No, I don’t style my own hair anymore.

Unless you consider a ponytail or a messy bun to be a hairstyle. As my locs have grown, styling has become more of a challenge. I do occasionally curl my hair with loc loops, when I get bored.

Lock Loops

My Lock Loops arrived in the mail.

DIY and salons

dyed black w/ brown highlights

I’ve been a DIYer for several years. Partially for financial reasons, partially for personal reasons.

I didn’t know how to take care of and style my own hair until my early twenties. Until then I relied on other people – braiders, stylists and kitchen beauticians – to do my hair. It became a running joke in my family that I would never know how to do my own hair.

Hair tools and accessories

A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.

I’m a pretty low maintenance locer but there are a few tools and accessories that I find absolutely essential.

(Pardon the wrinkled background.)

Summertime – gratuitous hair pic

I love the summer. The thing I have really enjoyed about having natural hair is that I don’t have to stress about getting it wet.

3 years

I haven’t posted much due to being busy and not having much to say. But it is my 3 year anniversary, so here is a picture post!

2 years, 7 months

The fine art of not caring

You’ll never get a job with locs
You’ll never keep a man with locs
You’ll never be taken seriously with locs
You’ll never…

Loc naysayers are a dime a dozen. Friends, family, popular culture and people on the internet are quick to tell you what you will never be able to achieve with natural hair or locs. It’s messy. It’s unprofessional. Employers, interviewers, and men are disgusted by it.

I’ve gotten a lot of criticism for what I am about to say, but I am going to say it again. I don’t care.

Locs, meaning and stigma

I have read and participated in a few discussions in various places about whether or not there is a stigma against locs, what it means to wear locs, and in general how acceptable it is to wear locs. These conversations seem to come up on a monthly basis, but given the number of online locations to discuss locs and natural hair and the holiday season (nothing like family to make you question your choices and motivations), the topic is very hot right now.

November 2009 locs