Loc Style: Reina

I can't wait to revamp Loc Rocker. I'm ready to move on to WordPress and provide a secondary menu bar 'an everything. In a perfect blog world, on this secondary menu bar, I'd have a tab called "Styles".

In that tab, I'd list a ton of loc styles. Ones that I've done, submitted ones, styles for guys and styles for those with 2 month old locs to 10-year old locs. Ah yes...I can dream, can't I? Maybe we'll see a Loc Rocker revamp in 2012, uh?

Anywhoovers, the Natural Connections event was absolutely amazing. Thank you to those that came out and supported. I'll do a formal review of the event but  I wanted to shoot y'all pics of my hair style that night. I wanted to take pics BEFORE I went out, but this was a good 4-hours after partyin'.

Yeah. It was definitely cuter and more put together before. I call this Reina, which in Spanish means "Queen". I'm not sure where I got the idea from. I was just staring in the mirror and it came to me. Or maybe I've seen it somewhere before. I don't know. Either way, I dug it.

Oh, my bra strap said "Wassup" ;) 

A style I call "The Ms. Olabisi"

While they say kids don't really "remember" life until they are older, I beg to differ. I remember quite a bit from when I was 4 and 5 years old. When I was 4, I went to this daycare on the campus of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. I had a teacher there named Ms. Olabisi. She wore locs down her back. She had an amazing spirit and taught us African songs and dances. How I remember all of this is beyond me, but honestly...I don't think I could make it up. I did a style that I think I remember Ms. Olabisi used to wear.

Loc Style: Angola + why thick locs rock

I named this look after Miss. Universe 2011. After the freeform challenge, I jumped back in with retwisting but haven't done much styling. My goal was to visit my wonderful loctician and have her deep clean the locs and take care of the few locs in the back that are full of build-up. Buuuut, simply put...I can't afford it right now. Ha!

Not that being broke is funny but one must laugh to keep from crying. My financial roller coaster is the main reason why I opted to be the primary do-er of my locs. While I wanted to have a professional if I wanted, needed or could afford some pampering, I always wanted to feel confident that I could do my hair if need be. I never felt that way when I was a permin'. But anyway...

I've got a wedding to attend this weekend and wanted to look jazzy.

Freeform Summer Challenge: Quick 'n Easy Style

Soooo the Freeform Summer Challenge is in full swing and from the emails and comments on the Facebook wall, some of my gals (and guys) are struggling. Especially those of us that are used to super manicured locs where we HAVE to see the parts in our hair. I'm learning to just go with the flow of the 3 inches of afro hair I have at my roots.

I washed my locs and found an insane amount of build-up (I'll save that for another post). I did some running outside and let them air dry. They were dry in no time considering it was 101 degrees that day in Florida. While I was getting ready for work the next day, I started playing around and came up with a quick style that I think will work best for those ladies who are too afraid to wear their locs wild 'n free.

And please excuse that blurry photo. I had the wrong lens on my camera. The photo snob that is me should know better. *scoffs*

Loc-hawkin' in Atlanta

Y'all know I had to get all fancy for the World Natural Hair show. Don't worry. That red is just some rinse. The loc-hawk was super easy to do. Tutorial coming soon!

The magic of bobby pins

Whoever invented bobby pins needs some kind of medal. My pipe cleaner curls have been a lastin' goin' on 2 weeks now. And I do anything but wear them down. Oh no, bobby pins are PC-curls' best friends. At work I rock a little up-down do...

Hit the jump to see more.

Braided Locs, part II

I've been super lazy with my locs lately. But I don't mind it. I'm not "itching" to do anything and for a color fiend, I appreciate these moments of being satisfied with my locs. The other day I washed and braided them. I've done this before. This time, however, I decided to spruce it up by adding a flower.

'Scuse the blurriness. I've been rocking braided locs for several days now. This is the BEST style ever. Braids make for the best protective styles and last unbelievably long. In fact, unless I wash the locs, the crinkle-effect still goes on strong.

Style for Short-Medium length locs: Nautilus

Gotta love when the ladies with shorter locs do style videos! I am soooo going to try this.





...and for my longer loc rockers hit the jump to check out Chescalocs' original video.

Pipe cleaner curls, part II

In case you needed to see the horror that was Part I, brace yourself and click here. I've learned a lot since then. Hit the jump to see my new and improved edition of the pipe cleaner curls.

Loc Rocker's new look + my anniversary look

I gave the Facebook fam a bit of a behind the scenes look of Loc Rocker's facelift but now the site is fully functioning. And it looks absolutely beautiful, uh? Many thanks to Christina over at Visual Luxe for hookin' a sista up with new look. It was a great start to the kick-off celebration.

What do you mean, WHAT celebration? My locs turn 2-years old in a week.

I know, I know. For those of y'all who have been following me since Day 1, I know you can't believe it either. I know I can't. I'm trying to think of how I'll wear the locs to celebrate. With the holiday season all up on my wallet, going to my loctician *tears* isn't an option. So, I think I'll be revisiting...



That's right. Pipe cleaner curls. So what do y'all think? Yay or nay?

P.S.
Why is Chescaleigh so friggin' cool? She is one of the few natural ladies that I can watch on YouTube who won't put me to sleep because she is so entertaining AND informative. Seriously.

So what do you think, lovelies?

The Long Lost Hairstyle: Curls

It's been a quick minute since I've thrown some curls up in the locs. And for good reason--my locs have gotten too long and too thick to curl. I mean, my goodness. I remember the pre-combined locs days where I could get away with the three locs in one roller but no ma'am, some of my locs are so thick, that I struggle to get them to roll into ONE roller. So yeah. That makes for one frustrating rolling session.

Salon Spotlight: Jill's Natural Hair studio

The night before the Orlando Natural Hair show, one of the organizers asked me if I would get my hair done to be in the Fashion Show. I didn't even have to think twice. Chances are my thick thigh-ed self will never be on any New York Fashion Week runways but do I feel confident enough to jump on a runway that showcases women and their natural hair?

Hells. yeah.

So I was told to go to Jill's Natural Hair studio in Kissimmee, Florida. Kiss is a good 20 minutes or so from Downtown Orlando. I was just happy to know that there were natural hair studios outside of Orlando. That's kinda hot.

Yes, her hair color is insane. I know. I couldn't take my eyes off of her colorful fro either. Jill of Jill's Natural Hair studio was so wonderful. My locs were already washed and ready to go but I loved that she asked me what kind of style I was looking for. I have issues with stylists that just jump in your head without asking you any questions. She oiled my locs with this amazing smelling oil. It was earthy and organic-y and intoxicating. I told her I would buy it NOW. But unfortunately, she ran out.

She gave me a bangin' look though. And in under 5-7 minutes. My photos don't do it justice as it is 4 days old in those pictures. I should have taken pics when I first got it done but a sista forgot yo.

I LOVED this look and got many compliments on it at the Hair Show. I didn't even make it in the Fashion Show. I helped do make-up for the models instead.

I definitely recommend Jill if you're in the greater-Orlando area. She's sweet and attentive and her shop was  clean and inviting.

Rock on, J!

Loc Spotlight: Miriam's updo

Remember when I featured Miriam and her red locs some time ago? Girlfriend just sent me over some photos of hair style she's been rocking and whooooooa....

Insane, right? Guess we know where I'll be running to the next time I'm boppin' around in Brooklyn.

Locks of Nu
5 Rochester Ave
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 221-2175

My crimped locs

Do people even call them that still? Do y'all remember crimp irons? I had one in high school. Which was 99-'03. They were probably so out of style at the time that I had it. Anywhoovers, I kinda dig my locs like this.

And dare I say it, but I loved wearing the braids too. I took them out way too soon. I think they'll make great protective styles. Yes. Even us loc rockers need styles that force us to keep our hands out of our hair and just let it...be.

The ends are tricky though. A lot of them are straight even though I bended them into a rubberband. I also like my roots aren't as frizzy and out of control.

Don't mind the smudged eye liner. It was a super long day. So yes, darlings...that's that. I went from this

To this...

Will definitely be doing this more often. Woot!

Braided locs (the before)

Sooo this past weekend I washed my hair. It was a great wash indeed. I am finding that I have to use A LOT of shampoo though. For the first time I used Infusium 23 leave-in conditioner. This conditioner comes highly recommended from Toshia from On the Road to Queendom. She's been using it for years and she says that it's been great on her color treated hair. I loved it! I added my own essential oils and my hair was softer than usual after a wash.

And then on a whim, I started braided the locs.

I took 3 and 4 at a time and braided as tight as I could. I used aloe vera gel and it look a little over an hour. I made a blend of sweet almond oil,  orange, peppermint and rosemary and ran it through my scalp and braided locs. And I sat under the dryer for a good 20 minutes or so.

Not bad, uh? I actually like how this looks so I've been rocking it just like this. Yeah, it looks a little Celie-ish (10 points if you know who that is...ha!). I'll give it a good 3 days and we'll see how it turns out. The last time I did my hair like this (it was much shorter) I haaated the outcome. Something tells me I may dig it this time around.

Locs at 18 months

Wow. Well....here we are. My locs at 18 months. It's been over 2 months since I've combined them and I was in a serious I don't like my locs rut. It didn't show though. I still took care of them, rocked some styles, jazzed them up with yarn got motivated by fellow loc'ers.

I can't stress this enough--loc'ing is a journey. It ain't all cupcakes and sprinkles and that's okay. The good news is, I'm kinda liking my locs again. Not head over heels in love with them like I was before but I now know how to take a "Your locs are gorgeous" compliment without scoffing.

I'm figuring out that less is more. I know,  I know...I should have known that a looooong time ago. Loc'ing is about simplifying and I've just made the whole process a lot harder than it needed to be. Typical B. I don't have any regrets though, only learned lessons and the desire to share them with y'all.

Soooo, for the first time in a while, I re-twisted. Since I've been swimming a lot, I haven't been re-twisting more than the first two rows of locs.

I finally took out all of the rubber bands and the locs are still looking like 2-strand twists but I've gotten over it. This girl took a look at my locs the other day and was like, "They're looking good. How old are they? 6...7 months?" #agefail And I still want some color but I'll wait a few months for that.

Came up with a new hair style! I call this Dino. It's 4 flat twists in the front and a loose basketweave in the back.

I'm diggin' this updo. And it only took 5 bobby pins! I'm getting better. And I did a video on how I re-twist my locs.








Tis all for the 18th month!

Loc Style: The Atlanta

Yes, I name my styles. Don't be laughin' at me. LOL! I don't know why but this look reminds me of Atlanta. So friggin' random...I know. Anyway---with summer coming up, I am ALL about up-do's and learning how to do them. It's just too dang on hot to have locs on my neck and in my face. Remember, y'all...I live in Florida. Even walking outside to your car can have your face drenched in sweat. Not to mention, I'm not used to having hair this long. I've been natural for 5 years but my hair always grew up and was never in my face. This is new. So here's what I did...

A basket weave in the back...

I'm getting better at basket weaving. It really isn't THAT hard. I'm just so much of a perfectionist that I will re-do it a good 4 times just to make sure it looks decent.

Then there are two flat twists on one side. I secured both with rubber band. I gently retwisted the locs in the front. Everything else haven't been retwisted since the devil was a boy. HAHA!!! 

And then I swooped left over to the other side. Kind of like a "waterfall" affect.

This look would have been 1,099x mo' cuter if it weren't for those ugly behind rubber bands. Yep, I'm still going through combining woes. I just don't like the way my locs look anymore. It's my fault really. I mean, no one told me to combine and secure the ends with rubber bands. And I've combined so many that if I don't secure them with bands, I'll have A LOT of 2-headed dragons. And I really don't like those, y'all. Up do's make me feel better about myself because I don't have to see AS many of those stupid rubber bands.

Okay, enough of my complaining. That's why I've staying away from featuring my own locs for awhile because I'm just not happy about them. Anyway!!! The Atlanta is definitely a functional style that can last a good 3-4 days. I've got another up-do called Waiting to Exhale (oh boy...wait 'til you hear the story on that one!) that I'll feature it soon. Sans my my locs suck attitude. Hehe!!


Other Styles I've done:
-Curly lochawk
-My First Up-do
-The Crown
-Professional bun thingie
-Humpy pinned

How To: Colorful locs with yarn

Who knew something so little could instantly make me love my locs even more? This was so needed because I was in some kind of rut with these bad boys. These colorful locs were inspired by a middle school friend of mine. I swear I haven't seen chick since we were in the 7th grade. But thanks to Facebook, we've reunited and I've been strolling through her loc photo album. She had several colorful locs and of course I told her I was going to try the same thing. It's super easy, y'all.

Purchase some thread/yarn. Any color and brand is fine.

Be sure to choose some that is lint-free.

I can't remember the brand of this yarn but it works perfectly! Although I do wish it had a bit more shine to it.

There is no real strategy or technique when twisting the yarn on your locs. Do know this: it takes a LONG time. It took me a good 10 minutes per loc. And if you feel the need to completely hide the entire loc, well...it may take longer. I didn't mind my hair popping through in this one.

 Or this one...

Start off by tying a knot at the base of a loc. Or in the middle. Begin tying the yarn around and around the loc. It's simple! It's almost as if you are 2-strand twisting your hair. But instead of with another piece of  hair, it's with thread.

The end is tricky. You should be able to tie a knot at the end but I can't seem to do that so I've got some string just hanging. If all else fails, you can use a rubber band at the end. Or add a loc adornment.

Tis all, darlings! This does not damage the locs in any way. In fact, I think it helps assist with the meshing of my combined locs. Removing is simple. Pull on the end of the thread and is unravels right before your eyes. Yeeeep, it's like magic! The thread I selected is also pretty malleable. I can twirl it around my finger to create a curl or tug on it to keep it straight. Loves. this!

I'm on the hunt for more unique colors and finishes of thread. Let me know if you've tried this or will try it!

Natural Hair Show '10: My $10 Do!

Yes...you read right. I got a hairstyle for $10 at the hair show. Craziness, right? There was a vendor that did any kind of natural hair style for only $10. Of course their booth was PACKED the 1st day but I was elated to see it empty the 2nd day of the show. Granted, it was empty because the doors had JUST opened but that's neither here nor there. :)

Comb Coils anyone?

I am really developing a serious passion for natural hair. I mean, granted I've had it for as long as I've been natural but I am really falling in love with it all over again.

A reader sent me this video.

At the end, my mouth was literally hanging open. Comb coils are amazing! I know, I know...my locs were started off with comb coils but I never actually saw the process. I just saw the end result. I think they are absolutely beautiful and I should have considered this as a look when I was a short fro-wearin' natural.

My decision to start my locs off with comb coils was not really MY decision. My locitcian took a look at my hair texture and figured that comb coils would be the best route for me. She was right because within a month, some of my comb coils were budding. A itchy mess, but budding nonetheless.

Comb coils is just another style that makes me love the things that natural hair can do. Yaaaaay!