How my locs changed my perception: A loc'd epiphany

Dare I say it, but I am actually satisfied with my locs right now. I mean, 100%. I know some of y'all have been satisfied for quite some time with your crowns, but the perfectionist that is me was having a tough time with this loc'ing experience.  And I've got this entire blog to show just how much of a nutcase perfectionist I am.

I went from maintaining by palm rolling, then latching, then palm rolling then freeforming and back to palm rolling.

I dyed my locs brown, red and purple. And I STILL want to color them again.

I wanted them thicker, and then I smaller again...and then thicker again.

I wanted only to use natural products, then I said "Eff that" and used whatever.

I wanted to get my locs professionally done, and then I wanted to do them by myself. Now I'm back to craving my loctician's magic.

I washed too often. And then I hardly washed.

I wanted them thicker. And then thinner. And then thicker. 

I re-twisted too often. And then I hardly re-twisted.

I regretting this and hated that.

I wanted to start over.

My locs have taught me so much about myself and about life, in general. I know only fellow loc'ers can understand this. If I told this to a stranger on the street, they'd be like, "WTF, it's just hair." But seriously...my locs have taught me how to just let go. Let nature happen. It won't be perfect and it may not turn out the way I want it to, but it'll be beautiful nonetheless.

Do y'all have any stories of how your journey to loc'dom has changed your thinking?

Congrats to our LocJewelry.com winners!

Congratulations, lovelies! The ladies above were selected at random as winners from our Loc Jewelry giveaway! Special thanks to Dinika for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway and for all of you for supporting her. 

If I can show you off on Loc Rocker or Clumps of Mascara, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. There are so many talented ladies in the blogosphere and I feel like I need to let the world know about y'all. :)

Natural Head Spotlight: Liane's Summer Spritz

I know there loose some natural heads who read Loc Rocker so I'm going to do a better job at posting content that can inspire and help them out too. Liane is  fabulous reader who emailed me some time ago about how she can keep her afro nice and conditioned on her trip to Jamaica. She told me that she would be doing quite a bit of swimming in salt water and chlorine.

I suggested a daily spritz of glycerin, water and essential oils.

Here's what she said:

The glycerin/water/mint/rosemary mix was fantastic. I preconditioned my hair before every swim with some free sample cream of nature jojoba moisture conditioner (I don't use the stuff normally but it's a whole bottle of free sampler). Then I did a co-wash with the trader joe's conditioner and then a spray of the glycerin/water leave in and rub down with olive/coconut oil. My hair and scalp sing your praises. Thank you so much for your suggestions.


My fro LOVED that little mixture. Remember to use a liberal amount of glycerin as too much of that stuff will make your hair a sticky mess.

Rock on my afro sportin' sisters!

Video: Combining locs

Love sista girl's videos! I just wish I could learn to embrace my 2-headed dragons the way she's embraced hers but I doubt that will ever happen.





 I'm starting to think that most if not all loc'ers at some point combine, especially around the edges. Have any of y'all not so newbie loc rockers combined?

Update on married locs...

They are finally meshing together. Most, if not all of the locs that I combined have completely married at the roots. I have only a few double headed dragons and I am finally okay with the condition of my locs. My scalp is healthy and even though the fuzziness is out of control, I just don't care.

The ends seem extra brown, uh? I promise I haven't done anything to them. I think it has to do with a lot of the running and swimming I do outside. I love it. My natural hair color is just so boring and...normal. Boo.

I spy a rubberband. Can you? I only have 2. But for the most part the locs are starting to look less like 2-strand twists and more like locs, uh? 'Bout time.

Loc adornments are becoming as important to me as earrings.

Funny thing is,  I love when my locs are freshly twisted AND when they're all wild and fuzzy.

Some folx are all like, "OMG, I HATE the look of locs with twisted roots." Others say, "I can't stand 2 inches of afro at the roots of my locs." But yep...I stand right in the middle.

Peace

3 year old getting a weave...

Veteran Loc Rocker readers know that I have an issue with weave. I usually keep my thoughts about weave silent as to not offend others but it's really one of those things that I vehemently dislike. I don't care who is wearing it, 9 times out of 10, it looks fake and I find that women who wear weaves on a regular have a complex; whether they like to admit it or not.

At the end of the day, I could care less how others where their hair, but I've never worn a weave and never will. And if I can help it, neither will my kids. What should simply be a hairstyle is really a complex. And exactly how can you break that when it starts as young as 3?

Pay no mind to the channel where I got this embedded video. This YouTube channel seems to be full of videos bashing Black women (surprise, surprise) and talking about what we ain't doing, shouldn't be doing as if we are a monolithic group. But I'll save that rant for my personal blog.







What do y'all think? Any former weave wearers feel that they had a complex about their hair and image? Did you feel more attractive with longer hair? I understand that this is an issue among girls of all backgrounds. Anyone ever catch those make-overs on America's Next Top Model. Just about every season, there was a white girl screaming bloody murder over the thought of having her hair cut. For some reason, women in general associate longer hair with femininity. Why is that?

Free loc jewel from LocJewelry.com!!

WIN AN EXCLUSIVE LOCJEWEL FROM LOCJEWELRY.COM


This contest is open to ALL readers of LocRocker.com! Contest runs Monday, July 19- Sunday, July 25, 2010 (11:59pm EST). Winners will be announced on Monday, July 26, 2010.

Here's your chance to take home a beautiful exclusive LocJewel hair adornment from LocJewelry.com designed by none other than Ms. B herself!! Not only is this LocJewel customized by Ms. B, LocJewels aren't even available for sale yet so you definitely want to nab this chance to win one of your own!

The "LocRocker" LocJewel showcases a prosperity green faceted bead wrapped with royalty purple tarnish resistant wire. "LocRocker" is the perfect blend of classy meets casual, allowing you to dress it up or dress it down without sacrificing your overall look. Because it's a versatile hair accessory you can rock "LocRocker" on locs, twists, braids or even loose hair! Your style...your way!

What do you need to do for your chance to win "LocRocker"?

It's simple...LocJewelry.com needs Twitter followers and Facebook fans. All you have to do is execute the following steps and THREE of you will call yourself proud "LocRocker" owners:

• Go to www.LocJewelry.com
• Click on the Twitter and Facebook icons to follow and like LocJewelry respectively
• Come back to this post announcing the contest and post a comment saying you have followed LJ and/or liked LJ. Don't forget to leave your Twitter name in the comment!
• That's it!!

How the winners are chosen
RANDOMLY!! 3 random posts AKA "The Winners" will be selected. You'll receive a DM on Twitter from LocJewelry asking for your FB names to verify that part of the entry and of course your address. Then you get to sit by the mailbox excitedly waiting for your LocJewel!

Special Note from LocJewelry.com:
I want to thank all of you for entering and encourage you to take a look around the site once you get there. I absolutely welcome all feedback (forreal!). Also, just to let you know since I love and appreciate my customers, everyone who signs up for a FREE account on LocJewelry.com will receive a special thank you gift.

Video: 2 quick styles

Happy Fridays, darlings!

Last week I tried my hardest to record a video that would showcase at least 5 of my favorite and quick loc'styles.

But for whatever reason, I just couldn't get it right. And so, all I did was 2 styles under 4 minutes. HA!!

I'm not sure of what other videos to do so if y'all have recommendations, please let me know. I feel that there are so many wonderful loc'd gurus on YouTube and I sho ain't tryna re-invent the wheel.

Have a great weekend!

Baby boy natural hair!

I am a proud Auntie. PROUD! Addaeyomi is one of my best friend's sons and I just love showing him off. The last time he came to visit, I took a mess load of picture for his portfolio. He is a budding model. But not by force. He is 2 years old, listens to instructions and he LOVES the camera!

And I love his hair. A lot of little boys rock short fades and that's cute too but I love how his Mommy hasn't cut his hair yet. Granted, a lot of folx say he looks like a girl and she has to fight to do his hair every morning...

...but he is still the cutest thing ever!

I love him.

Any Mommies out there? Did you cut your son's hair after he turned 1? Or if you're not a Mommy yet, do you see yourself cutting your future son's hair?

I've always loved fades on baby boys but Addae and his beautiful hair has me thinking that it's okay to let the hair grow. Then again I do not know how to braid THAT much hair so er uh....we'll just have to see about that.

MyLockology Sale!

Darlings, you'll be hearing more about My Lockology from me in the near future but in the meantime, check out the sale they've got goin' on! Not a bad deal. You can grab the Mint Medley shampoo for under $9 and get a free loc adorment.

That's hot!

Inside my hair drawer...

I think it's safe to say that I'm a DIY-er when it comes to my locs' maintenance. Yes, my locs were started and maintained by a professional in their infancy , but for the most part, it's been all on me. I haven't seen my loctician since February! Which is shameful since I really love her.

Can I be honest?

I don't want her to be upset with me and what I've done to my locs. They've been through a lot since I last saw her. Two more color jobs (I promised her I would stop) and the combining of them may really throw her off. And yes, I DO care because I value her advice and skill. I know it's my head and I can do whatever I want (ca-learly) but still...I won't be visiting her until the locs are in tact.

In the meantime, I am my own loctician. And that requires tools.

Like clips

One day I'll be like my girl Chescaleigh and adopt the clip-free method. But in the meantime, these clips are an integral part of the re-twisting process.

Bands!

I need 'em! Especially with it being summer time. I have tiny rubber bands for styles and larger ones for single ponytails to keep the hair out of my face. I wear them when I work-out, swim, clean or just don't feel like being bothered with hair in my face or on my neck. And don't ask about the office rubber bands. I see a lot of brothas down here in the South using those as ponytail holders. I would always clown them and er uh...looks like I'm joining them!

Bobby pins!

Can not live without these things. Because I'm not skilled enough (yet) to do a style without them, I'm usually grabbing for at least 3 a day.

Aloe vera gel

What I use to re-twist. This or Organic Root Stimulator Loc and Twist gel.

Yes, a comb.

Y'all know I have dandruff issues. I usually have to bust out this comb every time I wash. I scratch my scalp and uproot that dandruff before I shampoo. Y'all know what I'm talkin' about!

Bows, headbands, night bonnet

Loc adornments

LOVE these! I've got 5 in my locs right now.


Tis all!!

So fellow DIYers, does your drawer, cabinet or area look similar? I don't have THAT much do I?

*gulps*

Fro Back: THIS makes me miss the TWA

When I BCed a second time, I went through a serious androgynous phase. I would contour my cheeks to make them pop, rock super arched brows, heels. earrings and then throw on a tie. I'm not fashionista but you couldn't tell me I wasn't doin' it big!

But that teeny weeny afro...man. I so kinda miss that.

Random but am I the only one who gets so annoyed by people who say,

"I would go natural but my head is too big."?

WTF!!!

Other Fro-back posts:

Jet Black Fro

My Response to a natural hair hater

Fro in the Snow

Fro at the Beach

2nd BC love

Scarves 'n Stuff

Locs or dreads? What do you call them?

A few days ago I got an email from a reader was pissed. I mean, livid! She said that her boyfriend and family members will not stop referring to her 14-month old locs as "dreads" or "dreadlocks". She said she's asked them several times to not call them that. But much to her distaste, them mofos keep calling them "dreads".

She asked me did I think she was overacting. My response?

"Hells no." If something offends you, you have a right to be offended. It's your prerogative and I don't think you should give two snapped beans if someone else gets pissed off at you being offended.

And then she asked me do I get offended by the word "dreads".

My response? No. However, it's not a word that I use in reference to loc'd hair. And for many reasons...the word "dread" just sounds awful.

I dread going to work today.

I dread seeing her face.

I feel dreadful.

It's just an un-pretty word and as a writer and semantics/etymology nerd, I don't like using it. Especially when referring to my hair.

Do I correct others who refer to my locs at "dreads"?

Nope. The term "dreadlocks" has been around for quite some time and so it makes sense for people to use it. I think the word has gone through semantic changes and so it doesn't hold a negative connotation to it as it used to back in the day. That does not mean I will use it but I will not pop off at others who use it either.

But enough about me....do you have a word preference?
Or does it not matter to you?
What do you non-loc'd friends/family members call your hair?

Erma Custom Hair Ties

Hi lovelies!

I've always seen those hair ties for loc'd hair and couldn't wait for my babies to get long enough to try them. Well, what do you know? Apparently medium size locs work well for them!

Insert Erma Custom Jewelry and Hair Ties

The company is run by a husband and wife team out of California. They specialize in custom hair ties. If you don't find anything in their Etsy shop (totally doubt that will happen), they can whip up a lil' somethin'-somethin' for you. The hair ties range from $15-$30 and come in range of styles and colors.

They work for funky weekend styles and for ladies like me who have to dress professionally for work but still want to add her own unique style.

And I found 2 ways to wear them.

Almost like a headband...

And almost like a large ponytail...

Not that my red and green hair tie goes with my purple blouse but uh....yeah. HA!!

I can dig it.  It's perfect for summer because y'all know how I feel about locs all over my face. It's way too hot for that!

Check out Erma's Custom Hair Ties here.

This post  contains a sample product sent for post consideration. Read my disclosure policy here.

Shake dem locs!!

Ever have those days where you are REALLY feeling yourself? Boyyyy, the locs had me feelin' fabulous yesterday!

And while at the red light, I realized the three people in car in the left lane were giving me serious looks.


But y'all know I didn't care. ;)


Yesterday was Locs Day on Twitter and I'm mad at myself for not promoting it the way I should have. The next time it rolls around, I'm going to make it a big deal. I love the sista/brothahood that lives in the online natural hair community. It's just a beautiful thang.

If you live in Florida or plan on visiting this summer and fall, please let me know! There are going to be some rockin' natural hair and loc events. I plan on going to them ALL.

My girl Roshni from Glamazini and I were joking about meeting on a natural hair cruise but how dope would that be? There would be hair shows, training classes, fitness classes, make-up artistry, stylists, life coaches, etc. Of course it would be kid and guys single guy friendly. We'd dock on some fabulous island, eat an insane amount of conch fritters and starfish, mingle, dance, learn, laugh, pray, sing and entertain.

I'm a Jill of many trades but event planning is so not my forte. But who knows, maybe we'll see something like that in the near future. Would you go?

See y'all next week.

Loc on!!