October 13, 2016
Fall Sale on the eve of new collection: PEARLIZMÂ
September 26, 2016
INTRODUCING II-KAYA ISES! Ii-Kaya Ises displays beautiful thick, locs! Â Not only is she a beautiful natural, she is a passionate young woman with a vision for her life. She was a featured model in The Colors of Nature campaign showcasing the thicker loc jewels which can be found in that collection, as well as all the thicker loc jewelry in the Zenith Collection. Â View the Lookbook to see how she wrapped the jewels around her locs. Â Stay tuned for some Q & A to learn more about her loc care secrets along with her recent endeavors!
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1. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF (NAME.WHERE YOU GROW UP.DO FOR A LIVING. YOUR PASSION)
Blessed love, My name is II-Kaya Ises, my name means Jah Holy Herbs (Holy Sacrament) (II) stands for King Alpha and Queen Omega in other words Jah (God) first before myself. Ises means to give praises. I am a daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen I. Even though I was manifested in Trinidad my roots are in Alkebulan (Africa). I grew up in a Town called Valencia located in the northeast of Trinidad. I currently reside in the US. I am an Ambassador for youths. I am a published rasta model (not an easy journey). I am a vegan Rastafarian, whatever I put into I temple must promote more life. Currently I am working on a few projects and the focus is to be self sufficient. I am passionate about empowering other's, using my hands to make craft, learning new skills and traveling.
2. WHEN DID YOU START YOUR LOCS? WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THEM AND LEAST ABOUT THEM?
I don't have a specific time frame to mention. Personally I would truly have to study InI head. This really would have bothered I at first to not be able to remember the time frame for I rebirth. But then I wondered why people always ask this question? During I journey I have learned that keeping track of certain things doesn't really serve a purpose. I crown is like breathing I don't count how many breaths I take over the years. I just journey, grow and give thanks. I like to think of I self of living in eternity and infinity.
What I love most of I locs, I love that each one is unique and that they're a perfect reflection of how I present wellness internally. Hmm, least? well I wish that they were way more larger. (smile)
3. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR STAPLES FOR LOC MAINTENANCE?
Essentially I use natural products anything that sustains life. I focus on more Eastern natural remedies. For example I drink herbal teas that promotes hair growth and reduce aging try to rid Iself of free radicals. We must remember changes starts internally, yes? I pay attention to anti fungal herbs as well since almost everything here in the west is tainted.
4. DO YOU PALMROLL, TIGHTEN OR FREEFORM. AND WHAT METHODS DO YOU USE TO MAINTAIN YOUR STYLE.
I would first like to say this, because it's important to my crown to be describe correctly; my crown in all respects is my lifestyle, my identity, my independence. Occasionally I may palm roll a loc or two and that would be the smaller ones, you know, I can't really palm roll I crown it's just not the flow for I locs. But that's as far as it goes with palm rolling. To make appearances at certain fashion shows in the past and especially throughout I reign as Miss Caricom Queen 2015, sadly I gave few of I locs in the front a one twist before I put up in a one. Honestly that's how far the styling goes. It truly hurts I heart to neat up I locs, hence I won't participate in anything that require a certain look. My crown is more free form at this point but I desire is for them to be more free. I basically make I own oils but I love to simply use black castor oil because it works perfect for my scalp keeping I locs hydrated for a lengthy time.
5. WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF YOUR MISSION?
The mission and life purpose is to bring good tidings, to empower, uplift, motivate and inspire. Balance is important. There's a lot of people that's a look alike, that's in the forefront and has the attention of the mass that don't represent I. And I believe that it's each one responsibility to tell their own story and what they stand for or else be represented wrongfully or deprive the generations to come from what can be a phenomenal historical role model. Ultimately, my purpose is to give praises to the Most High by utilizing I Jah given gifts and talents, whether modeling, creating crafts or just spreading positive vibrations and upholding I Livity.
6. WHICH TIFFANY'S LOC JEWELS PIECE IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?
My favorite piece is the large amethyst piece. I gravitate to this particular piece because of the energies it holds and for the mere fact that it fits I jumbo loc sweetly. Thank you Tiffany!
7.COFFEE OR TEA?
Oh yes, naturally caffeine free tea please tea.
To read more about Ii-Kaya Ises, you can find her on Instagram at handle @model_ii_kaya_ises
September 05, 2016
Take a look as I take down my jumbo braids and reveal my wavy locs! Â Subscribe to my channel and follow my hair journey!
Products used: ORS Loc Butter, My Natural Hair Mist, My Loc Drench Hair Oil (Original).
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April 23, 2016 2 Comments
THE MYSTERY OF LOCS…..AND WHY WE LOVE THEM!
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Perhaps it’s the thickness of some, and the thinness of others, I don’t know, its just that something uniquely special about a person’s locs. As an onlooker, some locs are to be admired and we secretly question what they had to endure through their loc journey, such as their changing looks, reaching the teenage phase, loc-popping, and so on.  Noone's locs are perfect no matter how “perfect” they may appear at that moment. Each person has had their own process of growth.  For those who’ve cut their locs and they are on their second or third set, you scratch your head and wonder, what it was that made them cut the first set in the first place? What look were they going for the second time around?  And even those who chose to cut their locs off permanently, or temporarily to experience loose hair again, you imagine how much they wrestled with that decision.
Sisterlocks are the tiniest of locs; those with several hundred plus on their head. What was their install process like? How was their hair-washing routine different than those who wore traditional-size locs? The new level of education they received in order to not only learn of the locing process, but learn of the nature of locs themselves. They are a community within a community, a sub-culture, just as loc-wearers form a sub-culture, if you will, within the natural hair community.  In addition, under that umbrella are those who chose to grow thicker locs, and knew they wanted their "locs to look like the original locs of back in the day".  Experimenting with the freeform element was so freeing and so natural without the care of the week-to-week grooming sessions the others choose to do.  Inside their mind, perhaps their is a bolder, confidence, which going against societal norms is tested even the more than those who wear nubian locs.  Then there is the nubian, or traditional, loc-wearers.  Those are the ones who like the neat parts, their hair just so, their edges laid, and sometimes wear elaborate styles. They have had their own journey, with people walking up to them asking, “Can I touch your locs? Are those extensions? How do you wash your hair?”  Having to grapple with answers for people in a friendly way was a challenge, since they simply did not know much about it in the first place, and appeared to admire them. And for all locers, the relationship with the opposite sex has been a consideration.  What is viewed as sexy comes into play. I, myself, have been asked a few times, "How long are you going to keep those locs? You carry them well, but how long?" And that's my sign to move on, as I realize immediately that that person would never love me for who I am. And beauty in his eyes has been tainted.
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The locs themselves are a mystery, because of a person’s head and how they fall. The mystery of locs is a mix between whats inside the head of the locer (their beginnings, their growth stages, and their goal length or style), and how the loc tends to form or mesh together due to the person’s hair texture, and whether they choose to latch/tighten their locs, palm roll their locs, sisterlock, or freeform.  The evolving journey is fascinating because we can put ourselves in someone elses’ shoes and imagine our “loc past”, or our “loc future”.  What’s inside the mind of the locer, and how they view their version of beautiful is a constant unveiling that we choose to celebrate with eachother. We wonder who this person is and what is their style? Whether corporate or artsy, they seem to have made locs work for them in their particular way.
Women adore men with locs, as over the years certain musicians, like Eric Benet and Bob Marley, has made them sexy. They fortified a strong image at the start of their career of sexiness and mystery. Female artists, such as Lauryn Hill, went against the grain with her thick locs throughout her career, setting a precedent for women with locs. So whether the locer chooses to do their hair themselves or to go the salon, whether they choose to color their hair or wear their natural color, or whether they choose to use certain products to gain that finishing look they were going for, we are all in this together, and we can all appreciate our locs in their natural form however it meshes together! Â
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LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES? WHAT HAS YOUR JOURNEY BEEN LIKE AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR LOCS?
 
December 19, 2015 3 Comments
LOCS! LOCS! LOCS! Sometimes I love 'em, and sometimes I hate 'em. Well, I don't really hate my actual locs, I hate the mistakes I made with my locs which are currently yielding this present result. What result would that be, you may ask? Why would you have issues with your locs Tiffany when they are long and beautiful? What could you possibly see wrong with them?
Well, years I ago I wanted layers, and I was deathly afraid to go to a stylist, any stylist, it didn't matter if you were a loctician, a colorist, one who cuts, or only styles locs, I simply wanted to do it myself, because I trusted myself. And so, my logic was, if I cut it, then only I can be upset with whatever mistakes I make with my locs. And that was true. Definitely! So I set out to self-teach myself how to cut my locs into layers. I was successful in trimming my all-natural hair while it was a 'fro and maintained it beautifully for three and a half years. Rarely did you see any split ends or "dead hair", and my hair was thicker and stronger than ever since I did the big chop back to natural. All in all, I decided to get onto Youtube and search 'how to cut your hair into layers yourself', and studied and studied and studied and studied, until I felt confident enough that I wouldn't screw my own hair up. Well, I remember doing the cutting in parts, starting with the bottom first and then working my way up. It looked good for awhile, until I came to the part where your locs frame your face. One side I managed to cut absolutely perfect, but the other side....well, not so much. I ended up cutting one side across in a straight line by accident instead of a gradual, layered framing. Since that was wrong and looked horrible, I had to cut even more in order to "make it look right", ha ha. At this point you are probably laughing, and well, it is kinda funny. But later on, oh boy, later on, when it grows out, its tough to tweak and watch one side of your locs look more lopsided than the other. Now years later, when I want all my locs one length, its a little harder to achieve and will take much longer.
Because of how I've colored my hair down through the years, the ends would pop off. Some of it is perfectly natural, and some of it is due to color treatments which I also did myself with box dye. Eeww! You hair stylists out there are probably saying right now, and that's right, eeww! Now my hair looks good only when its curly or crinkled. Every time I wear it straight, I like it for the first 24 hours, and then I hate it. I'm patiently waiting for the day when I can wear it all one length.
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The lesson learned: please go to a professional, no matter how much you'd like to do it yourself. Spend the money, pay them what they're worth, seek out the best in your area and get referrals. Then go in with a peaceful assurance that you are in good hands. Don't make the mistakes that I did, which has years of consequence. But such is life, isn't it?
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