The Loc Nation: From the Darkness to the Light

I am a member of the Loc Nation.  What is it?  Those who control their hair strands by twisting or interlocking.  There is no organized meetings that I know of.  We are of one mindset to work with the hair that our Creator gave us.

It's time to shed a little more light on my own hair.  I wanted to go deeper.  Anyone fascinated with my volume?  No hairspray here.  I did condition with the ORS Moisture Lock Hair Conditioning Cocktail with Tamanu and Black Currant oils plus I used the Tropical Roots foam to wet set it.

My scalp/roots dated May 2015, present day.  By European standards, everything about my hair is "ugly."  However, as "ugly" as some people may describe it, it is normal for those with ultra coily, kinky, resistant hair.  All my life, hairdressers have tried to "straighten the hell" out of my hair because they did not like what they saw.  They wanted my hair to be straight.  I was always okay with texturized/slightly relaxed, but unfortunately, when my hair is under-relaxed it becomes even more unmanageable.  So beginning my loc journey marked the end of my fighting to keep my hair straight.  Unfortunately, many locticians are not used to seeing my ultra coily texture either.  They wonder how such "ugliness" can output/produce so much beauty?  This "ugliness" often times has been associated with people thinking that I have not taken care of my hair.  This is the farthest thing from the truth.  The problem has been trying to make my hair conform to straight hair standards.  The problem has been learning to love the beauty in the uniqueness of my own hair.  It is only ugly when the standard is straight hair.  However, when I accept my hair as the norm, then it is as beautiful as God has created it to be.

My locs are doing well.  I see nothing but progress.  It has been a long, hard journey in a world where I have had a hard time fitting in primarily because of my hair.  Although, my loc sizing will always create a few styling limitations because one quadrant is much smaller than the rest, I am happy that my locs are mostly large in size according to Sisterlocks standards.  Why?  Because I refuse to be dependent on another human being to care for my hair again.  I had heard others say this about their locs before, but now, I really, really get it.  You can not control relocation of consultants or your own relocation or even death of another individual.  If the locs are really small, self-maintenance can be a huge challenge.  So the concept of microlocks is brilliant, but 600+ Sisterlocks on your head can really be a "check" that most people will not be to handle long term. God knew what he was doing when I got my Sisterlocks installed.  Because I had some true Sisterlocks sized locs in one quadrant of my head, I have been able to learn the benefits from all the loc sizings from "micro size" to "too large." I self maintain all of them.  I do not recommend tight updos.  They are too stressful to my locs in my opinion.  So I either wet set my locs or leave them straight. Larger traditional locs may benefit from the updos.  Just watch the tension.

May 2015 - the back of my head - it is progressing nicely!

So 34 months - 2 years 10 months is here!

I am loving my Loc Nation!

My 34 months Loc Versary

I went to see the movie Tomorrowland on my 34 month loc-versary.  I love my Tomorrowland pin from Regal Cinemas.  It reminds me that I am a visionary.

Also, on this loc-versary, I had another one of my clients to ask if my locs were all mine - I told her- "yep, nothing has been added."

So when I was sporting my yarn unit a few years ago, I was identified with yarn for hair.

When I had "starter Sisterlocks," I  was identified with "those little things in my hair."

Now, I am identified as having "frizz-free" Sisterlocks.  Even one of the vendors at the Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Show complimented me for not having frizzy Sisterlocks.  She was actually puzzled as to why she did not see frizz.  All I can say is . . .

It is my hair naturally . . . naturally a phenomenal woman.  

34 months Sisterlocks Wet Length Check

I am about five days early for my 34 months Sisterlocks Loc-versary, but I just shampooed and wanted to complete my wet length check-in.

Clearly, my Sisterlocks are past shoulder length now so think that I will need to make a  T-shirt with lines on it to gauge my length. Every month maybe overkill, but maybe every 3 months will be ideal for a formal measurement check-in.  Let me think about it.  I wonder do people buy shirts with lines on the back? 

I really, really thank my followers for being a part of my loc- Sisterlocks journey!  It's been interesting to learn about my hair, and I have no intention of leaving you hanging!   I know some of you had been using my journey as the groundwork for your own journey.  Everyone's hair is so different.  I am learning that myself.  I am less likely to even recommend locs now because I can not guaranatee everyone's locs to develop like mine.  I can only say that whatever hair that you had in your baby pictures and your one or two year old pictures give you the best snapshot of your own hair or loc potential.  

Please use your own history as your basis versus my day one pictures on my loc journey.  I had a LOT of relaxed hair that I began my loc journey with, and that may have given many people the idea that my texture was finer than what my unprocessed hair really was. I also really benefited from the time that I twisted my hair versus interlocking it.  It allowed me to bond with each loc in one tightening session.  

As far as my future articles on my hair,  I am hoping to begin focusing more on style crushes.  Showcasing the "locs version" of  "relaxed styles."  So stay tuned.