Unbelievable Secrets You Need to Know About Locs

 Unbelievable Secrets You Need to Know About Locs

If you’re thinking about it, you should definitely start your locs (also known as dreadlocks or dreads) today, right this second. Actually, do it after reading this post LOL. There are so many YouTubers that have videos about their loc journeys where you can learn and become inspired. That’s pretty much how I started mine.

My Journey (Circa 2011 - 2019)

I was a part of the loose natural hair community for a few years before starting my locs. My beginning was a little unsteady because like a lot of others, I was transitioning from perms to loose natural. I would go back and forth between putting texturizers in my hair to not putting anything in it. Going away to college kind of helped with that because I didn’t have someone to apply the chemicals, and I certainly didn’t trust myself to do so. I also started playing college soccer and would sweat gallons every day so what was the point?😅

At first, I was really only trying out styles such as cornrow braid-outs, straightening my hair, and french braids, just as comfort styles while my hair was growing. I’d wash my hair, moisturize it, then style it. Once my hair started showing some length, I would dabble around with twists for the week with twist-outs on the weekend. When I wasn’t doing that, I would just rock my hair in a high puff. There were other styles I’d try like braids in the front into a bun, but with being an athlete, those ‘fancy’ styles wouldn’t last very long.

I also didn’t care much about how I looked with my fro out, mainly because I have a very young face. Imagine looking 12, and then an afro making you look 7? Yeah, I wasn’t interested. 

What I did care about were low-maintenance styles. I was a sucker for them. There had to be a year straight where I would just wash my hair, sit for an hour twisting it up, go through the week with the twists, take them out and wash them on Sundays after soccer, then restart the cycle for the next week. This was just so easy for me. I could wear them in a ponytail, in a bun, or down, so versatile. This was also allowing my hair to grow very long.

A lot of women opt for protective styles using extensions, but that was never really something I could get into. I did try it twice in 2019, once for my birthday where I did crochet braids, and once just for fun where I did long bohemian twists. The bohemian twists were THE game changer for me.

I had my hair like that for maybe two weeks (I know, not long at all LOL), and I thought to myself “wow, this is what I want my hair to look like all the time.” What I really meant was, that I wanted my hair in long, thick twists. I’m not sure if I actively searched for it, or the universe just presented me with loc videos, but after being inspired by a YouTuber, I did it. I made the transition to locs as soon as I took my hair out of that style!

My hair was pretty long, like down to my boobs. Shrinkage was very real, so no one would ever know LOL. It took me 4-6 hours to “loc” my hair. I did the two-strand twist method. 

As of today, I’ve had my locs for 2 years and 11 months, with my loc-versary coming up at the end of September.

What They Told Me

YouTube and Google have definitely played key roles in starting my locs. I’ve learned:

#1 - How to start them

There are multiple different ways to start locs, such as instant locs, plaits, loc extensions that you leave in as your hair naturally locs, two-strand twists, finger coils, and more. Since I was so savvy and comfortable with doing two-strand twists, that’s the route I chose. I parted my hair as best as I could, which definitely took the longest amount of time, then started twisting as I normally did. The only difference from the twists I used to do, is that I actually took time with the parting, and I obviously left the twists in for good. 

#2 - What to expect on a monthly basis

Since people were recording their loc journeys, they would post an update every month or so. This helps viewers get an understanding of how their hair may change as time goes by. A lot of people do this until 12 months, and then they may provide updates on a quarterly basis.

#3 - How to maintain them

Maintaining locs is pretty easy, and doesn’t differ too far from being a loose natural. You’ll want to wash your hair regularly, dry your hair before getting in bed, protect your locs by wearing a scarf or using a satin pillow, and of course, moisturize them when needed.

#4 - How to moisturize them

Moisturizing your locs with minimal products saves you so much money in the long run. All I use is water and a bottle of oil, which lasts me at least 2 months. Some people are fancy and use rosewater or buy a bunch of oils and mix them up. I just do the bare minimum and it seems to work for me. It’s up to you to determine how often you have to moisturize. 

#5 - How to style them

Your length of hair will probably dictate which styles you can do. Luckily, there are people with locs of all lengths and sizes on YouTube that can help you out with styles. The good thing is, a lot of what you did with your loose natural hair can be done with locs. :)

No One Told Me This

Now, these people have helped so much in a general sense, but I want to talk about the things that I found out the hard way. 

Styling Can Be A Struggle

#1 - The number of locs in your hair MATTERS

Especially if you enjoy plaits or two-strand twists. No one told me this; well, I didn’t read or hear it anywhere. You will hear a lot of people talk about the number of locs for thickness, but never for styles. I have 65(?) locs, and when I do one of the aforementioned styles, some of my two-strand twists become plaits or vice versa. I would highly recommend an even number of locs divisible by 3.

#2 - Styling gets easier as time goes on

You learn how to maneuver your hair. But, it does seem like every time you get a technique down, your hair grows and your technique has to change. I mean this more specifically when it comes to buns. Whether it’s a high bun or a low bun, it takes me at least 20 minutes to get one that is satisfying for me! For the longest, it seemed like my hair was at an awkward medium-long length where it was too short to do a wrap-around bun, but it was too long to just use the last loop of the hair tie to curl it into one. 

There are some videos where people use bobby pins but listen: my hair has always been too thick for those. Having locs does not make using them any easier. I end up having to use 3-4 hair ties instead. It’s a workout trying to style my locs sometimes, but at least my arms are strong :) Just make sure you have multiple hair ties ready. I recommend the ones that are the size of headbands. 

#3 - Some of the cutest styles are damaging! 

My favorite style always has been two-strand twists, with and without locs. Yes, I still do it today and it is the cutest LOL. I am finding that a lot of people use the rubberbands that you used to use on the ends of your hair with beads. NO, STAY AWAY. ABORT MISSION. Those little things will ruin the ends of your locs. If you’re anything like me, you will leave them in your hair for a good 5 or more days. Once you unravel them, you have a cute twist-out. But then later on, after you wash your hair and it returns to its normal state, you will notice that those ends need to be trimmed. It is so bad. I would recommend using small scrunchies to secure the ends. Unfortunately, the style won’t stay without them.

#4 - If you trim incorrectly, your locs will split at the end. 

This is something that people will take super seriously if they want “perfect” uniform locs. I don’t care that much, and I only have about two locs like this, but it’s worth bringing up. Either trim less than you think you have to or just go to a professional. 

#5 - Retwisting can either last weeks or last 0.2 seconds. 

Unfortunately, half of the time I fall into the latter scenario. Now, this is because I am an athlete, but I still wish I would have known beforehand. It wouldn’t have changed my decision, but I would have known earlier not to even bother retwisting if I have a soccer game the next day and will sweat it right out. I have found that wearing a tight cap can help in some cases (like any workout that involves less sweat), however, it’s probably best to save the retwist when you’re out of season. 

#6 - You will stop obsessing over long hair. 

In my opinion, locs grow pretty fast. I believe that it is just because it’s a low-maintenance style. There's also the fact that your hair is growing down, instead of out, like it does when you have an afro. As my hair gets longer, I definitely wear it down much less. It is always in the way. When I try to eat, it is trying to make its way into my mouth with the food. Any time I need to look down, it’s covering my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my long hair. However, I’d definitely recommend always having your extra large scrunchie within reach so you can plop your hair on top of your head. 

Unsolicited Feedback

Being a black woman, someone is always going to comment on something we have going on, just because. Every day I wake up expecting to ignore the silly things people will say. No one told me that I would have to hear people tell me my hair is not dreadlocks because they are used to the ratty, unwashed, stinky hair that they’ve seen on others, LMAO. Either that or they just simply don’t know the difference between locs and braids. 

I also was not told that people would ask me “When are you going to get your hair done?” when my hair is not retwisted or when my hair is transitioning into locs. Dang! My hair is done. Sorry, not sorry, that you can’t handle my black versatile hair. If you decide to loc up your hair, be prepared for people to look at you sideways. Just tell them “good thing I’m not doing my hair for you!” and remind them to mind their own. :)

Regardless, I Love My Locs

My locs work for me. They suit my aesthetic. They’ve allowed me to learn more about my hair and about myself. They make me feel more feminine. Sometimes they make me feel masculine because apparently, I look like Lil Wayne (I beg to differ LMAO). Sometimes I look a little rough, but I truly do not care. No matter how frizzy, my hair is always done and all I have to do is moisturize it every few days. It is definitely a journey that was worth starting. I wouldn’t change anything, except maybe the number of locs.

Comment below on your hair (locs or not). What have you learned on your own?