Welcome back to my blog. I am currently 9.5 months in on this loc journey and loving my hair. People are starting to actually realise that I am locking my hair and have been really interested in my progress.
If you are reading this you may be one of those people considering starting your set or have recently started. Similarly to me, you may have spent hours scouring the internet for information and inspiration, this post being a part of that. It was not until I started my research on locs that I realised there is so much information as well as misinformation. The blessing and curse of the world wide web.
“ I would encourage everyone to do their research, then do what works for their hair.”
Here are 5 myths/misconceptions I believed about locs and realised very quickly were not completely true:
MYTH NUMBER 1: You have to start locs short
For many years, I assumed locs had to be started on short hair. On my hair journey, I have sported all sorts of lengths, from a ‘buzz cut’ to a collar bone fro. Though I didn’t fear cutting my hair off, I had a preference of starting locs at a length that gave me stylistic freedom (or perhaps because I believed the myth about the ‘ugly stage’ – see point 3 below). I wanted locs today or at least the likeness of them.
Honestly, I mostly saw people with long luscious locs. One’s exposures makes an impact on their perception and understanding, and I can say that was true for me. Of course, after research, I was introduced to many men and women who started their journey at various lengths. Starting short was not a hard and fast rule. For some, they may want to cut off relaxed ends or just feel that starting short would allow them to experience this journey in a particular way. Whichever way you look at it, our hair is able to go through the locking process no matter the length, starting at 4 inches of hair or 20 inches.
MYTH NUMBER 2: You have to cut your locs off when you want a change
I envision Locs reaching my tailbone, swaying as I walk…ok maybe not that long but you get the point. Locs are an investment, but the day you are over them and want a change you cut them off and started your hair journey all over again. Right? Not necessarily. Though cutting them off is indeed an option, it isn’t the only way. An alternative is simply to comb them out. Yes, depending on hair length and how long you have had them it could be a tedious process but it is still an option. Some people hold on to the locs they cut off so they have the possibility to reattach in the future. The commitment to this style is important in my opinion, but it isn’t binding in the way that many might think and we don’t have to ‘lose it all’ if we desire a change. Long hair, short hair, mid-length hair, it is all beautiful!
Photo by TUBARONES PHOTOGRAPHY from Pexels
MYTH NUMBER 3: There will be an ugly stage
The ugly/awkward stage, this is when locs are in an in-between length. Some find that their locs may stick up or difficult to manipulate. I quickly found that thinking about my loc journey in the different stages didn’t encourage me to fully embrace and enjoy my hair. There was an obsession to see instant progression and escape the process. No hair should be tagged as ugly. The beauty in this journey is the change we are able to witness. For some, the changes may be a little inconvenient, I’m not even going to front, but that is when the creativity of styles and accessories come in to play. For example, head wraps.
Photo by davidowaga from Pexels
MYTH NUMBER 4: People with locs don’t wash their hair or shouldn’t wash their hair regularly
It is either people assume you do not clean your hair, or you see thousands of videos, blogs and stylist telling you not to. Not washing my hair for an unknown period of time is always a no for me. I couldn’t imagine having a hairstyle that didn’t allow me to cleanse my crown whenever I felt it needed. Some of us experience unravelling of our twists or coils but that is no reason to stay away from washing. Instead, consider trying a stocking cap, maybe banding it in sections or, as I had to do for a few of mine, just re-twist the ones that come out. In my previous post ‘Maintaining Starter Locs’ I share that I no longer schedule washes. As for locs/dreads being seen as dirty and unkempt, its time to unlearn that! Through our cultural lenses, we develop/learn thoughts of topics, that often we have not educated ourselves on.
Either way washing is important, keeping our hair and scalp clean and moisturised is of great benefit to healthy locs and we all want healthy locs! Ultimately, we need to consider our scalps and lifestyles to get the ultimate benefits of washing our hair.
MYTH NUMBER 5: Rastafarians have ownership of locs
Dreadlocks was the name I mostly heard growing up, which was synonymous with being a Rastafarian hairstyle. However, locking hair has been worn by numerous people and religious/faith groups throughout history, but Rastafarians are known to be the group that popularised them- *cue photo of Mr Bob Marley*. That does not means that have ownership of the style. Some, similar to the Rastafarians may choose locs for spiritual reasons and others for something else, and that’s ok.
The diversity of natural hair has is so amazing and gradually a spotlight has been put on locs with so many people seeing the beauty in the style. I would encourage everyone to do their research then, do what works for their hair. Often hair communities create these ‘rules’. Some are great and others restrictive. I am glad to be in an age of YouTube, Loc forums and blogs which allow us to learn from people’s experiences. We can share, be informed and encourage one another on this (individual) journey of change and growth.
What are some of the myths or misconceptions you had about locs? Comment below and let me know.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
