Keep It Kinky: Natural Hair and Beauty: Liz's Luscious Locks

Name: Liz

Age: 22

From: Virginia Beach, VA, US

Daily Grind: Psychology Student

Natural Since: 2008

Locked Since: Labor Day, 2011

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

Liz: I started my locks with two-strand twists on Labor Day (beginning of September) 2011, so I'm about 5 months lock'd! My hair is very tightly coiled, and it mats very easily. So as my hair got longer and longer (I lock'd with about 10 inches of length), it was becoming very difficult to detangle it, not to mention all the knots! I've always admired locks, so without much thought I decided I would let my hair do exactly what it wants to do– lock! I'm really enjoying having locks. They're low maintenance; I don't have to worry about detangling, and they're easy to wash. Loving it!

KiK: Do you ever miss your loose natural hair though?

Liz: Honestly, I only miss the look of it. I'll see older photos of myself and think 'Aww I'd love to rock a twistout right now!' but other than that, I'm loving my locks. For me, loose hair was a chore. Trying to keep it healthy, detangling, fluffing, matted fros– No thank you! If I had a different hair type and texture, my feelings would be different.

KiK: I'm with you there. Not a lot of women opt for thick locks though. How did you choose your lock size?

Liz: It's funny, I've always been a fan of thick-looking hair, and I guess that transferred into my lock preference. I knew right away that I wanted thick locks, and I took a lot of time putting the twists in just right. I'm just hoping they don't turn out TOO thick, but I'll rock it either way – confidence is key.

KiK: That's a great attitude to have. Tell us more about what method you used to start your locks?

Liz: My main concern when starting my locks was making sure my hair and scalp were clean. I washed and conditioned my hair, then I stretched it (for the last time, amen!). I sectioned my hair and started making the plots for the twists. I put in two-strand twists using very little product and ended up with 51 starter locks.

Liz starting her locks with two strand twists

KiK: How do you maintain your hair now?

Liz: I started off wanting to semi-freeform. In the beginning, I was rinsing my hair every day and doing a wash-condition-moisturize about once a week. A big issue for me is keeping my parts; it won't be such a big deal once my locks are longer, but I want to start them off so that they don't merge. That said, I decided to start twisting, and yes this is all DIY! Twisting has changed my regimen a lot. Now, I wash-condition-moisturize-twist about every two weeks. I try not to twist too tightly, and I only use aloe gel and an oil to twist. In between twisting, I spritz and seal with an oil. Again, my big thing is to keep my hair as clean as possible– no dirty locks! I also love wearing headwraps/scaves/tubans, especially when my locks get unruly!

Liz retwists her large locks with aloe gel, oil and clips

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

Liz: I'm pretty satisfied with my locks, but I would start them with three-strand twists instead of two-strand. Other than that, no regrets here.

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

Liz: I don't really plan to cut my locks. The only instance I can think of concerning cutting them is if they get too long, like below waist-length. I also may cut off all my hair once I reach a certain age, like 60 or 70, but I plan to have them for a long time.

Liz's beautiful textured hair looks great locked or loose

KiK: What has been the best and worst thing about having locks?

Liz: Best thing – Low, low, low maintenance!

Worst thing – Trying to keep them moisturized, but not filled with gunk.

KiK: So tell us more about you. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Liz: I'm studying to get my BS in Psychology. I'm also in love with yoga, and I try to be as health conscious as possible. My passion is helping people, especially with psychological issues. God has blessed me with keen intuition and wisdom, so I want to utilize that. I'm driven by my ethics, not my wallet, and I'm not too pressed about picking a career path. That said, I'd love to be a life coach or work for a good charity organization. In five years, I see myself as happy and healthy; that's all I really need.