My loc FAQs and common comments

Locs, dreadlocks, dreads, rasta or whatever you want to call them, I’ve found that there’s a lot of curiosity about the hairstyle. In the year and a half that I’ve had locs, friends, family and strangers alike have had no shortage of questions and comments. In this post I’ll discuss a few of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and typical comments I receive to help shed some light on the misconceptions and address some of issues people express interest in.

So, you just stopped combing your hair?

There are many ways to start and maintain locs. In my case I used comb coils, also known as comb twists and sometimes I simply use my fingers to twist my hair. Palm rolling, backcombing, two strand twists and interlocking are some of the ways to start and maintain locs. Another way is to simply stop combing and brushing one’s hair, which will result in the formation of freeform locs. I find that most people think freeform locs are unattractive and inherently dirty. But this is not necessarily the case. Folk musician Valerie June’s freeform locs are a case in point. They’re big and a little wild and there’s a beauty to them. At least I think so.                                                                                   

Valerie June

Image credit: valeriejune.com

Getting back to the assumption that locs are dirty, one comment I’ve received often is, “Wow, your dreads are so clean!” However, locs are not inherently dirty; it all depends on how much effort the loc wearer puts into keeping them clean. In the baby or starter loc stage, contact with water typically makes the hair unravel but ultimately, dirt and excess oil slow down the locking process. At whatever stage of a loc journey, regular washes are beneficial and it’s up to the loc wearer to decide what frequency best suits their hair.

How long have you had them?

This question is less interesting than the way some people react to my answer. For instance, at 9 months one gentleman responded with, “You’re lying. There’s no way your dreadlocks can be this long after only 9 months, you must have had them for years.” This gentleman and many others seem to think that locs have to be started on super short hair. However, one’s hair doesn’t have to be of any particular length before starting locs but the shorter it is, the more difficult it is for new locs to hold. For anyone planning to start locs, there’s no need to first do a big chop. Ideally hair should at least be about two inches long before starter locs are installed.

Below is a (fuzzy) picture of me with 2-week old starter locs. I trimmed my hair before starting the locking process and have trimmed it several more times over the last year and a half but there was no need for me to cut it close to my scalp.

One of the rare images I took during my starter loc phase

Are they permanent?

Yes and no. Most people think that locs cannot be combed out but it is possible. With a lot of moisture, conditioner, time and patience, it’s doable. However, it largely depends on how long you’ve had them and the method used to create them. The more mature locs are, the harder it is to comb them out.

Locs cultivated by finger coils, comb coils or palm rolling are easier to remove than those cultivated through the interlocking method.  Size is also a factor; the smaller and more mature locs are, the more difficult it is to comb them out. Sisterlocks, a tiny form of locs created through a specialised method are a case in point.

Sisterlocks

Image credit: going-natural.com

Maintaining your hair must be expensive

Again I say, yes and no. The cheapest way to maintain locs is to do it yourself. At times I’ve simply bought locking gel as well as a few other products and for months taken charge of my loc maintenance. However, I’ve also found a hairdresser I trust, so when my schedule won’t allow me to dedicate as much time as I’d like to retwisting and styling my locs, I know where to go to save time. Obviously, getting your locs done at a high-end salon will cost more than at your local market. Maintaining locs can be easily affordable or make a real dent in your wallet depending on where and how often it’s done and the types of products used.

You must be afro-centric

I got this comment even when I had loose hair and wore an afro or two-strand twists but I hear it a little more often since I started locking my hair. Wearing a bright patterned dress and with my hair wrapped but not completely so as to reveal my locs one man looked me up and down, settled his eyes on my hair and said, “You look so natural and African, your husband must be proud.” Stunned and amused, the only words I could string together were, “I’m not married.”

While a certain level of pride in my hair prompted me to go natural and later start locking my hair, my styling choices often have a lot to do with practicality and not just a desire to honour my heritage. One thing worth remembering is that locking of hair is not a practise for black people alone. From Nazarites in biblical times to Hindu holy men and women, Aboriginal Australians to Maasai warriors, a variety of cultures and religions have adopted locked hair as part of their lifestyles. Therefore, I’m not too quick to describe my locs as particularly symbolic of my ‘Africanness’ or African pride.

Aside from assuming I’m particularly afrocentric, many also assume I’m some kind of artist. Singer/songwriter, poet and novelists are some of the guesses people have made. It’s flattering, but all wrong. I can’t sing to save my life, nor am I a creative writer. There’s no one-size-fits-all career path for people with locs; I’ve met loc wearers who work in a variety of fields, some creative, others not.

Afro-centric, creative, artistic, my locs communicate a lot whether true or false

Are you into reggae?

Often people want to know whether I’m a reggae fan or more specifically, if I’m into Bob Marley. An old school mate I bumped into recently asked if I was a Marley fan and then answered his own question by saying, “With that hair, of course you are.” I am fan now but also in my younger days when I had bone straight relaxed hair so the locs are really a factor in my musical tastes.

Curious about locs? Drop a question in the comments section and I’ll (attempt) to answer you.