Hello Everyone...Several years ago I started the loc process I lived with them for a few years then I cut them off...Since that time I have personally regreted it ever since. I feel that I have cut short my journey which was only the beginning. I have contemplated on numerous occasions on starting the process again...and how to start and welcome the locs back into my life. This process has involved, cutting pictures from magazines as well as researching products and lifestyle choices. For me the locs are more than a hairstyle but a way of life, I want to be sure that I will not cut them for the second time around.
Please comment with suggestions or experiences on your journey.
For all the sisters with locs.
Peace and Blessings
L Star
Starting again
I am starting my locs again. I am a newbie to sharing my comments online. This is my third time in starting over, and I hope the last time too. The first time was more a experiment than anything else. On second time, I was truly in love but stress took a hold of me. My lovely locs start dropping off like a tree losing its limbs from energy that wasn't healing. So, I really wanted my locs to have a good solid roots on this final journey of starting over. Love your insights on this!
cut mine in aug. 2007...almost 6 yrs...
like beautiful_fire, i felt the need to let go of my locs, and haven't looked back.
i didn't intend to cut mine once i started them, either, but i'd had MANY changes in my life during the almost 6 years i had them (started in oct. 2001), and no amount of herbal cleansing, etc. was getting rid of the "weight". even so, i plan on starting another set. i loved wearing them.
if you cut them, there was a reason. so if you're ready, start again!
peace & blessings
~~
the universe is interested in your success.
you were put here to live in abundance.
your desires are sacred.
Seasons
If you are missing your locs I say go ahead and loc again even if you think you may decide to go in a different direction later.
I have only been locked for a year but it has been a powerful journey. I plan to keep my locs for a while but I don't know if I will always have these locs. I can see myself cutting them off in a few years and then starting again.
What's beautiful is that you have the freedom to choose.
Thank you all for the
Thank you all for the wonderful tips and comments...
Many Blessings
L Star
My locs are still in the
My locs are still in the unruly teenage stage. I just spend hours separating locs that were matted at the root some of them even matted together some I left married ;-) so I learn by trial and error the lesson today was don't wait a month to separate!
There are many ways to start locs and just as many ways to take care of them. Before I started my loc journey I visited www.nappturality.com daily! All my questions were patiently answered and I got some great tips as well. This post I definately recommend Loc Styles For 'dummies'
Since you had locs already I would start by making a list of pro's and con's and take it from there. Ask yourself Q's like: do I want to maintain them myself? how much does my budget allow for retwists?, can I retwist myself? How do I want to start them and (coils, 2 strand twists, braids, organic) do I need help with that? Is the loctician close by for retwists or will it take a lot of time out of your scedule to go back and forth? Is this hairstyle accepted in your line of work or do you have to retwist every 2 weeks in order to keep in frizz free, do you have the time for that?
I didn't choose to loc because of believes but because it was the only way I could handle my hair. it was either that or shaving it all off wich would not make a lot of sense caus my hair grows like weeds. Before locking I would cut it once a year in september (new schoolyear for kids don't ask why that inspired me to cut my hair) till my ears and by september the next year it would be down to my waist again. Locs are teaching me a lesson of patience and selfacceptence and I am grateful for that.
@Sister Ericka you said :"I try to twist them around my finger throughout the day" I would strongly advice against that, it will really make the roots thin and weak in the long run. If you do want to keep it up make sure the hair is damp by either spritzing it or taking a shower.
Blessings,
Chayil
http://chayil-sacred-woman.blogspot.com/
yeah you are right..I
yeah you are right..I usually only twist after a warm/hot shower but sometimes I twist the hair..not so much the roots..to keep the actual locked hair tight. Do you all trim your "frizz" ar do you try to "lock" them in. Purely Holistic had a great tip to keep a small spritz bottle in your tot to spritz the hair with...especially if you have dry scalp. This has helped me as my scalp gets really dry. I did buy the tea tree oil, but not quite sure what to mix it with and how much. keep the tips coming ladies! I will continue posting things that I find as well in Kinks & Curls!
SoulLiving ~ Every Minute Counts
Frizz
I accepted the frizz as part of the journey. I've always had quite frizzy hair so I knew that locs wouldn't change that. That said in the 2nd month frizz was at it's worse and I was really happy when my locs turned teenagers. The thing that really gets to me at times is that my locs are extremely chewy wich makes it hard to style. I started with even 2 strand twists same size and same length (I cut off a few inches to even it out) now I have some locs that are 4x bigger in some parts and other parts still lil skinny twist-like locs. I went from midback length to shoulder length due to the shrinkage. I have one loc that is still midback and one that is only 5 inches long (my favorite loc she is almost totally loced)
from Lush it smells so wonderful and it made my locs nice and soft and the best part no unraveling :-)
I love all the advice given by purely holistic the honey mix spritz really helped me get through the very frizzy fase.
I spritz my hair every morning with a mixture of castor oil, evoo oil, flaxseed oil and sometimes a squirt of wosa 5 oil then I put a shower cap on and allow the steam of the shower to steam the oils in my locs. I wash weekly with african black soap wich leaves the locs clean and moisturized.
The tea tree can be added to anything really, but it can be very drying to the scalp if used to frequently. I would suggest maybe a few drops in your shampoo or a few in your spritz?
Tuesday was the first time that I used condish and I loved it! At first I was scared to because it is so adviced against when the hair is not fully loced but I really needed something to help me detangle the matted parts. I used a condish call veganese
How do you ladies style your locs? Do you always have the tied away? I decided this year to start covering my hair again I hardly did for 2007 because I felt like I was starting to hide behind my wraps but I missed it so much that I made it my loc-a-lution to wrap my crown.
I love these 2 styles the first one I rocked a lot in the frizzy fase and the second I have yet to try but the locs need to even out more in order to do that one.
Sisters I love this thread keep it alive LOL
Blessings,
Chayil
http://chayil-sacred-woman.blogspot.com/
I am on my second set of
I am on my second set of locs as well. Both my husband and I had our first set for seven years and cut them together. It is true what they say, hair does hold energy. Just like Mawiyah, it was a strong release when I cut them. I was not aware that my thoughts were embedded in my hair. I literally felt a gravitational pull for about an hour after they were gone. That let me know whatever was going on mentally was weighing me down. That was a year and half ago. I enjoyed rocking the fro because it made me feel like a black superhero, but I did long for my locs. I enjoyed the process of their growth. So here I am am enjoying another processess. I am excited about the new lessons to be learned, the patience to be practised. I am more aware of the things I put into my mind as they do reflect in my hair. I have much more enjoyment in keeping my hair groomed. (Before it was such a task, even with my husband being a natural hair stylist) So much love on your journey and don't forget to enjoy the process.
www.indigenousremedies.com
Second time Around and loving it
Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani
When my son was born with hirschsprung's disease I felt a very heavy burden in my heart and in my head (if that makes sense). I was whithering but trying through Ausar Auset meditation to rejuvenate my being. That was 10 years ago and I felt my life force was draining because I was forcing myself to take upon his pain so that he could live. I felt myself absorbing his pain and there were nights that I slept not far from his hospital bed and could feel my strength absorbed but as I stayed and held him and chanted the more he came alive and began breathing on his own and crying a normal newborn cry. He was in the hospital for four months and for four months I believe with all my heart that my hair along with every inch of my body saved his life but inorder for me to release the painful energy from me I had to cleanse so off went the hair. I remember my husband cutting it and feeling like I was having a breakdown and a holyghost experience at the same time. I burned it and laughed uncontrolably for the new beginning that would result.
My Journey wit locs
I first decided to start my locs when I embraced the lifestlye of a rasta. My hair defines me It is who I am. My girlfriends all have relaxed hiar and can't undertsand why I would go natural, that's okay with me because I understand. It took me about an year to actually go cut my hair but I'm thankful. The process has helped me grow as a woman and I could never imagine my life with out them. Take your time yo wil know when you are reday. ATTITUDE GYAL