T.B. LOC’D - MY MICROLOC JOURNEY

I can’t believe I actually did it! 35 hours of Netflix, girl talk, and an extreme amount of patience. I am happy to announce, I am officially loc’d and loaded.

The past 5-months have been some of the best weeks of my life. The time and money invested in starting my loc journey has been well worth the freedom and time I’ve received in return. One of the greatest driving forces in my decision to loc my hair was the need for more time in my days and weeks. As a wife, mother, career women, entrepreneur, and leader in my community. Juggling many hats forces me to reevaluate how I’m spending my time, and led me to explore the idea of loc’ing my hair.

Like many black women, I transitioned to relaxed hair at a very early age with no say in the decision making process. Over the years, I wore weaves. Mostly, sew-ins and braids. With the constant manipulation and minimal education on how to properly care for coily hair, I found the need to cut my hair and start over a number of times due to breakage from heat and color. I grew tired of the constant state of unhealthy hair, and decided to get my big chop on August 8th, 2020. Black hair in its natural state is one of the most beautiful gifts on earth, and I grew to love my twist-outs and much appreciated the healthiness of my coils.

2 years into my natural hair journey, I began to grow tired of the long wash days and the need to decide my next style. Although beautiful, managing and maintaining my 4C hair was time consuming and quite frankly, it took up time I did not have to spare.

Over the years - Relaxed, Natural, and Protected — Over the years - Relaxed, Protected, and Natural

The decision to loc my hair was not an easy one. I enjoyed the versatility of my hair, and was fearful of losing the ability to switch up whenever I want. I also heard stories about the phase immediately following installation and did not want to experience the short and not so cute phase. The days leading to my install date were both exciting and nerve wreaking.

We completed my install on February 5, 2023, and it was love at first sight. At times I find myself, saying “I cannot believe I went through with it”, but I did and I’m ecstatic about my journey.

Here are a few photos of the first eight weeks of my journey.

If you are contemplating starting your loc journey, I encourage you to take the plunge. I promise you will thank me later.

Here are a few things I recommend you do and consider before taking the plunge:

Identify your why

This is an investment of time and money. The cost for an initial install varies by location, your loctician level of experience, and size. Expect to pay a minimum of $800 for installation. Depending of size, your install can take several hours to a few days. While we can make money back, time is the one thing we can never get back. Be sure to give your decision enough thought and commit to the process.

Research the different types of loc

Sister Loc’s and Micro Loc’s are extremely popular right now. However, traditional loc’s are still a thing and there are so many ways to start your journey. Some begin with two-strand twist, braids, the interlocking method, or a combination of sorts. Do what is best for you! You may be wondering the difference between sister loc’s and micro loc’s, I’ll write about the difference in another segment and why I choose micro loc’s.

Find inspiration

Start a Pinterest Board, join a Facebook Group, and search instagram for inspiration. Not only will this help you decided, but it will also help your loctician to understand the style and look you are trying to achieve. To seal the deal and overcome my fears, Pinterest became my best friend.

Look for and interview Locticians in your area

Locticians are everywhere and Facebook Groups are great resources. If you’re leaning towards Sister Loc’s, be sure to visit the sister loc official webpage to find a certified sister loc loctician.

Schedule a consultation with your preferred loctician

During your consult, your stylist will complete a set of tester locs to check sizes and see if they will hold. This is usually a few locs that can be taken out, if you decided not to move forward.