Rosemary Rinse

So, I too look to the internet for natural hair support, ideas, and knowledge. While I do go to a natural hair salon when I am home, I don't have a great place to go near school. That being said, I came across this all-natural brother who is free-forming his locs, who did a video for an all-natural Rosemary Rinse for locked hair. Even if you aren't free-forming your locs you can still use this Rosemary Rinse, here is the video:

here is the link to his YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/cupidvalentino1

Naturals Should Use Natural Products

Products To Stay Away From

• Parabens
• Beeswax 
• Gels
• Petroleum
• Alcohol (in the form of Isopropyl, propanol, denat, ethanol, and sd alchol)

Some Great Ingredients

• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Pomegranate Seed Oil
• Jojoba
• Coconut Oil

I suggest you do your own research on these products and consult a professional loctician, or natural hair stylist, to get a professional opinion.

My Loc Journey So Far (in Pictures)

These Pictures are from the first day I started my locs, June 16, 2010. I started them at a natural hair salon in my area, with the comb coil method.

Sorry I only have one good picture of how they looked at the first month mark. Here it is

These are my locs at the three month mark. I skipped the second month because there wasn't much growth in between.

This next one is the picture I have from the fourth month it is not groomed! Yay. If you are a re-twist freak you shouldn't be I understand people think it's unprofessional, if that's the case where a nice headwrap to work or that internship you have. New growth is beautiful embrace it!

These next pictures are from the six month I believe. I skipped the months where the growth wasn't noticeable. If you haven't noticed the pattern.

These next ones are from the six and a half mark lol

7 Months!!!!

One good thing to think about before you get your locs is how thick or big you want them. As you can see mine are tiny, I realized afterwards that I want them a bit thicker, so I take much more time in between re-twists just to let the thickness prevail. this isn't a proven method (and I still wash in between salon re-twists.)

8 MONTHS!!!!

Closer To 9 Months(Not Quite)

9 MONTHS!!! 

(Excuse the dirty mirror, and my silly face I was trying to wink lol. Epic fail.)

About My Journey

I've never had a perm a day in my life, thanks to my knowledgeable father, however, I used to mainly rock the press and curl. My press and curl was a "HARD" press, and many people would ask me if I had a perm or if I was mixed and I'd be like "no".

So over the years my hair grew but it also began to lose the natural curl that came when it got washed, and some straight pieces would still be visible at the edges. I had a close friend who would do my flat twists (in beautiful styles, I might add) who noticed my hair was almost torn at the root. So, after some deliberation I decided to cut my hair in the summer before my senior year. I wore individuals with hair added soon after to let it grow some, but the African salon I went to braided entirely too tightly and one of my braids fell out completely. 

The reason it fell out could have been a myriad of things but that was the first time a braid had ever fallen out and I was like uh uh never again. So, I found a natural hair place named Urban Nature in DC, which I absolutely love and would recommend to anyone transitioning or full natural, they also have two locations in MD if I'm not mistaken. When I originally went to Urban Nature I would get flat twist in the front with my deep-conditioned afro out and free in the back. Since the length was short I felt like I couldn't do much with it. I actually went back to pressing twice, and I had weave for my senior prom, which was a cap with and some of my hair in the front, you know how that goes.

I guess I should rewind just a little. I had always admired locs and planned on getting them eventually, but when I realized I did not know how to manage my hair at all without the help of a salon, I decided to get locs much sooner. Soon after I would realize all of the natural hair vlogs and blogs out there I had available to me if I would have kept my fro. That being said, I do not regret my decision to get locs. It is really a journey and a maturation process. Sometimes you'll have those days when you're just like eff this, or "I don't feel pretty", which are the times when you really pull from inside of yourself and see how strong you really are. If you and I stick in there, I'm sure the journey will be worth the destination! :)