Choosing My Beautiful Loc Journey

Inspired

Surprisingly, I have begun my loc journey. It has been about 5 months now. I have always loved locs, I have always believed that they are beautiful, and I have always admired women who wore them proudly. Even still it was so difficult to imagine my own self going through the journey. When I was at the age where I could choose how I presented myself, I was used to relaxing and flat ironing my hair regularly and that is what I was comfortable with. Growing up getting relaxers for as far as I can remember, any type of natural hair style was a no go in my brain. Although I admired women who could “tame” their natural hair, I was kind of forced into my natural hair journey.

The Beginning

My natural hair journey began when I became pregnant with my daughter. I was well into my first trimester and I was overdue for a relaxer. I contemplated it for a while and weighed my options because I heard that it could have some harmful effects on the baby. I know that sounds bad that I was contemplating but I’m being honest! I decided that I could not survive without the relaxer. I bought a relaxer kit and applied it but with the coarseness and thickness of my pregnancy hair, the relaxer had no effect at all on my hair. It remained extremely curly and thick.

Maintaining

For the remaining of my pregnancy I wore full weaves and occasionally braids- protective hair styles. At that time, I didn’t consider them protective hair styles, I considered it covering up the mess of hair on my head. My hair was damaged and I was noticing that as healthy new growth could grow and stay on my head without getting relaxed after two weeks. With the new growth, my relaxed ends began to get thin and I began to have breakage at the line of demarcation. That transition was truly an ugly phase for my hair but it was well worth it and I cannot say that I would have taken that leap at that time if I had the choice.

Positivity

After my pregnancy, I chose to stay away from the relaxers and continued to wear various protective styles. I began to embrace my natural hair as I noticed the healthiness that I never had before. I enjoyed my new-found curls and volume my hair now had. I was no longer subjected to flat hair and I loved it! I really felt set free from the hair crack. Honestly this process took about 2-3 years. I finally was completely comfortable with my hair when I could confidently walk out the house in a cute twist out style, or even a full-on afro. I wore protective styles less and less and learned how to accept and wear my natural hair.

Acceptance

Accepting my natural hair was truly the first step to even imagining my loc journey but now my hair goals are clear! What are your hair goals? What are some things you think may make it difficult for you to accomplish them? Let’s have the conversation!

-TeleAramaine M

Natural Hair Enthusiast