages of locing. I enjoy playing with the ends that, only months ago, I was begging to seal. now only about a handful of them havent sealed. I've got this sort of "halo" of new growth that makes me feel such like a lion. Seperating the roots is my biggest maintenance task now, and one that I undertake with plenty of enjoyment. Anything to do with my hair is savored! Mid December will be the one year mark for my locs. SO much growth in the past ten months...
In the past month and a half, as I embrace the freeform, people have started complimenting my hair. I hear awe as I walk Atlanta. At massage events, those with locs touch their fist to their heart and give me a small bow, which I'm only to happy to return. I wear a jamaican flag bandana, and yellow and green armbands. People ask if I'm from Jamaica, and I tell them no, but that I identify with the country as if it is my home. Looking in the mirror at my locs, in all their unkempt glory, I feel a profound sense of gratitude and self love (more on that later) and a gratefulness at my ongoing decision to remain loc'd. LUV

My first words...

Hello. I'm Zebulun, Born in Mississippi, Learned in a bit of everything, and starting this link into who I am at an interesting point in my life. I'm half done with school for massage therapy, I been living in Atlanta for a year this July, and I'm about...five and a half months into locing my hair. Here's a pic of me and my hair a few days ago.
<------ So here's the thing about my locs. I've been growing my hair since about...eh, 8th grade. So about 7 years. I'm attached to my hair! When I came to ATL and saw all the happening cats with locs, I decided it was time to stop manipulating my hair (and hurting my scalp) by braiding such coarse hair down. I got two strand twists...The woman who did that put beeswax on them. They lasted for about a month. Something just didn't feel right about them. Took them down, had another set of hand twist them...that lasted a few weeks too. Just didn't feel right! the last time I had them comb coiled...They looked, as someone once said, "like black gummi worms". I loved them, and I could see, just for a moment, the progress on the way. So I've only in the last month taken my locs into my own hands. I visited the loctitian twice after the initial twist to have them maintained, but being a student, my funds are quite low. So I decided to twist on my own. Found lekair's oil free shampoo and went from there. They turned out good, but I noticed something. Now, I had already heard that as my locs matured, I would have a favorite. I had two. And these two didn't want to stay twisted. The new growth just stood out like uncut grass. one on my left temple, and one at the very nap of the left side of my head. I loved them. And they inspired me to begin freeforming.

I've made this blog for three reasons. First, I wanted to have a place where I could vent my questions, insecurities, and other feelings about my locs. Since I just started freeforming, I get the feeling some of my supporters may become naysayers, and I want a place to talk about that. Second, I've combed the net (haha) looking for sites that will tell me about my specific kind of hair, and what I should do. And while I've found some great sites, I'm starting on another leg of my loc journey: transitioning from comb coils to freeform. I can already tell that it's going to be wonderful and inspirational, and I wanted to have a place to look at and document it. I'm going to tell the world what I'm doing, and how it turns out. Third, I like reading blogs about locs, and wanted to contribute to the conversation, dig?

So to sum up: I'm in month five of locing my hair, and I've decided to freeform. This blog will primarily serve to document the process. Nice. God Bless