October 2002 Journey

Greetings HillaryLynn,
Your dreadlocks are beautiful!  We'd love to see more pics of them *hint, hint*.
i have been delinquent in getting more photos... i'll try to get better.

How long/old are they now?  When was their last birthday?
my locks will be four in february of 2003.  they vary
from 8-10 inches in length.

Are you still working in a corporate environment?
no

Have you encountered any problems in regards to your dreadlocks?
nothing that i can document... i was one of the only black faces in the crowd.  i was an oddity in general in the office.

Given the occassional case of dreadlocks discrimation, do you fear that your hairstyle might impact your career?
no, as i'm trying to stay out of corporate america for the duration. :)

Being in NY you're probably just another face in the crowd. What's the climate up there for dreadlock'd heads?
in brooklyn e'rybody has locks.  big and small, manicured and freeform, dyed, bleached... you name it.  the only time where i'm conscious of loc acknowledgement is when the crowd is mixed (or not so mixed) and there's only a couple of us there... like a party or restaurant.  but i'm always looking at other locked heads, i might not even recognize the person but i'd recognize the hair.

Another advantage of being in NY is that locticians have to be a dime a dozen. You mentioned you might try some in Brooklyn. Have you gone?  What were the results?
i've been to 2 locticians since moving here.  one was not so successful and the other is a treasure.  both salons are in fort greene brooklyn... ona the locksmythe is FABULOUS and you come out of her shop smelling and looking fabulous.  she just opened a second shop her last month after working out of her home for many years.

When you maintain your dreadlocks on your own, what's your biggest problem?
i haven't really had any problems. my arms get tired from the washing and twisting... but i need the exercise.

How have your dreadlocks changed overtime?  How have you adapted to this change?
i've noticed that my natural color has really come out in my locs so i have blond tips and highlights throughout.  i think it's great bcuz there are a lot of folks who bleach their tips to achieve this look.

Is there anything that frustrates you about your hair?  Have you had problems with thinning/breakage/dry-scalp/etc...?
i've noticed a couple of thinner locks that worry me a bit... but no breakage to date.

What new things have you learned about your locks? About yourself? About Others?
i just really enjoy my natural hair and feel more connected to mother nature.

It sounds like your husband was supportive from day one.  What do you think he'd say about your dreadlocks now?
my husband LOVES my hair.  he loves it when i'm taking it down from a ponytail and it cascades onto my
shoulders.

What advice would you give members of the naaniFam about dreadlocking their hair?
outside of what i've already mentioned in my write-up... i don't think i have any additional advice.  just that the locking experience is wonderful and changes your perceptions of beauty.