Me and my locs

My locs and I have been getting along lately. I don't know if there's really anything different going on. I really think it's more me. I have become a little more patient and accepting during this process that we call locing.

There's a sister here at work that was locing her hair. You wouldn't have known it to see her since she always had a wig on. But she would ask me about my hair from time to time and finally stated that she was locing. She wasn't ready to show the corporate world her babies, so she opted to wear a wig. But then wondered why her hair wasn't locing at the rate it should. Well I saw her a few weeks ago and although she's still sporting the wig, she told me that locing wasn't for her. I completely understood because I kind felt she wasn't ready for the journey.

It took me a while to accept me and my decision to loc. I also went through questioning myself, wondering how I would be accepted by my peers, friends, MEN, etc. But then I came to realize that it wasn't them that I had to be concerned with it was all about me. Once I made my decision then the real work began. But here I am almost 18 months later and I wouldn't change much.

I would still loc but I would have gotten bigger partings. I wouldn't have been the product junkie that I've become. And I would have adopted the habit of keeping my locs covered. But overall I am happy with my progress and look forward to seeing my locs continue to mature and change as I continue to mature and change. Right now they are in a good place and I think that's because I'm in a good place.

My current maintanence routine:

• Shampoo with dish detergent every two weeks. Yes, I read about this on some blogs and decided to try it. It's seems to be the best thing for getting rid of all the residue and build up. I don't use a lot.


• ACV rinse. I only do this, maybe, once a month. I found my hair a little dry when I did it more frequently.


• Condition once a month or every 6 weeks. Right now I'm using Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner. Again, I don't use much, mostly water with a little conditioner mixed in.


• Rinse my hair once per week. I give my hair a nice wet down once a week in the shower.


• Brush my locs. I don't do this daily, but when they seem to need a little pick me up I get out the brush and go at it.


• Palmroll once per month. I try to only palm roll my full head once per month. In between, during my two week shampoo I might to the very front, but it depends on how fuzzy I am around my edges. I use an alchohol free clear gel, I can't remember the name, but I know longer mix it with oil. That seems to be what was attracting dust and lint.