OMG!!! I Did It!

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear – George Addair

Y’all will not believe what I have gone and done!

I’ve locked up my hair!!! And you won’t believe how long ago I did it too.

Three months ago! That’s right! I’ve officially passed the chicken test! Yes! Last November on the 1st, I went and locked my hair up and threw away the keys! After posting that I really wanted to free-form but was going to wait a whole year to do it, I realised I was just delaying. I was trying to deploy pure chicken tactics. But some of you caught me out and for that I am thankful. I had sleepless nights, my mind going back and forth, saying, ‘Do it! No wait, not yet. No, do it…’

Ahhhhhh! I could not take it anymore so I walked into the nearest lock salon to my home in streatham and booked a consultation.  It was strange being in a salon after so many years. But this one was different. There was calypso and feel good music playing in the background. Not too loud or too quiet that you couldn’t enjoy it. Just the right volume to create that kind of atmosphere that made you feel you were in the Bahamas or something. The hairdressers chatted away with their clients but their conversations were not too loud either. The shop was neat and well organised. I was quite impressed.

‘There was hope. I could do this. Misha was my guardian angel. I had no more fear.’

My consultant was…lets call her Misha. She had a head of multi-coloured locks. Pink and blue wrapped together neatly to create an interesting hair style. She looked young but mature and very professional in her all black fitted midi dress and shoes. She took my coat from me and asked if I would like a warm drink. My mouth nearly dropped open. I could not believe it. Was I really in a black hairdressers??? I kindly declined the offer and sat down in the chair she directed me to.

Misha was freaking awesome! I explained to her what I wanted and she listened with a knowing smile on her face. When I had finished, she said to me she would ‘guide me through this’. As in, hold my hand and walk me through my lock journey. ‘Wow,’ I thought, ‘there is a God!’ This girl was not about the money. She had clients re-twist their locks every 2 weeks but cos I wanted to semi free-form she said I could come back to her every three months. Oh my goodness, that took a whole weight off my shoulders. There was hope. I could do this. Misha was my guardian angel. I had no more fear. So I booked an appointment straight away with her and I got my hair locked up.

I almost can’t  believe that I’ve actually done it. Now my hair is permanently- locked up! Its been 3 months and its looking pretty good…actually here is a pic

And as you can see… it looks terrible!!!

It’s really skinny and scraggly and totally far from the Calma Carmona look I’m going for. I know for sure my hair is NOT happy with me. It’s like, ‘what happened to my bodyyyyy?!!! I had so much volume!!! Ahhhh!!! I hate you so much right now!!!’ and I’m like ‘chill, I know it’s a lot to take in but it will get better. I promise.’

And how did we survive those three months in the first ugly phase?  I lived in a turban. That’s how we survived it. Scarves wrapped up into turbans. Sorry no pics!  One day while visiting mom, her Indian neighbor smiled at me, put her hands together and nodded at me. I returned the smile and nodded back but wondered if she thought I had converted to Hindu or something. LOL anyways, she approved my turban but the rest of the world didn’t.

Hubby hated it. My business mentor said to me after showing up to meeting after meeting in a scarf, ‘you still have this scarf on your head?! When are you going to do your hair?’ No comment. Mom is like, ‘I don’t think they did your locks properly. It’s not looking very nice. Why don’t you wear one of my wigs to church this Sunday?’

Staring at the wigs, one straight, one braided and one twisted, I was spoilt for choice. I tried them all on and eliminated them one by one after each try. They made my head look like a humongous pumpkin with overgrown vines. I told myself, I’d rather be caught dead in a scarf than in one of those.  So, the whole of November, December and January. No lie. I wore a scarf. And I am so proud of how brave we were. we got through that phase and now my hair looks like what it used to look like (sort of) when I first started DIY twisting with the added advantage of not having to take it out and re-do it. Ever. It’s permanently done. It’s just that right now it’s skinny and scraggly but that will soon change when I start washing my hair.

What??? I haven’t washed my hair in 3 months??? LOL no but I’ve dry shampooed and oiled okay, as advised by my amazing hair stylist Misha. And it doesn’t stink!

Here’s what Misha recommended:

ORS Herbal Cleanse “Dry Shampoo” & Jamaican Mango & Lime Island oil.

At first I thought, ‘Dry shampoo? What is that?! Surely it can’t be shampoo if there is no water involved!’ but it is actually really good at cleansing my hair and making me feel fresh. No flakes, no itching. And you guys know I’m not big on products from putting food from my kitchen and fridge in my hair (those were the days!) but I definitely give this herbal cleanse a thumbs up! The oil is really light as well. Does not feel greasy at all. I like it too but I think hubby likes it more. For some reason he uses it more than I do. So it must be nice otherwise he wouldn’t touch it. Misha advised that I give my hair some time to fully lock up before letting water touch it. I have to wait another 3 months before I start water washing my hair again.

That’s fine. I can wait but what I honestly cannot wait for is to see the volume! I NEED to see those chunky beautiful locks on my head but I know I’ve just got to be patient. While I’m waiting for all of that gorgeousness to manifest, I’m going to post up pics to celebrate my amazing natural hair journey. We had four amazing years!!! I loved every minute of it. I just could nah deal with the tantrums! I will also definitely keep you posted on my lock journey cos you know the drama only continues!

Till next time,

Peace and Love xxx

Image: The Scream, Salvador Dali