Friday, October 10, 2008

The Sisterlock Hype




Having Sisterlocks was a challenge. I had a lot of slippage and some unravelling. During my first month locked, with the blessing of my consultant, I dyed my hair. My nape unravelled. I was so distraught! I had to wait two weeks to get an appointment. it really was not an appointment. It was a wait until other clients with an appointment finish and I will take care of you. It took two squeeze in "appointments" to get my hair re tightened and my locs reinstalled.

My consultant is excellent. Her clients have beautiful locks and she has a huge following. No parking and waiting to get my hair re tightened was not my vision. That reminded me of my permed days. Any way, that was my cue to take things into my own hands!

I searched the internet for some clue of the "secret sisterlock pattern" The pattern was all over the internet, but how to carry out the "secret' was still a mystery! One day I was conversing with a sisterlock friend about my sisterlock experience. We met and she taught me the technique. I learned how to re tightened and restart my locs if they unraveled. For the first time I felt like I was delivered from bondage! I was free to do my own locs and keep on top of my own maintenance.

I was compelled to share my knowledge after experiencing Sisterlock snobbery in person and over the internet. On the yahoo group site, lockItUp, there was so much snobbery. The moderator and members attacked other members who did not follow the "norm". On four occasions, I wrote a post that never appeared on the site. What kind of crap is that? I never said anything that would go against the grain. If you did not use the sisterlock tool or you took your hair care into your own hands without taking the re tighten class, you no longer have sisterlocks! That bull crap!

I paid $600 and sat for 15hrs to get these locs installed upon this head! I dare Ms Thang or anyone else to tell me that the locs in my hair are not sisterlocks!

I see sisterlocks more as a cult than a sorority. Sisterlocks is another alternate way to lock hair and gives the user more versatility of styling options. Its another way of going natural. It is a business. They do not make the person! Girlfriends! Its only hair!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

what's up? Thanks for stopping by my blog. WOW!!! Girlfriend you paid 600.00 for less than 5 inches of hair to be locked, and sat for 15 hours?
I guess they would hate me, 'cause as much as I Loves some SLocks, a sister will not pay more money for natural hair, than I did for a perm!
I braided my own hair OCT. 07 and paid a sister 55.00 just to braid the back because I couldn't see that well. A few months later, I made the choice to buy some human hair extentions, and braid over my already existing braids! This was 48.00 for the hair, and 15 hours {spread out over 3 days} for Me to do! a few pics are on my blog....
Take care~
p.s. I can't stand snobs!!!! but I guess Natural Hair does Not equal/nor make, a Natural mindset.

~malaikablu~ said...

Good for you! Beign a DIYer has saved me $$ and I luve how in control I am with my locks.

NubianLockedPrincess said...

Queenli, Thanks for stopping by! I really did not know much about the different locking methods at the time when I decided to lock. I saw SL and I wanted them. After the fact, I discovered Nappylocs. My niece could have installed them for me. Well, I have saved a grip by doing them myself! DYI is priceless!

new2locs said...

You've just been tagged! Check out my blog for instructions.

Natasha Dyer said...

Thanks for the post on the Sisterlock Hype. You read my mind!

Carol said...

Bravo, sista and I feel ya, I spent $670.00 for mine two years ago and learned to DIY. I agree with you about some of those on Lock_It Up. It is just hair but some of them was just down right nasty, as if if you do your own hair you were taking coins from their pocket. I had to let it go could not continue to associate with that kind of energy. Keep being you and live a peice of your dreams each day.

Unknown said...

You are an amazing blessing to many. Thanks so much for your knowledge and sharing it with others. BE BLESSED!!!

z said...

You paid $600 for 5" of hair? It sounds like you paid more than you had to. Don't be mad at me but I paid $700 for 12" of my hair (which in reality should have been $1000+) but I had a very good consultant who worked with my finances at the time since i'm a student.

I understand that a newbie can get caught up in the hype and possibly become disappointed if she isn't careful enough to do her research. I didn't have the most positive experiences from the SL community on/off line but I chose to brush off the negativity and focus on growing my locks healthy and long by finding alternative resources that met my needs. It's good to vent out your frustrations because just know that you are not the only one out there who experienced this or felt this way.

NubianLockedPrincess said...

No! Dew drop I paid $600 for 1 1/2-2" of hair. I did my homework and my consultant is a master at her art. Her clients locs are beautiful! But I could not be inconvienenced. My time is too precious. All you havre to do is screw up once, then you are history! I want my Sl to look like small dreadlocks, not SL. I hate the pattern that imbeds its self in sisterlocks. I love the smooth look of palm rolled locks.

This is a one time deal! This is my first and the last loc journey.

As far as sisterlocks snobs, I could care less. I know who I`am. My hair does not make me who I`am. I do not need to hide behind a title, a brand or group to justify myself. I did not like the negative vibe of Sisterlocks so I decided to disassociate myself from the negative vibe. I love lovinlocs. I love empowering other people

You know you are are my inspiration. If it were not for you, I would probably still be at the mercy of my consultant! Girl, you helped a lot of locked sistas!I will never forget that!

KnottyAuthor said...

boy oh boy you sl people are lashing out on what has been a well marketed machine. very well marketed and protected by law no doubt. i love ya'll!!! lol! there's alot of awakening going on all over the blogspot on this subject lately.

Meridien said...

I have Sisterlocks that are 9 years old. I've been retightening mmine since they matured, maybe 2 years in. (My locks took a little longer: my hair is grey and soft as cotton candy! Needless to say it's been a journey...) Anyway, I don't think because I have Sisterlocks I'm a cult member. I broke away and did my own thing, and I cut Nappylocks out of my life quick too after learning how to make my own tool. (BIG thanks!)I don't get together with other Sisterlocks wearers or go to conventions, etc. I've noticed even some sisters have sniffed at my slightly larger ones, as if they weren't "real" Sisterlocks. Oh boy...anyway, I love my locks and think however you get and maintain them is just fine with me! I'm not much of a "joiner" anyway...