Making Dreadlocks Using a Tool
Recently I was pleading my case with my mom about a major decision coming up. She hedged, not wanting to totally throw cold water on my idea, but I pressed on. Finally she said that I was wishy washy, and scattered all over the place. …
When I got pregnant with our first child, my husband and I started talking about what kind of traditions we wanted to start. As DINKs, (Dual Income, No Kids) we had no traditions. We pretty much did whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. But now …
Yesterday I sat down with a new fashion magazine and I was reminded of when I was a little girl flipping through my mom’s copies of Essence. On occasion when her stack got too thick, my mom would bring home a couple poster boards and my brothers and I would go through and cut out all of the beautiful chocolate men and women that we liked and taped them on that board. By the time we were done every square inch would be covered in all the many shades and features of beautiful black people. As a child it was natural. Why wouldn’t everyone make a beautiful collage, what else were they doing at home? As an adult I realize the wisdom and beauty in our little craft project.
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Some of you guys live in the most wonderful places. I remember as a kid being fascinated by elves, dwarves and fairies in the enchanted forest. You know the familiar story lines of little girls and boys taking a passage through the woods to get …
One day while checking my facebook (which I know I do more than I should) I noticed a post about the latest twitter war between rappers. So I had to google it. For the next 20 -30 minutes I read about the major players, their …
It’s about 7 when we pull up alongside of a road cut that I’ve been eyeing for the last few weeks. I had conscripted my conspirator in the dastardly deed into collecting some rock samples this Saturday morn. We, or should I say he, grabbed about 20 good sized rocks and we scurried home. It’s hot and sticky and here I am bent over with a hammer and a makeshift chisel splitting rocks searching for fossils. So far not one, I was just about to give up. I picked up my last rock, carefully looking for seams. I placed my screwdriver along the seam and stuck the head hard enough to separate but not cause it to crumble. The rock split perfectly. No fossils, but instead the gray stones interior revealed an unexpected iron oxide deposits with dendrites that reminded me of those beautiful sonoran desert scenes. Instant nerdgasm.
I had started to daydream as I looked out of the huge window on a perfect sun filled day enjoying my lunch. A friend walked up and we chatted awhile, I can’t remember about what really, when she asked me if I were wearing a …
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 …
Here at Nappylocs, we feel that being able to do your own hair is freedom. I can retighten my hair whenever and wherever I feel like it. I also don’t have to budget to go and get my hair done. So we started thinking, what if we invested that money every month instead of getting it relaxed or braided? Being the nerd that I am, I got out a spreadsheet to do the math.
Assuming I spent $50 a month, I would have invested over $3,000 in the last 5 years. Believe me, $50 a month is low estimate; some places where I’ve lived it’s more than $100 a month. So here’s the deal, let’s say instead of going to a salon, I invested that $50 in Microsoft stock. Then it gets even more interesting.
| Spent on your hair | In your account |
Return on investment |
|
| 2005-2015 | 6050 | 9132 |
51% |
| 2010-2015 | 3025 | 4191 |
39% |
If I had taken that 50 bucks and invested it starting five years ago I would have had a 39% return on my investment. If I started investing in 2005, I would have made 51%. If I start now and get similar returns over the next 10 years, I could take that $6050 and turn it into $8852. Now I do on occasion visit salons for special pampering, after all they are professionals. A good quality cut, color, or facial should be done by professionals. If you are unable to install your own locs by all means enlist their help or that of a family member or friend. (My mom has installed mine twice)
But for me, a young mother with small kids my time and my funds are more focused on my kids. Nappylocs allows me the freedom of doing my own hair during nap time, kids movies, and in between soccer classes.
Disclaimer: We are not financial professionals, this is not intended as financial advice, and we are not endorsing Microsoft specifically. Please seek a financial adviser for investment information.