I found Deidra from the Loc's N Dreads group on Facebook [HERE] when she posted a picture of her GORGEOUS Sisterlocks! I reached out to her and was really excited when she agreed to share her Hair Journey! She has had extremely large burns from relaxers in the past and now has a head of full healthy natural hair; which is a true testimony of how going natural can change your life!
3 Years |
| Deidra's Sisterlocks at Year 3 |
How long have you been natural/ transitioning?
What products and/or methods are you currently using to maintain your hair?
I wash my hair once a week and condition under a hair dyer for 45mins every 2 weeks. Everyday I try and add oil to my hair or mist it down with a leave in conditioner. My scalp can get dry and very flaky so the products below take care of my scalp and add moisture to my locs and make them smell amazing.
Taliah Waajid's Protective Mist Bodifier, Total Black Earth Shampoo, Enhancing Herbal Conditioner, Stimulating Herbal Cleanser, Curly Curl Cream, and African Healing Oyl
Other products include Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner, Hask Placenta's Henna n Placenta, Omega Nutrition's Apple Cider Vinegar, and Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla leave in conditioner.
What products have you tried and highly recommend?
- Jamaican Mango and Lime Island Oil
- Any Selsun Blue Shampoo
- Taliah Waajid Stimulating Herbal Cleanser
- Taliah Waajid Total Black Earth Shampoo
- Taliah Waajid Enhancing Herbal Conditioner
- Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
What products (if any) have you tried and do not recommend?
Personally, the following products made my dry scalp worse:
- Suave Naturals
- Sisterlocks Getting Started Shampoo
What is one thing that you know now, that you wish you knew in the beginning of your journey?
I wish I knew there would be a learning curve to figure out how to take care of natural hair. Weave had made me lazy; so besides styling I didn’t do anything for my hair. My hair dresser called me out on it and every since then I have been diligent!
What reference(s) do you frequent for information about products, advice, and/or tutorials about natural hair?
I visit the websites Sisterlocks.com/ and VideoLocktician.com/
And YouTube Pages:
 |
| Deidra's Sisterlocks at Year 2 |
My original decision to give up perm stemmed from the fact I use to get huge burns in my scalp. I have eczema and in high school the rash covered 90% of my body. So even if I didn’t itch weeks before my relaxer touch-up, I would still get burns. And if I itched Lord save me; it felt like someone put my brain in a frying pan! The pain was terrible but my desire for straight luscious locks of hair was greater. My hair dresser use to spray hair spray or whatever she had to calm the burn. I would stare at the TV in the salon and go into a zone to block the pain. It was me against the perm! Until one day a HUGE scab came off at the bus stop and slapped me into reality. In my stubbornness I was destroying my scalp. It took me a year to grow out my hair but with the straw set style it was easy! My scalp thrived and the scabs were a thing of the past!
In 2000/2001, I entered University and my friend convinced me to try out for the Sports weekend fashion show and made it! The director informed me that my hair was so thick and curly that a press wouldn’t last the night of the show and sent me to a friend of hers for a “enclosure weave”. I had no idea what a “full weave” was, but I had worn a track here and there but never had my entire head covered! Once I did it I was hooked! The hair dresser charged a great rate and weave in Detroit was cheap so I was able to maintain my hair on a student budget! So for the next eight plus years I wore my hair in a long black weave with a side bang. I NEVER showed my natural hair, I only took my weave out when I was putting it in the same day. Then, came the day when my little sister cut my real hair while taking out my weave. A big circle of hair in the front of my head was gone! I put my hair in pig tails; got scissors and chopped. Then, I stomped over to the local barber and got a fade…yes you read it right a fade!!!! I wore it for one day but felt naked and exposed without my weave and high tailed it to the hair store and purchased a wig!
In 2007 I was in Barbados visiting family and saw a woman with the most beautiful locs I have ever seen in my life. They were long down her back, unusually small but even and a golden brown color. I was mesmerized. Upon research I discovered they were Sisterlocks; so I found a consultant and took the plunge! Now I researched it and I understood the stages but when I went home and sat in front of the mirror I wasn’t ready for what I saw there…what did I see? My face!!! My full face, 100% me!!! NO bang covering my forehead, no long hair covering my neck. What would I do when my eczema flared up? (It was much better from high school but definitely popped up every now and then). So what did I do? I purchased a wig (please don’t judge me! Lol) My annual Barbados trip came around again and I got a weave….yes the old faithful style…but hear me out… there was no way my wig was falling off in the ocean!! Hello?! I don’t get embarrassed easily but that is something I don’t want any part of! As usual, my Barbados vacation was amazing full of fun in the sun and great food and family, but I was hot! Not sexy hot but sun stroke nearly fainting hot! You could put your hand an inch or two above my head and feel the heat rising off it! I made an appointment at the hair dresser (who was happy I finally stopped the madness), called all my closets girlfriends who have supported me on this journey and planned a party.
On September 12, 2009 with freshly retightened Sisterlocks, show-stopping earrings with the matching maxi dress, I stepped out into the world full face and all! I celebrated my natural hair and freedom from the addiction to weave!
 |
| Deidra's Sisterlocks at Year 1 |
Stay Connected With Deidra
Twitter: @DeidraMayers
Facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Deidra-Mayers
YouTube: DeidraMM
If you're interested in being featured on the CurlyNuGrowth blog, submit your Hair Story [HERE].
I will never forget that long black weave in University. You looked amazing back then but your regal presence now is just stunning. Your face glows and you sisterlocks are an inspirational representation of the strong woman you've become over the year
ReplyDelete*blush* Thank you very much for the love :)
ReplyDelete