Starting locs is a process of patience, time, and confidence. This is a journey that is not for everybody. Some can survive and some do not make it through. Although this is a process that may seem never ending, the results are more than you could ever imagine. Everyone’s journey is not the same because everyone’s hair texture isn’t the same. It may take some people four months to loc, while it may take others two years. I have been a member of the loc community for seven years and it was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I suffered from perm damage, breakage, split ends, and color damage. I did the big chop and my hair still wasn’t healthy enough for me. I began my loc journey in December 2008 and I was natural for almost five years when I decided to start them. My hair was permanently trained and damaged from the blow dryer and flat iron. I had to cut eight inches of my “natural” hair to start locs because it still wasn’t healthy enough and too straight from the flat irons and hot curlers. African American hair is healthier in its natural state; meaning without chemicals, bleach, and color.
The loc journey is similar to having a baby. You raise them, nurture them, and then let them be free after molding and formation takes place. The first year you learn to master patience, which is a virtue because your locs aren’t loc'ed. Some "Locticians" will tell you not to wash your hair for four to six months because your locs will unravel. But your hair should be washed every two weeks during the beginning stage of the loc process. Having your locs unravel is definitely apart of this process, so don’t panic. One day you will wash them and it’ll be like magic, they will never unravel again. Water tangles any texture of hair. Washing your locs consistently when starting them helps them to loc a lot faster, believe it or not!
I almost gave up on my journey because I did not have confidence to go through the beginner’s stage, or what most call “the ugly stage.” I did not feel good about myself and I would've covered every mirror in my house so I didn’t have to look at myself. All of my friends tried to discourage me from locing but I knew it was something that I had contemplated on for a very long time and I did not want to give up so easily. I began receiving compliments from people and I began finding the confidence I needed within myself to finish out my journey. This journey can be very challenging because there will be moments when you want to give up and go back to the perm lifestyle, but I guarantee you it isn’t worth it.
Starting locs taught me how to love myself and not to care about what people thought or felt about me because it was something I wanted to do. I learned patience and stuck with a lifetime decision that changed me for the better. If you ever thought about starting locs and had a second thought about it, don’t hesitate because it can be the best thing that ever happened to you and teach you so much along the way.
