Day(s) 1-4 : were a entertaining breeze.
I was in awe of my new Locs and couldnt seem to quit touching them. i twisted and palm rolled hours of my time away in two and three sittings in a day, and any time i passed a mirror you bet i would get sidetracked by my hair's reflection, stopping to twist or palm roll some more. i admit i was babying them. making sure each Loc was twisted and falling appropriately, well kept and shiny looking. i didn't realize i was tiring myself out by attempting to maintain a look that wasn't so easily manipulated. i went out for the first time since starting my Locs during these four days as well.. Panera. holding my King's hand, i felt confident in my sweatpants, His Polo t-shirt, and my favorite pair of shoes: my sperry's - waiting in line for soup and sandwiches. i felt the multiple pairs of eyes roaming our existence from head to toe, and back to head. some of the penetrating stares showed: interest, uncertainty, unconcern, admiration, and judgement. living in a predominately white city i expected such looks, but i can honestly say now that when my boyfriend and i are out, we seem to be more of a focal point for a larger range and variety of people no matter location. This particular day, unlike usual, the stares didn't bother me. I wanted people to stare and wonder and question. I wanted MY HAIR to be seen! (:
Day 5 : was bittersweet.
it was the first day i slid open my closet door and had to put together a "Knottie Special" and go out for mine and my boyfriend's Saturday adventures. ( we always spend Saturday's together exploring and going to close range cities, sight seeing and trying different eateries) I woke up that morning, unwrapped and shook my hair, extremely happy with the look and feel of my new Locs. i admired them in the mirror without touching them and smiled big to myself, trying to contain my excitement and happiness "yes!.. yes, yes!". after getting dressed, looking and feeling better than ever.. as if i somehow had shed new skin.. i saw beauty i never seen before, a glow that always seemed to be transparent. i told myself "I Love You. You Are Beautiful. You Are Strong. I Appreciate That I Am The Vessel For Your Inner Greatness. I Am Happy and Grateful To Be In This Skin."
and everything was everything, until..
as i sat playing in his hair, senses heightened by the haze, i noticed the pattern all His Locs seemed to be twisted in. I touched my own head, fingers inspecting each Loc, when i realized some of my Locs were twisted in the incorrect direction! (counterclockwise) If you start all your Locs counterclockwise/clockwise it doesn't matter, but its not good or recommended to have Locs twisted in both directions, so as not to confuse yourself and untwist them. i was crushed. they looked so beautiful, so perfect..
after discussing the matter with Him and doing my own research i decided to loosen and comb out the incorrectly twisted Locs and re-do them. although i was bummed, i was happy that i caught the mistake EARLY.
Day 6 : was frustrating.
It was the day after re-twisting the Locs that were misdone and i was saddened by the little progress i had seen in my hair that was now gone. i had been reminded to "focus on those roots" and both my arms and hands agreed with my mind and spirit that we were tired, already. i was unmotivated and didn't touch my hair much. in fact i seemed to ignore it all together. i think at the end of the night i attempted to twist some of my Locs.. but only the ones that i had to re-twist the previous night. i was being met with resistance while twisting due to the fact my Locs were already being trained to go the opposite direction - the whole process was dismaying. when finished, i wrapped my hair up and for once was anxious to go to sleep. i couldn't wait to wake up and see what a good night's rest did to flatten the new "springs".
Day 7 : has been better.
Today, when i awoke my Locs were going in many directions across my head. Messy and frizzy, i felt the need to wear a hat as well. it was raining and although i loved seeing the ever changing looks my Locs were showcasing daily, i was in no mood to twist or palm roll to appear presentable. i did however, after being out and about for awhile palm roll a few Locs to attempt to control some of the puffiness, and save those that had come undone/loosened. my hair and i have just been chilling today (:
*the Right Side of my head. I love this side ... as of right now... shh! (:
I plan to just leave my hair alone for the next day or two - let it just do it's "thang". The Plan: is to let my roots get frizzy and dry so when i finally sit down and re-twist my roots, they'll be easier to twist and more likely to keep it's shape. and of course, we NEVER want to over twist them. (I'm still unaware of what that looks like or how you can tell you are, but that's why there's Google! lol) when i do re-twist them i'll be using either..
or...
with Lock Grow, its good to use when re-twisting. it helps to hold the Loc's form without the extra weight that the the Loc Wax can add.
i noticed my roots seem to occasionally come unloose (after sleep, a day or two of being untouched, etc.), but easily take form again after a quick root to tip re-twisting, and some palm rolling, when i 
use this on my hair. the Locking Creme Wax does pretty much what Lock Gro does, but i noticed does add weight and a somewhat sticky, greasy feel. my hair is thick and soft and when used in small amounts (only at the root) was it okay. i tried using the Locking Creme Wax on one entire lock and after drying with the blow dryer, it left my hair feeling stiff and immobile, but that's just me (:
THIS, has been my scalp's saving grace! after about 4 days my scalp was dry and itchy, and after complaining to my boyfriend one night, he brought, sprayed, and massaged this into my scalp. HAAAAAAAAAAAALEEEELLLUUUUJAAAAAH! ^_^
and of course i had to take my hot showers ((:
i attempted using a plastic shower cap my cousin so graciously gave to me from a previous hotel stay of hers, but unfortunately it didn't work so well for me. by time i had maneuvered the shower cap around my Locs and head the plastic was completely stretched and the elastic was of no use. That's when i decided to use a trash bag. i first tied my hair back with a hair band, clipping the strays back with clips.
these clips are good to have on hand to hold hair back and roots when twisting your Locs. i keep them in my hair while im blow drying to help my Locs hold their form. (if using a blow dryer, be careful. the clips get HOT! and with more scalp than what will show regularly early on, its not very comfortable. i know firsthand.... lol) i cant say for sure if I'll ever buy a shower cap, its a thought... but so far I've been pleased with using shopping bags. they're durable and after being tied, feel secure on your head. safe for facial cleansing and neck cleaning, times when water will usually wet both the back and the front of your hair.
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