FREEFORMING AND ASSUMPTIONS

FREEFORMING....
why do people assume it looks 'untidy', 'too fat', 'not acceptable', 'ugly' and 'not the way to go'.
Freeforming is not any of those things...

Its volume, Its trust in knowing your locs will grow ni their own time. It is about being free.

I have seen so many gorgeous locs out there...all freeform, all full of volume, healthy and thick...

Freeforming is not negative.

NOT AGAIN - I COULDN'T!

OK, I'm getting even more weird urges to shave my head and have a short hair look....

I see it everywhere, in the underground, the shops, the people around me...

Or am I just rooting out for them now lol?!?

Either way, I love the look. It really brings out the feminine features in everyone.

But if I had to go through the locing again....

I stop my thoughts. NO way.

I couldn't do it all over again.

JUST ADD THIS TO YOUR PRODUCTS...

Simple solutions to making any commercial product work well with your hair...

A few things you can add to any product for more:

~essential oils of your choice
~honey
~extra virgin olive oil
~Any other oil you like
~Milk
~Beaten eggs

Most of them work well mixed in with conditioners... then washed out, but its for you to try!

A personal favourite of mine: honet and extra virgin olive oil...
I add it to almost everything!

MY NEW CONDITIONER...

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL....

Cheap, easy to use, doesn't leave my locs feeling oily after the last and final rinse, takes on the smell of my shampoo (black soap) and leaves my locs SO soft for days....

Pure accident, but glad to have tried this out! It actually works better than any commercial conditioner that I've used in the past...

OK, so I did say that I was not going to use oils... but this method seems to work out just fine.

OK -YES, I ADMIT... I AM OBSESSED WITH HIM!

...AND CAN YOU BLAME ME?!?

I am unlucky - This guy comes into London Jazz cafe and I'm always the last to hear about it! Just last week, and I know now!!!

Oh well, there's always the next 2 years to wait again. AH!

A LITTLE BRUSHING GOES A LONG WAY...

What would I do if I didn't have my brush?!?

Anytime, at any point... If my locs are dry... a little water and a 3 minute brush does the trick! Thats it.



This Summer has been all about letting my locs out and free... no headwraps! And I've had more compliments from strangers than ever before!

Definately the longest time I've gone for without wearing a wrap -and I love it! I can't handle having my locs over my face -I did all that hiding behind the hair thing when I had extension braids so I keep them well out of eyes and face.

I'm not one to style -so a loose ponytail usually does the trick.

MORE HOME MADE RECIPES

I put together a few yummy and cheap home made recipes that I found on http://www.care2.com ...

Loving it!

http://groups.msn.com/HOLISTICLOCING/recipeposts.msnw

Don't forget to click on the next button for more recipes on the next page!

"SHE'S GONE ON THE BLACK SIDE NOW..."

...still hearing this statement. As a biracial person with locs, I feel many associate my locing journey with a militant Black image...

During the 3 yeas of locing, I have been fortunate enough to meet a few men/women of biracial origin who have experienced the exact same thing as me... Non-Black family members and their false assumptions, the surprised looks when I tell someone I have European family and the usual questions on a testing level....

Being natural seems OK, but as soon as we loc up...people assume that we no longer want to associate with the non-Black side of things...

Let me clear up a few things...
~I am a Roots girl ( both Spiritually and cultural) ...how can I be so without accepting my own?
~How is growing locs a Black only thing when I see many non-Black people with locs too?
~Why is my locs a threat to my heritage at all?

I am equally proud of both sides- yet they do not define me... I am just 'me' -but society will want me to tick a box as an 'ethnic minority' ...

I embrace both of my cultural backgrounds with open arms -whetehr they choose to do the same to me is another story.

For me, locing is a Spiritual realm ... not a Black declaration.

NO PRODUCTS CHALLENGE

Sept. 1st 2004:
3 YEARS AND 1 MONTH LOCING

Simple is best -but how simple can I go with routine?

For the rest of this month, I'll just use my black soap and conditioner to wash -nothing else, only a pure water spritz if I need some moisture or to brush locs with...

I'll get back to you on the results... hopefully, my locs won't be too dry!

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS MATURE...

I'm brushing my locs and spotting all these empty pockets in my locs, never nooticed that before!

So I guess they might just be permanent -or maybe they're just buds half way down my locs...

OK, so I'm still maturing yet...

CONFESSION TIME ~ITS NORMAL RIGHT?!?

Even though I LOVE my locs and accept them for all they are...

~I still get those urges to shave them all off and try out a teeny weeny afro in a bright colour. Or I'll see a huge Afro and think -What if?

~I do get loc envy when I see thinner locs that can be shaped into more styles than mine, for now. My thick locs laugh off all my attempts to do a french braid or twists.

~I miss loose hair and how my fuzzies used to curl up when wet.

Yes, its natural to get those feelings -But then I remember why I loced up in the first place...
The no hassle of just waking up and not bothering to style it at all.
The way it grows and thickens with time.
The process that I went throguh in inner transforming my Self.
The never ending project that is my locs -And what they will grow into in the future.

Thats all I need to know.

THE CASE OF H.I.L HABIT...

H.I.L ===> HAND IN LOCS

Its become a BAD ahbit, and its even getting in the way as I work my fingers through my unloced roots and untangle them...

I've got atleast 2 inches of unloced hair at the base of each loc... I'm wonderring if that goes away after a while or if it is because my H.I.L ....

Gotta stop.

STILL THE DUMB QUESTIONS...

I think it has FINALLY hit on my family that my locs are permanent -yes, even after all this time, they had a small hope that I would turn around and say 'Its gone!'...

Now why can't people just be accepting in life? Really....its not their hair, I'm not asking them to loc up, just to keep their mouths shut when they feel the urge to come out with bad comments... And they should know me better, I'm not a stranger. So why judge things on a physical basis?

I guess its probably because its not all been physical -I have changed, I have grown just that little stronger to know that I don't need anyone's acceptance and beauty is truly a personal thing...

When it comes down to it, I love my family, but they KNOW that they need to accept me -all of it.... The good and the bad in their eyes.

The rest is a choice they need to make. I've made mine.

I NEVER REALLY NOTICED UNTIL NOW....

Its true to say one thing -I never really noticed how fast my hair grows until now -or how quick the stages go by... until now.

I was looking through old photos, the change is amazing! I miss all the days of fuzziness -simply because I wish I had enjoyed the experience of having the mad loc stages...

I miss how my locs used to stand up on end and have so much volume...
I miss those curly ends...
I miss having my braids fuzz up...

My locs have come a long way -my only advice to anyone who is a newbie locer -enjoy all the stages! They pass so quickly, like life itself... Its not worth worrying about.

The 3 year mark is not only a symbol of my loc stages -it is a symbol of my comittment to the whole Spiritual lifestyle, in so many ways.... the changing of my thoughts, the actions and the way things have moved forward in the last 3 years... so fast!

STILL ON THE STUFF... MSM TABS AND OTHERS...

Still on my daily intake of MSM -I take about 3 tabs a day. I've been taking it since last Summer and I love the results!

Higher Nature MSM 1000mg 90 tablets
http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/detail/868276.html
Vegetarian organic sulphur supplement

Recommended Dosage
Take 1-3 tablets daily with meals,beginning with 1 tablet and building gradually, or as your health professional advises. Drink extra water for the first few weeks. A daily multi-vitamin is also recommended.

Ingredients
Methyl sulphonyl methane pulv.,Sea Calcium™, microcrystalline cellulose, silica, magnesium stearate (veg source), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coating.

Nutritional Information
Each tablet typically provides Methyl sulphonyl methane (MSM) 1000mg.

Other Information
MSM is a natural source of organic sulphur produced in the upper atmosphere. It is the primary source of organic sulphur used by living organisms. The protein in connective tissue that is so important in body structure, relies on sulphur, which is also important in many enzymes and other body materials.

____________________________

Its more to do with my general health -I love that my nails and hair seem to be showing signs of healthy changes, along with healthy eating and a little exercise. There is no magic pill that will promote hair growth, but I do feel that a healthy body goes a LONG way...

I aslo take 2 garlic tabs, and 2 cod liver oil tabs during the day -complete with a multi vitamin.
I know, it may sound a lot but its just been a habit so far!

I hardly ever eat 2 real meals a day, but I make sure that I eat a good breakfast. I try my best to eat a healthy meal afterwards, either at night or during the lunch hour. I'm making excuses, but I'm always on the run for food... so I keep my food simple and healthy. Yet, I still feel I lack the extra nutrients my body needs. Thats where my tabs act as a back-up... Just incase.

In an ideal world, I would only be eating the food to get these nutrients but extra never seems to hurt. I'm working on it.

NOT MUCH CHANGE NOW...

From wetr locs to dry locs...

My locs used to look completely different when wet -very bumpy and thick... then as it dried over the hour it would slowly get thinner and the bumps will smooth out...

Its been 2 months since I have seen change to this -my locs are starting to look very much the same, no matter what... I'm taking this as a sign that it is slowly maturing. It gives me the freedom to know that when I wash my locs in the morning, my locs remain as is through the day...

I'll always have bumpy locs -thats not the issue. Itsd just nice to know that the journey is still working in subtle ways.

Loc on...

A TRIP IN EUROPE

My travels through Holland and Spain -reminds me how amazing it is to travel around and see the world again.

My loc responses weren't too bad -I remember in the days when I would only see a Black face every other month or so -people would literally stare at me as I walked through Madrid. And they weren't very subtle with their language, thinking I couldn't understand what they were talking about... bad memories of old days.

Seems like times have changed, I was nervous to come 'home' and see family that have been out of life for years -I feel more at home in my 'home' town Madrid than ever before. Its nice to see that people are more accepting of me. I think its more curiousity than anything else.

Amsterdam was a pleasure as always, a few days of looking around, meeting new people and experiencing the culture. I love that city. Definately my 'loc capital of Europe' award! So many loc heads walking the streets. I wouldn't mind spending more time here in future.

IT TAKES ALL FORMS...

Its refreshing to see natural hair everywhere I go now... I'm not even 'trying' to spot them, they just show up in their Big afros and bushy locs... I love it! And it seems every culture and race has caught on.

I have always loved locs on everyone -no matter what their race is. Recently on a trip to Amsterdam, there were so many white people with locs who smiled back it was unbelievable! Locs come in all forms, and I love them!

People have asked why my website is geared towards afro hair -the simple answer is that I can only work with what I know about my experiences -being that I have afro hair, I talk through that experience. But in reality, locs of any texture comes down to simple loc routines. Afro hair is beautiful -but knowing that everyone can appreciate an experience , no matter what race, is a great thought!

Locs are truly peace.

SUMMER GROWTH....crazy

Is it me or does hair really grow faster during the Summer months?!?

**touches roots to check...

I have atleast 1 inch of unloced hair at the base of each loc and since Summer began I almost know that my roots have grown 3 inches or so... madness.

**ATTENTION! The loc vibe....

...Summer is here -well kind of... UK weather has a bad habit of liftinng our hopes up high and then killing it with sharp down pours of bucket loads. Thats ok, I always come prepared.

This is the first Summer that I have really been so free with my locs, letting them out. To be honest, half of the reason is that it is WAY TOO hot to be wearing headwraps. I always seem to find head wraps comforting, like a protection barrier from the outside world -where my crown picks up nasty vibes and pollution. So removing it was a big step, it felt very...weird and vulnerable to be letting my locs out loose in the air.

Then I catch people on the bus staring at them like.... not sure what like. I get the strong urge to ask them what their thoughts are -yet I don't care , just curious I guess. I've gone past caring what people think of me or what I look like, what I do or what I say.... its not worth the hassle. So much time was wasted in the past with my anxious thoughts of what others might feel about things -now I just take a deep breath and get on with life.

I must say, I do enjoy the respect many people have given me -I'm not a Rasta woman, nor do I ever pretend to be -but if I am greeted, I'll be sure to give them the nod back and smile. Its a nice connection. And if they ask -I say I'm just a spiritual woman. No harm in that, no bad reactions either.

I do feel that some people feel automatically more 'radical' around me, and relax with others -but maybe thats just because they don't know me. And people tend to approach me on the streets very often now for culture events and workshops -I'm not complaining. It has been a great chance to meet many new people. I feel it has more to do with my inner confidence now than anything physical.

My old friends still treat me the same -yet inner change is a process they got used to seeing in me as I gradually showed more of my love for more spiritual and natural living in recent months... every day is about growth. And people need to accept that we can't always remain the same -we all change, its just nice to have old friends who really see the changes with time!

I'm getting strong urges to colour only a few of my locs -I did a few colour sessions before and one left me with a huge orange blob on the top of my head that I didn't like, so I re-dyed it back to dark brown. The sun just plays with colours now, like a henna do... I like.

Let these plants of mine be peace.