On my mind this week: restarting my locs for the fifth time.
Growing Locs was my go-to site after my last “big chop.” Every time I cut my hair into a “teeny ween afro” (TWA), I have these romanticized versions of how my hair should be. The texture of my hair has changed since I first cut off my hair and went a natural 22 years ago. It is more accepting amongst my family and other members of our community since my first set of locs.
Anyway, as many times that I have restarted my locs, I still needed to research online. I needed to get reassurance that I was doing the right method for my hair.
I lived in beauty parlors/salons as an older kid. Once I reached the end of college, tried to spend less time in beauty salons. I went to salons the first time I got locs. At the time, in New Jersey, I had to travel at least 20-30 minutes from where I lived (that depended on traffic). I watched the locticians do their magic. Once I had watched them enough times, I knew that I could loc my own hair.
This time, I decided to try clockwise. At 47, my hair has become softer. I also have hair that curls in some places and sticks up straight in others. Let’s just say, I am not your average 4C. There are also many products for 4C hair that leave residue in my hair. That is a problem since many of the products for natural Black hair are expensive. I have paid $7 to $9 for products, and I have thrown them away because of the residue.
I could try every curl cream for kinky hair. It never looks like it does, in Essence magazine or on Curly Nikki. I get it, my hair does not conform. I am not mad at that; I do not conform.
This is why after taking another break from my locs, I am now re-locing my hair. So far, tonight, with loc gel, my hair is embracing the clockwise direction of the comb-coil method (my previous locs were counter-clockwise).
I will see what happens later in the week. I am used to the method. The change in hair texture always makes it interesting.
Update 01/02/16: I settled on the comb-coil. It appears to be the best method for my hair, even though my hair is much softer now.
Visit Growing Locs if you need information about starting or maintaining your locs.
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