11 MONTHS DOWN AND ONE TO GO! These have been some of the best months for my hair in my life. Everyday my locks get better. I've had absolutely no slippage issues with my Sisterlocks. Since the day they were put in they've stayed put; except for one little shorty that's growin on the right side. I've come to learn that this lock has a different texture than the rest of my locks. I can feel BUDS in about 90% of my locks. The percentage may be higher but, when you have a whole lot of locks it's hard to tell if I'm feelin the same ones over and over agin. I love them so much cuz when I move my head they move with it. They're lite weight but, as you know natural hair for those of African descent can be somewhat dry. To combat this, I've listed some of the products I've used in a previous post. I'm not the type who washes daily or weekly. I usually do it every 2-3 weeks. I've never used conditioner or done hot oil treatments. I'm waitin until they're at least 90% locked until I do somethin like that. I don't feel the need for the conditioner but the hot oil treatment I'll probably do. I still use the Sisterlock shampoo and I've only used a different kind once. I spritz more now than I did at the beginning. Of course my spritz always includes distilled water and an essential oil. And, I've seen no adverse/negative effects from doing this. I'm still braidin & bandin but, I plan to stop at the one year mark. I don't take any products internally to help my locks grow. I just let 'em do what they do. HEY, I've recently discovered a new product that I let melt in my hands and apply to my locks for dryness. I've got three words for this product. FAB-U-LOUS! The smell is heavenly and it gives my locks a lite sheen. I have some on my hair in the pictures below. The product is called Sheajoba. I bought it at an Adventist health food store in Silver Spring Maryland. It's made by and for people of color by a company named Pretty Natural Inc. They also have a website: www.prettynatural-inc.com. The jar says it's for braids, locks and natural hair. I like this product and my locks do too. As you can see, I've posted 11 month pictures to letcha see what's happenin wid my locks. For you newbies, I've tried to post 2 pictures of 2 different locks that have BUDS. Can you see them in the lock? How do you know if it's a bud? Well, when you feel down the lock a bud will feel like a small bump or pea that is distinctive from the rest of the lock. Also if you want to know what your hair will feel like when it's locked or almost locked, take a lock between 2 fingers, starting at the base or scalp. Begin to slowly feel from base to tip. If it is locked or almost locked it will have a firm feel to it. I have this feelin of firmness in locks that do and don't have buds. The firmsness is in some degree in all of my locks and it as I said it starts and the base and stops right before those curly ends. And if you want to know how many locks I have, huuum, let me see. I really don't know cuz I've yet to count them; maybe I'll do that for my 1 year mark. If you're reading this post hit me up with a guess of how many you think I have. When I find out I'll let the best guesser know they were right. You know I've often wondered if I would be fully locked if I had used another locking method? I have coworkers with traditional locks who say they were fully locked at 6 months. Well, I guess I'll never know. I don't have any regrets about the method I chose. b I chose it because of it's minimal, product usage requirement, I'm able to wash when I want, and I know as I get more length I'll have more styling options that I wouldn't have with thicker traditional locks. Oh I almost forget to remind ya, I LOVE my Sisterlocks.