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Recently a client combed her locs out to go to loose natural hair. *See a picture of how we styled her natural hair at the end of this post. There are many reasons why this is considered an option, especially when locs are well into adult phase.
Back when I first started tending to natural crowns in 2000, there were 4 stages of locs growth.
Since 2019, some natural communities refer to 5 stages of locs. In my professional opinion, in the "newer stages" mature / rooted are redundant.
Baby/Starter
Budding
Teen
Mature
Rooted
Often in mature/elder phase, atrophy occurs which means the oldest hair at the ends start to unravel or get weakened. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to prune or give the locs a trim. At this stage, once the ends are trimmed depending on the texture of the hair and the fact that the locs are compact, the hairs at the bottom of the loc where the cut occurred could stay compact or just curl up.
Now that you are familiar with phases of locs, let’s go back to some important things to look out for that may make it beneficial to consider transitioning out of locs.
1. Take note of excessively thinning hair in some areas. Notice if it is a pattern. If tenderness, redness or irritation exists, it may be best to consult a dermatologist who can analyze the scalp for onset alopecia or CCA which has become more common in African American women in recent years.
2. Analyze any patterns of stress or hormonal changes that may be affecting hair growth that you may need to talk to your doctor about. Sometimes our bodies are alerting us to where deficiencies may be present and more often than not, the tell tale signs start in our crowns. Look for ways to eliminate stress if you notice this is a factor. You may also want to look into hormone balancing tinctures or herbal blends to help.
3. Make note of any new medications that may be contributing. Some clients take medications related to blood pressure and may need to be researched further to see if it is the cause of some hair loss.
4. Examine the patterns of styles that you've had while wearing locs. Are you constantly wearing up do's or styles that are pulled up too tightly? Do you tend to keep those styles in for a long time (longer than two weeks?) Your scalp and hair may need a break from those.
5. And lastly, sometimes, you just may be a season of wanting change. A loc bob cut or some pretty layers, bangs or just a big chop may be on the horizon for you. It's time for a new direction and let's be completely honest, when you LOOK good, you FEEL good.
If #5 is where you are right now, I can help you. Book a consultation at BookSankofaSpalon.as.me
If your hair isn't becoming to you, then YOU should be coming to ME.
