It's so liberating to share theses pictures. Because I had been natural for years, but was covering it up with weave. I can't tell you how many times hair dressers urged me to process my hair. Their only compliments were fashioned like this, " You're hair is so thick and healthy, it would take a relaxer very well".

My natural hidden by sewn in weave, OUCH!

Before and After

My "Kinky Curly" Crown

OMG! Must travel w/out my hair products!

Please comment on similar incident/story of your own.

As you can see from this pic... I need product.

I was just told that all my hair products must be reduced to small containers for the flight in the morning (Kansas City for 1 week). Ok, no big I could just buy more once I arrive, but then what if I can't find what I need, and not to mention the waste of leaving it all there, or shipping the products home. Now, I think I'm just being cheap, maybe a bit petty. Well I have to finish packing. Wish me luck, I'm going to compete in Skills USA' s National Competition and hope to bring home another Gold Medal. If so, this will be my 5th and final medal this year. I hope to finish school (Pharmacy Tec) by January 2010.

http://www.myptec.org/Default.asp : check me out on my schools homepage, see pics fade in/out. Yep, that's me accepting medals at State Competition last month.

Hepl me choose the best loc method for the desired look

OK for my very 1st post I'll make this short and sweet. I simply want suggestion on how to choose the best loc look/ style/ design/ or what have you , for my hair. I know the obvious will be recommended, which is, to seek a professional consultant. But so many beautiful Sista's here have wonderful hair-stories that I thought it may be easier getting your opinions. So I'm putting myself out there to the universe. Help!
Maybe some background info is necessary, so here goes. My Big Chop was in 2005, long story short it was exactly like "Waiting to Exhale", same scenario, you get the picture. Cute and Curly was my m.o. for the entire 1st year. The years that followed, I became very busy (code for too lazy to do my own hair) and wore mostly micro braids and sew in weaves. Except of course when I was honestly too busy (and not lazy) and just threw on an entire wig (I still can't believe how nice my friends were about my "fake-ness").
Fast forward to the present, today I only wear my hair! Soft wet curls or dry blow outs and usually adorned with a headband, scarf, or flower. I've surpassed my point of liberation a long time ago and am very comfortable with my hair's abilities and inabilities. I slowly feel myself falling back into wanting a more acceptable hairstyle even though I know I will remain natural until I r.i.p.
What are some suggestions for my uneasiness? Just so you know, I'm very familiar with "hair journey" blogs here and would love to hear from you. What's really on my mind is... I want some type of locs but not anything that would leave my scalp showing much, because I love the volume my hair has, although its fairly short. And what is a "palm rolled loc, anyway?"