Loc Lesson #1 Color with Caution

As I continue with my new loc journey, I often find myself reflecting on my first set of locs and all of the knowledge I gained.  I not only expand that knowledge as it relates to my current loc journey, but it makes me feel the need to share it with others.

So the Loc Lesson #1 is "Color with Caution".  I frequently see many people with beautiful locs of all different shades and hues.  Although I have colored my hair in the past, I now have learned that when one has locs, coloring must be approached with extreme caution.

With my first set of locs I colored my hair a total of four times over the five year period that I had them.  I took time and great care to apply the neatly and evenly.  I also washed the color out until all of the hot water was gone to try to ensure that no dye residue was left behind to damage my precious locs.(This was always my biggest fear because I had a friend with locs who lost several because she did not rinse properly and fell victim to over-twisting, but more on that later), so I didn't want to take any chances of suffering the same fate.

But...even with all of the precautions that I took, I still ended up with severely dry locs that seemed to dry out even more as they matured.  No matter what regimen I adopted to combat this problem nothing seemed to work and this ultimately led me (along with the fact that i wanted to comb my hair) to take down my first set of locs.

The problem as I see it in retrospect:  The dryness developed when I colored my hair honey blonde.  Out of the four times that I did color my hair 3 of those times were shades of blonde.  Therefore my advice would be:
1.  Stay away from colors that are several shades lighter than your natural hair color.

2.  Use natural, gentler hair colors such as Naturtint.  I have used this brand before, the only con is that it fades.

3.  Try other even more natural alternatives such has henna and indigo which condition the hair while depositing color at the same time.

4.  Color your hair before you decide to loc.

5.  Enjoy your natural hair color.

Ultimately the choice is yours, just make sure you do your research first and weigh all of your options carefully!

Who's Looking?

So with my decision to freeform my locs, arose so many feelings and anxieties. Personally I like the look of my hair and to me there are more pros than cons that come along with the decision to freeform. Then, I had an epiphany...as I looked at the list. Check it out!!!!

Pros

No product buildup

Hair can be shampooed as often as I like

No fear of overtwisting, thinning locs

Encourages a simplified regimen

More focus can be placed on care and health of hair

Cons

Manicured appearance is lost (depends on perspective)

Societal stigmas and prejudices will be faced

Negative stereotypes (unclean hair, unkempt, etc)

People asking me when I am going to get my hair done

People staring at my hair with disgust and ignorance
Interviewing for jobs

What I noticed about these lists were that all of the cons dealt only with the thoughts and perspectives of other people and this lead me to embrace freeforming as a lifestyle to apply to all areas of life. I have felt the stares, but have yet to have anyone to actually say something to me about my hair. I have decided that I will try my best to educate them, but if their inquiries and tones require that they be educated and blasted I will do both simultaneously, served with a smile!

This list has really opened my eyes to so much in my life. It made me question...Who's looking? This simply means when you view yourself and make decisions that will affect your happiness, whose eyes are you using to see who you really and whose standard of beauty and standard of life and living are adhering to?

What this list suggested to me is that for me to NOT choose to freeform would mean that I value to world's view and the opinion's of others more than that of myself. When I began to take this approach it made me know that I had to choose and decide based on my own feelings and desires. But it also made me curious to explore myself more in this manner...to see what is really underneath it all.

Introduction

Recently, I have decided to free form my locs. With this being my second loc journey and I am 5 months in, I was beginning to get bored and frustrated with my hair. I was actually considering combing my locs out and going back to being a loose natural. The thought of spending endless hours on my hair gave me second thoughts though. So I decided to research free form locs.

I was surprised to find that there was very little information available on the process and how few people, especially women decide to take this route. What I did find out is that I am and have always been (even with my first set of locs) a semi-freeformer. I like to go quite some time in between retwisiting my hair. There are several reasons for this (1) I like to see my new growth and touch it, (2) I do not like the look of over-twisted locs. Some peoples locs never swell because they constantly retwist on a daily or weekly basis and this is not healthy for locs.

So because of my decision I have started this blog and I see freeforming as a lifestyle and an idea that can be applied to life, love and hair. I hope that you enjoy reading my thoughts and experiences as I attempt to live free, love free, and free my hair---truly!