what it's all about

My photo
Charlotte, NC, United States
I am on a journey -like you, I'm sure. A personal journey, a spiritual journey. A journey about passions, growth, and living. I don't have a good memory, but I value my experiences. It's very strange when you realize that you are being shaped constantly, but ultimately only remember some of the reasons why you are the person you're becoming. I find that when things resonate within me, writing about them helps me to better develop my opinions about them, and to remember them. Sometimes, it's the simple act of looking back and reminding myself where I've been that is all I need to move forward with confidence. That's why I write. Thank you for joining me.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Hair update

So, I'm not sure why, but my head has been really flaky the last few days. At first I thought maybe I over did it with the gel when I retwisted last, but I have to be honest, most of these flakes were coming from my scalp. So, I scratched the heck out of it, and washed it. I shampooed it twice with head and shoulders, and then did a mild ACV rinse. I had intended to retwist (sans gel), but when I got out, I could still see that there were some flakes trapped in my curly, semi locked roots. So I just left it alone. This all happened yesterday.

This is what my hair does when I don't retwist it, now. It's definitely locked more, and none of my locs came out.






To help combat the dryness, I rubbed a little hair butter on my scalp, but not too much. I don't want to tell my skin to stop producing it's own, natural oils. Plus, I will probably be rinsing my hair again today anyway.


Right now, I'm gonna get my sweat on, so my hair is up in a really stretchy headband, to try and keep me from overheating. Here is my fro of locs pulled back.


OK, folks. That's all for now. I'll be back with another update soon.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

check it out!

The incredible Chescaleigh featured my recent hairstyle in her weekly loc stars video! Each week she picks three people who have posted hair pictures on her Facebook page, and features them in a video. And this week, I am the first one! How cool is that?

Here's the vid:

Remember the post I did on this hairstyle? Check it out to see more pictures from that day. If you're in the Charlotte, NC area, check out Creations Hair and Makeup, who did this style on me. Joni was terrific.

Thanks Chesca, for featuring me! I am so excited and honored!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

my morning started with an email from my loctician.

It reads:

Greetings Alicia,
I hope you have enjoyed your summer thus far! It has been interesting and life changing for me. Lockstar moved on 8/1 into a new location in NODA on Cullman Ave for a fresh start and new business model. On 8/5, AT&T (telephone company) was scheduled to transfer all phone services but the rain came first & did not stop. What I didn't know was that the new location was in a flood zone. The rain flooded the new location on Cullman Ave ruining everything including all of our beautiful, brand new furniture! I was already transitioning to Miami with plans to spend 3 weeks there & only 1 week in Charlotte a month, but because of this ordeal, I humbly take it as a sign to simply move as opposed to transitioning. So, that is what's happening. I know it's a lot to walk away from. I LOVE my clients, I have the GREATEST clients, & I learn so much from you while I take care of your hair... But, I have so much to look forward to in Miami!  I will open a Lockstar there amongst a lot of other Lockstar Lifestyle related projects.

I apologize to every client that has a scheduled hair appointment in September. I have referred some clients to Gia, my sister, a natural stylist, 704-890-1235. Also, most of the stylists in the city have been trained at Lockstar.

Please keep in touch. I thank you for your patronage. You will be missed. I have seen many of you every 3-4 weeks for 7 or 8 years!

One Love & Best Wishes, 

April 
Lockstar 
www. lockstarsalon.com

Twitter: @Lockstarbyapril 
Facebook : Lockstar natural hair salon by April Atkinson 

Excuse me while I go bawl my eyes out.

I am very excited for April. This was her plan to begin with, and I guess it was God's plan too. I wish her only the best in Miami. Make sure you guys add her on Facebook and Twitter to see what she has in store for us. I know it will be great things! For any of you out that way, go look her up! Bring her some business and you will consider it one of the best decisions you've ever made!


Well, so long for now, you fabulous woman. I will miss you!

Monday, August 22, 2011

at home retwist

I retwisted my hair on Friday. I was going to attempt Bantu knots, but I can't find my bobby pins anywhere, and my shortish hair was not cooperating. Retwisting myself was cool, because I could feel that there were lots of locs that were really locking up. It's really exciting! I guess I was really distracted and not being too particular about which direction I laid my locs when I clipped them down. I kept getting interrupted. So, they kind of go everywhere right now. Which is fine. I kinda like them like that. After they were all clipped, I let them air dry for about 5 hours until I had to hurry up and go meet my family for dinner. A couple of minutes and short blasts with the blow dryer, and I was dry. I took these over the weekend.








I'm surprised at how long my hair has gotten over the summer, but also bummed that it has not locked up more than it has. But it seems like since the last time I complained about that, they have locked up quite a bit more. I hope it continues!

It was funny, my mom was asking me why some of my front locs are so much skinnier than the others. When I told her they were started that way, she seemed really confused. I finally figured out that my mom thought that I combed my hair every time I washed it, and that I separated them freshly each time! Haha. It was so funny. I had no idea that she thought that this whole time. She cracks me up. I wonder how many other people think that, too?

Thursday, August 18, 2011

O.M.Geeee. Chescaleigh likes meeee!

So, I recently found, watched, heard, laughed with, and obsessed over Chescaleigh. How many of you already knew about this amazing personality, embodied in a beautiful woman with a gorgeous head of dreads- and didn't tell me? And you call yourselves my friends. (shaking my head.) Lol. I am so just kidding. I love you all.

If you haven't been exposed to the awesomeness that is Chesca, prepare to lose yourself. This chick is fun! I totally want to be her for like, any amount of time possible. I love her hair, I love her style, and that piercing is to die for. Why won't my hubby let me have one??? Argh! Plus this woman's got jokes and she can sing! I mean, is she perfect??? She says no and references baby hairs and weak spots in 2 or 3 locs to prove that she's not. Hardly convincing...  ;)

I have gotten lost in her blog instead of being productive, and have spent so much time watching her youtube videos, that my husband probably thinks I've been abducted by aliens and replaced with a cooler chick. (I always get on him about spending too much time on YouTube.)

Anyway, I found her on Facebook, shared a picture, and not only did she comment on my picture (she loved it!) she also "Liked" my Chinky Kinky Blog Fanpage! I sqealed with excitement and may have wet my pants a little bit. Haha. No, really. Ok. Not, really.

Anyway. Here's my newest love. This is an old video, but kind of introduces you to her and displays her gorgeous crown. Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

House update #2

My hubby said I need to post another house update. Apparently he spent an hour catching up on my blog yesterday. Yay! But dang, has it been so long that it took a whole HOUR??? Geez. lol.

We're about halfway through the build process. Probably a little more. With all of the craziness with the debt ceiling going on a couple weeks ago, we took a risk and locked in our rate for 45 days. Looks like the house will not be done by then, so we'll have to come up with a bunch more money to extend the rate... :( We thought it was better to be safe, than sorry. But, ironically, mortgage rates went down after our country's credit rating went down. We thought they would jump up. Oh well. We still have a great rate, and I don't think mortgage rates will stay low. But in the meantime, we are watching every penny and trying to sell.... um, just about everything. Haha.

Here is a picture.

I have a video, too... but, I feel kinda weird posting it. It's a big house. Definitely bigger than we need right now. I don't want you all judging us! I know I shouldn't care about what everyone else thinks, that the only judge that matters knows whats on our hearts. And we did pray and pray and pray about it. And doors were opened. Everything has gone incredibly smoothly- up until this rate lock thing. God will use this somehow. Maybe by teaching us about sacrifice.We hope in a way that means people feel safe and welcomed in our future home. In a way that we can share Truth. In a way that blesses a growing family for us. But who knows what will come out of this. Definitely not us. We just need to keep praying and not lose sight of who this all should be for.

Oh what the heck. I'll give you the video too. Enjoy.


Monday, August 15, 2011

wedding inspired hair

At the start of the summer, our photographer friends asked if I would help them out. Their hair/makeup stylist friend, Joni, needed some faces (or I should say heads) to prettify to update her portfolio. I quickly obliged, wondering if this person would have any clue how to handle my young, short, unruly teenage locs. Well, you can see for yourself, but I think she did a great job. She wasn't even daunted, let me tell you. She just jumped right in!









So waht do you think? Fit for a bride? It was a sweltering hot day, but we had a lot of fun. Who doesn't like getting all dressed up and made up? The photographer told Joni to give me a "fun" look. I think she succeeded. The hair is just the right combination of romantic and flirty and fun, in my opinion.

My hair is growing. And the temperature's rising. I need to get my hair off my neck! I am not that into styles, but this shoot has put the bug in my head. What other fun looks can short locs achieve?