Flashback to the seventies and eighties when I was a kid growing up. With the pressure in my family to have a certain type of hair texture I lost at every turn. So over the years I learned to do what most other young black women did and that was press, curl, fry, dye and lay to the side, perm, relax, Jerry Curl, braid or weave my own hair.
Finally I had enough and locked my hair using the latching method. Some mistake my hair for Sisterlocks but I could not and would not pay the price for installing the locks when I knew full well the procedure of installing braids and allowing them to lock from there and maintain them with a latch hook needle of choice.
Five years later I have more versatility and ease and peace of mind when I wake up in the morning. I can wash and go and not have to worry about sitting under a drier for hours unless I just really want to. I have saved tons of money on my hair as well. No more sitting in a salon all damned Saturday along with about thirty other sisters to get their hair done by one hairstylist who is trying to fit us all in.
Oh no not me I was over that years ago.
So now fast forward to 2008 and I am always complimented on the beauty of my hair and how wonderful they look. (Funny I always seem to get comments about how beautiful they are from white men but that's ok, I'm cool with that.)
I knew I was not going to struggle with my youngest daughter Lili who wants her hair to hang and shake and have the ability to be versatile.
I had thought about giving her locks a year ago but was discourage by so many who said she just needed a good perm!
Welp I did it. I started her on locks and they are so cute. I must post photos so that you can see how beautiful they are. I thought she would not like them but she was shaking them when we finished the install process. She loves to run her hands through her hair, or ask me to put pretty barrettes or bows in it to match her outfit that she will wear to school.
She seems more confident and my goodness after a good washing there are really "No More Tears".
Now when she goes to dance class I can pull her hair up into a high pony tail with a pink bow to match her pink ballet shoes and she is just as happy as all the other girls in class.
I know how important it is for a young girl to see herself as beautiful, and cute and a princess. I can tell Lili that all day long but if she does not look in the mirror and see that and believe that for herself I might as well be blowing smoke.
My little brown princess is learning to love herself how she is and not alter that and really that is what the locking process has done for me and others I know. I KNOW it will do the same for her.
I will post pictures soon.
Til Next Time
Mamma
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