Colored Tips

This is weird. As I sit in class and stare at my tips (lol, no I'm not lying) I notice that quite a few are going blond!

What???? Blond tips? It's strange. Some are a brown(ish) color, some more red, and a few are actually blond. This has never happened to me before, well, not that I noticed anyway..

Anyone else experience this? Any known causes????

Musings #7 : Growing... YES!

I was chilling with one of my best friends the other night, supposedly doing homework (that was the plan anyway.. lol) and I started messing with his hair. He's got one of those Corbin Bleu fros that I was always so jealous of. I used to threaten him with a beat down if he ever cut it. I've relinquished that threat since then cuz, let's face it, it's HIS hair.. lol.

Anyway, I never thought he noticed things like my hair. He just doesn't really pay attention to those things. So, as we shirked our homework I heard him say, "Raxxie your hair is growing."

May not sound big to anyone else but if even he noticed, then it must be doing something! Yay me! My hair is making moves.

If you recall, I flipped out awhile ago about how short it looked to me. I realized later that it was shrinking because it's locking. I'd thought that I hadn't retained any length in the last year. Glad I was wrong so I can stop freaking out! lol.

Thanks for reading!

-Raxxie

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