Sisterlocks is Taking the World by Storm

A national movement is forming in black women's hair. Sisterlocks started in Boston and is spreading. The movement is formed around the idea that the person wearing her hair should have pride in it. There's nothing wrong with that.

"Hair is a big issue for black women," said Jacqueline Ashby, a Sisterlocks technician in Boston, MA. "They want to end being ashamed of it and start being nappy and beautiful. Some women are even afraid of the word nappy."

Started in 1993 by JoAnne Cornell, a professor at San Diego Stat University, Sisterlocks promotes both a hairstyle and healthy hair. Those who wash their hair can wear an go, roller-set, curl and style their hair without chemicals to change the texture.

The movement is called for in light of the controversy surrounding the way black women should and should not wear their hair, especially in a corporate setting. Even braids have been criticized as being unprofessional, and hair straightening has become the norm.

Black Women and Our Hair: Tips to Keep it Beautiful

Bobs and crops are bold and beautiful but if you want longer, healthier hair we’ve got some tips for you.

Cut the damage. If your ends are fried and tried, scraggly and haggard, disappearing and raggedy let them go. They may add to the length but long doesn’t always mean pretty. Visit your stylist and tell her to cut until it’s even and healthy.

Increase circulation. You can do this in two ways.

1) Get up off of the couch and get your heart pumping. Exercise, it just keeps coming back doesn’t it.

2) Give yourself a daily scalp massage using your fingertips.

You are what you eat. What goes in helps what comes out. Foods rich in vitamins A, B, C and E are essential for growing healthy hair and iron and zinc are proven to help your hair grow its fastest.

Keep it clean, especially if you use a lot of products. Remember, the days of petroleum and mineral oil based hair grease and conditioners have retired. Product build-up can clog follicles and prevent your hair from growing. Be sure to shampoo often (talk to your stylist about how often is often enough for you) and give your hairbrushes and combs a weekly cleansing too so that you’re not re-brushing in old dirt and oil.

Be kind. Long hair is old hair. Swap abrasive products for gentler ones formulated for your hair type. Add a deep treatment or hair mask to your regimen and try to stay away from heat-styling appliances.

Get regular trims. You want your hair to stay undamaged and split-end free. Otherwise you’ll end up back where you started.