My red Locs 1992
I’m going through that phase again where I find myself thinking about what I’m going to do with my hair next? And I seriously considering locking again. As some of you already know, I’ve had Locs three times before. My first set of Locs were started in 1988. I loved them, but I abused them with way too much coloring. At the time, I was really into having that ‘just so right’, auburn hair color. And I was like a fiend. I wanted my hair to grow out of my head that color! Not to mention, in addition to coloring the roots, I would also color the Locs themselves, over and over again. That’s a big no, no! Or shall we say, it’s a great way get your Locs to be dry and brittle. So they began snapping off (2-4 inches at the tips) making the length very uneven. So I cut them off around 1992. The reaction was tremendous, some people acted as if I had cut off their Locs, instead of cutting my own. They said things to me like, ‘I loved your Locs, how could do that’? It was pretty funny!
Second set of Locs 1997
I started my second set of Locs around 1995. I knew better than to ruin them with color this go around. It is my belief that color (particularly permanent color) is not good for your hair or your body organs. But that’s another story. I digress! I colored those Locs sparingly and they were a beautiful set. But alas, after four years, I was bored again. I also began to notice that once my Locs reach passed my shoulders, they just felt heavy and I started having neck aches. They literally became a pain in the neck. So at first I cut them short, but I wasn’t really feeling that. So a few weeks later, I just cut them off.
2nd set cut shorter 1998
For my third set of Locs I decided to go with Sister Locks and I began them in 2003. The only down side about Sister Locks is having to braid them when you shampoo for the first year or so until they actually lock. Other than that, I really liked them. I found them to be versatile and easy to style.
Sister Locks w/ blue tips 2005
When I got bored, I colored the tips, just the tips with the semi-permanent color line known as Manic Panic, in one of my favorite colors, turquoise. That was fun! This was before EVERYBODY was wearing fun colors. So having that color turned heads everywhere I went. Four years into my Sister Locks I cut them shorter to a Bobb style and wore it that way for a few months before cutting them all off. I was really ready for something new.
Chubby Twists 2009
It was 2008 when I cut my Sister Locks off. I felt I needed a change after five years. I wanted to try a few choice styles like Khamit Kink’s Chubby Twists.
The A-Nu’Fro 2009
After I had the Chubby Twists (a kinky weave) I decided I really wanted to wear my own hair, and I started wearing a style we coined the A-Nu ‘Fro. I love that style. It doesn’t take too long to have it done (2-3 hours) it lasts up to three weeks, and it’s easy to maintain. The only maintenance required was to lift up the roots in the morning using an Afro pick to even it out, after sleeping on it all night. You then finger comb it into shape, oil the scalp with Anu Essentials hair oil and go.
New cut & style 2011
My hair started getting pretty long so this spring I decided to it short and wear it without having to get a wet-set, which is what the A-Nu ‘Fro is. Instead, I just use products that hydrated, moisten my hair and defined its natural curl. What did I use you asked? Well, I’ve been testing products for my soon to be launched product line for Anu Essentials. But I have also used Jane Carter Solutions, Curls and Hair Rules. They all worked well and I had varying degrees of results with each of them. It’s been fun playing with my own texture and seeing how many different ways it can look from day to day , product to product. With this new look though, I’m wetting my hair nearly everyday to achieve my style and I don’t mind that since it’s warm outside. But you know I’m not going to be wetting my hair everyday once the summer is over. So what to do next?
In my garden I grow plants the way I grow hair, with love
Honestly, I’ve been thinking about the Sister Locks again. My only issue is that I want to have Locs when I want them and I want to be able to wear my hair loose when that mood hits me too. I’ve been thinking there should be a way to do both, but I haven’t figured that one out yet. In the meantime, I am trying to get myself ready for the fact that I’m probably going to be locking my hair AGAIN! Life goes in cycles right??? In any event, I know once I lock my hair I’m going to have many days when I wish it was loose again. That’s why it’s taken me so long to get back to the Sister Locks. I thought I’d wear my hair loose for about a year, but it’s going on three years and I haven’t made it back to Sister Locks yet! But lately I find myself thinking about it more and more. I see sisters with Locs, Sister Locks at the salon and all around in New York and I start pining for them again.
We’ll see. I’ll check back in with you in the fall. Oh yeah, and let me not forget the matter of wearing a hat with loose Afro hair. That’s a pain! In the meantime, what would you do? Would you continue to wear you hair out or would consider locking for a fourth time?
Ask Anu 