This beautiful woman is someone that I got to know by way of my son's sporting activities.  Our children are great friends, which gives us an opportunity to occasionally meet and have some 'sister-girl' time.  Normally seen at school or on the field this gorgeous mom is doing her thing!

We had been used to her lovely locks and her monthly new 'do's and then one day I received a text message with her beautiful face rocking a TWA! Get out!  I was excited!!!  It is my pleasure to introduce you to our most recent Queen of the Week - Erika Holliday-Walker.

Please describe your hair routine.

I would usually go to the salon to get my locs maintained at least once a month.  I prefer not to maintain my own hair, as the salon is time that I have to myself. My loctitian's name is Chaunda of Naturals Salon & Spa.  Since cutting my locs, I have not established a hair routine, but the plan is to continue treating myself to the salon at least once per month.

How long had you been wearing locs?

I started locking my hair in September 2007 and I cut them March 2012.

What prompted you to move from locs to free natural hair?

I wanted to have more freedom of wearing different types of styles.  I've always been a "braids girl" so having locs limited the types of styles I love most.  Also, after my big chop in November 2006, I did not wear my natural hair freely for that long.  Therefore, I feel like I missed the opportunity to embrace my natural texture. "I can't wait to for my hair to grow out so that I can experiment with different styles".

Besides wanting to wear new styles, cutting my locs was a sign of a new beginning for me.  I was releasing my past and stepping into a bigger and brighter future.  "I can truly say that I felt the liberation after cutting my hair".  "I felt like a new person; confident and bold".

This Queen and I first met at LB Beauty & Training Academy.  Her southern charm and drive to succeed in the beauty business were contagious!  I just remember the way she would call folk, 'Shugah!' Yes!  She rocks Sisterlocks™ and they are just as beautiful as she!  Let's meet our Queen of the Week - Latessa!

Who does your hair?

My Sisterlocks™ were installed Sept 2007 by Sisterlocks™ Consultant Terre Curry in Spartanburg, SC. She was, and continues to be, a wealth of information, especially during my initial locking transition.

Later, a Sisterlocks™ Consultant by the name of Johanna Price from my home town of Aiken, SC took over the reins for my locks. She also is a veteran in the concepts of natural hair and she also encourages my creative spirit as Ms. Terre has a habit of doing. I have also had the privilege of being serviced by Carol Eunice, in Augusta, GA. Who has her own creative flare that endured me to her. I have been so blessed to have such a diverse level of expertise devoted to my “Locking Journey.”

It is in part due to these women, that the seed of continued natural knowledge began to grow in me. God grants the increase and through these women, seeds were planted on fertile soil. So with that frame of mind I did some research and decided to take a leave of absence from my job for 3 months and enrolled in the LB Beauty & Training Academy in Richmond Va. Taking this leap of faith has enabled me to now style my own locks and offer services of maintenance and styles for my own clients.