From my earliest memories, I recall how vital it was to appear put together.
It was a painful, all-day process.
A memory that sticks out from childhood was going to the pool.
Photography by Lelanie Foster
I would watch all the other little girls doing cannonballs and playing mermaids.
Their hair would fall down their backs like in the movies.
I remember thinking how unfair it was that my hair restricted me from the simple pleasures of my youth.
A photograph of the author as a child.
A photograph of the author as a child.
Then, I was thankful for it, but it quickly became a habit detrimental to my self-worth.
I felt confident when my hair was done in my preferred style, a silk press.
The author with microlocs, which she says have given her more hair-confidence than ever.
But when it wasn’t done, I became reclusive.
I would skip school if I couldn’t get my hair to look how I wanted it to.
So much so that I was almost held back a grade.
Quammie, a TikTok creator, says having locs has helped keep her hair healthy.
I felt judged by my family, my peers, the world, and myself.
This is where the cracks started to form.
Flash forward to adulthood: I am working my first corporate job.
Al-Nahdy began her loc journey alongside her mother, joining seven other loc’d women in their family.
And my hair was becoming harder to manage without my father’s financial support every two weeks.
Finding a new stylist in a new city was difficult and expensive.
My hair, now more than ever, needed extra TLC.
I would get braided styles back to back to avoid dealing with it.
What used to be soft, easy-to-detangle curls became brittle and matted.
I stopped going out.
I stopped taking pictures of myself.
And my self-confidence was the lowest it had ever been.
I wasn’t alone in the sentiment.
Many of my girlfriends had expressed the same frustrations with their hair.
I started looking at my options.
Cut it short again?
Too costly and requires a lot of maintenance.
My hair was already thin, and the chemicals would further weaken my strands.
While doing my daily scroll on TikTok, I came acrossImani Goodridge.
Would I be able to care for and style my locs on my own?
During my consultation, it was recommended to go for braid locs instead of twists.
It took three locticians a total of 12 hours of work.
It was an exhausting and laborious process, but it was so worth it.
The author with microlocs, which she says have given her more hair-confidence than ever.
I now can wake up and go.
I don’t have to fuss with slicking my hair back into a ponytail to look presentable.
Even without a fresh re-tie, I still feel like me.
I am more confident in myself and my hair now than ever.
The years of tying my self-worth to my hair were over.
I’m not alone in this pursuit of hair freedom.
Shortly after I loc’d my hair, my mother decided to loc hers.
HairstylistCamille Friendcreated the locd style forLupita Nyong’oinBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Shes also behind the locs seen on Halle Bailey in the upcoming live-action version ofThe Little Mermaid.
“As the world celebrates Black culture, it is a natural progression for a resurgence in locs.
Locs are a cultural celebration of Black hairstyling.
They allow people to wear their natural hair and celebrate their Black heritage,” says Friend.
But outside the Black community, theres still a stigma surrounding the style.
And because of the stereotypes that locs are dirty and smelly.
Natural hair can be frizzy at times and should be accepted within society.
Locs are a protective style to keep your kinks and coils healthy and strong."
Quammie, a TikTok creator, says having locs has helped keep her hair healthy.
“I think it is ridiculous, the notion that locs are unprofessional.
How do you equate professionalism with a hairstyle?
This stigma is based on people’s fear and lack of education.
The beauty of Black hair is about the freedom to wear your hair how you choose.”
All hair requires maintenance; hair is alive and holds energy.
Locs are simple to preserve and maintain with the correct technique and products," she says.
Clients and actors deserve a skilled professional caring for their hair.
Imani Goodridgewas nine years old when she had her sisterlocs established.
“I swam competitively for about seven years.
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Thats just one example of how having locs has positively impacted Goodridges life.
“Sisterlocs have gifted me with freedom and given me back my time.
By sharing her own journey with locs, Goodridge hopes to empower others to try the style.
Life’s too short to care about other people’s opinions.”
I’m glad she left me with such a beautiful parting gift.”
[Having locs] is a crash course on patience and true self-love."
Al-Nahdy began her loc journey alongside her mother, joining seven other loc’d women in their family.
Quammie started her loc journey for this reason to reconnect with her natural beauty.
Having locs also helped me explore my creativity with different hairstyles on TikTok.
My hair is a part of me.
I’ve been watering my locs daily and feeding them positivity.
I have never been happier.
This is a journey of self-love, happiness, and confidence, says Quammie.
Make it a point to uplift their hair choices and take pride in your own.
