Starting Your Locs...

     We always see the Locs after they have matured and are recognizable as Locs.  This is a photo of Locs in their infancy; using the palm roll technique.

Some loclovers begin their journey with shorter hair, some begin smaller, (in diameter) and some wider.  Its personal preference and sometimes hair texture.

Whatever the preference, they are still beautiful when treated properly. Locs can be dressed up for an after 5 event, and be gorgeous. Or, dressed down to make your weathered jeans and old t-shirt stylish.    

Lovin your Locs makes them wear well with anything.  They are beautiful and healthy.  Starting your Locs with any form of chemical left in the hair, will add problems in the long-run.  My advice for starting natural, healthy Locs is to add plenty of water and lots of Love.

My Circles

I'm trying to figure out the types of people I have in my life, and why they are in my life.  People say that you will draw in the people that are similar to who you are, what you represent and maybe what you inspire to become.

If that's the case I seem to draw in very smart people, sensitive and yet down-to earth, very unique and  reserved.  I noticed that there are a few teachers, business oriented, artists, great thinkers and spiritually centered acquaintances, friends and work associates.

I work all the time and find it difficult to socialize like I should.  I think that is important in life... socializing, meeting people and engaging in stimulating conversation.  I get these things at work, at church occasionally but it's important to relax while socializing and to be yourself.   This I can do around my circle of folks that I am acquainted with.  I can totally relax, be myself, say what I want, how I want to say it and not offend them.

Because they know, love and respect who I am.  If I say something that's not agreeable to my friends, family and some associates, we talk it through, have conversations, maybe even start a debate.    They are my people that I have known for a time and we have shared our lives with one another.  Be it about family, work, or their most intimate secrets.  We have shared things and have become connected.

But with new people, you guys out there in google land that may come into my life, from one post or another, it's like starting over, with the breaking down of walls or cracking hard shells to enter their private and sacred space. This takes time.  For some it takes longer than others to make a connection and sometimes we discover there is no connection and we may just become acquaintances, or not.  When this happens we just stick to the purpose at hand and try not to rattle one another's cage.  Google wants me to put people in "circles".  This is a cute concept and I will take my time in figuring out the circles each person belongs in as I enter into my new lifestyle of socializing on the web.

Thank you for reading and don't hesitate to reply if you feel the need.

Locs

Are you thinking of starting locs? If so here are a few things I want you to know:

1. To begin Locing your hair you should visit a salon with a seasoned Loctician for a thorough consultation. There is a way to do most everything and hair locing has its way.
2. I know you would want your Locs to look its best, therefore take heed to what your stylist tells you of your journey ahead.  There are LOTS of information on the internet with how-to's and  how not to's in regards to going about caring for and starting your Locks.  Ask your questions that I know you will have from the information that you acquired off the sites on Hairlocking and natural hair.  Theses sites are good for writing down your questions when you go in for your consultation.  Every ones hair is different and the information that you read may not be for your hair type.
3. Make sure you get a stylist/Loctician that is licensed.  Yes, there are no chemicals involved in natural hair styling and Locs, but a licensed hair stylist will know how to analyze your particular hair type/curl pattern so as to make the proper choices in hair care and hair locing procedure.
4. She/He will also know how to advise you with at-home hair care regimene for in between salon visits.
5. I am not saying that a person doing hair without a license may not have the skill to do your hair but I also am not saying they do, but I would think you would want the protection of this document just in case you would need it.
6. Hairlocking the way we like it (neatly cultivated) so as to be presentable in whatever environment or professional facility we spend our time, need to be done by a professional.
7. Make sure you count the cost of what you will need and want.  Counting the cost will ensure you of the financial obligations you are committing to in this loc journey.  Ask your questions of how often you will need to visit the salon and the cost at each session.  Making sure you can fulfill these obligations is another gauge to having beautiful locs and strong healthy hair.

Patience is a virtue

I hope you all be patient with me, I'm trying to get organized with work and now school and everything else that need to be done in my life.  I predict a lot of writing in my future so please be patient.

Jacquie

Happy New Year!!!!

My new years resolution is called "ME FIRST".  

That may sound selfish to some but for me its about taking care of myself on a new level.  Before I start anything else, on a daily basis, it's time for me to kick it up a notch in 2012.

In the mornings I make sure my head is on straight so I'm making more time for meditation.  When my thinking is good, I'm good.
I have discovered water aerobics for my form of exercise which I really like, I have finally found something that I like in a good work-out for my body.
 Afterwards I prepare a good breakfast, eat, get dressed and then begin my workday.
By the end of my day I am very exhausted but I have to prepare my meals for the next day if need be.

 I have scheduled myself to cook on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Let me just say, if I don't cook my meals I will eat whatever is available and for the most part it is fast, junk-food.  I have been on this path for sometime. I resolve to kick this area of my life up a notch as well.
  
 So on those designated days, I cook enough to last until my next day of cooking.  I hope to get healthier on this plan and maybe even lose weight.
 I also resolve to sparingly eat sugary foods.  I have accepted the fact that I am addicted to sweets.  Cookies, cakes, pie, etc...
One day at a time I Will conquer these issues in 2012.

This year I am doing something that I have put off for many years because of financial concerns and time. I'm going back to school.  I still have those concerns but guess what? I'm going back to school!!  I need to do this for myself and I believe things will work themselves out for the best.  I also believe that going back to school at this time in my life is part of "the plan."  So I have faith that it will Be Alright!

This is my first blog of the year and I hope that my share will help and inspire.  Ms Imago Mana will also share with me with her healthy concepts and recipes. Some of you remember her from our health forums that was held at the salon early last year before she moved away.  Now we are going to share blog space with our thoughts and revelations.

I hope we all can share our thoughts, concerns and ideas with each other.  Thank you in advance.

Jacquie

The Epitome of Chic

Chic-casual elegance with a bit of an attitude and independence (from fashion trends). 

A person who has chic style is someone who thinks independently about fashion. She is confident and self aware enough to know what looks good on her. She adapts fashion to her style, not the other way round.

This person is a free spirit. She doesn't like to be showy or obvious. She likes to keep a little mystery, and by that way, she unknowingly keeps everyone guessing! She embraces change at the right time and is not one to sport the same hairstyle for the next couple of decades.  She is fresh, exciting and passionate yet comfortable in her own skin. She likes to reinvent herself when she feels she needs a change.

My model for the "chic" theme in my recent photo shoot is Giovanni.  I think the above definition describes her style very well.  Over the years I have observed all of the different styles that come into the salon, and each persons unique style gives me a sense of their individual personality. This personal style in turn gives me a sense of inspiration for their hairstyle.

For some time I wondered what what did "chic" mean. I have leaped through fashion magazines HGTV, and clothing catalogs. I have looked at the images and pictures of various interpretations of "chic." I came to the conclusion that a person that is "chic" is an individual that dresses with a little elegance and class. I also learned that there is a shabby or vintage side of style.

I am on a quest of looking at my own personal style in comparison to recent fashion trends.  I am not trying to change my style or anything because it is what it is, but I would like to define it on paper. Join me in this quest and let's take a look through magazines, TV fashion shows, sight-seeing and online editorials. Stay-tuned to my blog as I do my research on fashion themes (elegant, chic, classic, modern, glamorous, sexy,etc...) and learn  what the experts are saying.  Let's make ourselves more aware of our place in fashion.