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Sisterlocks Hair Interview Cont'd...INTERVIEW PG1 | >INTERVIEW PG2 | >INTERVIEW PG3 | >INTERVIEW PG4 | >INTERVIEW PG5 23. If you do go to the salon, do you think you spend more or less per year on your Sisterlocks ™?
I probably spend about the same amount, or a little more now. Most hairdressers charge $25 an hour to maintain the roots, so the maintenance costs more,. but I get my hair cut less frequently and don’t buy any hair products except for shampoo and conditioner. 24. Many lock wearers who’ve used other methods to lock their hair suggest only retightening the roots when they are wet/damp. Should you re-tighten your Sisterlocks ™ when they are dry or wet? Is it safe to re-tighten when hair is dry? Wet or dry does not matter, according to my hairdresser, unless the hair has tangled a lot, in which case wet is better. She recommends washing before having the roots done because washing always causes a small amount of slippage. 25. Do you find your hair mattes too easily at the root when you wash it? Does this depend on hair texture? I’ve heard some lock wearers retwist after each wash (which can be time consuming) while others can wait between 6 to 8 washes before retwisting. What’s your experience? With my hair texture, my issue is more that my hair doesn’t lock that easily. That’s one of the reasons I chose a tool-assisted locking technique rather than a twisting or palm-rolled technique. I go every four weeks because I like the look of maintained locks and it shortens the time per visit. I once went 10 weeks in between appointments, and my roots were a mess because some hairs from one lock would “visit” another lock. But, that’s extreme. 26. Why do you think locking... but in particular, Sisterlocks ™ has become such a popular hairstyle?
First, it is possible to start Sisterlocks™ with natural roots and relaxed hair ends, which was important to me because I wasn’t mentally ready to do the “big chop” and start with very short locks. That said, starting with relaxed hair has its issues, because the straight ends tend to bunch up. I cut mine off completely when I had my locks for about a year and a half. Second, because Sisterlocks™ are so small and manicured, they can still be styled, and may be perceived as more professional than organic freeform dreadlocks. Some women make a point to distinguish Sisterlocks™ from dreadlocks. In my opinion, we’re all in the same family, but I don’t have dreadlocks, which are made by a different technique and quite often are a religious expression. I admit, at times I use the word “dreadlocks” as a shorthand when “locks” is unclear. 27. How long does it take to produce Sisterlocks ™? –small/med/large. How long did yours take for you? It depends on the length and density of hair as well as the size of the locks. I have heard from 4 hours for an initial session for someone with short, thin hair, all the way to 60 hours for someone with shoulder-length full, natural hair. My first session was in between. 28. Are your Sisterlocks ™ parts perfectly sectioned in squares or did you opt for random parting of your hair when you first had your Sisterlock ™ done? Mine have a square grid pattern. I don’t particularly care about the pattern, but in the initial locking session, it is important to have uniform squares to ensure locks of uniform thickness, so that’s how I got them. The squares also allow me to part my hair with straight parts, something I never do. If I were to start again, I would ask for less uniform partings for a more natural look, and larger locks. But, I would be surprised if I could find a Sisterlocks™ consultant who would not use square partings. 29. How versatile are Sisterlocks ™? Do you find you do more with your hair now?
Extremely versatile! I can braid or twist them when wet and allow them to dry or use Caruso steam rollers, regular rollers, a curling iron – or just wash and wear. I think all but the steam rollers and curling iron are available to other locked women as well. Sisterlocks™ dry faster than other locks, because they are so thin. 30. What thickness do you suggest are best for someone who wants Sisterlocks ™? There is a standard thickness, which I can try to explain by saying you’d need 3 or 4 together to have a pencil-thickness. There are also smaller ones called micros and larger ones called Brotherlocks, which are typically given to men. I would have preferred thicker locks, because I have so many and it takes so long to maintain. 31. Do you have to consult a professional to get Sisterlocks ™? Yes. There is a list at www.sisterlocks.com, and there are some others who are no longer on the registry but still practice the technique. 32. What are your thoughts on coloring Sisterlocks ™? Will you ever color yours? Dye tends to make the hair bunch, so it is best not to dye until you hair is fully locked. I’ve seen some beautiful colors and highlights. As for me, I had a disaster coloring – first too dark, then highlighting, then having the highlights turn brassy orange, dying the highlights down, having them show up again... I am not going to think about dyeing my hair again until I grow grey. (Or so I say now...) 33. Do you have some pics of your hair journey that you can share? Relaxed to natural to Sisterlocks ™ Sure. Here's a photo collage:
Here are pictures of a good friend and me fifteen years ago and now. She started locking eleven years ago. Obviously, she figured out that locking was better than relaxing a lot earlier than I did!
34. I noticed your hair is very full. How do you maintain such full-bodied Sisterlocks ™? Did your hair become fuller once your Sisterlocks ™ matured?
My hair is so full, perhaps too full, because I just have a lot of hair. The locks themselves do plump up with time, so they are probably twice as thick now as when I got them. 35. If you could do it all over and have any hairstyle, do you think you’d still choose Sisterlocks ™ - why? Any regrets? With my hair texture, I think locks are perfect. If I could do it all over again, I would have opted for fewer, thicker locks. I also would have researched the option of palm-rolling with my hair texture a little more. Sisterlocks were good for me because I could start without cutting off the shoulder-length relaxed hair I had. 36. Have you experienced or have you noticed any changes in how you are perceived with your Sisterlocks ™? Do you feel you are treated differently than how you were treated with relaxed hair? (both by friends, family and those you work with). No, I am treated the same way by family, friends, a d co-workers. A few people told me not to do it beforehand, but they liked them after they were put in. My hair tends to attract attention from both female and male strangers, but with different motivations. LOL! 37. What has been your experience with wearing Sisterlocks ™ or natural styles in your law firm? How about other law firms? Do you think natural styles like Sisterlocks ™ are easily accepted in the corporations?
My hair has not been an issue at work. There are a few reasons. One, I never stopped to ask anyone in a law firm if my hair was a factor when it was relaxed, in braids, or locked (until I got your question). Law firms judge their professionals mostly by work product and billable hours. But, I’m in California, so it might be different in New York, so I could not say it could never be an issue. Professionals must be presentable to clients and project a professional image, so highly manicured locks are going to be more acceptable than, for example, organic freeform locks. I would also suspect that it is easier for women than men to have locks. Because of your question, I asked the managing partner of my firm about my hair. She was a bit surprised that I would think my hair would be a problem, and said it was a non-issue. But, upon reflection, she did say that organic locks like Bob Marley’s might not project a professional image to clients, similar to visible tattoos. As for other firms, I think they are more interested in my resume than my hair. Two partners from other firms that came to my law school invited me to interview with them. I would say that well-groomed locks are acceptable in law firms. 38. Have you heard about the Hampton University’s Ban on dreadlocks and cornrow styles in their business program? What do you think about that as a natural, professional and successful businesswoman?(Read Hampton University article here). I think the ban is ridiculous. Students, like other adults, should be allowed to choose their own hairstyles. As business school students, they are smart enough to self-censor their own style to project a professional image. For example, as a grad student, I pierced my nose, but I would never wear it in a corporate setting. Similarly, I think students will opt to wear their hair professionally for interviews and their jobs. I don’t think many men interviewing at McKinsey would opt to wear cornrows! 39. Does/did your family always support your natural journey?
Yes, they always support me no matter what. My mom was a bit concerned at first, but once she saw what my hairdresser’s Sisterlocks looked like, she was on-board. And, now she has been encouraging a friend of hers with natural hair to get them too. 40. How long did you research the Sisterlocks ™ method before you got them done? I just heard about them from a friend with twisted locks, got the information for the Sisterlocks office, and met a consultant. I naively thought that it was just another hairstyle, and jumped in. 41. What advice would you give anyone considering Sisterlocks ™? Do your research! Good places to start are Yahoo! groups:
If you would like to share your hair journey, please feel free to get in contact with us. Send us your picture. We'd love to share your story. All curly hair textures welcome! Go to home page from Sisterlocks hair interview page.
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