Locs Tag

Short and sweet, I thought I'd try my hand at the classic 20 question locs tag that frequently floats around on Youtube. Enjoy!

1. Do you remember the specific moment you decided you were going to dread your hair? Where were you and how did you feel?

I was probably at home looking at dreadlocked YouTubers and I felt pretty convinced I wanted to do this. I had very vivid visions of me with thick red locs, long and thrown back in a lazy ponytail and that was that. I was ready.

2. What method, if any, did you use to start your dreadlocks?

Finger twists, rubber bands and three-strand-twists were put in by a hair dresser before they were restarted at home with comb coils. Some of my locs were later restarted with two strand twists.

3. How old are your dreadlocks?

My locs are 2 years.

4. What is the length of your longest dread? And shortest?

 My longest dread is 5 inches and the shortest is just over 3 inches.

5. Do you have any dreads that are especially unique, strange, or awesome?

I have few that are just so fat and plump and I love them. I also have a couple of congos (two locs, one base) growing in.

6. How many dreads do you have currently? Is that the same number you started with?

I have 55 locs which is less than half of what I started with.

7. What shampoo or other products do you use on your dreads?

I've been using Cream of Nature's Kiwi & Citrus Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo and raw virgin coconut oil for over a year now.

8. How often do you wash your dreads?

I wash my hair  once every 4-12 days.

9. Do you do any regular maintenance on your dreads?

Maintenance has become quite irregular over the past 5 months. I want my roots to remain thick so I only maintain them on occasion.

10. What are your favourite beads or other decorations?

I occasionally wear silver cuff beads on my dreads.

11. If your dreads had their own personal motto, what would it be?

Haha. I suppose they'd follow my motto in general, as quoted by Usher: " A lady on the street and a freak in the bed".

12. If you could start a new set of dreads, would you do anything differently?

I'd make sure my hair was over 4 inches long before I started and I'd make sure the partings where staggered (brick-lay pattern) so I didn't experience such prominent partings.

13. Is there anything else unique about your appearance other than dreadlocks? (tattoos, piercings, etc).

I have 8 piercings but no tattoos.

14. How many people do you know personally with dreadlocks?

I don't personally know of anyone who has dreadlocks. Apparently my uncle used to have them but I was too young to recall.

15. Have any employers turned you down for having dreads? Any wanted you BECAUSE of your dreads?

I've never been turned down or offered work because of my dreadlocks but I did maintain a job whilst having them.

16. Whats the WEIRDEST question you've gotten about your dreads? DUMBEST? FUNNIEST? Most common?

"How do you do your hair like that?" was pretty common in my first year but I rarely get asked about them these days. I notice people tend to comment on the colour more than anything.

17. Have you ever had a freak accident or an embarrassing moment involving your dreads? 

Fortunately not. They're pretty hazard free at this length though every now and then I'll get them caught on either mine or someone else's glasses, especially as don't retwist my roots as often.

18. Do you have any dreaded role models? If so, who?

I've never had a dreaded role model, I  take inspiration from hundreds of loc wearers

19. What dreaded YouTubers could you see yourself hanging out with in real life?

oceangrins and meroekhalia.

20. Who are you going to Tag?

Everyone reading this questionnaire and I'd really like to get a link to your answers too.

DREADLOCKS ARE...

Update Continued: Budding

Did I guesstimate that budding would begin in a couple of months? Well I think it's started already! I could be wrong but they look an awful lot like my first set of buds, starting at pretty much the same time, I've just noted, so I'm going with it. I was quite unsure sure at first because I didn't retwist after shampooing my hair but I re-coloured recently and noticed several buds when I went through my hair. Most of them seem to have formed where the new growth meets the two strand twist which I first thought was just unravelling but I tried to pull a twist apart and it didn't budge.

Buds: From what I can tell a bud is a swollen bulge that feels somewhat thicker and firmer (but still spongy) than the rest of the loc. They can start at different points in the loc but most commonly towards the middle. Towards the end is common if your locs are particularly short to start out with. They usually form between month 2 and 6.

Now close-ups of locs and buds in particular aren't easy to photograph but I tried to capture a few of them for you:

this is what I hope is a bud on one of my 18 month old locs.
I say hope because my new growth is
now over an inch (as seen by the black roots)
and it hasn't started loc'ing yet.

this is a bud just barely forming. It's not visible
but if you were here you'd feel where it will grow in
(the frizz near the centre)

and my twists are now irreversible from the root

they appear quite distinctly in silhouette here

So far, in almost six weeks I've experienced:

Shrinkage^

Frizz/Fuzzies^

Budding^

And currently all three are happening at the same time i.e. shrinkage started before budding but shrinkage hasn't stopped even though budding has begun and of course frizz will be with us throughout.

For some reason the developing (^macro) stages of baby locs are much clearer to see in these two strand twists than they seemed to be in my comb coils. I'm sure it's due to a number of differing factors including the additional length, and being more informed/prepared and, possibly the starting method too.

DREADLOCKS ARE...

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DO NOT use without permission.**

Update/Tips: Two Strand Twists, Frizz & Baby Locs

Just a quick update on how my two strand twists are developing. After shampooing for a second time they are really starting to frizz and knit together. I wouldn't say the two strand twist pattern is fading it's just becoming less obvious under the frizz.

I haven't started palm-rolling my two strand twists yet but I will once they develop some more as I already palm-roll my locs.

They've got a long way to go but I trust they'll form nicely. I have an inkling that budding will be starting in the next couple of months. I'm intrigued to see/feel how they develop in two strand twists compared with comb coils.


Frizz

Experiencing frizz is a brilliant stage to reach for anyone new to the journey and wondering how to deal with their newly developing fuzzies. It can happen in as little as two weeks after installation depending on your hair texture and is usually induced by frequent washing.

From what I can deduce, shrinkage and frizz are the first steps towards developing baby locs and with two strand twists frizz is even more desirable as it will progressively transform the visual appearance of two strand twists into dreadlocks.

Frizz isn't the same as loose hairs but can occur simultaneously, especially with comb coils. Loose hairs are often found coming from the roots and in between the locs themselves. Frizz forms across the shaft of the loc and those hairs will interweave over several months whilst hairs on the inside combine to thicken the loc and solidify it's structure.

To form neater locs you can start palm rolling your frizz, training it to form cylindrically, to your liking. I recommend starting no sooner than three months in or when your locs start to firm up (when you can't reverse the two strand twist).

(Week 5)

DREADLOCKS ARE...

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DO NOT use without permission.**

Month 1: Combing out my locs, then, now & what next...

Over the course of three days I combed out half of my locs with a large safety pin and a fine tooth comb and put them in two strand twists. My hair was already clean and moisturised so I just left them for the month of September and what a long month it has been.

I've decided that my loc journey will continue with two strand twists in the front and locs in the back. It had crossed my mind to comb them all out and start fresh but I had not the time nor the heart to go through with it. After all I really like my locs in the back and as the twists will turn into locs anyway, there was no need to fix what wasn't broken.

I've never had two strand twists before so I never recognised them as a wearable style. I remember being so against them as a starter loc method because I was sure they'd be a fuss and bother with only an inch of hair but now that my loose hair is 5 inches long, two strand twists have been ideal.

(reinatallation - week 1)

 

 WEEK 1: They started to shrink the day after installation and continued to shrink throughout the first week. The pictures above show them at their fullest length after installation. Non of the twists unravelled and my hair was baby soft as I wore my satin scarf/bonnet to protect them.

(week 2)

WEEK 2:  I got caught in the rain so I re-applied a tiny amount of raw coconut oil before they dried. The twists stayed firmly in place but they'd shrunken to almost half their original length. I retwisted the two at the front to get them to lay down better after the shrinkage reached it's peek, as seen in the pictures above.

(week3)

WEEK 3: I decided to retwist to freshen them up a bit. My scalp is almost due for a shampoo, though I'm hesitant as it'll fade my colour and I don't know if I can re-colour without unravelling these new twists.

(week4)
*PICTURES TBA*

WEEK 4: Last week's retwist came undone after a night of dancing. I washed my hair with great success because unlike the very first wash I didn't require an over haul retwist. They feel just that tiny bit more solid and are beginning to knit together so I'm expecting steady progress over the next 6 months.

So did reinstalling my locs solve the problem? I'd say so, they don't look as sparse anymore because I added a loc to each row. I also staggered the parts (brick-lay pattern) after doing some research online. Turns out the grid pattern I originally had in the front made my parts too prominent and as my locs were starting to condense it was clear they'd always be visible whenever I retwisted. All this time and I'm still learning.

My next post will be brief with clearer pictures of my actual locs as they reach one year and six months maturity.



Confusing? Yeah, but it's a journey all the same. Comments welcome below!

DREALOCKS ARE...

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DO NOT use out permission.**

Update: Reinstalling/Combing Out Locs

This weekend I started combing out my locs. To get straight to the point I was actually all set to tell you how I was just starting to really like my locs but this weekend something changed. I decided to retwist and that's when I realised I don't like how flat and sparse the front and sides look.

I've spent the last two days combing out the locs I don't like and put them in two strand twists:

I'm not sure what the end results will yield but once I'm done I'll let the two strand twists loc up from there.

DREADLOCKS ARE...

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DO NOT use without permission**

Combining: An Ode to Dreads

Ode to my thinner locs

How you grew was never easy nor a burden,

I have come to know you as my loc'd companions growing like innocent vines over night.

What time it has taken cannot be lost from this journey of mine.

You're the roots of a tree that will one day bloom in reflection of your wonderful beginnings.

The section in question is right at the front and contains 12 dreads. They've actually loc'd completely and have matured beautifully but I've become somewhat dissatisfied with their size. I'm certain larger dreads are for me and sadly these twelve won't get much thicker than they are now.

Because they've come so far I've avoided combining them but surrounding dreads now look waay thicker by comparison and this section really stands out once they're all retwisted.

I'm writing this post not to complain and then simply combine them. I want to remember that these 12 were the first to dread up and they've given me a glimpse into how my future loc's will frame my face. I've been so pleased with them and reaching this bench mark feels so rewarding but I know when they get longer I'll want thicker dreads flowing in their place. Combining them will form new, meatier locs and they'll thank me one day when they see how pretty they have become.

a couple in the back too

I had intended to just grow them out and intertwine the new growth at some point but I've already attempted to comb out one and it was near impossible without damage. If I don't combine them now I'll have to contend with two headed loc's in the future that I'd just end up cutting.

Oh, I recently watched YouTuber LeslieMonique who documented her equally emotional dread combination. She has now had dreadlocks for 4 years.


Next post: Photos of my newly combined locs...  Combined: Tweleve Became Six

DREADLOCKS ARE A LIFESTYLE

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DONOT use without permission**

Month 1

Nappy hair anyone? My babies have thickened up somewhat this week and I think I can finally say my hair is slowly taking to the idea of  becoming "loc'd".

Let's have a quickie comparison shot . . .

most recent retwist...

Week 2

Second week in. It's been eventful. The first wash, another re-twist, lots of research into hair care and returning to work with the newbies. . . .

Following the refreshing wash and twist event last Friday, I have really come back to liking my hair. Looking back I feel like the beginning of week two (pre-wash) was a mini 'ugly phase'. It was like every part of the journey was unravelling (excuse the pun) but once I'd returned to a clean scalp, things really improved. The fuzzies are under control at the moment and the coils are pretty established.

PRODUCTS: The only "products" I'm using now are extra virgin olive oil and water, only two! All natural! After all these permed and processed years how brilliant is that?! I spray most days and I must say, comparing the tea tree with EV olive oil, the latter has proved highly successful. Now that I think about it the last three days have been flake free, itching is virtually nonexistent and my hair actually feels soft, like, really soft, you know. Way less re-twisting so far and I feel happier leaving them alone for longer, though the softness makes them so touchable :D

Still on the look out for affordable coconut oil or jojoba oil for the possible future but I am more than happy with the olive oil and water spritz as a permanent moisturiser.

One thing I am doing differently is leaving my hair uncovered in the shower. For the first week I thought damp hair would lead to problems but after a day where I forgot to put on a shower cap I noticed my hair really perked up. I've read so much about water being really good for locs but I didn't think that included moisture from the shower until now. I think it's made a real difference to the look and feel of my hair, in fact I actually don't recall when my hair last felt this soft without conditioner.

So, the holidays have finally come to an end and going back to work I had to make that major decision between uncovered, scarves or hats...


Here's how I had my hair for work:

Yeah I went with the hat, too early for scarves and I love wearing purple (donated by my family at the last minute). Working with children I didn't feel comfortable leaving them uncovered, you know teens can pick up on anything "different".

I liked it a lot, I'm pleased that the satin head scarf fitted underneath. No comments, but it did give me a chance to forget about my hair for the evening and it was so good to be effortlessly natural.

Onto week 3 - check it!

DREADLOCKS ARE...

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder, DO NOT use without permission,**

Week 1: First Wash

Hurray for the first wash. I decided to wash my hair last night for a few reasons. One, the flaking was showing more and more and moving from the scalp to the hair, two, I'd been to the gym for the second night running and three, my coils just felt plain gross.

I wanted to wait it out for another week at the least and until the end of the month at the most but with the recent perspiration activities and going back to work in a few days I just had to rescue the situation.

Day 3: Do-over

MAY DAY, MAY DAY quick update: so the more I read and watched youtube vids about how locs turn out when started by two strand twists and braids the more I felt unhappy with the way mine were going to be. I know, I know it hasn't even been a week but something didn't feel right. The collective chaos of tst's, braids, rubber bands and who knows what else were just. . . not right. I didn't know what was going on up there and that would've limited my ability to manage them myself until the next salon visit.

So,

I took each one out, wet with gel and re-twisted it between my fingers - clockwise as it so happens. I held them all in place with bobby pins, makeshift, I know, but they're holding well and I'll being taking them out later to see how they look after the gel has dried over night:

(click pictures to enlarge)

Easier to sleep in than the rubber bands! So here's how they look...

Experimenting wasn't so bad after all. I think these stand a better chance of forming nicely in the future.

So, spray down with tea tree/almond oil/water mix, annnd done! I feel miles better about this and now I know how to twist my own hair and which method was used in which direction. I'll keep using the bobby pins until I can splash out for some shiny new clips when I return to the salon.

DREADLOCKS ARE A LIFESTYLE

**Photography ownership is with the blog account holder, DONOT use without permission,**

Day 1

Current Hair Stats:

Colour: Black, Natural

Big Chop: January 2012

Length: 1" inch

Loc Birthdate: 3rd April 2012

Starting Method: Finger Twists/Braids/TST's/Rubber bands


My journey begins!!

I've come away from the salon with a new do and some concerns. The whole process was nothing like I expected; not a comb coil in sight. There are however, several finger twists, braids, two strand twists and a sprinkling of micro rubber bands.

The hairdresser grabbed random sections of hair and used Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist GEL on dry hair. I was sent home to let the gel air dry so I bought a few items on the way (listed below).

As I was only able to inspect my hair when I was home I didn't know what was going on with my hair but I've decided to go with it and trust that this is the best way to start, after all, dreadlocks don't form over night. I will assume that the short length had something to do with why my hair was started this way...

Either way, my babies are born, far from dreadlocks but the journey has truly begun YESSS!

new beginnings

wasn't prepared for the amount of scalp on show

can braids become locs?

is this a vague parting pattern?

I do like them,somewhat.

So for now no washes until the new growth comes in, as advised by the hairdresser and regular twisting as my hair is so short and let's not forget a satin wrap for sleeping in. Daily oil and water spray to "moisturise"??? Maybe.

Purchased:

Starter twists £25
Stay on Satin scarf £2.99
Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist GEL £1.99

Let's see how things go . . .

DREADLOCKS ARE...

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DO NOT use without permission**

Before the Journey

In preparation for this journey toward healthy beautiful dreadlocks I've been patiently growing my little afro for just under 3 months. After returning to a local salon we decided that my hair was in an ideal condition for loc'ing and that I had just enough length to begin my journey.

Last night I washed, conditioned and dried my hair ready to be "loc'd" for the foreseeable future! It's a weird feeling knowing this may be the last time I'll comb through my loose hair and I'm more than looking forward to it...I even have plans, hopes and dreams for my future locs.

Dreadlock aspirations:

I have about a year and a half until I start a new life chapter as a university student and at that point I hope to have -

1. Healthy hair. 
2. A pony tail . . . of any sort! 
3. A genuine fondness for my hair. 
4. A better understanding of locs and how to grow them.

texture closeup

three months growth (picked out)

ready to say goodbye to the fro

This morning marks the beginning of my dreadlocking journey. I'll be having coils installed by professional hands and I must say I'm more than a little excited and all too curious about my eventual reaction. I think I'm generally prepared to adjust to whatever the out come will be. After all they'll grow and change and I just might love them right away.

I'll be reporting on the essential stages I go through with my hair and I'll try to give an honest view of what it really feels like.

 

DREADLOCKS ARE...
 

**Photography ownership is held with the blog account holder. DO NOT use without permission,**

Ways to Start Dreadlocks

Before you read any further check out Guide: Start Your Journey.

As far as my research has taken me I have decided on the comb coil method to begin my very own dreadlocks. I chose this method based on the results I have seen on various other people and on my own hair type.

The choice of starter method is predominantly based on how well your hair can hold before the locking process begins and this seems dependent on hair type and length. Thick and tightly curled hair seems most likely to hold the following methods and the thinner and straighter your hair is the fewer options you may have but there IS an option for everyone and many use a combination to achieve the desired results!

If you're planning to start you're own dreadlocks take a look at the common methods used to create them:

back combing

As seen in the picture, back combing is a method where by a fine tooth comb is used to comb sections of hair up toward to root creating tangles that can then be manipulated by either twisting or palm rolling to form a loc. Over time these tangles will matt together and firm knots will form. Rubber bands can be used to keep sections together until the matting process begins as the locs mature. Regular washing will help the process. This method works well on longer hair because more tangles can be formed.

Make sure each section is properly saturated with water and/or a water based dreadlocking product. Manipulating dry hair will cause breakage and hair loss.

twist and rip

Similarly the twist and rip method creates tangles and knots by forcing two or more sections of hair to interlock together. First each section is split in to smaller sub sections and twisted together down from the root a few centimetres at a time. and then the loose hair below the twist is pulled and "ripped" apart in various directs. Each rip begins at different  apoint in the section. Along with back combing this can be a very productive method for those with a looser/straighter hair texture though both methods can prove damaging if not done properly with patience and care.

Be sure to only do this on wet/lubricated hair.

freeform/neglect

Free-forming and neglect are virtually one and the same. This method requires the least amount of maintenance but the most patience. To begin and maintain this method simply leave clean hair un-manipulated, focusing instead on keeping the hair moisturised and clean. This method requires time to develop and no styling tools such as combs, brushes, clips, bands etc are need if you wish to up hold to the purest sense of free-forming. Hair will eventually mesh and matt together on it's own aided by regular washing. If you wish to control the size of your locs try to separate hair, ONLY WHEN WET, into sections, gently teasing knot and tangles at the root. Note: this method can prove ideal for those with curlier hair textures though anyone who uses this method may not see desired results for several months or even years. It is best to enjoy each stage of this process and not focus on the end result.

two strand twists

Two strand twists can be worn as style that leads to dreadlocks. Simply section hair into the desired widths. Then split each section in half and twist the two parts together from root to tips. Hold with snug (but not tight) rubber bands if needed. Over time these twists will begin to mesh together and many have noted that the two strand twist patterns disappear over time, Once the new growth is sufficient simply take each tst and continue to twist is the same direct.

If you use water and oil before starting each twist they will hold better after they have dried completely.

comb coil/finger coil

In order to start your dreads with coils either grip the section (the hair should be wet) at the root with a fine tooth/barber comb and twist at an angle away front the scalp graduating the comb toward the end or twist the section between your fingers and secure with a band. Make sure all coils go in the same direction.

The current trend is to use oils and/or water based products to lubricate the hair and clip each one in place before drying.

towel rub method

The towel rub method is ideal for those with hair that is less than an inch in length. Starting on clean, damp hair rub a hand towel in firm circular motions all over the head until the hair begins to knot together forming small bumps. Rub regularly to ensure the bumps stay intact and change to any of the other methods mentioned above once the hair gets longer than two inches.

There are also a variety of newer methods such as crocheting and interlocking. Do plenty of research and ask questions to find the method best for you. As a final course of action before you begin, pop into  a reliable loctician* to assess which method will work with your hair type.

*A loctician is a professional hair dresser specifically trained to assess, start, maintain, style, rectify and protect dreadlocks throughout the dreading journey.

DREAD LOCKS ARE A LIFESTYLE

**I DONOT posses photography ownership or creator rights. Photography ownership or creator rights are held with the person(s) photographed and photographer**

Why Dreadlocks?

Practically speaking, my Afro-Caribbean hair has been on a lengthy trial; cornrows, hot presses, braids, perms, weaves, accessories, colours, products, hair cut, after hair cut, after hair cut... They all offered the illusion of long-term freedom and flexibility that never quite came to fruition. Each hairstyle, in it's own right, reaped initial benefits; compliments, fashion-ability, creativity, but non survived.

I have always wanted my hair to visually express who I am, to make that opening statement to world that encompasses the essence of my personality. I wanted a hairstyle that was feminine and vibrant but also practical, low maintenance and inexpensive. Most of all I wanted hair confidence.

The Story...

One day I just fell in love with the appearance of dreadlocks and my desire blossomed in a relatively short time. I'm fortunate that my lifestyle gives me the freedom to express myself in a variety of ways and my hiatus from student life gave me the perfect opportunity to explore. So I decided I wanted dreadlocks.

I researched for several months whilst "transitioning" with loc extensions. My transition was really a bi-product of needing to find an out of the way hairstyle for a new job whilst simultaneously venturing back into the world of hair colour. I wore deep red kinky hair extensions for around two months and at that point I had given little thought towards cutting my hair or loc'ing it up for real. I just enjoyed the instant new look for what it was.

After a couple of months of loc research, loc thoughts, and a heap of loc pros and cons, I came to recognise that a dreadlock journey could embody many of the lifestyle principles I wished to uphold in the future; understated, economical, individual and creative. Overall I believe wanting to grow dreadlocks was a response to my decision to end the up hill struggle with social fads and approach life with a less is more attitude because I'd suddenly realised that for almost a decade my hair had been unjustifiably time consuming, expensive and unnecessary.

So with the new year, came the desire to be drastic and on the second week of 2012 I arranged a salon appointment and under went my big chop.

I started my loc journey on the 3rd April 2012 and I'm using this blog to document the goings on along the way - check it out.

DREADLOCKS ARE...