My Loc Journey (Hair Update)

Hiya Peeps,

So I have decided to loc my hair and the reaction has been mixed. I have had everything full on horror to genuine love. Six weeks in I am really enjoying this process. When I grew my relaxer out it was much more traumatic. I'd rocked a process of some kind since the age of twelve; I did a big chop down to just a few inches of hair without any idea of how to care for my natural texture. Two years on and what can I say I'm loving it!  However the chameleon in me wanted to change up my swag! I did my research into all the methods that I could use to begin my journey and decided I wanted to start off with two/double strand twists. I washed and conditioned my hair as described in earlier entries and threw on a movie and twisted my shrunken hair, from wet, in medium size. Using Organic Root Stimulator twist and loc gel. Although my hair will be more on the manicured side; i really didn't want sistah loc's.

Me at work, week one with my twists

Now those of you that know me realise that I do not like twists as a style on myself at all. But it was a means to an ends so I made sure my parts were clean and did my thing. Now the issue that I found with this method was of course was the back.  I do not like other peoples hands in my hair as a rule. Since I have found that a lot of hair dressers focus on style rather than the health of hair and scalp when grooming natural tresses. For this reason, I really wanted  to at least start this process myself. Oh and did I mention that most Loctician's want to charge at least £65/70 pounds for this same set of twists on my head? Really? As the weeks progressed my scalp became dry and my twists shrank up and needless to say I was not feeling as cute as usual. But having been through phase one of my natural hair journey back in 2010 I knew that this phase would pass. 



Side view of my parts fresh from the shop



Four weeks in I went to a loctician for a wash, and retwist. which she did using the palm rolling method.( no beeswax)  I went to a salon in South East London recommended to me by two of my homies who have beautiful  hair. (Locstafari) Shouts out to Dionne Dee and Damaly. Now guys I don't mind telling you that my hair has now shrunken up beyond belief, And after only a week post my salon visit my hair looked very organic.

Front View fresh from the hair dresser

I was very frustrated until I remembered the nature of the hair. 'It's jus gon' do wat it do baby!' So I went out bought me some of the silver clips and some Taliah Waajid Lock It Up, which I use to re-twist my edges. (Over twisting is not cool) my hair is thick and can handle a little more manipulation. I am mindful that baldness is not a good look, so I am trying not to over do it. I have also started spraying my hair morning and night with a water bottle to combat dryness. which really makes my hair and scalp feel good without having to worry about build- up. I never go to bed without my satin bonnet, as I do not want a lint problem as my loc's mature. I have found that my hair in the back has begun to bud up and show signs of matting together, while the hair in the front is not. Which is crazy as the hair in the front of my head is a much courser texture so I thought it would be the other way round fo' sure. What can I say folks I'm really, really feeling my hair and my overall loc journey. Coco kisses