I then committed to staying natural without altering or processing my delicate hair strands, so I turned to braids and cornrows with extensions, shop bought ‘fake’ hair. How long did I spend in friends’ houses and busy hair salons waiting for a unique style? Too many hours to mention. Even turning up for early appointments only to have the salon owner casually arrive hours later. And dare me to look vex? Not if I want to be home before midnight!

So with hair done, I endured the the dreaded itch whenever my purchased hair touched my scalp, not to mention a face lift or hair tugged out at the follicles as the braids and cornrows were so tight. Who wants to take pain-killers before bed just so you can get to sleep?

So, onto being committed again to embracing my natural hair, without adding to it in any way. I got to know my delicate yet strong, highly textured yet silky hair as it grew out of my scalp. This is it – I was going to be natural till the end of my days. I started to maintain my own hair, learning to braid it myself like my dear Ma used to when she sat me at her feet (I miss you Ma), or two-strand twist it – you know, I don’t remember two-strand twists when I was growing up but they became a regular go-to style for me.

Then came the day I was passing through a busy London train station, as usual admiring the hair and style of a natural-Sista wherever I saw one – and I saw this natural-Sista with what looked like dreadlocs but finer, thinner, bouncier, more gorgeous than anything I had ever seen – and I discovered Sisterlocks™! Well, no, I didn’t actually discover Sisterlocks; that trail-blazer and innovator was the lovely Dr. Joanne Cornwall – see below. I practically chased down this natural-Sista to ask her “What’s that in your hair?”, “How long do they last?”, “Do you do them yourself?” and other inane questions, you know if you’ve been there. She told me to check out the Sisterlocks website at sisterlocks.com and the rest is history.