Why did I choose to take them down?

I used to work as a bank teller.  About 3 years ago, long before I had even considered going "loose," I had a customer ask me about my hair.  She was a young black woman that liked to wear this cute little curly wig and as I'm counting out her paycheck on the counter, she asked, "How do you discontinue them?"  I was confused.  Discontinue what?  "Well," she continued, "How do you take them out?"

Okay, I understood.  It seemed like once my locs grew to shoulder length, I started getting more and more comments about how pretty my hair would be if was straight.  I explained to her that you have to cut your hair (going on the info I had at the time), that there was no way to "discontinue" locs.  She picked up her money and shook her head (one of those "damn shame" head shakes) and said, "Well, that would have been the whole point of getting them, so I could grow my hair out."

I always wished I would have said something like, "No, you're missing the point," but I didn't.  But I'll say it now.  If anybody is getting locs to grow their hair to shoulder length or bra strap length or ass length just to pick them out and enjoy long flowing hair, they're missing out on a wonderful experience that is just about enjoying the process.  And since long flowing hair probably ain't gonna happen anyway (due to shed hair, breakage and pure nappiness), they're probably wasting their time as well.

Growing locs was probably--those were the best years of my adult life.  I had an awesome loctician that became one of my best friends. During this time, I met my boyfriend; I started writing again.  Y'all.  I fell in love with me. 

And that's at least part of the reason why I didn't want to cut my locs off and toss them in a large Ziploc bag somewhere.  Silly as it may sound; I wanted to keep some part of that experience.  It was right for me.  And I don't regret it.

Of course, that's only half of the story.  When I first went natural, I only stayed a loose nappy for about 4 months.  Less than that, actually.  And then I was locked. Again, it felt right at the time and I have no regrets, but knowing that I had never experienced my hair in it's natural state for more than a couple months was also a deciding factor in my decision to pick my locs out instead of cut them off.

Since I went natural, I've gotten some off the wall comments.  I've been called lazy, cheap, unprofessional and my favorite: "too pretty to wear your hair like that."  Someone told me (which I thought was rather bold) that I obviously had too much time on my hands to go through all the trouble to taking my locs down.  Whateva.  When I took my locs out I had a job, I was a full-time student and mama, I was in a relationship and I was finishing up a manuscript.  What folks consider a "waste of time" is relative to that person.  I picked my hair out while I was helping the kids with their homework, or when I was reading or studying or watching TV. 

I've been "loose" for almost a year now. I experienced so many ups and downs, growth, breakage and split ends, not to mention my rudimentary styling attempts.  I discovered henna and Qhemet, Nexxus and Trader Joe's (stuff I never paid attention to as a low-maintenance locked head).  It was NOT easy, but I've been loving this chapter of the journey.

Comments

[camille]

Very good post! I have had my locs for going on seven years now and sometimes people ask me questions about changing my hair, keeping the length and wearing it straight. For me that is absolutely out of the question. Unlike you I wore my hair natural for about five years before loc-ing and before that was a cavalcade of disastrous relaxers. Of course, now I know a lot more about hair care then I knew before but for now I couldn't imagine loc-free. Even when I decide to be without locs, a relaxer will never sit upon my head again. I'll be nappy and happy...until I go galloping back to locs again! :)

[Jac]

Superb post, and so true about the comments people make about natural hair (I've been told I'm mad, I've too much time in my hands etc too).
Funny, I was searching 'henna glosses' on google and was directed to your blog? Still, I'm glad I found it and will visit more often. I've just recently had a BC (4th one!) and I'm only just learning about caring for nappy hair like it should be cared for. I'm so glad for you to have realised you don't need to snip your locs off to get loose hair. I've a blog too, so you may add me to your links - I'm definitely adding you to mine. Take care, bright blessings!