I am a member of two Sisterlocks social media communities that are very similar in name, so many of the members share dual membership within these social media outlets. I consider it a “community” of sorts; like-minded Sisters who share a love for natural hair and the maintenance of Sisterlocks. I see many posts that often challenge the path that my Sisterlocks consultant has advised. Because I trust her advice, and I have seen the fruit of her labor, I follow her advice to the letter. It makes me wonder, however, how or why the information varies so much, within the community, around the maintenance of Sisterlocks. For example, from the start, I was advised not to get my Sisterlocks wet unless I am getting them shampooed, after bundling and banding. On these pages, I constantly see posts advising newly installed Sisters to spritz their locs with rose water or water infused with natural oils to “add moisture” or to “style” them. I wonder if the daily water serves as an attractant for dust and any other airborne particles which may inhibit growth. Another example is when or if coloring your hair is advisable. I’m on the fence about color, in general, but most posts encourage Sisters to go for it…as long as your hair is truly locked. Most often, if you know that color appeals to your sense of individual expression, you should color your hair PRIOR to your installation so that, at a minimum, maintaining the roots is easier to do while the hair is locking. The thing about color is, if you’re fickle like me, when the color no longer appeals to you, you may be stuck with an even greater challenge and less appealing option, especially if you choose the “blond” family of colors-growing out light hair with very dark roots. I wonder if the coloring process changes the texture and feel of natural hair. I’ve only lightened my hair when it was chemically relaxed, so my experience differs. Coloring my relaxed tresses thinned my usual thick and coarse hair; it also changed the texture and feel of my relaxed hair.

Now that I’m eleven weeks in, I’ve had my second retightening at this point. I’m still convinced…installing my Sisterlocks this summer was the best hair decision I’ve ever made! 

Prior to my second retightening, my hair is thick and my scalp is definitely in need of a good shampooing. My grid is not visible; it is time. 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016: The retightening begins after a long day of working. My hair is retightened and bundled in sections.

This left side is completely finished.

Almost two hours later, my hair is completely retightened and bundled & banded for shampooing. This time we retightened first, before shampooing. For the first retightening, we retightened most and finished some edges after shampooing. 

Post shampoo, my hair is towel patted to soak up some of the moisture, the bands are snipped away and finger-combed to loosen the bundles. Then, I sit under a warm dryer for about 4-5 minutes.

My scalp is hand-massaged and my hair is loosely styled using finger-combing. Here is the back of my hair.

Here is the front of my newly retightened hair.