16 Years in the Making: My Loc Story Unraveled

How My Locs Became a Symbol of Strength and Self-Love

Aug 15, 2024

Hey, fam! For 16 years, my locs have been more than just a hairstyle—they’ve been a journey of self-discovery, growth, and, yes, even a few battles with the status quo. This story was supposed to be part of a collaborative series, but since that’s dead, I’m bringing it straight to you on my Substack. Let’s unravel the story together, one twist at a time.

The Beginning: Perms and Pruning

It all started when I was nine. That was when I got my first perm. If you have ever had a perm, then you know the drill: sleek, manageable hair comes with promise, side effects like chemical burns, not to mention a lot of maintenance. For years, I rode that rollercoaster in search of that "perfect" look that society had programmed into us.

Then came college. I don't know if it was the new environment, the freedom, or just the fact that I was tired of frying my hair every couple of weeks, but I decided that was it. I was ready to let my hair breathe and be its natural, glorious self.

The Transition: Braids and the Big Decision

So, I started wearing braids. It was refreshing—a good change through which I could slowly start to see the idea of being natural. After a while, I yearned for something more permanent that truly felt me. That's when I decided to loc my hair. In 2009, I decided to do it, and, man, was it ever exhilarating and intimidating at the same time.

Locs felt like coming home. Something about embracing my natural texture, letting it twist and coil into something uniquely mine, was incredibly grounding. But as anyone with locs will tell you, it's not just a hairstyle but a journey. And mine has had its fair share of twists and turns.

The Quirk: Love It, Then Cut It

Now, here's where things get weird with me. You see, I have this thing where I am in love with my locs until I'm not. Every couple of years, I get this itch. Not the figurative one, though—let's be real—if you've ever had locs, you know the literal itch is, in fact, real—but this need for change—cutting it all off and starting over.

I've been running this cycle for 16 years: growing my locs, falling in love with them, only to wake up one day and feel like they gotta go. Maybe it's like my version of shedding skin—to renew myself. My hair is shorter every time, but I embrace the new look.

The Influence: Bob Marley and the Twelve Tribes of Judah

Another major influence that made me loc my hair was my interest in Bob Marley. In 2009, I deeply enjoyed his music and the Rastafarian culture. I wanted to be a Rasta—in particular, align with the Twelve Tribes of Judah, under which Bob Marley belonged. I was really into it; I stopped eating meat and tried as much as possible to live the lifestyle.

Well, one day, life just happened, and I woke up feeling that part of my life was done. It was nothing drastic, but I felt I had taken what I needed from that experience and was ready to move on.

The Red Phase: A Bold Statement

In 2023, I was grieving the loss of my father the year prior, and I also broke up with my then-boyfriend. And y'all know the saying when a woman dyes her hair red, it is a sign of serious change. So, I dyed my locs red, and then it was like this moment, and I loved the color, but maintenance was another story. I did it all alone, with no professional help, and for a while, this just got to me with the upkeep. Eventually, I just got frustrated and dyed my hair black again. Yet, that was an experience that made me fall in love with changing up my looks.

If I had my way, I would dye my hair green next. It is not very fitting, but to me, something about green hair looks cool in my eyes. But you know how it is—I am not working right now, as many of you read on my "Color Me Employed" newsletter. So, a plunge into wild hair color isn't in the cards yet. But a girl can dream.

The Present: To Shave or Not to Shave

I am sitting here, pondering another huge change. I to want to shave my hair and start over. Maybe that is about control, embracing change, or just keeping things interesting. Whatever it is, I'm learning to listen to my gut and go with what feels right now.

My loc journey has been much more than just a series of hairstyles. It's reflected my growing up, struggling, and finding my identity. Instructed to embrace change, love natural beauty, and realize that hair is like life—in the journey, not the destination.

Thanks for taking the walk with me down memory lane.