Considering that my first set of locs were more like "insta-locs", I wanted to put a little more thought and care into my second set. The "insta-locs" came from letting my hair remain in the state to which it took after removing extensions that had been in for an extended period of time. It seemed like a good idea at the time...

In a little over a year a majority of those locs had shed and I was not very happy with my hair. I removed the remaining locs and went back to a tweeny weeny afro (TWA). I would not recommend locing in that method to anyone!!

When I decided to loc again, I wanted to go through the process- to "guide" my hair into being what I wanted it to be. Again, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
If nothing else, locing teaches you that you can only control so much. The things that have a life of their own- tend to live it the way they want to. The key to success in locing- LEARN TO ACCEPT IT FOR WHAT IT IS! True, it's just hair; but it's hair that comes naturally out of your head and does what it wants to do.
If I had had things my way- my hair would look a lot like this:

, and in a year, like this .
(Photos from Mandisa-Ngozi Braiding Photo Gallery).

Reality Check...

My reality check was realizing, I just didn't have that kind of hair! I soon learned about "hair typing". I personally find Andre's Walker's hair typing a bit confusing- especially when you start talking 3b, 4a, etc. A new system entitled LOIS was much more to my liking. I have LO, thready hair. What that finally translates into- soft, dense but thin hair. There would be no standing locs on my head...:o(.

Sometimes you have to rethink the process...

After a month of unsuccessfully 2-strand twisting my hair, I finally decided that braids were the were to go. I sat up one night (couldn't sleep due to illness) and finger parted my hair and braided my whole head. I was more interested in making sure I had a good root bed than whether my parts were well done. I knew that eventually my parts would disappear. Bad root beds were the reason my first set of locs shed, there was nothing to hold onto when the weight of the loc started pulling on the root. What I didn't know at the time, is that I could have "tree-ed" the locs to help build the root bed. Treeing is taking two locs and "marrying" them, or twisting them together. The root will become a single lock, while the length of the loc will be two locs. I'd like to avoid having to tree my locs, but at least I'll know how this time.

Allowing your hair to loc is truly an interesting and sometimes entertaining experience. My little braids were kind of curly and poked out in all directions. Within a few months they started to straighten and eventually they lost their braided look. In the meantime, I was experimenting with hair products. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is when you find something that you think is good for your hair. It makes your hair feel the way you want it to feel and you use it faithfully, until one day you notice your hair is "different". In my case, I was using a set of products that were formulated for locs. There was a shampoo, leave-in conditioner, sheen spray and locing creme. Everything smelled good and made my hair feel good. The problem was that my hair was taking on a "grey, overcast" look. All the products contained shea butter, and shea butter was not good for my hair. Over time, I was getting product buildup and it was turning my hair grey. I had joined an on-line group, Lovinlocs, and thanks to the advice from a great lotician, Camille Robbins, I was able to rid my hair of product by using a clarifying shampoo (Neutrogena Clean).

Now that I was no longer using the same products for my hair, it was time to do some research into what I wanted to use on my hair. I knew that I had dry brittle hair, so I needed something that would help moisturize and add nutrients. Although I (sometimes) participate in one on-line group, I am lurking in several others. There is a woman, Sandy Fields, who moderates a couple of the Yahoo groups and has an excellent website. She was supplying a lot of information as it regards essential oils and making your own hair spray. Now there was an option, making my own concoctions to use on my hair! Soon I had a daily hair spray using lavendar and rosemary essential oils, water, almond oil and tea tree oil. (As was stated on several occasions, ESSENTIAL OILS ARE NOT TO BE PLAYED WITH! Do your research and make sure that you are using something that will not cause a bad reaction on you). When I apply my daily spritz, it helps to freshen my locs and gives them a wonderful smell.
Now I had my daily hair spray, I needed a new shampoo for normal washings. An aside: I did wait about three weeks to shampoo my hair the first time- after I braided. I knew that my hair would fall apart easily, so I wash it very gently. I try to never agitate my hair. I wash and dry my hair in one direction, running my fingers down the locs, from the top of my head towards my shoulders. I rinse my hair often, about once or twice a week. I shampoo about once every two weeks. I wanted a shampoo that was relatively pure yet got the job done. There was a lot of positive discussion about Dr. Bronners Pure Castile Soaps, so I thought that I would give it a try. I started with Peppermint. It has a very lively, wonderful smell- and oh the tingle!! I loved that soap! Unfortunately, my hair didn't like it. I felt like it was leaving a film behind everytime I shampooed with it. I switched to Dr. Bronners Almond Soap, and I continue to use it today. It makes my hair feel clean, and it supplies some moisture as well.

Moisture, moisture, moisture...

In addition to having brittle hair, I also have dry scalp. I had heard about using apple cider vinegar (ACV) on the scalp in order to stop itching and flaking- so I tried it. The one really negative thing about ACV is the horrible smell!! The first time I used it, I used it as a rinse after a shampoo. I couldn't believe how bad vinegar can smell when it being rinsed through your hair. (I was using the two bowl method, where you pour the vinegar/water mixture from one bowl onto your hair and collect it in another bowl to pour over your hair again). There had to be a better way! In one of the groups there was a recipe posted for getting rid of itching and flakes, and it had ACV in it. However, there were also essential oils. I made up an 8oz bottle of the stuff and wow, what a difference. It was the same recipe as my daily spritz, just add 1-3 tablespoons of ACV. Spritz twice a day and, for me, the itching and flaking were greatly reduced inside of one month. Although spritzing is wonderful, eventually my hair would dry and sometimes my scalp felt really tight and dried out. I found a product by Organic Root Stimulator, Carrot Oil, that was perfect for me. I use the carrot oil about once every two weeks to keep my scalp feeling moisturized. In addition to that, Organic Root Stimulator makes a leave-in condition that I use after shampooing. It makes my hair feel soft and wonderful.

Everything is as it should be...

Moving through this loc journey- (and it is a journey!)- is a wonderful time of discovery. Discovering new products and new ways of doing things. I never liked twisting my hair. That's a bit too much manipulation for soft hair like mine. I also didn't like the idea of twisting the new growth, I could imagine myself twisting the hair right out of my head. As is the case with quite a few people- I developed hand-in-loc disease early in my journey. Hand-in-loc disease is the irresistable urge to twist your hair while it is dry. Not a good thing. Your hair has limited elasticity (the ability to stretch) while it is dry. If your hair is brittle, it will break. You will notice hair loss when you shampoo or when you do your daily maintenance. NEVER TWIST DRY HAIR! I quickly got over hand-in-loc disease- I didn't want to lose any locs. Now the question was "Do you want to tighten new growth? If so, how? Then along came Cherie King. Cherie talked about latchhooking your locs in one of the on-line groups, (she now has a book detailing the process). I'm a crafter from way back, so I knew exactly what she was talking about. I ran out and bought a latchhook and the rest is history. I now tighten the new growth about once every couple months. For me, tightening the new growth does a couple of things- it lengthens my locs and makes them appear neater. I like having the "minifro" underneath the locs, but after a while I need to get to the new hair growing in, so that I can incorporate it into the existing locs. By incorporating it, I'm helping to strengthen the root bed of the locs. I prefer the "cultured locs" as opposed to the "freeform locs". There is nothing wrong with either style- its just a personal preference.
Now everything is in place and as it should be: I have a daily maintenance routine; I have a shampoo and conditioner that I like; I have a method for tightening the new growth. I can keep my hair moisturized and healthy. Styling options are still available with loced hair- as it grows out, I will incorporate more styles. For now, having the coils and "coil outs" is great for this length. As you will see, I also want to add decorative features. Cowrie shells, beads, sleeves- I want it all!

It's not over till it's over...

As sure as the sun comes up each day, there will be new products and new techniques to come along. For now I am happy with what I have, but I will always be looking for what is out there to be discovered. I want to stay in touch with what others are doing and discovering as well. So, here is some unsolicited advice:

• Make sure you understand the committment to locing. Unlike braids, you can't just take them down when you get tired of them.
• Your hair will loc in its own time and in its own way. As much as we would like some assurance that it will only take x number of days, or that it will grow a certain way- it is highly dependant upon the nature of your own hair. Learn to accept yourself as you are.
• You WILL have days when you look at yourself and wonder, "WHAT HAVE I DONE!!". These are the days when you have to really reach down and decide where you want to go. These are the days when you begin the personal discovery in the journey. Are you merely measured by the state of your hair? Do you have more to offer the world than what is on top of your head? I'm sure that you will find the answer most enlightening.