Making Dreadlocks Using a Tool
Just a quick post today, showing a different look. We’ve been working to recreate different styles that inspire us. Sometimes we do get tired of waking up with our hair ready to go. Occasionally we like to see what more our locs can do. To start …
I can hear the soft hum my machine makes while polishing some of my stones. My daughter and I recently went through my stash, as I was was heading in the direction of a hoarder. There she sat going through “rock” after “rock” insisting …
I stopped for a moment to try and keep the sweat from dripping completely in my eye. There it was, a perfectly round drop precariously dangling from my lashes. It’s not quite 7 am, but I’ve been out pulling weeds from my neglected flower beds. In between the sweat, humidity, unusual rain showers, and heat of a typical St. Louis summer, I’m dodging fuzzy bumble bees and dragon flies as they harvest my garden. 
Just as I was about to finish up, out of the corner of my eye I spied the familiar sort of side gate topped off by four white fuzzy paws and a gray beard. He is in high spirits as he loudly proclaims to the fellow hounds in the neighborhood “Where my dogs at!”
Duffy, the pooch in question, is a 14 year old miniature schnauzer with a pup’s energy and attitude. What’s so amazing about this little fellow is about 5 weeks ago he was attacked and received injuries so severe the vets were counseling me on “putting him to sleep.” Suffice it to say I said no, and in less than a week Duffy was ready to go and they were glad to be rid of him. The dogs, animals, the rumbly bumbly bumble bees I watched this morning, all living their lives doing what only they were meant to do.
Life has been so busy lately, I feel like I need a break. It seems like I do a little work, try and take care of my family, work on my home and the day is gone, with nothing ever feeling finished. I joke all …
For the last six weeks like many of you I’ve been riveted as we watch our nation go through this season of growing pains. I don’t know about you but for me everything is off, I’m behind in my gardening, I missed my Mothers Day post, Memorial Day celebrations have come and gone, and now Father’s Day is upon us. In a way, in this season of change is much like the spring weather here in the midwest. I’ve witness lightening while snowing, snow at easter, extreme heat, tornados, and gentle rains. But here in the MO and particularly in the land of the “big canoe” or the “show me state” after the storm we are witnessing change and hopefully peace that comes after the storm.
The one question that I see most often on message boards and Facebook groups is whether locs and being active go together. Especially in the summer, you’re out there running, swimming, playing tennis, you want to wash your hair after a good workout….you know…. get …
One thing that you might notice after a couple years is that your ends can start to lighten from being in the sun. I know ombre is the trend, but I would like to keep my hair dark. For just a quick change in pace …
Today I want to talk about the big chop. Not the one where you cut your relaxer off, the other one. When you decide you like your locs, but after a while (for me it was 8 years), you decide you want a different style.
So in 2009 I cut my locs off. I waited about 4 weeks since my last re-tightening and scheduled the big chop!. I sat in the chair with my eyes closed tight while she did it. I couldn’t believe how light I felt as my locs fell to the floor. I desperately wanted to join the legions of twa’s I was seeing all around me, but when I saw my long locs in a pile on the floor, I couldn’t help but be emotional. “Please don’t cry, because if you start, then I’ll start crying too!”, she said, and we both laughed. I left the salon and purchased a brush, and some big earrings, excited that I could wear any style I wanted now. Then reality set in. I had to style my hair every…single…day.
It was about that time I started to miss being able to run my fingers through my hair on the way to work and look great. My schedule didn’t slow down because of the new baby . I was busy as ever- with work and travel. I wanted my time back. I wanted an easy versatile style. So I called my mom and she started my locs over again.
My first set of locs were well over 500 but I just didn’t want to commit that much time to maintenance.So I made them larger with about 200 locs. Great for me because now I can re-tighten my whole head while the kids watch the Jungle Book movie. I honestly prefer them to be short too.One day, I may install less than 100 to see how that looks on me. Then again I think I might try 500 again with the 3 point pattern.
We want to start documenting more quick dreadlock styles that we wear as we are out and about. Owner and founder, Debra is always picking up supplies and shipping orders, but when the weather is nice you can always find her at the local park, …
