Tell Me About: Sisterlocks Consultants & Trainees

What are these Sisterlocks Consultants and Trainees anyway? And what's the difference between the two?


Since Sisterlocks is a trademark company, no unauthorized individuals can lawfully offer the system. Every program graduate with "active" status will appear either on the Official Sisterlocks Certified Consultant list or on the Official Sisterlocks Trainee Registry. If in doubt - contact the Home Office.

Graduates of the comprehensive Sisterlocks TM training program are known as 'Trainees' or 'Trainee Consultants' until they are 'certified' by the Sisterlocks Home Office in the U.S.

Once trained, Sisterlocks (SL) 'graduates' may apply for certification, providing they meet certain qualifying requirements demonstrating their abilities to competently install Sisterlocks. A successful application indicates that the 'Trainee' meets the required standards of professionalism, competence and quality of care.

SL Professionals tend to have Sisterlocks themselves and either be stalwart 'veterans' (with mature locks e.g. 5 yrs or more) or 'younger' lockers, many of whom have taken retightening classes and are ready to take that step towards offering Sisterlocks as a service to others.

However, although many Consultants (& Trainees) may have Sisterlocks; it is not unusual to find them rocking bald heads, loose hair or traditional locs: ultimately, it is a matter of personal choice so don't be put off if your Consultant falls into one of these categories.



Main Differences between Consultants & Trainees




Trainees:

  • These graduates are freshly qualified/(usually) recently trained so 'things may be fresh in their heads".
  • The SL services offered by Trainees tend to be priced lower than fully certified Consultants - this of course depends on how long they've been a trainee and how many heads they've completed - as they may very well have sent off their certification application and be awaiting formal recognition (having already received verbal confirmation that they have been successful). The discounted prices are usually a reflection of a Trainee's desire to complete the requirements for certification and build their books & portfolios.
  • They may have fewer clients on their books - meaning it'll be easier for you to get an appointment.
  • They may have smaller range of photos in their portfolio of 'completed work'.

Consultants:

  • Consultants have the added appeal of 'more experience' beneath their belts* (Of course you can come across seasoned Trainees who have just as many years experience and the same number of clients as your official Consultant). They will be faster at retightening and installations (but they may also have picked up a few bad habits - just being honest here).
  • SL services offered by Consultants will be higher as they are no longer being discounted. Their prices will reflect their experience, competence (through word of mouth and formal reviews) and the demand for their services.
  • It may be slightly harder to get an appointment with a popular Consultant due to the large number of Clients they may have on their books.
  • Consultants will usually have extensive portfolios of their work.

Please note this summary of differences includes some generalisations, the actual service you receive will vary between Consultants as well as between Consultants and Trainees.

Three of the most important questions to ask are, "When did you take the Sisterlocks training course?", "How many heads have you completed?" and "May I see examples of your work?" as these questions will help form an an appropriate impression of your Consultant.


You may also wish to ask "Do you have active status with the Home Office?" as some individuals may allow their registration with the Home Office to expire (for various reasons and this may matter to you).


SisterList UK is a directory of UK based professionals - you can use the tags to search for services within your area or close to your own postcode.

FAQ - Sisterlocks Consultants

Graduates of the comprehensive Sisterlocks TM training program are known as 'Trainees' or 'Trainee Consultants' until they are 'certified' by the Sisterlocks Home Office in the U.S.

Once trained, Sisterlocks 'graduates' may apply for certification. A successful application indicates that the 'Trainee' meets the required standards of professionalism, competence and quality of care and are 

Although many Consultants (i.e. a certified graduate) may have Sisterlocks themselves: it is not unusual for them to rock bald heads or loose hair as a matter of personal choice (so don't be put off).  Unlike Trainees, Consultants will usually have extensive portfolios of their work and as a result you may find their prices are higher than those charged by Trainees.

The most important questions to ask are, "When did you take the Sisterlocks training course?" and "Do you have active status with the Home Office?" as some individuals may allow their registration with the Home Office to expire.


Since Sisterlocks is a trademark company, no unauthorized individuals can lawfully offer the system. Every program graduate with "active" status will appear either on the Official Sisterlocks Certified Consultant list or on the Official Sisterlocks Trainee Registry.  If in doubt - contact the Home Office.

FAQ - Lock Stages

There are generally four stages of hairlocking:
  • The Baby Phase
  • The Teen Phase
  • and two types of Mature Phase-
Click on the image for details,

Sisterlocked and Loving It



I always promise myself that I'm gonna do better, I'm gonna be more diligent about my
blog...

But in reality, my hair has been the furthest thing from my mind...and it dawned on me, that's the reason I got sisterlocks in the first place.

I am a single mother of a 3 year old...I am student teaching this spring semester, and I have a part time tutoring job to make the ends come a little close together...on top of all that, I am taking 11 hours at a junior college to fulfill my gen ed requirements before I can graduate in May. I have to find time to sleep, which means I don't have time figuring out what to do with my hair.

Time flies so fast and meshes together so much that when I see a little bit of dandruff, I have to realize that it HAS been 2 weeks since I last washed my hair...and that I need to put that on my ever growing to-do list.

I am grateful that I had the foresight to make such a decision. I remember thinking to myself, that by the time I start student teaching, my hair will be at least presentable. But that's the least of my concerns, hell, I like the fact that I can spend 30 min tops on my morning routine, from finding something to wear, showering, and getting out of the door. A couple spritzs of water on my hair, a hair clip a couple bobby pins and I have a cute "messy" up do in less than 5 mins.

When I do want a different look (and that's mostly on the weekends), I am still able to be funky and versatile, something I wouldn't have been in my relaxer days. It was either curl it, slightly bump it, or wear a ponytail...and depending on when my hair was "permed" determines how much work went into those three options (some times I may have had to put some jam in my hair and tie it *tight* over night to lay down some of those edges) LOL.

Now, please. My edges excite me, for almost every other month I see another "baby loc" that I can start. Most of the women in my family have receding hair lines on the sides only and for years I just knew I was down that path. I had very little hair and obvious bald patches on the sides of my head, which I thought was genetic. Since SL, those areas have significantly improved, with no attention to it. I don't oil my scalp, I don't condition, nothin...wash, braid, braidout, or curl...every two weeks.

I'm excited for the years to come...when my hair will really look like locks and have hang time. But until that time comes, I'll still live in the moment and enjoy all the moments NOT doing my hair and focusing on other things...

Read more about 'Beautifully Made' and follow her blog by clicking here.

Tell Me About: The Sisterlocks Consultation


SisterlocksTM are permanent and should not be considered if you are looking for a quick fix or a temporary reprieve from chemical processing. 

Be prepared to spend approximately one hour at your Sisterlocks™ consultation.  This is time set aside just for you so you can thoroughly discuss the Sisterlocks™ hair locking process. 

I will ask questions about your lifestyle (profession, exercise regimes, support network) in terms of how they relate to your past and current hair care practices and how they frame perceptions and shape expectations.  Expect to discuss your hair styling and shampooing habits; daily activities such as exercise and outdoor pursuits, etc. practices.   

 We will discuss the way(s) in which
·         the Sisterlocks™ process differs from other hair locking techniques;
·         your unique natural hair texture can affects the appearance of Sisterlocks™.
·         the use of certain types of hair care preparations affect(s) the feel and appearance of Sisterlocks™.
I will also explain and demonstrate how Sisterlocks™ are cleaned and maintained – particularly during the early development stages.

This is your opportunity to ask me as many questions as you like, treat it like an ‘everything you wanted to know about Sisterlocks session’.  Now is the best time to raise any concerns you may have or rumours you may have heard e.g. will Sisterlocks break my hair? Will I have to wait 3 months before washing?  How long does it take?

At the end of the consultation, if you are happy with what you’ve learned, I will conduct a short hair analysis and install clusters of appropriate sample locks.  These will be placed as unobtrusively as possible.  You should have at least 3" - 4" of hair length.  (Less than 3" will make the sample locks difficult to analyse).  The purpose of the analysis and samples is to assess your natural hair texture,  alongside any changes in texture and density – this helps me select the locking pattern best suited to your particular hair type.  

For the most accurate assessment, your hair should be clean, free of any oils or conditioners and without braids or extensions. If you are transitioning from chemically processed hair to natural hair,at least 1.5 – 2 " of new growth is necessary.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO CUT OFF YOUR RELAXED HAIR.  If you have recently relaxed your hair or are between braiding appointments, you will need to reschedule the consultation. If you have an extreme dandruff, eczema or psoriasis condition or an unhealthy scalp, which requires treatment, please reschedule when the condition has improved.

In order for Sisterlocks™ to be uniform in appearance and remain strong and healthy, we must form a partnership.  This partnership means agreeing to be consistent with retightening appointments, following post appointment instructions, and using Sisterlocks™ products, as recommended. 

Tell Me About: Clarifying Shampoos

If you are going to use a clarifying shampoo - please limit its use to no more than once a month. Clarifying shampoos are designed to remove excessive build-up from the hair and will therefore strip it of its natural oils: overuse/misuse can be incredibly drying and therefore damaging to your hair especially if your hair does not have excessive build-up to begin with!

Tell Me About: Sulphate Free Shampoos

If you desire stronger, longer hair: avoiding harsh chemicals and practices which promote hair breakage (such as rough combing, the use of elastic bands etc) will go a long way towards helping you reach your goal.

Your choice of shampoo is just as important as the frequency with which you clean your hair and HOW you clean your hair (i.e. shampoo or co-washing).  Shampoos that contain harsh sulphates/sulfates should be avoided as they strip the hair unnecessarily, and may either contain additional chemicals or mineral oil in an attempt to 'fix' this or lead you down the path of buying additional products to help restore moisture to your hair.  Instead of having to continually repair, replenish or replace what has been stripped away, why not put your best foot forward and avoid stripping it out in the first place?

The best type of shampoo for your hair (virgin or processed) is a gentle, moisturising shampoo - if you can find one containing natural products - even better! If you can't find something suitable then at least try to find a product that does not contain the harsh sulphates such as :
  • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
  • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
  • TEA Laureth Sulfate
  • TEA Lauryl Sulfate
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
The following sulfates are gentle and will not damage your hair:
  • Polyoxethylene Fatty Alcohols
  • PEG 80
  • Sorbitan Laurate
  • Decyl Polyglucose
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Sodium Myreth Sulfate
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate* (some natural hair wearers find SLES too drying and prefer to avoid both SLS and SLES)
Next time you're out shopping for shampoo, check the ingredients and not just the indications (such as  'moisturising shampoo for dry hair') before you part with your hard earned money.

Want to know more? Read the useful articles below:
SLS, a chemical analysis in layman's terms by Killer Strands
SLS in Shampoos - The Real Story - by Jason Cosmetics