MY LOC JOURNEY

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My loc journey actually started in the 70’s.  While guys were sporting a clean cut, there were these two guys, who lived on my block parading dreadlocks. I remember them being mid-length, going in every direction and looking well kind of dirty.  People would tease them all the time but they would just square their shoulders and continue to walk with such pride.  Although, I did not care for the way they looked, I guess my attraction was the fact that they were different. It was something about these guys that set them apart from the rest. Maybe it was the fact that they walked around like they did not have a care in the world. I remember saying for years, I wanted dreadlocks but the fact that most people I saw wearing them at the time, wore them just like they did, DIRTY looking.  I learned now that perhaps they were not dirty at all but was worn in what is called, the rasta style. In addition, they were not acceptable in the workplace.

Around the late 90’s, I started to see more people adapting to dreadlocks. The difference this time was, they were clean, stylish, and the word dread had been eliminated. Also, they became acceptable in the workplace. Stylists start calling them LOCS.  This is when I decided to try them.  I cut all my hair off like the guys I mentioned, starting with a clean cut. This is because I was told that you could not have any perm in your hair. Once my hair was long enough to start the locs, I wore them for about five months before giving up. I wish I could tell you, I have been wearing them since then but unfortunately, I cannot.  For me, somehow, I battle with the stages I had to go through, mainly lack of patience. Eventually, I took the locs out. It took me about three days to do it. Although, I stay natural for about a year, I would eventually perm my hair again.  I immediately regret doing it, so after about six months, I cut my hair again.  I would repeat this pattern again and again, five more times actually.

In the early part of 2009, one of my friends asked me to try again and this time, we were going to start the process together.  I was kind of reluctant at first, only because I thought that I would not have the patience to get through what I call, the ugly stages and the fact I had just put another perm in my hair two weeks prior.  By this time, my hair was chin length. However, I took her up on the offer.  Since, I knew how to start locs, I tried and failed. Because of the perm, they came out looking like strings of spaghetti.  I finally called my stylist, explain my situation and ask her if she thought she could start them.  She said sure, and she did. My problem was, I did not make them big enough   She told me try not to get my hair wet for at least two months. From that point on, the myth about you cannot have any perm in your hair was incorrect.  My hair started to bud about two months later. I would put a small amount of setting lotion on them and roll them up.  They looked really cute, at least I thought so. 

One year and a couple months later, I am enjoying my locs.  I play with them all the time, finding different ways to style them. Oh, and now, I understand how those two guys felt while in the mist of being teased, they continued to square their shoulders and walk with such pride.  Wearing locs does give you a sense of pride and freedom. It’s hard to explain why. Let me just say, I love the way I feel wearing them.  Now, since I kept your interest this far, check out my journey video page and tell me what you think.  I take you through most of the early stages of my locs.  The only thing I find disappointing is that I cannot show you my starter pictures.  I had them on my cell phone and when my sim card failed, I lost my pictures.  With that being said, I hope that I have inspired you to start locs if you have been contemplating and for those who started them and gave up, there is hope.  Just tell yourself that, “failure is not an option and keep trying.” Hope you enjoyed my story.  Be Bless!