Teenagers???

Ok, I'm a little confused by the state of my hair these days. It's been acting completely retarded lately.

The top and front still looks and behaves like braids do which isn't great but at least it's predictable. The "locking" areas are doing something else.

Let's start with shrinkage. It's not uniform. Not from lock to lock or even from strand to strand. I have some freakishly long strands that stick out all on their own with fuzzy tufts of hair on the ends.

Frizz is another thing. I can handle frizz. I even looked forward to it. I just don't understand it anymore. It seems to come and go on a whim. I do NOTHING to my hair these days as my followers know but one day there's nothing but a MASS of frizz and the next... it's all tame and docile. I think it's mildly bipolar to be honest.

One thing that I DO like however is that some are taking on very lock-like characteristics! I've found a few cylindrical ones with no braid pattern. They're condensed and stiff/hard. It's exciting. The day that they all get with the program will be a great one.

In short.. I think my teenage phase is beginning. Maybe they're preteens now. Either way, they're doing whatever the heck they want which is a sign that they're moving on from the baby stage.

Thanks for reading everyone!

-Raxxie

To Color???

I am strongly considering coloring my hair for the first time ever!

I know I'm going to do it but I'm still deciding when. My birthday is in May and I might wait till then. I'll be in month 8 at that point. Not sure I want to wait that long though. March will be month 6. Maybe I'll do it then.

At least I'm not this indecisive about which color I want. I've heard good things about Garnier Nutrisse so I'm going with that brand.



The color is deep burgundy brown. I love it, that's a sexy color.

If anyone has advice on coloring I'd appreciate it... I'm more or less a blank slate on the subject other than what the box says. Lol.

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

Musings #6 : HIH Disease!!

Lol.. it's nothing serious I promise! For those of you who don't know, HIH is an acronym for, hand in hair. Basically is describes those of us who have our hands in our hair all the time.

Lately though, it's become more than just me. Everyone (those allowed) seems to find their hands in my hair.

I don't mind it because I love the feeling of fingers on my scalp. The reason I mention it is because when I was an avid weave wearer it was a BIG NO NO! There was NO way I was gonna let anyone touch it because then it would be confirmed how fake it was. When I pressed the hell out of my hair it was partially allowed unless I styled it up in which case it was completely forbidden. After I BC'ed and began styling and loading up on products it was a no no because I was embarassed at how sticky it was or how crunchy. Now that I'm locking, and using nothing but water, everyone is allowed and I love it! I have nothing to hide, be neurotic about, or be ashamed of.

I even get compliments on how soft it is! My hair! The hair that I used to believe would be a brillo pad without product! Amazing. And you know what? They're not lying, it IS soft. I love my hair in a way I never have before. It's not a burden or a chore. It's beautiful and I love it!

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

Suggestions For New Lockers - Part 1

This is a collection of wise tidbits I've gotten from locking veterans. These may not apply to every new locker as every head of hair is different but these are some basic rules that are generally followed and passed on:

1. Less is more - This goes for product, manipulation, and grooming for the 1st few months. Your new locks need time to settle

2. Avoid commercial moisturizers - Moisturizing shampoos, wash-out and leave in conditioners, thick/heavy oils, etc. This isn't necessarily forever but right after installation your babies are quite prone to slippage and unraveling. Also, avoiding the use of such products will minimize buildup. This also includes waxy products (bees wax).

3. Moisturize - Your hair needs moisture to be healthy so keep it moisturized. Water is the best moisturizer. Spritzing with water is a great way to maintain the moisture levels in your hair. If plain water isn't your cup of tea, a light carrier oil (like olive oil) and/or an essential oil (like peppermint) can be added for an easy to make daily spritz.

4. Keep it clean - Many will say that locks cannot/should not be washed for the first few months. I disagree STRONGLY with that concept. Dirty hair is gross and the longer washes are put off, the more buildup there will be to wash out later. Set up a regime of cleanliness and it will benefit you in the long run. Plus, some swear by frequent washes/rinses as a means of helping along the locking process (disclaimer: this (ie: rinsing speeding it along) varies from person to person and doesn't work for everyone).

5. Do NOT over tighten - Meaning not too frequently and not too tightly. Whether you twist, palmroll or latch this is SUPER important as you may lose locks later. Over tightening can cause weakening in locks which can cause them to break later on. Doing it too tightly can also cause pulling at the scalp which can lead to the loss of hairs at the root. Weak roots are a no no with locks as it can also cause the loss of the lock.

The basic consensus? Let them be, for the most part. Wash them, wet them and let them do their thing. Tighten them (if not freeforming) with accumulated new growth (about a month's worth). That's all. It doesn't have to be forever and these suggestions aren't set in stone. All hair will lock eventually. These are just tips for helping the process and keeping them healthy.

Thanks for reading! Hope this helps someone!

-Raxxie

Braids No More

The back of my hair is making moves! I'm SO HAPPY!

My temples, side edges, and back 2 rows have lost the braid pattern for the most part. They're FINALLY starting to look like locks!

Well that's it for now, I'll be posting my routine soon as well as the basics of locking as I've learned them thus far!

Thanks for reading!

ps. my 4th month began on Jan 12th! Woo hoo!

-Raxxie

One Product Challenge

My GOSH this has been an insane week! Almost got thrown out of school.. finances are NO JOKE! Thankfully God's not done with me yet. Amen.

Anyway, there's a lady on Nappturality that proposed a challenge. She challenged all who would join to use just one product. Not sure for how long, but I'm going to do it (for the most part) for the rest of my first year.

I've already seen the benefits of using nothing but my shampoo/natural soap. I rinse everyday in the shower and wash a couple times a week (since I work out a lot now) and I've seen progress.

Anyone who wants to join, PLEASE DO! If you can go without putting anything in your hair I suggest you do it. I couldn't go cold-turkey as you all know. I had to cut back slowly. Now I've let it go altogether and I actually like it. Go figure.

Now, the back of my hair is LOCKING! Woo hoo! The sides (edges) are doing their thing as well as well as by my temples.

People have told me that one day I'd look up and see a surge of change in my hair. They were right! I have some of those little balls of hair on my ends (a few). I've started losing the braid pattern on some of my locs. I'm so happy!

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

H2O

Water is a wonderful thing for a young locker!

Lately I've been rinsing every day and I swear, my progress has sped up! My hair looks to be doing it's thing in high(er) gear now!

I've done some research on the subject and have found that the results of daily rinses vary from person to person and from hair type to hair type.

Not everyone can accelerate the process by rinsing daily. But learning what works for you is about trial and error. I figure, it's worth the try.

This is also where your start method comes into effect. If you started with braids, sister/brother locks, interlocks, and possibly twists (2 or 3 strand) unraveling is likely to be far less than if you started with finger/comb coils or possibly backcombing (I know very little about backcombing). I see no unraveling anymore with my hair though I used to quite a bit in the beginning.

If you want to, I suggest you try it out and see how you like it!

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

Bringing Sexy Back in 2010!

My roommate and I have made a resolution this year. It's gonna sound familiar because it's one that EVERYONE makes on Dec. 31 but forgets, or quits by Jan. 7.

We're gonna get in shape. Not just saying it, we're DOING it! Both of us WILL be bikini ready this summer.

Her goals are slightly different from mine but I can share with you where I'll be going.

My weight is in the healthy range for my height so that's not what I'm concerned about. What I want is a redistribution of the fat on my body, and to lower my percentage of body fat.

I'm gonna be a beast in the gym this year.

I have a fairly muscular body type which means I can gain or lose weight pretty easily depending on what I'm doing. When I work out regularly I see results in as little as two weeks. But when I slack off (which I usually do once I notice results) I go right back to where I was in about 2 weeks. Not everyone loses inches and gets tones the same way. Some people slim down with a lot of cardio. I'm not one of them. I have to lift weights. Strength training is the BOMB for me!

This year I will NOT slack off. I will track my progress and keep pushing till I get where I want to go. Once I get there I'll just maintain. I'm super excited because I went Thursday and today and though sore, I feel SO GOOD!

Thanks for reading ladies (and gentlemen?)!

-Raxxie

The look of love...

This is one of my favorite songs of all time! Yes, I'm a romantic. Guilty as charged. Although it's a cliche I am a firm believer in that look.

Haven't you ever seen it?

It's not something that you'll see terribly often when you're single but every once in awhile you find someone who is head over heels for you and.. there it is!

People can fake SO many things when it comes to love and relationships. We can tailor what we say. We dress a certain way. We curtail our behavior to make a good impression. But that look? You can't fake that look.

He buy you all types of beautiful, thoughtful, ooo and awww type things. He may take you places that you've always wanted to go (literally, you dirty minded people). He may appear to bend over backwards for you, get close tou your friends and family, brag about you in public, the whole shpeel. But if he NEVER looks at you with love in his eyes.. chances are his intentions are less that virtuous.

I know what B.S looks and sounds like. Trust me, I didn't always believe in the look myself. Then I saw it.

It was the end of a first date. Mr. Gentleman and I were about to part ways. He hugged me, said something (don't remember what), then he looked at me. OMG.. (insert girly sigh). That was the point where I knew his feelings were for real. I got chills.

This isn't a lustful stare. It isn't even something I can describe. The English language sadly, doesn't have adequate words to do it justice. But when you see it, you know it in an instant.

I'll say this again, he can't fake it. Neither can you. Sometimes we don't recognize it or ignore it because we don't expect it. I personally am a sucker for it. Lol, aww well.

He can act aloof and play it cool as we SO often do in the beginning, but once his guard is down and feelings get deeper be on the look-out for it. This doesn't mean that an aloof guy isn't an aloof guy. He could be, he could be uninterested. What I'm saying is this: if you're trying to figure out which he is, the look he gives you will give him away. You can only hold back so long.

Alright, I think I'll stop here.. I'm remembering a few too many looks, and non-looks.. lol..

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

He's just not that into you...

This is my first post that has absolutely nothing to do my hair. Hope you'll read along with me anyway.

I love action movies, thrillers, and serious dramas! Love, love, love them. I watch romantic comedies too but just for the entertainment factor, and usually to kill some time. The movie in the title of this blog is the exception.

For some reason, I can't get enough of this movie. It has witty dialogue and VERY good points about male/female interactions.

If you haven't seen it, I suggest you do. It goes through the lives of seven interconnected people in various stages of romantic relationships. I never really thought about how much miss-communication exists between the genders especially with the things women tell each other about men.

Because we fear rejection and single-hood so much, we justify all the crappy things we go through in the dating world. Bottom line? If he treats you like crap, or refuses to give you what you're looking for STOP EXPECTING HIM TO CHANGE. He either DOESN'T like you, or CANNOT give you what you need because he DOESN'T want to or DOESN'T have it. That's all it is.

Any man who finds a woman he wants will do whatever he has to, to get her. It's just in his nature to go after it and he will, even if he looks like an idiot in the process. I've seen it.

The movie parodies these points in a smart way and I love it.

I love sociology, psychology, and anthropology. I love looking at how people behave and interact. It's amazing how we react to each other. Seriously, its a movie to watch.

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

Another Updo For Short Locs!

Another tutorial by the one and only sistaanclyned on youtube!

Hope you enjoy it!

Happy New Year Everyone!

2009 is officially over!

I hope all is well with everyone. Regardless of what your old year held I hope your new one tops it! I hope for nothing but great big things for all of you and your loved ones!

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!!!!

-Raxxie