From Naadii Salaam - do you consider yourself to be "loc'd for life" or do you foresee yourself cutting your locs at some point?
So I have always said that I would keep my locks until I decided that I liked how I look with a night cute short greying afro. So what does that really mean? When, the women in my family don't really grey very early and I don't really like myself with short hair. So, maybe in about 30 years I will consider it. They are such a natural, easy, and positive part of my life that I have not reason to think about getting rid of them. I have many, many moons to go before I consider cutting off my locks completely.
From QueenLi - What's your favorite place to visit? My favorite place to visit.... Hmmm, well I think that would have to be South Africa. I lived there for 2 months while I was in grad school and it was great! I was mostly in Johannesburg but we traveled around a lot. Then thing that struck me the most is how easy it was to get integrated into society there and how "american-like" it seemed. It almost the opposite feeling that I got when I went to India or how I expect black people feel when in Japan or China. Everything seemed sort of familiar, even tho I didn't speak Zulu or Africaans, most people spoke English and there were black people everywhere. We rented a little stick-shift Ford Escort hatchback and drove around the country -- Guateng Province, Sun City, went on safari, drove to the east coast to St. Lucia and then down to Durban, and also flew over to Cape Town. It was a great time, met some great people and I can't wait to go back!
Do you like movies?{favorite film?} Yep, I like movies, although I haven't really seen many lately. I like movies with a twist, that keep you guessing and also some science fiction. Favorites movies include The Usual Suspects, Sixth Sense, The Lord Of the Rings Trilogy, Star Wars trilogy (the first, or rather the last three -- or to clarify, NOT the newer ones!), Monsoon Wedding (an Indian film by Mira Nair that I probably appreciate much more after being to India)
From Cashana - Do you find it difficult to style your hair at its current length? What is your favorite way to wear your hair? I don't really have any difficulty with my hair but I am not a big, change your hair all the time person. I have come across a few key styles that are tried and true and work well for me so I alternate between those.
Most of the time I just wear my hair down, either straight or wavy (mostly wavy)
Or pulled back in a ponytail (tied back with itself or with a lovely hair-tie)
Occasionally, I will put it up in a bun (but not all that often because it gets heavy)
And then for special occasions, the curly bun!
When it was shorter I used to set it on flexible curling rods for a Caruso-like look but I can't do that anymore. But, I find that I have a lot of flexibility when I want it! But my favorite way is down and wavy, which I get by braiding my hair after I wash it and letting it dry (for hours!) and then taking it out when dry.
From Naturally Sophia - Name your favorite possesion in your home. And why is it your favorite? So this is a bit of a tough one.... I have had to give this one a lot of thought.... First, hopefully without sounding too shallow, I would say my bed. I bought my bedframe in 1995 after i "lost" my box spring in a move (that is a whole other story..) and I needed to get a bedframe that did not require a boxspring to be comfortable. So, I went to one of my favorite stores, Ikea, and found this great sturdy black asian-inspired bedframe that used wooden slats for support. Well, this was the perfect fit for my thrift store mattress and I have had it, and the mattress ever since. I have never had any back problems or trouble sleeping on it and with my "t-shirt" sheets, it is a wonderful cozy haven that puts me right to sleep everytime.
Second (I know, I am cheating) is the picture of my grandmother that I have in my room. I think she took the picture about 8-10 months before she died suddenly of a heart attack. She was the only grandmother I ever knew and I was her only grandchild. She and my grandfather lived about 7 minutes away from me all the years I was growing up and even for a short time, I would spend mornings with her and she would take me to elementary school. My grandmother was the quintessential caregiver with an infectious spirit and a love for cooking that I inherited. I think of her often, I wish that she could share in the moments in my life that have happened since she died. I wish she could see my hair now.... I was just 1 1/2 years in with my locks when she died and she didnt really get it but I know that she would now. I think one of the most telling things about my grandmother and her spirit is that when she died, at 82, she was taking computer classes and learning to swim! :-)
From Brunsli - How about showing pictures from when you first started locking your hair? I am not sure if I have any! If I do, I know that they are not digital so I will have to "digitize" them. Let me see what I can dig up!
Other things about me.....
I used to think it was funny when as a kid I noticed that they mom cried when she was happy. But ever since "Snoopy Come Home" I do it too! And it has gotten worse over time. (Damn those hormones!) In fact, truth be told, I am a sentimental, nostalgic, empathetic softie. (Shhhh! don't tell anyone!) The TV show that really gets me going now is Extreme Makeover Home Edition. That show just has me bawling every time! Like the ugly snotting, stopped up kind of bawling.... I guess I am just always so happy for these people and happy to see people who really deserve it get something to make their life better. Ugh!.....
I am also a lover of hip hop, ever since I got those Public Enemy, LL COol J and Beastie Boys tapes back in Jr high/high school. And I still am, despite that crap that is being passed off as hip hop these days. If I need to classify it, I would say I am more like an East Coast hip hop head, a lover of A Tribe called Quest and De La, a fan of the poetic rapper like Common or even Jay-Z. Every once in a while there is a light that shines through this morass of gangsta thugism that passes for music these days, like Lupe Fiasco, but for the most part I can't stand listening to the radio these days.... Good thing I have a short commute!
8 comments:
there is hip-hop and then there is rap. if i ever start listening to music again i might go back to my first love...hip-hop.
Isn't Star Wars {original with Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher} the best?!
Your crinkled Locks look good.
{I might style mine like that this weekend}. ;)
Do you palm-roll or freeform?
{forgive me, if I've asked B 4}
Oh! ... I'm late to the party! ... I've been wanting to ask you questions for ages, some of which have been asked here. I'm so glad that you opened that option to us. You're my 'hair idol' and I've been dying to get tips on your maintenance regimen, coloring techniques, and styling.
A more direct question: I'm finding that now that my hair is getting longer (shoulder blade length) that it's getting more 'tedious,' for lack of a better word, to color. Can you share your method of coloring (i.e. parting the hair, application, etc.)?
P.S. Just one more question, if you will: How often do you maintenance your roots?
Queenli -- I palm-roll.
Justice4alw --- Wow, I am flattered, a hair idol! My hair idol when I first started locking was Cassandra Wilson.... As for coloring, I only color my roots to ease the transition between my natural color when it comes out of my head and what it ends up being through lightening etc... So I never have to deal with coloring all the rest. I think if I did, I would probably pay someone to do it. And i use permanent color so I dont have to deal with that hair again.
As for my maintenance regime, I wash my hair every 2 weeks or so and when I do, i re-twist the new growth. And that is about all I do, aside from occasional grooming if I find a lock or two that needs retightening. That is the regime that works best for me and my hair texture. Some folks can't wait that long and others can go longer. It all depends on your own hair texture and what works for you.
Thanks for the questions! Feel free to ask more!
Thanks for posting the different hairstyles. They are lovely and it gives credence there is flexibility to wearing locs.
Also, RDP, do you use any bonding agents to twist your roots (i.e. gel, setting lotion, beeswax, etc.)?
Thanks so much: ... :-)
Justice4alw -- I have been anti product for a number of years. I used to use a beeswax, shea butter orange oil mixture about 8 years ago but stopped because it was just as easy to do nothing. Recently however, I was turned onto a product that I actually like and have started using regularly. Stay tuned for a post later today or tomorrow..
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