China Bumps in Kingston
My China Bumps!
The sisterlocks are growing and I LOVE doing my signature style of putting my hair up in little neat knots-in Togo, I called them Bantu knots, in the US, they are also known as nubian knots and now in Jamaica, I have been told they are called yet another name-China bumps! The name is so interesting to me because I keep asking my friends in Kingston where the name originated and why it is called that and not nubian knots or Bantu knots? I have yet to see a person of Chinese descent wear the style. Apparently, no one knows from where the name comes.
After a fresh retightening, the hair was put up into the China bumps (will use the new name since when in Rome…well, you know the rest). This time around, they were made into smaller bumps because I really wanted to make sure the curls lasted and were fuller. I used nothing but my own hair. I was only going to wear the style for the day and then take them down the next day. When the final bump was done, I took a look in the mirror and was like “Oh, yeah baby, I am going to wear these for at least a week as a style.” Later on that week, I sprayed my hair with water and kept it moving. I work in a very conservative environment but I decided to wear it to work during one day that week (suit and all). THE COMPLIMENTS I RECEIVED!!! Man!
Behold the neatness!
I was like ‘this is beautiful’. Yes, I know I am in Jamaica and many people believe that such a hairstyle at work would be acceptable but keep in mind that my work place is conservative. You can not just show up wearing anything you want even though I am tempted to see how black fishnet stalkings would look like with that one heather grey suit I have…. But let’s reroute to the hair-I had taken the chance and felt so wonderful walking around my work with it. The China bumps were clean, neat, and well done.
From work to play, I rocked that style. It is a great hairstyle for the beach or pool since you can just put on your swimming cap and run out into the water. Even if water gets into your cap, it is not so bad since once the sisterlocks dry up, it is another way of ensuring that your hair will come out nice and crimped. With sisterlocks and China bumps, there is no excuse to not go to the beach or pool anymore. I was so happy when my friends invited me to go to the beach with them. I did not have to do a thing with my hair. I was feeling so brave and cool. I even got back on a horse which is something I had not done since high school. Your best comes out when you have no inhibitions.
Just took my China bumps for a ride with Mr. Horse
After my week of experimenting with the hairstyle, I decided to take it down and see how the sisterlocks would look. I carefully fingercombed them out and fluffed them out for a very sumptuous look. I have had my hair for over a year now and it seems that the fullness factor is finally taking shape. I have always been told that I have very thick hair but I like seeing how the thickness is growing more and more with every several months. I used to be obsessed with my sisterlocks when I first got them and dreamed about having the biggest, thickest, healthiest head of sisterlocks. I guess living in Texas does something to you with wanting everything to be bigger and better. Of course, in order to get this level of volume, I would need smaller China bumps which I wonder how much smaller I can make them without snapping off my sisterlocks? I would love to have a Chaka Khan blow out but with sisterlocks.
I can say that I am extremely happy and am looking forward to wearing more China bumps in the near future. I liked the end result and I love the beginning to that end result. I love the fact that my bumps or knots are internationally known. It does not matter if they are called ”nubian knots”, “Bantu knots”, or “China bumps”, it is all good because they ALL look good. And when the sisterlocks look good, there is only one word to describe them- FABULOUS! It is so wonderful that such little effort brings such great joy. Makes me want to spend all day looking into other styles, but that would be kind of odd….Well, must go think up of a new hair style and new name but until then, keep it positive!
2 day-old fingercombed China bumps
Cheers,
Adaeze
