Coloring Locks: "I need your help!!!!"

I am finally ready to color my hair but I need to hear from those of you who have colored your locks.......what coloring products works best with locks? I have dark hair, my natural color is jet black, so I have colored in the past and the color did not take, so I also need something that will take. Finally, I do not want anything that is harsh on the hair (ammonia, peroxide etc.). I did try the Dark and Lovely Reviving colors Ebone Brown, but it did not take, I was so disappointed :( That is why I need your help. Below are some of the products I am considering. I had a locktician tell me that Clairols Textures & Tones is the best product, and I went searching for it and could not find it anywhere. Any suggestions??????

I was on Blaq's blog and I got a lot of great information. (Thanks Blaq for taking the time to post about coloring) By the way, your color looks BEA-U-T-I-FUL!!!

"Spotlight" by Abena

Greetings,

Look what I found!!!!! I have been searching high and low for something comfortable, cute, satin, and fits all of my hair to sleep in and I finally found the perfect item; It is called "The Goddess Hair Pouch." I actually found it by accident, I was in Empire Beauty Supply looking for hair color (yes I have finally decided to color my locks but I will do a seperate post on that) and I looked over along the wall and saw this wonderful product. I was so excited!!!

I just bought it today and wore it around the house and it is perfect. It was only $5.99. I am kicking myself because I only purchased one because I was not sure if it was going to work but it did. Unfortunately where I purchased it is an hour away from my house so I will be making a trip next weekend and hopefully they will still have more so that I can stock up. I should have followed my instincts and purchased more than one, I always do that and then when I return to purchase more of the products they have run out or discontinued it (Am I the only one this happens to???), I guess that is the cost you pay for being FRUGILE :) Hopefully, I will be more fortunate and when I return I can purchase a few more.

"Spotlight" by Abena

Q: What is Sisterlocks™
A: Sisterlocks™ is a natural hair management system that allows women with tightly textured hair to
take advantage of a wide range of today's hairstyles without having to alter the natural texture of their hair.

Q: Does this mean that once I get Sisterlocks™, I can still change hairstyles?
A: Yes! Sisterlocks™ is a lot less limiting than extensions because it is your natural hair. You can curl it,
braid it, wear a ponytail, cut it, spray or mousse it, wear bangs and parts - You name it!

Q: How long does it take to do?
A: The initial locking process takes about 2/3 as long as getting extensions of comparable size. Other
factors that will affect the length of the initial locking session are: hair length, density, condition, size of
head and lock size desired. The beauty of Sisterlocks™ is that re-tightening them as your hair grows
out is extremely simple, since there are no extensions to remove and reset.

Q: Will Sisterlocks™ cause my hair to break or thin?
A: Just the opposite! Sisterlocks™ is a gentle technique that requires no chemicals, no excessive
tightening, and causes no damaging abrasion to the hair or scalp. You will find that with regular care,
your locks will grow and grow, and your styling options will increase.

Q: Can I get Sisterlocks™ if I have relaxed hair?
A: Yes, though the transition will take more time. Your hair care professional who is trained in
Sisterlocks™ techniques can help you make that transition. Your styling options will increase as your
natural texture grows out.

Q: Do I need to have 'fine' hair for Sisterlocks™ to work?
A: Not at all!! In fact, the course, thick, 'nappy' hair is best for Sisterlocks™. Your natural abundant
texture adds body and makes styling easier.

Q: Can Sisterlocks™ be taken out?
A: Yes, though the procedure is tedious. Anyway, once you discover the range of freedom with
Sisterlocks™ you won't want to go back! Finally, there is a way of celebrating the natural beauty of our
hair with Sisterlocks™.

Q: Can I do the locks myself?
A: This is not advised. Not all types require the same locking technique, and your hair care
professional is the best trained to give you locks that will be best suited to you. Also, hair care
professionals are trained to give you cuts, styles and grooming tips that will ensure the lasting beauty
of your locks.

Q: Can you put my Sisterlocks™ in so that there won't be any parting?
A: The answer is no. With a fresh head of Sisterlocks™ you are going to see some parting. Even if the
client has very thick hair, there will still be some parting.

Q: How long will it take for the partings to fill in?
A: It depends on the rate that your hair grows. Usually within the first three weeks or after your first
shampoo you will notice your partings filling in. Thinner hair takes a little while longer.

Q: Exactly what is meant by filling in?
A: Filling in is the process where your hair starts to grow and your locks start to expand.

Q: Why do some clients' Sisterlocks™ look silky or shining and others look dry and more like traditional
locks?
A: Each hair texture is different. As you know, we as black people are comprised of many textures and
tones. And that's also true for our hair. When looking at a client, you may be looking at someone with a
straighter texture of hair, or you may be looking at a client that is transitioning from relaxed hair. In any
of these cases their hair is going to have a different look than a person with more kinky hair.
Regardless, once the locks have set in and the relaxed ends are cut off, they too will have a more
traditional lock look.

Q: What about coloring the Sisterlocks™?
A: I recommend coloring your locks once they are set in or well on their way. This is because if you color
your hair before your hair is locked you will run into trouble trying to touch up your color while your locks
are settling. For example, when coloring your hair you must make sure that all of the color is out. This
means numerous shampoos. The more you shampoo your locks the looser they will become. This
means that when you go for your re-tightening you will have very loose locks and even some that may
have come down. If this is so, your re-tightening will take more time and cost more money.

Q: How will Sisterlocks™ do on thinning hair?
A: I've found that on my clients with thinning hair, it has been the best. In most cases the Sisterlocks™
have covered the thinning areas greatly. Even in those situations where there is permanent hair loss,
the Sisterlocks™, being the small sizes that they are, give the illusion of fullness.

Q: When my Sisterlocks™ were put in, my hair was longer, now it appears to have drawn up. Why is
that?
A: Different hair textures react in different ways. Even though you have Sisterlocks™, you still have
locks. Regardless of what type of hair locking system you have, one fact holds true for one, the bulbing
stage. This is the stage where the DNA of your locks swells together to form the locks and then relaxes.
Another way to explain it is like baking a cake. When you put your cake in the oven to bake, it swells
while the mix is cooking. When it's done, the swelling is gone and you have the size of your cake. Well
it's the same thing with your hair.

Q: I've heard that I can use curling irons on my locks, do you recommend this?
A: I don't. When you apply heat you run the risk of ruining your locks. I've had clients that used curling
irons on their locks and actually singed their locks. The irons were too hot and they ended up with a
press. Even after they shampooed their hair the straightness was still there. I find that a roller set is the
best for locks. You can wear a roller set for one to two weeks without re-rolling your hair again. Even
though they are smaller locks, they are still locks.

Click here for Sisterlocks™ Maintenance Tips














Information from: http://www.godgivenbeauty.com/slfaq.html

Embrace your God Given Beauty...

1554-A Union Road, Suite 104, Gastonia NC 28054 Call 704.865.1228 for FREE Consultation

Hi Felicia!

Felicia wrote:

Your blog is so inspirational spiritually, physically, and just by providing such wonderful pratical tips and information. Could you please share with me and I'm sure others who read your blog( to many of us you are a "sisterlock elder", beacuse you have had them for so many years), what was your daily routine when you were locking your first year? You mentioned that the discipline was worth it. Did you or do you sleep with a satin pillow case or satin wrap? How often did you shampoo then/now? Thanks in advance for your time and attention!


Abena's response: Felicia thank you for the nice comments, it is so encouraging when I hear that people are being inspired by my blog :)

Above is a photo of my 2 week old locks.


Abena's Regimen:

1. In the first 1 1/2 years I did not use any products on my hair except the Sisterlock starter shampoo. Also, when I washed I ALWAYS banded, even though it was a pain sometimes.
2. I washed my locks every 2 weeks and that is my same regime now, but as my hair grows longer I think I am going to have to go to washing every week.
3. I sleep with a satin cap/wrap but I plan to get a satin pillow case because some nights I don't put the cap on and I can hear my locks rubbing against my pillow case and it does not sound good (I know that can cause breakage).
4. I have had my locks for 5.5 years and I have never gotten a grooming, my loctician said because I took such good care of my hair in the early years, I probably will never have to get a grooming. But I think it also has something to do with texture, my hair doesn't have alot fuzz, but it does have some, but it is not out of hand so I just don't worry about it :)


I hope this help.

"SPOTLIGHT" by Abena

Locks, Locks, and more Locks!!!!!

Click here or copy and paste and enjoy the ride:

http://www.loclovers.com/Home/7

"SPOTLIGHT" by Abena

Happy MLK Day,

I wanted to "SPOTLIGHT" a product that I have truly been impressed with called Coconut Curl Spray. When I do my braid-outs I do not like to use anything like lotta-body, or any other product that may make my hair hard and not as easy to manage, so before I added this product to my regime, the only other products I was using was Infusium leave-in spray conditioner or Motions leave-in spray conditioner which works well. But both of these products serve a different purpose because they are both leave-in spray conditioners.

Well.....my best friend gave me this product from komazacare.com that she thought would really be good for my locks, AND SHE WAS RIGHT!!!! Thanks Ki :)

I use it now for my braid-outs (in addition to the leave-in spray conditioners that I mentioned) and it has cut down on the frizz and has given me a nice lustrious curl, that is slighty better then before I began using the product. I actually had a generous amount of frizz in between retightenings and this product has helped some with that as well. Oh yeah, and did I mention it smells G-O-O-D :)

In Honor or Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King SpeechesI Have a Dream - Address at March on WashingtonAugust 28, 1963. Washington, D.C.
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day

the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

SECRET SISTERHOOD

Hello Strong Woman of God you are cordially invited to join the Secret Sisterhood group. This group has been created so that women all around the world can join together to encourage and strengthen one another. We will be discussing every topic under the sun. This group is for "WOMEN ONLY" and the topics and information we discuss will be confidential and open to only group members. I pray that this group enriches and changes your life forever.

To join, please click here or copy & paste:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secretsisterhood09/

Blessings to you in 2009!
Abena aka Chosen Vessel

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!!! Happy New Year!

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!!!!

Written by Sister Abena

December 29, 2008

Psalms 5:12- For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).

While 2009 is swiftly approaching, I am sitting here at my computer desk thinking back to 2008 and wondering how we got through it so quickly? I have to admit, I am so excited about 2009 because I know that God has great things in store for me and my husband. So I want to start off by asking you, do you have a spirit of expectancy? Are you expecting God to do great things for you?

I have always seen the new year as a new start, a way God allows us to start a new year better than we ended the previous year and that is what my primary goal is for 2009. I am going to take an assessment of my shortcomings for 2008 and try to do better in 2009. I am going to search my heart for the areas I need to grow in and pursue change and reformation like never before. I am going to search for any areas in my life that need to be rejuvenated, maybe like, reading my Bible everyday with more zeal instead of so dutifully. I am going to invest in a stronger more passionate prayer life. I truly look at my prayer life as a way to communicate with God and He communicates back too me. If I don’t have that, I am truly lost, and I mean lost! I truly understand when David said, I will seek the Lord always.

Each year, I seek God for a new scripture for me to stand on, believe, act on, and grab a hold of for the new year. Last year it was Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future and in 2007 it was Matthew 6:33, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you. These scriptures reigned true in my life in 2007 and 2008.

The scripture God gave me for 2009 is Psalms 5:12, For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).

Glory to God, now how can I not be excited about that scripture, because I know that each time I read it God is talking too me personally. Beloved, remember, there are blessings that are conditional and there are blessings that are unconditional. God truly wants to bless us more than we want to BE blessed, but some blessings require true obedience, sacrafice, and striving to live an ucompromisingly righteous life. That means being good stewards in all areas of our lives: finances, home, work, what we are watching or listening to, taming our tongues, etc. In these areas of your life, does it line up with the word of God, does it glorify God? We have to ask those tough questions everyday, because it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. For example, watching something on television that just has a little cursing or sexual content, is opening the door and planting the seed to breed sin on a much larger scale. Do you understand, is the Holy Spirit talking to you right now saying, “you know what she is talking about.” Or listening to music that glorifies a lifestyle of sin and shame, instead of cultivating the word of God that is within us.

How about you, have you sought out God for a scripture for yourself? You know what that does for me, it gives me a renewed purpose and hope for the present year and I go after that promise in the scripture with all that I have within me. Also, throughout the year, the Holy Spirit reveals the scripture in many forms. For example, last year, I sought God with one of the biggest challenges in my life and He showed me that in spite of what I saw in the natural, the plans He had for me," were, "plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

God gave me a hope that I have never experienced before because everything in the natural said this is hopeless, but I became a prisoner of HOPE and God supernaturally performed Jeremiah 29:11, in ways I can not even put into words, I can only open my mouth in praise and honor. Another example was a health issue I was facing, and let’s just say, that God said, oh, don’t worry Abena, just plan on being around for the future because I have plans to prosper you and not harm you, I made your body and I will protect, shield, and nourish it with my very own healing balm, hallelujah!!!! I can honestly say that 2008 was one of the toughest years in my life, but I also experienced supernatural blessings that I do not believe I would have experienced if I would not have faced such challenges in 2008. That brings me to another scripture that reigned true in my life in 2008 and it is found in Romans 5:3-5, And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Hallelujah Jesus!!!! Thank you for teaching me how to glory in tribulations. Beloved, these are just two examples.

I encourage you for 2009 to: 1. Seek God for a scripture that is just for you. 2. Take an honest assessment of the areas in your life that still need your attention. It could be a sin that continues to come back, it could be that you can’t seem to get out of a state of depression, it could be a sexual sin, it could be lack of a desire to serve God, it could be living in medocrity, or not living the life that you know God has called you to live etc. whatever it is seek God for full deliverance so that He can move you into the promises, blessings, and deliverance for 2009.

God wants more than ever for you to be in position and ready to receive the abundant blessings He has for you but He needs you to take ownership of the areas in your life that need YOUR attention. Dr. Gary Smalley said that we are 100% responsible for the thoughts we think, the choices we make, and the actions we perform, there is no one to blame, not our parents, our spouse, our boss, our children, not even the devil, it is US! Because 1 John 4:4 says, you are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. God has made provisions in His word and through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, to overcome anything, even ourselves, or if you want to get spiritual about it, our flesh :)

The first step is recognizing the areas of sin in our life and the next step is to seek out God and His Holy word for guidance, deliverance, change, and restoration. Can you do that? I believe if you do, you will never be the same. Remember, some blessings are conditional, so don’t get caught up in the hype of some of the preacing that you hear that says, if you pray this you will get that….yes Jesus said You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it," in John 14:13,14 however, in that same conversation, He reminded His disciples (Christians) "If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you..." A prayer being answered is wholly dependent upon this relationship. So if we remain in Jesus, then we will be modeling His actions, His Word, and the Fruits of the Spirit. I think you understand what I am saying. We can’t live sin-filled lives and expect supernatural blessings, a powerful anointing, or miracles. Now don’t get me wrong, God can do whatever He wants, but I am simply saying what His word says, “the safest thing to do is give you the word, not my opinion.”

In closing, I want you to remember that your best days are still ahead, you just have to grab a hold of the promises of God and don’t let go, become a prisoner of HOPE, it is worth it! But remember, promises don’t come without obedience. Some blessings in Gods word are unconditional, but most are conditional. Which means God says if you then I. God Blesses Obedience, look at: Deuteronomy 7:11-16: You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command you this day. 12 "And because you hearken to these ordinances, and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love which he swore to your fathers to keep; 13 he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict upon you, but he will lay them upon all who hate you. 16 And you shall destroy all the peoples that the LORD your God will give over to you, your eye shall not pity them; neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

Blessings upon you this year and the years to come!
Warmly, Sister Abena
Brought to you by His Chosen Vessel Online Ministry
http://www.hischosenvesselministry2005.blogspot.com/ http://www.inspiredtowrite08.blogspot.com/
©2009 Sister Abena

In Search of the perfect hat????

HELP!!!! I am in search of some cute hats that will fit all of my locks. Sometimes, after I wash my hair I want to go out and I may not want to sport the after-wash braids, so I have been looking for some hats that will fit my hair while still looking presentable. Also, I am just getting into wearing hats more, so I want some that will compliment my locks....Any suggestions on where to buy hats????


This is a hat I had in my closet for years, so I thought I would try this style out to see if this is the look I am looking for.