1- You have to be prepared for negative "reactions" from family, friends and even colleagues. Growing dreadlocks is mentally, physically, and spiritually challenging. It would help if you spoke to your family and friends before you grow your locks so as to understand their feelings toward the matter and even their reason for having such an opinion. This will help especially when the whole world seems to have turned against you. You could have a talk with the Human Resource Manager at your work place to get an idea about the company's policy concerning locks. Be prepared for rejection. There are companies that will not employ you or will fire employees with locks. I remember a friend who had to wear wigs during interviews and the first days at a new work place and after a while reveal her locks. In some countries Locks is not a good enough reason to get fired, but it is not to be hired in the first place.
2- Locks need lots of attention especially in the early stages. Locks are not an instant hairstyle, they require lots of TLC, and you can't just wake up one day and undo them like braids. Locks will test your last nerve when it comes to patience.
Locks like any hairstyle require maintenance. All those that say that locks look good even when dirty lied.
3- Considering Locks require lots of maintenance, I guess you should consider whether you will have enough time to take care of them or if you will require the services of a Loctician (a person specialized in locks). Locticians are quite expensive though depending on where you are. Some areas almost don't have any.
Success in your decision making and preparation for Locking
Hi Cee,
ReplyDeleteIt's so true that some places don't want to hire you because of dreadlocks. That used to happen here in T&T. But now dreadlocks are the in thing. Locticians are sprining up everywhere. Even 'rastas' who've had their locks grow the untidy way are now going to Locticians to neaten them up.
It's time to really stop 'frying up' our hair and just leave it natural. It looks so much more beautiful and healthy.
Hi LisaG
ReplyDeleteNice to hear that the negative perceptions are reducing in your country. Those with the untidy locks better have them tidied up, they usually don't look so appealing. I guess the more people who lock up the less they are deemed a "criminal" Hairstyle.
Hi Cee
ReplyDeleteAs a sister with 'good hair' (a term I have always despised), and who is a executive in management consulting, imagine the response I got when I decided to dredlock my hair. But this is my second year with locks and I am sooooooo glad I went there. I have done absolutely everything to my poor head and now I feel liberated. I am American but have lived in England for 12 years and the attitude here is MUCH more laid back about cultural hairstyles. If I was white and had locks it might have been a problem but as a black women -- no one blinked an eye professionally (I even changed jobs in this recession and got promotion with dreds). Personally, my family and friends were less adaptable. My father hates them, my mother is learning to deal, my husband who is English has been very supportive and encouraging. I cheated a bit, I grew my natural hair for like 4 years so it was already shoulder length when my first twists were done. I really admire you for starting from 'scratch'. Hang in there and be proud to embrace your hair as god made it.
Hi NeeNee65, thanx for stopping by. With such encouragement, wish many more people could read your story. Dreads are not easily accepted everywhere but in Germany I have noticed more germans are locking, so less people find the hairstyle wierd, though they still ask if it's real or someone attached them.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your promotion and please do feel free to share any tipps you may have to make the locking process easier for other "sisters"
Hello I have been locking my hair for about 5 years now and I recently moved to Dusseldorf, Germany I am searching for a loctician but have not been able to find one does anyone know a person I can get my hair done?
ReplyDeleteHallo Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI would encourage you to twist your own locks, it's really refreshing knowing when you can do it and how you can do it. If you still do want a loctician, I'm sure there are a couple in Essen and a few in Düsseldorf but I don't have any addresses nor can I vouch for they competence. You could try and google for addresses....
Hi Cee,
ReplyDeleteI recently started my locs. I had a friend of a friend do them for me out of her shop. It's only been a week but I have some concerns. Some of my parts/sections are alot bigger than other. Others have noticed and commented. I told the girl that did my hair that I thought some of the squares were too big. She said because my hair is fine and soft in more places than other, she had to do some bigger because the loc would be to small and break off. My hair has been natural for 2yrs. Yes it is fine and soft but it's healthy. I'm concerned when my locs start to thicken I'll have some small ones and big ones. By the way, she used the comb coil method with gel and some of them came loose after the 3rd day. I had to retwist. Since they haven't locked yet should I have them redone sizing them all about the same.
Thanks, Les
Hallo Les,
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like the way they look, I would suggest you get them redone. It's easier to redo them now than wait until their long and looking funny. Not unless you have bald spots, I don't see any reason to have different sized locks.
My suggestion, if they look funny have them redone, it'll save you the heartache.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI´m posting from Bergen, Norway. I just had my natural afrohair interlocked about 6 months ago and they´ve not "settled" yet so I have twisted them with extensions so they look better. I´m a bit worried that they might damage my locs? I´ve had these twists for three weeks now and hope to keep them another month or so while waiting for my locs to mature. No locticians in this part of the world:-)
Hallo Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteif your twists were done well they won't damage your locks but will instead help them lock without you always worrying about how they look. All the best in your journey....
Hi Cee... I, myself have done many foolish things to my hair that cause alot damage. And one day I realize that I was not being true to myself about who I am and I how I allowed society to dictate who I am, because I was begiining to let my hair grow into natural stage (what God have given me) and free from all chemicals, but yet I would hide my natural hair with diguises, such as wigs and weaves which after a while appeared to be very ridiculous! That I had to ask myself "Why are you hiding your hair?" "Are you ashamed of your hair or of yourself?" And I woke up one morning and decided that if I not am ashamed of my hair or myself. My hair is also apart of who I am! And it just hair!!! Because with or without hair doesn't change who I am as a whole and after playing with numerous natural hairstyles I decided to a two strand twist that I like alot that later became the love (locks) of my life 4 years in the making. And as far as comments.... I receives postive and negative comments about my locks, but I continue to stay strong and keep up the maintenace and keep a creative hairstyles, (of course I take care of it myself) which some how tends to be funny, because those whom to see to be so against it also seems to admired them. Now I am making profit from them (lol). The point that needs to be made we all need to learn to be comfortable within ourselves that we may find love, peace, understanding and happiness or nappiness.
ReplyDeleteHallo Anonymous, that a great story you have shared with us. It's great to be comfortable in your own natural skin and hair, if you like who you are, it doesn't matter what the rest think.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is cedrica and i have always wanted to grow locks but i never had the will power to do so. My hair is just above my shoulder and relaxed and i have reached a point in my life where i am ready to start my locks. I live in TnT and i have grown my husband locks from the start and have maintained it for the last 9 yrs and i am so jealous because i was suppose to start mine at the same time but i was not spritually ready for it and i was concerned about what people would think of me but not anymore i have recently found myself and with the support of my husband and daughter i am ready. i should say i am 6 months pregnant and i want to know what is the best course of action to take in starting this lockin process and if you can recommend anyone in TnT that can aleast compare to your standard of doing hair.
ReplyDeleteThis is cedrica again i just wanted to clear up that my hair is chemically relaxed
ReplyDeleteHallo Cendrica, I'm very happy for you. Especially on finding you and your confidence. It always takes time but better late than never, and having yaour family support you makes it even more fulfilling. Sadly I don't know any locticians from TnT, but why don't you have your husband return the favour? You did care for his didn't you. No one ever said it, but locking hair can be turned into a romantic experience.
ReplyDeleteAs for a method to do your locks, I would suggest using natural methods not only cause your pregnant but also for the sake of feeling free from all the toxins you had from relaxers. Twisting is quite easy for most people and considering you can use honey to do it, I guess you can't go more natural than that can you?
All the best on your upcoming baby and the locks. Please share a picture with us when you're ready.
Great tips and ideas. I have had my locs for 10 years. In the early stages, I received some bad reactions from one family member (my father-- he never wanted us to marry someone with dreadlocks but he has a daughter with dreadlocks go figure) and my then boyfriend (now husband-- please note my husband loves me and my hair. it was just that he wasn't used to the idea and has since gotten over it). People get over the idea that you want to wear your hair in dreadlocks because they just do. If they don't then it's just that person's problem. You can't force people to accept it. But you can ask that they respect your choice (and keep their comments to themselves). I also experienced the employment aspect because I went to job interviews with my dreadlocks out. It did not phase me if they did or did not want to hire me because of my hair. I was kind of in a daze and figured if they did not want to hire me because of one minor thing then I wasn't meant to work for the company or place in the first place. I consider myself lucky to have this mentality because I was able to find and keep jobs because once they get to see me and my quality of work they don't have any questions about my abilities. Moreover, I always get the hair questions so I don't mind answering them because people ask after the hiring process is over.
ReplyDeleteHey Latrice,
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing your story and keep up the positive attitude, the only thing you can control is your own attitude and reaction.