Slow Learner

Hey Friends,

No luck with my camera turning up so I have been in major picture withdrawals. But I had a brain fart and figured out my how to use my webcam on my new mini laptop. Voila, current pictures.

It's been almost 11 months since my install. I am still super happy with my decision. I am also glad that I learned how to maintain my hair on my own.

I have been getting better at it, but I am a little worried by the number of locs I have lost. I am embarrassed to say the losses have been pretty numerous as of late, but I need to share that in case anyone else is in the same boat. I cannot tell you why I am losing so many, but I don't have any bald spots. Even when I went for my last re-tight with my original consultant in January, there were some she was not able to save. She put it down to the less than adequate previous re-tight I had since she could not believe I could have had so much growth in only 6-7 weeks, but I personally think that she underestimated my growth. When I saw my friends in Toronto at the end of November, the day before I got it done, to them seeing me the third week of January, they were stunned at how much my hair had grown. The good news is that hair grows back and on my next big trip out I will find a consultant to install some new ones to replace those which vacated my scalp.

In the meantime, I have to combat the loss. I haven't really started to moisturize until recently. Hopefully that will help. I reside in a really dry climate, so I thought it would help with the locing process, but apparently it may have contributed to some of the loc loss.

Again I apologize for not keeping you up to date. I did try to make an entry in March, but I lost my superlong entry trying to post it, and of course I was way too ticked and frustrated to retype it so put it off. Now it's been 3 months, and now I am armed with some technology at hand that will allow me to post more and current pics.

The first photo is in a group from last February in Miami. The webcams are from today. It looks a little thinner thanks to some of my loc loss, but I do have more length.

Any insights would be welcome. It's nice to be back.

Back sooner than later! Maybe I will play with some curls and post those....

Cheerio!

It's about time

Hey Friends;

My apologies for being so quiet over the last couple of months. I have been on the road off and on since mid-January and I am finally on my way home to stay for awhile... I promise! I've got to pay off all of these trips I have taken!

In January, 7 months after my original install; I finally connected with my original trainee who installed my locs. She was sick and unavailable every time I passed thru TO ( passing through is a two day trip for me to even get there). So I was never able to get my follow up retight until January. Of course by then I had started retightening my own hair, so it worked out fine, since she now had to clean up my failed attempts at avoiding my two headed monsters. I didn't get time to get it all done; since I was traveling back home that day and had to catch my flight. The good news is that I finally got my starter kit. As it turns out, I don't really care for the shampoo anyway. Go figure?

Now you must be saying to yourself, " where are your pictures?" Well it's because I am saying to myself "Where is my damn camera?" I haven't seen it since I left Toronto last month. I used it the night before I left and I am pretty sure it was in my purse; but I haven't found it since I got home. I am really missing it! I have had another growth spurt. I am sure that when I get home, my friends who haven't seen me before Christmas, are going to be stunned at my hair growth in such a short time.

I think a big reason for the growth is the lack of shampoo. I have been using a dilution of Dr. Bonners Organic Oil Soap instead. Doing some research I found that SLS; the major ingredient in 99% of all shampoo and body cleanser products; is toxic and actually irritates the hair shaft and slows growth. I have to believe that since I have never seen my hair grow like this since I have gone natural. I have a co-worker that I shared this info with and it made sense to her why her hair grew while she backpacked for three months in Europe; she washed her silky black shoulder length hair very infrequently since she was travelling and on the road all the time. When she returned home; her family could not believe that her hair had grown so much in three months; it was almost to her waist when she returned. Food for thought people. Do our homework!

Other than that it will be good to be back home; I have been gone since Feb 2nd. I had a great trip though; I went to a conference in Miami to learn about my new business venture (btw if you like shopping online; feel free to do it through my web portal at www.marketamerica.com/shopyukon; most of your favourite stores should be under the "shop partners" section thanks for your support if you are gonna shop anyway!) There I learned about all the new vitamins they are bringing out; I learned how to do blend custom mineral foundation; both liquid and powder! That's right, custom make up with no parabens fragrance or talc! Very cool; my friends are looking forward to me coming home so I can hook them up with their own foundation recipe; and very cool other stuff.

I then headed to Orlando for a few days to do the tourist thing. There I was able to meet up with a friend that I haven't seen in 22 years. She was my best friend when I lived in Africa for a few years growing up. It was fantastic to see her and her family. They are from Zimbabwe, so I was able to get first hand info on what is happening down there these days since they still have family there. It's pretty devastating and the politics are so evil. I can't even begin to tell you what stuff isn't even making the news.

The last week and a half has been in Charlotte; hanging out with my mini-me who knows me now as Auntie Lue. I am very happy that she will remember her "Auntie" from now own. Oh, by the way while I was at my brothers Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic last night; another woman in the workshop noticed my Sisterlocs, since she had them too! She was admiring how well mine were locing. We didn't get a chance to chat since the Drs Report was commencing but if she becomes a patient of my brother, I am sure that I will see her on my next trip there.

Anyhow, it should be time to board; Gotta run. hopefully some pics soon!

P.S this pic was from Nov 08 at 5 months