Johara on Locks and Life

Middle Eastern dance student, Johara, is a Data Manager and Illustrator from Raleigh North Carolina in the United States. The 30-year-old is very busy but took time out to answer a few of Keep It Kinky's questions about  being locked for over 4 years. Check out her interview below where she talks about how she started and maintains her hair and how her lifestyle has affected how she has managed her locks over the past few years. 

KiK: How long have you had locs and why did you decide to get them? 

Johara: I started locking my hair in the summer of 2007. I had been wearing my loose natural hair for about a year at that point. Actually, I had a dream about having locs one night. It was something I hadn't even contemplated doing, but after that dream I started to look into locs and the different methods of maintaining them. It helped that my cousin had locs, she took me to her loctitian for a consultation and I made an appointment that day.

KiK: Great. So, do you ever miss your loose natural hair though? 

Johara: I wouldn't say I miss it, but sometimes I do think to myself that I'd like to have big loose hair. But I love my locs!

KiK: Tell us more about what method you used to start your locs? 

Johara: My locs were started by a loctitian using the traditional comb coils, I probably had about 4-5 inches of hair.

KiK: So how do you maintain your hair now? 

Johara: After 3 months of visiting the loctitian I decided to become DIYer. When I first started maintaining the locs myself I used the latching method because I am very active and love to swim. With the latching method I did not have to re-twist my baby locs every time they got wet. This was not a matter of keeping them looking neat, as you can see from my Fotki, I love the fuzzy loc look. But it was a time saver for my lifestyle at that point. I eventually switched back to twisting/palm rolling once they locked. I usually wash my hair once or twice a week, palm roll the first few rows and let the rest be. About once a month I will palm roll all of them.

Johara's hair being retwisted  in July 2009 (her 3rd year of locking)

KiK: If you could loc your hair again, what would you do differently? 

Johara: Lets see.... I would probably stick to one maintenance method. Also I was drawn to fat locs, I think I'd like to try a smaller size if I started over.

KiK: Will you ever cut or cut off your locs? 

Johara: Well early last year I cut bangs into my locs, lol. It's cute but now I hate the length difference. Cutting them into styles is something I can see myself doing in the future. I won't say I'll never cut them off but I know that if I do it will be because I want a loose fro or I want to start another set of locs. I will never let go of the freedom natural hair has given me!

Johara's locks  do their own dance while she grooves.

KiK: So tell us more about your daily grind. How did you get started and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Johara: I have been a Data Manager for an Industrial Hygiene company for the last 6 years and am also attending art school part time. In 5 years I see myself as a full-time Freelance Illustrator licensing my work to various manufacturers for consumer products. I also study Middle Eastern Dance and am looking forward to becoming a professional in that line of work. I plan to join the Bellydancers of Color Association (BOCA http://www.bellydancersofcolor.com/) and spread the love of dance to others.

KiK: I wish you all the best on that. HOpefully KiK will still be around to get an update on your plans. So until then,  where online can we follow you and your loc journey?

Johara: My Fotki is http://public.fotki.com/teewu/. You can view my art/illustration website at http://tierranicole.daportfolio.com/.

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