My hair is messed up

I was fine with the installation.

That's about all I can say I was fine with.

The follow up lasted about 30 minutes and all she did was just look through my hair and say it was alright, fix one that I took down and two that slipped. I thought the follow up consisted of a little more than that??

I went in for a re-tightening 4 1/2 weeks after installation on 3/6. It took over 6 hours. I didn't understand why it took so long. I have a small head and I have right at 400 locks.

The next day after the re-tightening, I had a headache that would not go away until that Wednesday. Tylenol and Ibuprofen did not help at all. I took a few at the hairline down because it felt like someone was pulling my hair there. I called her Thursday, 3/12 and expressed my concerns for my hair about how it was entirely too tight, how some of the locks had knots at the roots because of it, and I felt that the locks did not look right. They were entirely too bumpy and holey and do not feel uniform to the touch. I don't expect them to be perfect, but there was a lot of inconsistency in size within the lock itself. I told her I was not at all happy with her work. She gives me the spill about how long she has been doing this and nothing was wrong because my locks were installed by her. She told me I was overreacting. I also told her I felt shafted at the follow up because there were a few holes in my hair that I felt should have been corrected that day. She also told me (in so many words) I had been reading too many blogs, so my expectations were higher than any other person, and I was flipping out at the first thing that didn't seem right and that I need to give things time.

We made an appointment for 3/21. She cancelled because something came up. Now we have one for 4/3.

I have stressed and cried over my hair since the re-tightening. My hair is a little sore when separating my hair, but I am tenderheaded, so that could be why. I personally feel that the way my hair looks right now is a product of too much tension and overtightening. The new growth that was retightened feels very hard. It's really hard to explain. I am going to see another consultant on Tuesday, so I can have more than just her word to go by.

Here are pictures of different rows and areas of my hair. Some are a little out of focus, but you can still see the shape of my lock. My whole head is pretty much like that. How does one even begin to fix this mess?

Sisterlocks, finally

As you all can see, I decided not to color my hair. My installation took a total of 33 hours: 14 hours on Jan 29, 14 hours on Jan 30, and 5 hours on Jan 31. They are pretty thin and not quite as "spacy" as the picture seems to show. I do not know what took so long, but I am pleased with the results although there are about three in the back that seem to have uneven parting. I will get them redone on my next visit.

I am not really looking forward to any future visits. As she got 10 minutes into installing my hair, I was reminded how tenderheaded I was, which is one of the reasons I stopped getting my hair done. Some spots on my head are incredibly tender. I warned the consultant ahead of time. I just had to endure it.

Last of all, I finished one of my daughters' hair that same weekend. She has the same issues with being tenderheaded. She did really well though and did not complain at all. I interlocked her hair using a yarn needle. Her hair took over 30 hours as well. If I had to guess, I would say at least 36 hours. I didn't really keep an accurate track of time because I did it over the course of two weekends. I know my bad shoulder was aching during the whole process. I will post pictures of hers very soon. She is very pleased with the results. I wish I could have done my own, but it just wasn't happening. Now I have to figure out when I want to tackle my other daughter's 11-inches-plus head. To make matters worse, she has a big head and very thick hair!

I have anxiety......

but it's for a good reason. I can't wait for my installation dates (Jan. 29&30). My girls (ages 10 and 12) are excited about it too. They want theirs done also.

I'm thinking of interlocking their hair on my own using either the nappylocs tool, some bobby pins, or some other homemade tool. I'd do my own, but I feel like sitting back and letting someone else do it.

Currently, I have about 8 inches of hair, although I have been natural since 2001. I always got aggravated with my hair and ended up cutting it. I didn't like for it to get past that stage where I could wear my cute, high afro puff.

My consultant said that she would most likely use a 4pattern on me with medium in the back and small everywhere else. My hair is thin. I am a little worried about parts because of that, but I know eventually, they will disappear.

Some people think I'm crazy for spending $800+ on a hairdo, but I have not gotten my hair professionally done in over 10 years, so I am just spending a couple of years worth at one time.

Pictured above is me with the last double strand twists that I will do in my hair, unless for some reason I decide to try it with my sisterlocks. I may post pictures of myself from over the years, when I get a chance to dig them up.