Take Out Your Locs - Courtesy Z of LITK

So I never believed you could take out your locs until I saw this post by Z of LITK. Z took out her locs and returned "Poofy" to the fro! At first I screamed "WHYYYYYYYY!" But then I was intrigued. I saw her with locs and then with the locs picked out. Unfortunately there is no video on how she picked out the locs. However, it is great to know that it can be done and you do not have to cut your hair. Check out the post here and see what her hair looked like after she took out the locs.

Here is the video ofZ talking about taking out her locs.

Here is a You Tube video showing you how to take out your locs. Lots of work but worth it.

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Petaled Loc Fro - Thanks Chescalocs!

I got a tweet from a lady asking about various ways to style her los. I gave some tips but sense that I was not very helpful. Thankfully, I stumbled on this video by Chescalocs showing how to do a Petaled Loc Fro. Too cool I say!

So for our sisters with locs, here is a cool hairstyl to try. And you can do it at home. When you do try it please send pictures.

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Curls on locs

My friend's display picture showed her with curled locs and I asked her how she achieved it.

1) Wash and re-loc hair. I think you can do these curls on hair that is not re-loced;
2) Put in the flexi-rod hair rollers while hair is damp;

 3) Allow hair air dry then use a hand dryer to finish the drying process if necessary;

She did not use any gel or holding product and no holding spray. She said she will use holding spray next time so that the curls last longer.
 

There you have it. Try this out on locs (and "un-loced" hair too) and share your results please.

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Love her locs (and her attitude)

I spotted this lady's lovely locs when I went to visit a client. Her disposition was lovely too! I could not help myself and had to tell her her locs were uber cool and she complimented my twists too. You know how we Napps do! :D

Of course we got talking and I found out her locs are 7 years old. She told me how she went for a job interview when her locs were new: about 2 years old and they "stood up" at that time. Many people close to her said that the employers would not take her seriously with her locs. She made a decision to go for the interview anyway. She had expertise to offer and if the company did not employ her because of her locs, it was their loss. She has been working for the company for 5 years: apparently they took her seriously!

We chatted a few more minutes before I had to leave. One thing I remember is this: she had a big smile on her face throughout our brief chat. I would like to think it was because she was hanging out with me (call me Ms Vain!). Something tells me it was more than that. Her loveliness was from deep within. ;)

Keep it natural (and naturally lovely),

Omozo

"I felt I just needed something that would be me" - Interview with Olapo

I had noticed this lovely lady about a year ago as she went about her work filming the service going on. A year later, I saw that her locs had grown longer and were looking great. After the service, I ran to find her and was able to get a brief interview. Enjoy.

 

My name is Olapo and I have had my locs for like a year and 5 months. Okay before I had the liver* to start locs I used to really admire it on people. It is natural and I like being natural: I like being myself. And I felt I just needed something that would be me and be my signature so that is the reason why I started locs. 

When I started, they were very very tiny popping up on my head. Initially when I started, I was ashamed and so I wore wigs to hide them. After a few months I said what the heck. I work in a bank so I could not go to work with the little tiny locs. So after 3 or 4 months, when the locs were a little longer, I stopped wearing the wigs and started going out with the locs like that and now here we are (points to hair)!

So what did they say at the bank about your locs? No they admire it now.

Really?

When I started the locs at first, it was very tough. But afterwards they started admiring it. In fact, one of my colleagues just went to cut her hair to get dreds. Anytime she sees me she says “I wish my dreds can be like yours”. I tell her that what she wishes now, is what I was wishing some months ago: so you are free to wish and don’t worry you will definitely get there.

Were there times you found it frustrating? No I have always loved my dreds. Because I have very soft hair I can fix a weave if I get bored. Anytime I feel like having my hair touching my back, I just fix a weave. The only disadvantage is I cannot fix a weave that will leave my hair out so I fix a style that covers my whole head.

 

What did your family say? My husband, who was my fiance at the time, loves natural hair. He kept asking me to go natural. In fact, he was the one who gave me the money to cut my hair so that I could start my locs. (She looks over at him and smiles). He loves my hair!

Do you have children? No not yet.

So if you have a daughter will you allow her (she interrupts me) ... No way! She will not relax her hair no way! I see these little girls with hair damage from relaxers. No way! Until she finishes secondary school and she is 18 ... even then I will discourage it!

So what is next for your hair journey? I just want it to grow. I am really enjoying it now. It moves and it is growing longer and it is healthy. I am enjoying it.

Keep it natural!

Omozo

*To have "liver" in Nigerian slang means to be bold.

 

"Having locs makes a lot of sense for me" - Interview with Bibi

My "Napp radar" went off one day while on a work assignment with a colleague. And that's how I accosted Bibi. Bibi allowed me to ask her some questions about her locs and her natural hair journey. And at some point Tinu, my colleague, also got into it! Bibi is a business owner and she owns and runs "Be Dazzled Events" in Lagos Nigeria. Her email address is: bedazzledng@gmail.com. We had so much fun with her that we ended up being late going back to work! Ooops! Enjoy.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your hair

My name is Bibi and I have had my locs for 3 years and 5 months. I decided to grow locs because I prefer natural hair and I don't like going to the salon. I don't do my hair myself. I am too lazy for that! I have a friend who has had locs for 8 years and she says I should do my locs myself and I say "Nah I am too lazy for that!" My hairdresser is really good. His name is Jato. He is in Surulere off Adeniran Ogunsanya. He is pretty good. But I hate that they put me under the dryer because I hate the dryer. But they have to put me under the dryer so that my hair can dry after re-locing. 

Bibi on misconceptions, starting locs, and hair growth

When I was in university, there was this stereotype that if you have dredlocs you must be un-serious and smoking weed. So I waited until I finished school. Just before I went to serve in the NYSC, I started my locs.

You see people get it all mixed up and wrong. There are places where you get your locs started and they put a lot of rubbish in your hair! You hear of toothpaste, Gulder, Stout. They mixed a lot of rubbish and put it in my hair and I hated it. There was no difference between me and a bum: my hair was smelling horrible! And then you have flies following you. It was horrible! And then you find out that the best things for your hair are the natural things. Shea butter that’s all. You don’t need all that rubbish. Just Shea butter. 

You know all these guys are always trying to tell you that they will make something for you. “It will make it grow faster”  and all that. Then you ask “What’s inside that stuff?” and he says “It is a special thing” and then I say “You know what? I am not in a hurry. I am enjoying it. It will grow when it is ready to grow." And I like short hair. It will grow when it is ready to. So it started growing by itself. 

Bibi on stages of her hair growth

The best part was when it started standing. Then it started falling because it was growing. Then it started dropping. 

Tinu, my colleague: But right now your hair is very long. I don’t know. I know it is full. I can’t see the back so I don’t know how long it is. I show her the picture of the back of her hair and she smiles.

You should have seen me when I started packing it. I was feeling so cool with myself when I could pack it in one! I would put it in a Mohawk. Sweep it up to the side and pin it. I had so many pins. I would put my locs in a Mohawk. I was so cool. Too cool for school!

Bibi on why she has locs

Having locs makes a lot of sense for me. People ask me “Don’t you get tired of it?” People cut their hair because they get tired of their locs. That’s not me. What’s my business with Yaki and Brazillian and Peruvian and all those things.

Tinu: You save a lot of money

I do my hair once a month. Do you know what that means? I spend money once a month, one day a month to do my hair! I can swim anytime. I can pour water on it anytime. I can do anything I want to do at anytime and I don’t have to spend N150,000 (approx. $900) per week, times two, for serum and all that. You women have wahala (wahala is Nigerian slang for problems/troubles/issues/difficulties)!

Bibi on products and hair routine

My friend says that there is a particular brand or product apart from Shea butter that I can use but I don’t pay attention to all that. I keep it simple. I use Head and Shoulders. She says I shouldn’t be using Head and Shoulders. But I use Head and Shoulders because that it the only thing I know that fights dandruff and that’s all. Head and Shoulders, Shea butter and maybe once in a while I put in some Organics hair spray.

Bibi on what her family thought when she started her locs

What did they say? They said I was mad! Then my cousin said she wanted to get locs too and then they said to her that one mad person is enough per family!

And one more thing

Going natural is a mind change more than anything else. Going natural or getting locs starts with a mind change first before a "hair" change. If you don’t want to play with your hair all the time get locs.

 Keep it natural!

Omozo

Augusta's Curly Locs - By Ibhaze

Augusta and I work at the same office. Augusta has lovely locs and for some reason I never thought of interviewing her for the blog! Imagine that. So I asked her about styling her locs and here is what she said:

"I have had dredlocks for four years now and trust me apart from the initial thrill that your hair is long and beautiful, not to mention all natural, the reality dulls the thrill. I am bored. Same look, same mirror image. It's all a boring tortured circle. I decided to spice my looks up but what do I do? Hmmmmmm. I made cornrows with my dredlocks, for a change. Then I remembered what a friend told me once (my dear Ibahze). She said that I should wet my hair when it is in cornrows. So day two of my cornrowed locks I wet my hair and allowed it to air dry and then applied baby oil to it.

It looked funny when I went out but I braved it up with fashionable droopy earrings. Then came day 4. I had a date, so I decided to take out my cornrowed locks and voila! I got curls! Real curly girly curls! I looked so hot I couldn't stop staring and smiling sheepishly at me. Very simple way to look diffrent when you are tired of your straight locks and it is something that can be achieved over the weekend to make people oooh and ahhhh over your locks come Monday. Now I am loving this new and easy discovery. I have learned to spice up my looks and the curls can stay in for a minimum of two days.

Who says your dredlocks can't look divaliscious?"
 
Ibhaze

"I am loving my natural me" - Interview with Olawunmi

 Sunday morning our "Napp radar" went off! Oghomwen and I started looking around and we spotted Olawunmi with her cute locs. Olawunmi is bold, not afraid of new things and of course is enjoying her loc journey. Enjoy!

 Name? Olawunmi Olusile.

Where are you from and where do you live? I am from Ogun State Nigeria and I live in Lagos Nigeria.

What do you do? I work as a Business Development Executive at Onward Paper Mill.

Where can we find you online?
Facebook: Olawunmi Olusile and;
Twitter: @jassy2002


How long have you been natural? 4 years.

At one time you had your hair relaxed. Tell us why you decided to go natural. I have a very tender scalp and my scalp used to get sore when my hair was relaxed. I also got tired of thinking of hairstyles to do.

How did you go natural? Did you transition or did you do the big chop? Did anyone help you or encourage you? I actually had the big chop and started from the low cut. Nobody helped me. I actually felt I had come into myself and an 'au natural' look was what I needed.

Did you get locs immediately or did you rock your short hair for a while? I got locs immediately so I have had my locs for 4 years. Oh *LOL* it took like 6months of consistent locking before my locs were fully formed!

Do you have a “hair mentor” or “hair crush”? Hmmm ... believe it or not, I used to like Eric Bennet. I like India Arie.

Why locs? For me it's very easy to manage. I almost never have a bad hair day.

What’s your hair regimen? Wash twice a month, loc once a month.

Where do you get your hair done? Jatto Salon: 56 Mba Street, off Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere Lagos (Nigeria). Phone no: 08023428410.

Products you would wait in line for? Now that my hair has grown and is longer, I hardly need any "specific" products. But when I was growing it then, I was always on the look out for Organic Roots products .

How do people react to your locs? Positive, or negative or just odd? Well, basically reactions are mixed. Some go "Oh I love your hair" etc. With the older generation there is this kind of look I get, but I could care less! *LOL* Because I know my locs actually suit me. Over time they forget I have locs and seem to believe I have braids on.

If you get negative comments who are they from and how do you deal with them? Lucky for me, people don't really 'verbalize' their negativity to me so I don't really get negative comments. It is usually just that look and I don't let it bother me because basically I am a soul that lives within and I am not my hair.

Comment about locs in your school or place of work. Do you feel awkward about wearing your natural hair to school or work?
Work place: I have been lucky over the years to have worked in semi formal organisations, so my hair is not a problem.
School: Yeah, back then before I had these current locs, I had done one in my 200 level. Of course my lecturers complained, so I took them out. But all that is behind me now. I am doing my Masters now and nobody even notices the hair. Or maybe they do and they know it is not in their place to say anything about my hair, after all it is a post graduate study!

What hairstyles do you usually wear? Why? Most times I just pack it into a pony tail when going to work. On weekends I let it down. And sometimes I do corn rows with it.

 What do you like best about being natural and your locs? It gives me an earthy look, and the fact that I know not every body can wear locs and still look beautiful! ;) LOL

What do you hate most about being natural? Nothing, I am loving my natural me!

Have you ever had an “Ooops!” or “OMG!” moment with your hair? Tell us about it and how you resolved it. I hardly ever, and if it does, I just let it fly and use an alice band, or something, to pull it back.

What do you say to people like you about getting locs? Just do it!

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Extension braids on her locs!

Tosin changes her hairstyles more than I do! Those who know me, know I change it up a lot. I have met my match in Tosin. Tosin wears weaves, wigs and braids too! We interviewed Tosin in September (see interview here) and she was rocking her locs.

I saw her on Sunday and she was rocking extension braids and I knew she had not cut her locs. Don't ask me how I knew, I just knew. Okay ... I have that hair radar thing going on. I digress. Anyway, I gave her the "Do not tell me you cut your locs!" look and she responded by giving me the "You know I would not do that." look. Whew!

Can you see the locs at the top of her head?

So on Monday I had to ask "What did you do to your hair Tosin?". She smiled and said "I got braids". I kind of figured out that she got braids - that part was clear. "How did you do it?" I probed further. "The hairdresser put one loc in each braid. And for the smaller locs, she put more than one loc per braid." Tosin said. I wish she had taken a video or pictures while her hair was being done. I know! I know! Not everyone is thinking of making a blog post out of their hairdressing experience.

Now you see them - Tosin with her locs in September 2011

 


The point is: you can experiment with your hair even though you have locs. I guess being able to get extension braids or a weave will depend on the fatness of your locs. However, be creative and try new things with your hair. And when you do, please tell us about it too.

Now you don't - Tosin with her braids today (October 2011)

Anyway, Tosin has on the cutest red coloured braids and they suit her. Perhaps not as much as her locs but hey, I am biased!

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Guest Interview with Jumoke

One day Omozo and I had just finished Sunday service at Daystar and we both happened to be standing and chatting with another natural haired lady when Jumoke  and her beautiful locs passed by us. We just had to stare at her momentarily. A few seconds later, I chased after her to get her information. When I caught up with Jumoke and struck up a conversation about hair,  she was very friendly and open about her natural hair journey. And that's how we came to this interview. Allow me to present to you...  Olajumoke Alawode-James.

What do you do?

I am an entertainment practitioner. I organize events and I’m into media as a broadcast journalist.

When did you start your locs and why did you decide to loc your hair?

I started locking my hair in April 2004. My hair was getting damaged by relaxers and I wanted it to be full and long as it was before relaxing. I thought having locs was an easier way to maintain it natural.

How was the experience of locking? Were there times when it was difficult?

I loved it from the start. When it was shorter I had to go to the salon more often but later, once a month or even longer and my hair never ever smells. If I don’t re-lock in a few months though, the under-growth intertwines and joins and it becomes painful. It has never been difficult.

How did people react to your locs when you started locing?

It had become a new trend in 2004 with notable people having locs. I still got a few stares from people who just assumed it was some hairpiece. But when it became longer people could not understand why I wanted my hair like that “for the rest of my life”. Now its just admiration. I have influenced a lot of family and friends into having their hair loc'd too.

How do you maintain your hair?

I have a hair dresser. Bobby’s signature and Dorna Moderna in Opebi. I re-lock once a month or longer.

For those who are thinking of locing their hair but are afraid that they may be viewed negatively, what do you have to say to them?

People view you negatively for many reasons and a lot of it borders on their own insecurities. I see envy in the eyes of people and regardless of what they say, I am happy and I love my hair to bits. You must want your hair loc'd badly enough to carry your head with pride in the face of scorn. And people have come to accept locs now. It’s not as bad.

Anything else you would like to add?

My pictures say it all.

Interview with Abi

Abi is a gifted and skilled poet and writer! And she not only rocks lyrically, she rocks lovely dredlocs too. Last Thursday, we posted an email she sent to us. View her email here. Plus, she will be sharing her work with us on the last day of the month; starting in October. Enjoy her interview below.

Name? AbiodunTemitope Idowu

Where are you from? Badagry Lagos State, Nigeria [residing in the UK]

What do you do? I'm a writer-poetry and short stories. I also volunteer as a teaching mentor at my local library and also volunteer as a Human Resources Consultant and Administrator at my church.

What is your passion? I love reading, writing, and having interesting food to try.

Where can we find you online? On the following:

http://abidowu.vpweb.co.uk/

http://www.writeoutloud.net/poets/abi

http://abiwritesatnight.blogspot.com/

At one time you had your hair relaxed. Tell us why you decided to go natural? It was a nightmare to keep in the English weather and also expensive. Besides for a very long time, I had wanted dreads but never dared while I lived in my mother's house back in Nigeria.

How did you go natural? Did you transition or did you do the big chop? Did anyone help you or encourage you? I went to my hairdresser then and asked him to cut my hair, that I wanted to start dreads but he was horrified and refused. So I sat at his chair, pick up the scissors and chopped off my hair! He had no choice but to neaten it up. The next week I went back and persuaded him to start locs. They were tiny; they looked like popcorn!

Did you grow out your locs immediately you went natural or did you wait for some time? I had been growing out my natural hair under the relaxed for a while, so I had huge undergrowth which I started locing as soon as I could.

Why locs? For me, they are natural, all my hair and the most worry free hair I've ever had and as I suspected, it suits me lol.

How has the locing journey been so far? It didn't start out rosy. Infact, I had such massive opposition about them. I had everything chucked at me: theories of madness, invitations to hairdressers to 'sort me out' etc. I still get the occasional 'Oh so you still have them, when are you cutting them off?'

So you got negative comments? Any positive comments when you started locing your hair? More negative than positive. Amazingly, my mum was the first to say something nice about them. She liked the fact that they were neat and looked straight. Later some of my friends started responding better to it.

Why do you think people responded negatively? I think personally that its the whole myth malarky of being associated to madness, then a bit of jealousy about my expression of my individuality set in. Funny enough, men respond differently, they want to touch it and smell it. I can't count how many times at church I've had my head upside in church while people run their hands through it, trying to find a join or just check the texture-many free head massages I tell you!

How do you deal with negative reactions? I ignore them. I love my hair; its me. And the person I was worried the most about-my mum-likes it so the others can take a hike! That's what I say.

What’s your daily hair routine? I wash my hair once a week, but I daily rub coconut oil in it and tress it out, removing kinks. Then at night, I spray jasmine oil on it and wrap it up in a hairnet or silk scarf, that's why its so glossy and long.

What do you like best about having locs? I can swim or walk in the rain with it and not bother. It is defining and when taken care of, it can look really beautiful.

What do you hate most about having locs? My hairdresser comes to neaten it up once in 3 months, that's when I hate it, the pain!

Have you ever done anything to your natural hair that made you say "Ooops!" or "Yeparipa!"? If so, what was it and how did you resolve it? I've dyed my hair blonde and it wasn't a fab look, but I brazened it out for about 2 weeks and dyed it back to black as soon as I could-Never again!

What do you say to others who want to grow locs? How about those who are having challenges at work because of their locs? Make it your own! Look at the shape of your head and check which would suit you. Make sure its always neat, glossy and inviting. Once people start stopping you in the street about your hair-know you're doing good. Remember there will always be haters who hate you being an individual. Tell them Jesus was a Nazarene (its true, no blade touched His hair) and you're His child. Enjoy your hair.

Spoken word or written poetry? The natural bounce of my hair echoes the rythmn of my hips; they sway inviting the curious touch; my lover smells my hair ; inhaling jasmine kisses and coconut hugs; my hair falls; natural to my back, thick , black, luxurious; so very me.

Thank you. and God bless xx

Keep it natural!

Omozo