Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I don't know about this latching thing....

Well, it's been almost a month since I've latched my hair. The first row of locs get re-twisted every time I wash but the rest of them bad boys have afro-roots. From far away it doesn't look too bad but when you pull some locs up and take a look at the roots...


Bay bay! Somehow I don't mind it. My scalp is getting a break and it feels good to not have latched in a while. It has given me some time to really think about some things.

I really don't like the way my latched locs look. And I think it's because I've screwed up quite a few locs. Like this one...


And this one...


Oh, and this one too...


I'm sure there are a few more. And even the ones that have turned out okay...I don't really like. They are thinner than palm rolled locs, have more of a box-y shape and don't have that "traditional" loc look that I really desire. Like this...



That is a fuzzy and hard loc. I love it and it is my preference. I'm so torn. I mean I LOVE latching because it allows me to work out without worrying that my hair will slip. I love it because I can swim this summer with freedom. But latching also takes entirely too long to do. And it is quite clear that I haven't gotten the technique down. And if you mess up a loc, it is hell trying to undo it. IF you undo it which I don't because I don't even know where to start.

Can I even go back to palm rolling? Will my locs look all funny with the palm roll-latch-palm roll thing going on? I don't know. I have a lot of questions for my loctician. I hope she tells me I can go back to palm rolling. I mean, yeah....there will be a good inch of my locs that look all crazy but that's a risk I'm willing to take. We shall seee....

Oh, I forgot to post this. I dyed this loc purple too.


Now THAT is purple. 'Scuse the bra strap.

'Til next time....

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I have tried latching too, and hated it after only the first try. I just didn't like how it made my locs look (very skinny, thin, and scraggly), so I went back to palm rolling. I had a few problems with latching too; to fix those problems, I just knotted my loc so to get rid of that Y-shaped gap that my horrible latching created. You can basically switch back from interlocking to palmrolling, and vice vera, i know many people who do that, BUT be aware that you really want to be consistent, I know people say that it "doesn't matter" but honestly you can really tell the difference between a palm rolled lock and an interlocked loc. I prefer the palmrolling method because it is neater, looks more appealing, and doesn't take forever to do. Btw, love that one purple loc you got lol. I'm not a fan of dying my own locs but it is nice seeing others dye it (when it is done well). Love reading your blog!

Amina said...

Looove the purple loc and they are growing so long!!
I would say go back to palmrolling :)

PhePhi said...

i agree w/vanessa about being able to tell the difference btn the 2. it all boils down 2 personal preference. it took me a few months to get the latch hook thing down. i just kept researching & kept practicing because i was determined not to be defeated. i have a couple of locs that look like urs. i asked myself if it was a huge deal, a big deal, or not really a big deal. i chose the latter. i think ur locs look gr8, especially the purple ones... :-D

EmberRose said...

That purple loc is the business.




You should totally do a tutorial on hair dying. Just saying.

Bajan Lily said...

Firstly, your purple lock is the bomb!

As for the 'dodgy' looking latched locks - that Y shape you see is because you entered the lock at the same point repeatedly, it can be fixed by entering the lock through the opposite side i.e left to right (or right to left) through the Y itself - but if you're not really into latching it may be easier just to ask your loctician or a friend to do it for you. (I use a loc tool because I couldn't master the latch hook, but the principles are the same).

As you've noticed, interlocked locs tend to be thinner and more compacted (assuming you've followed the correct pattern) than palm rolled hair. If you want to go back to palm rolling you can and yes, you will probably notice the difference but as your hair grows (out) it'll probably not be so noticeable.

Have you had that appointment with your old loctician you were talking about yet?

Good luck deciding which method works best for you and best achieves the look you want... and do some more purple - they're cute :)

B said...

Thank you so so soooo much for the support, y'all.

Vanessa---> Yeah, the latched locs are waaaay too thin. The fuzziness seems to be a little crazier too which I don't mind but I seemed to have less fuzzies with palm rolling. And I agree---I just love the look of palm rolled locs better.

Amina---> Thanks mama! That purple loc is pretty awesome, uh? So random...

PhePhi---> Thanks mama. Yeah, hopefully my loctician can fix the ones that I screwed up. I think I'm going back to palm rolling!

Ember Rose---> Thanks! I don't know, sis...I don't really want to encourage people to dye their own hair. It's a scary process and I don't want anyone's hair falling out and then they come back blaming me talkin' bout "Well Brit had said..." LOL, no ma'am! I'd have to put up a serious disclaimer before I did a post like that. Especially since I'm not a licensed or certified professional.

Bajan Lily---> Ah yesss, you've made me feel so much better by saying that the interlocked part of my locs won't be AS noticeable once they grow out. It would only be an inch or so that look "different". I can deal. And yep...I'll be visiting my loctician this Saturday. Can't wait!! Hopefully she doesn't talk me out of doing more purple locs. :)

Candace said...

Lovin' the purple loc!

Unknown said...

I think you should definitely do more purple locs, it actually looks fitting on you! Just don't do your whole head (obviously lol). The thing with me when it comes to dyed locs, i don't mind seeing some people having a couple of them with color, I just don't like when people dye the entire head, it just looks so unnatural to me esp. when it is on locs, but that's just me.

Ayodele said...

I'm lovin' the purple loc too!!! I want to dye a "clump" of my locs a bangin' color...jury is till out as to when and what fab color, but I AM doing it.

I agree with you on latching. This is how I have maintained my locs since I started them (1 year). I have considered palmrolling, but wasn't confident about doing it myself. A loctician recently told me that my locs are too thick for latching and that I should palmroll instead. Go figure. So, I am now waiting for more new growth before I go and have it professional done. I will go a few times and watch so as to get the feel for maintaining myself more often. Any tips on palmrolling? Would you mind doing a tut on how you do the front of your hair? Pretty please?!?!

Unknown said...

Ayodele, palmrolling your own locs is SO easy! There are many clips on youtube that show you how to palmroll them on your own, and you can make your own loc gel product too if you like, or buy some of the many products that is out there. :) I've basically been palmrolling my locs on my own all year, and I'm lovin' the fact that I don't have to spend money or sit around in a chair for 5 hours at a salon lol.

dalia said...

what's to palmrolling? take a damp loc between your palms and rub upward (or clockwise). i watched a loctitian do it and charge 50bux for the procedure. chupse.

i do a modified interloc without tools, and without the boxy look - i alternate, as well. one month palm roll, one month interlocish. i wish i could explain to you, but it's hard.

B said...

Candace---> Thanks mama!

Vanessa---> Really, you like it? Oh no...I definitely wouldn't do my whole head. I do have a permanent dye all over but it has started to fade. My natural hair is dark brown and my color is rusty brown. But yeah, I think I may do maybe 3-4 more purple locs. Just the ends though. :)

Ayodele---> Ohh, if and when you color, let me know about it. I want to see the results! Vanessa gave great tips about palm rolling. It really is very simple. It's fool proof and takes no more than a few seconds per loc. I'll do a video anyway though. Some folx are visual. I know I am!

Vanessa---> Co-sign!

Dalia---> I would love to see how your locs look with your switching methods every month. Show us!

eternal footman said...

The problem with palm-rolling appears when you work out a lot...especially in the summer. As soon as you wash your hair all of the palm rolling goes down the drain.

I sweat a lot when I work out, so the most I can go without washing during the summer is every other day. I don't have the time to palm-roll every other day.