February 2004 Journal

Greetings Hillary Lynn,
Your dreadlocks look so lovely.  How long & old are they now?
my locks are 5 years old now.  they are range from about 12-14 inches long.

When was the last time you relaxed your hair?  Can you imagine wearing your hair in anything other than dreads?  Why/why not?
i can't even remember the last time i relaxed my hair.  i think i had graduated from college so lets say late 1995.  at that time i decided i wanted shorter hair, so as the months wore on my hair was getting shorter. if i didn't have locks i'd prbably go back to my REALLY short hair... which is where i started from 5 years ago.

You know, I never asked you what your hair type was.  How would you classify it?
my hair is soft, not quite curly but not quite frizzy, and i have a LOTTA hair.  the type of hair that takes forever to dry in the salon. :) it's pretty heavy when it's wet at this point.

How has your hair type aided/hindered your dreadlocking process?
in the beginning it was frustrating, since my hair texture wasn't fully conducive to locking.  but once it started locking, you couldn't stop it.  it took less than a year to become fully locked.

Now that your dreadlocks have entered full-maturity, looking back have there been any changes in texture/feel/size?
i haven't noticed a significant difference in texture.  my natural blonde and reddish highlights have really come out in the last couple of years, but i think it's just more noticeable because of it's length.

I know a lot of people tend to think that the longer dreadlocks get, the hotter they are.  Do you feel that your locks make your head too hot in the summer?
i don't have an issue with my head getting hot but more the back of my neck and upper back getting sweaty, so i just pull my locks up into a ponytail.

How often do you shampoo and maintain your dreadlocks?
i try to shampoo/twist once a month, it's somewhat weather dependent.

Do you still go to a loctician, if so, how often?  How much does your stylist charge?
i haven't been since probably 2 yrs ago.

What technique(s) are you using to maintain your hair? Has your chosen technique changed over time?
i use a combination of the finger twist and the palm-roll methods.  the length and location of the loc dictates the method.  i twist the base and then palm roll as needed to compact the loose ends.

Have you ever considered cutting your dreadlocks?  Why or why not?
i haven't really considered it.  i love my hair and i'm hoping to learn to style it.  on the other hand, i have no fear of cutting my hair.  it's just a new set to locks to grow. :)

What are you going to do when they grow really long...like when they reach your waist?
i most likely will not grow my hair that long, as it's not really practical in my line of work.

What the best compliment anyone has ever given you about your dreadlocks?
the best compliment has either been in reference to the length in a rather short period of time or to the color.  my aunt told me that she has never seen anyone with such pretty highlights and nicely manicured...she actually thought they were extensions.

What's the worst insult?
someone who was in the business seeking my business told me (in the middle of a grocery store no less), "oh!  i can fix your hair for you.  here's my card..."

With so many people moving towards natural hair and dreadlocks, what makes your dreadlocks unique?
the color, my lock jewelry... i carry myself differently with this hair versus my previous hairstyles.  i want to share information about how long or my process... with pretty much anybody.

Even though you've been locking for years, do you ever find yourself submitting to dreadlock envy?
yes... i have not really learned how to style my hair.  if it's not a ponytail or the basic bun, i haven't done it.  i recently braided my hair while it was wet and was astonished at the end result.  i didn't think it would look as good as it did!  and the more the curl relaxed the better i liked it.

What's new about HillaryLynn in 2004?
hillarylynn has changed a lot in the past year... i have completely changed careers after a hiatus from civil engineering.  i am now attending culinary school to become a pastry chef.  i am much more confident in this career than i was in the previous one.  and i'm having fun!  i just celebrated my 5 yr wedding anniversary in france and i'm just in a good space right now.