Our natural hair is versatile and beautiful. For excitement lovers like me, the versatility aspect is particularly appealing. I like change and right now, I am at a crossroads.
I have enjoyed wearing braidlocs for over 6 months. It's been great waking up in the morning, spritzing and going, but I've started to long for other styling options that my locked hair cannot provide. Like? Well, like straight, flat-ironed hair. GASP! Yes, I kinda want to see how I'd look in straight hair at this stage in my life. Don't try to bully me into feeling bad about it. People of other races straighten, flat-iron and do all sorts of potentially damaging treatments to their hair so I see no reason for anyone to be particularly alarmed at my desire to exploit my hair's versatility. This time, however, there is nothing special or exciting fueling my desire to change my hairstyle.
Right now, I have taken down about 15 of my locs over the past week. My hair is a little past my collar bone. I haven't decided whether to take down all of my locks yet. I'm just playing with the idea. I change my hair like the weather... or like Rihanna. Take your pick. LOL. Anyway. I'm just keeping you guys updated. Each lock takes about 30 minutes if I'm honest. We'll see what happens over the weekend. I'll keep you updated on the progress.
Keep up with me daily at facebook.com/keepitkinky.net.
I am in the same boat! I'm on my second set of locs (the first set were sisterlocks, which I combed out after 18 months and now I have an 11 month old set of traditional --palm rolled-- locs.) I have taken down about 5 in the past few weeks. I am trying to decide if I want to take them all down now OR allow them to "grow out" at the roots over the net year and then take them down. My hair is a decent length right now, but I dream of rocking a huge afro and just think that a year's more time of growth would make it that much more dramatic! I am on the fence. Keep them or let them go??? Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteRight now I am trying to devise a plan to prevent the roots from locking over time. I figure if I wash every two week, comb through the root, and then twist with a combo of oil and conditioner, my hair will appear neat but be very discouraged from locking.
Hi there Anonymous. Thanks for commenting! I did a video/blog post on how to transition from locked to loose hair. Check it out here...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXmQEhLU2OQ&feature=plcp
I have had my hair loose and natural for 3 and a half years. Prior to that I had my head shaved for a decade. I am now at the opposite phase from you, contemplating trying locs for the first time as my tight coily hair is about 12 inches long and appears to mostly be breaking with no visible length increase. I crave length and am disappointed that I am unable to really retain it with loose hair. Locs could be a way to achieve it. Then again I could persevere with my hair as it is. Same dilemma different hair!
ReplyDeleteI am about a week away from my SisterLocks installation. I have been studying youtube videos to see others update on their SisterLock journey. I was surprised to see a few that longed for straight hair occasionally. I suppose for me I have found that my hair and the weather just do not get along. I have had so much fun with straight-haired wigs that people with long, relaxed hair love the extra fullness of the wigs that they want to either add clip-in extensions or try a wig for special occasions as well. I am ready for the lifestyle change of sisterlocks, and I know that if I want the straight look that I can "wig -out!" I have to admit that going natural and seeing all the extra thickness and length will tempt you to relax it and enjoy it, but I know that it is only for a season, and for the same reason that you went natural before, you will find the same reason that you will go natural again. I realized that I went natural about ten years ago wearing braid extensions. I think it is like a relationship: you break up; get back together; break up; get back together; then one day, you decide enough is enough. Either you get married or you move on. At age 41, I have now exhausted my desires for relaxed hair. The new growth comes in too quickly and too fierce. SisterLocks here I come! I found the best Sisterlocks technician for me and my desires to have micro-locks. I am totally committed to the beauty that micro sized locks can offer!
ReplyDelete