How to Wake Up with Your Hair Already Done

There are two ways to wake up with your hair ready to go; the easy way and the hard way…

The First Way to Wake Up with Your Hair Already Done:

One way is to get yourself loc’d.  Of course the style is not for everyone, but it turned out well for me. 

For years when only a few people were loc’d, my heart wanted to try it.  But I was not brave enough.  Then I found myself in a situation that made it easy to decide what I had wanted to do for years.   It was one of the best decisions I have made.  That was seventeen years ago.  

Reasons I am in LOVE with Having Loc’d Hair:

• keeps me out of the hair salon, so it’s cheaper than other styles
• it is waterproof; I don’t need to run out of the rain (unless it’s curled)
• it is versatile
• there is no breakage, my hair is healthy and strong
• gets me out of the door much more quickly – since the hair part is done
• there are no bad hair days
• there are no concerns about humidity
• I can ride on the back of a motorcycle or in a drop top without worrying about what my hair is doing
• rollercoasters? no problem

Right now I am at a point where they are too heavy to keep the length.  I have decided to increase my undercut and shave the sides up a little to decrease weight.  Even after all this time, I am pleased with my choice.  If my 12 year old self could see me now! 

An Essence video of a small collection of men being interviewed about their thoughts on black women’s hair was very enlightening.  It revealed that the men in the video:

• were confused themselves about what natural hair is; two men cited Beyonce as the best example of slayed hair, but later said they did not prefer weave. 
• are clearly not able to grasp what a monumental task getting and maintaining straight flowing hair is when your hair has a natural coil pattern.  To have hair that is coiffed all the time would require a team of stylists on call.  One guy cited Prince as someone he saw with flawless hair all the time.  I would love to give him an estimate of Prince’s monthly hair budget.  Apparently there is some crazy disconnect between certain men’s preferences and the cost of that preference. 

As ridiculous as the video was, it did give me some insight.  

One of the men said that he wished woman could wake up with their hair already done.  A light bulb went off in my head.  While I watched I thought to myself women want to know how to do that and I know exactly how!

Tips to Getting Loc’d Hair: 

• Get a consultation at a shop
• Understand that it is not a completely care-free choice
• Know that you will probably need help during the budding stage and expect to pay for help until they are loc’d.  This time frame will vary depending on hair texture. 
• Decide on thickness.  Be sure to discuss (approximately) how thick you would like yours locs to be.  This is an important step that I skipped.  If I had understood this critical point, I would have made a point to insist that I have 50 locs or less. I have twice that instead.
• Acknowledge that the skinnier your locs are, the more time it will take to maintain them.  I typed that already; it bears repeating.
• Every person has a different combination of hair textures on their head and yours is unique.  Your loc journey will be unique too.

There is certainly maintenance when your hair is loc’d, but it isn’t in the mornings when it is time to get out the door.  The maintenance can happen in parts too.  You could do the first four rows in the front only and be ready to attend a special occasion. 

The High Cost of Salon Styled Hair

There are times when I would rather someone else do it.  Even if I paid to have it done all of the time (I don’t), I would still spend much less than what it costs to maintain a weave or relaxer.

The cost of relying on hairdressers to take your hair to a level that you cannot maintain by yourself is a nice chunk of money.  And it doesn’t last.  I recall getting my hair done on a Saturday morning and by Monday it looked like I had done it myself.  I said all that to say that waking up with your hair already done is also economical.

So after about a year of going through all the beginning phases of getting your loc’d hair to mature, learning your unique hair textures and what products (or lack of products) that you prefer, then you will be able to walk out the door without giving your hair any attention.  It will add weeks to your life. 

But first it will teach you patience.

The Second Way to Wake Up with Your Hair Already Done:

Get a TWA or a bald fade.  These are the women who are really free.  

Have you have ever thought about getting your hair loc’d or cut to less than one inch?

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