Model Name: Rockinlocs

Zodiac:  Leo

Relationship Status: Married

Rockinlocs is author of How to Retighten Your Locs Using the Latch-hook Technique available at naani.com and offers step-by-step how to instructions on lock maintenance with Interlocking tools.

Greetings Rockinlocs and welcome to naani MODELS!  We were so happy to see that someone of such significance in the online locking domain agreed to share her story.  In addition to your expertise, we love seeing fresh faces around here and it looks like that in addition to yourself, you've brought a few recruits.  Now before we get into that, let's get down to the basics....

What did you like/dislike about your previous hairstyle?
LOL...well, I really can't remember much about what I liked about it.  I guess (what I thought) was ease of styling and the fact that it was (what I thought) was long-ish.  What I disliked about it was the fact that it broke off after it got to a certain length (usually right at the shoulders) and I didn't like all the money I spent on my hair back then.

How long have you been natural? 
I've been natural for 5 1/2 years

How long have you been growing Dreadlocks?
I've been locking for 5 years

Why did you decide to go natural? 
I grew weary of the damage my hair was undergoing first and foremost and my first (positive) reaction to natural hair was via Sisterlocks (tm).  But as I read more, visited more sites and pondered the whole thing more, I realized that it was time to stop hating what God gave me and start learning to love it!

Why did you decide to grow dreadlocks? 
Well, as I stated previously, I had been eye-balling Sisterlocks (tm).  I mean, I would have been able to "have my cake and eat it too" so to speak meaning, chemical-free hair but with locs so thin that I could mimic many relaxed styles.  At least that was my thought when I first started.  I have to be honest, I *started* locking for a very superficial reason...I wanted my hair to grow very long.  But I also liked the idea of the freedom that comes with locs...being able to style them if I wanted to, but not HAVING to do so if I chose not to.

How did you go natural (i.e. cold turkey, growing it out...)? Why did you choose this method? 
I did a short transition and tried to grow it out mainly because at the time, I wasn't quite ready to wear SHORT and natural hair and also because I knew my husband would have a fit.  But after a brief transition, I grew tired of dealing with two textures and opted to do the "big chop"...cutting down to about 2-3 inches of hair.

How did you start your dreadlocks (palmrolls, twists, braids...)? Why did you choose this method?
I started my locs with braids because again, I had my heart set on Sisterlocks (tm) but could not afford it without saving/scraping up funds and I was ready to be locked "NOW" and didn't want to wait.  So, I did a little reading on a former hair board and stumbled across a sister who had started locs with thin braids and she made many comparisons to her locs and Sisterlocks (tm). 

I emailed her and she told me that she braided hers and palmrolled for maintenance but she had all the same "benefits" that Sisterlocks (tm) advertises such as being able to style them in various styles.  So, that is why I started mine with braids.  But I know NOW that any method and any size can offer the same "benefits".  Sure the styles may look a little differently depending on if the locs are very thin or very thick, but thicker locs and/or locs started with other methods can be styled beautifully as well! 

Now, there IS one thing I notice and kinda miss about thinner locs and that is the fullness factor.  I mean, it seems the smaller the locs, the fuller the crown and the larger the locs, they just kinda hang down.  I like how skinnier locs (especially on thicker hair) produce a big, full mane that almost looks like loose natural hair on some people.  I miss that about my thinner locs, but I have combined my locs because I started being more attracted to thicker locs and I LOVE my thicker locs, but again, sometimes miss the fullness I once had. My hair is still kinda full but not as full as it was before combining.

Who maintains your dreadlocks/natural hair (you or a stylist)?
I maintain my own hair...always have.  Someday I would like to see someone and get that pampering, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.  But because I am a Cosmetologist (licensed but non-practicing) I guess you could say both! ;)

What problems with your hair have you encountered in the workplace/social settings?
I don't work outside of the home, but even socially I haven't really had to deal with negativity regarding my locs.  I got a weird stare from a girl in an airport once and certain family members don't comment one way or the other and I know they don't care for them but other than that, I haven't gotten any negative encounters, thankfully. If anyone HAS said anything negative about my hair, it wasn't in my presence.

In general, how did you deal with negative encounters? 
Again, haven't faced much but usually just ignore it, sometimes laugh at it actually.  Now that I think of it, I do recall a time when I was at the store in my old neighborhood and this young (teenage) girl was looking at my hair like I was an alien.  But I just stared right back at her (extremely damaged, choppy, relaxed) hair and she stopped looking at me after that! LOL!

Kids-n-Locks

Now I think it's time for us to introduce your guests.  Your kids have locks correct?  Why did you decide to dreadlock their hair?
Well, my two eldest children actually asked for them...my daughter (now 13, 8 then) first and then my son (now 15, 9 then)  My other younger children, I just did it at my own discretion just to follow suit and also because both of them (well the eldest daughter too) HATE getting their hair combed no matter how gentle or what techniques I use to make things easier. 

At what ages did they begin the dreadlocking process? 
Rachel at 8, Jonathan at 9, Leah at 2 and James (who came along later) at 2.

Can a child ever be too young for dreadlocks?  Do you think there is an appropriate age-range to begin locking a child's hair?
I don't think a child could ever be too young.  It really depends on the parents/family and their outlook on this.  I've heard of children being locked from birth...I say as soon as the child's hair can hold the locs (some babies are born with a softer Texture that may not lock too well at first) then they can start locking.

Personally, one of my main reservations regarding locking kid's hair has to do with maintenance.  I work out regularly and have trouble keeping my locks neat and clean.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to tame the wild-child in cases where Salon dreadlocks are desired. 

For parents considering locking their child's hair, how would you suggest overcoming obstacles such as the effects of sports and roughhousing on locks? (yes naaniFAM, I said "roughhousing"...it's a word!)
Good question.  Well, there are some things that are just unavoidable unless one wants to "baby" their and their children's locs to "death".  I think prevention (as much as possible without making it a bondage) is the best thing such as having the child sleep in protective sleepwear, at least rinsing the locs weekly, picking out lint when you see it and if the child is of such a young age that they play in dirt or sand boxes or plays sports, then the hair would be handled just as with loose hair...wash it when needed!  I mean, if my children had loose hair and their hair got dirty or sweaty, I'd still have to wash it so the same holds true with locs. 

The main "problem" with locs is trapped, embedded lint and build up.  I DID have an issue with this with my eldest daughter's locs.  But I will admit here that it was due to neglect on both our parts.  She did not keep her locs covered at night for one and I did not stay on her to do so.  When she got to a certain age, I put the responsibility on her shoulders to wash her hair and she didn't do it often enough and I didn't stay on her, so she had a LOT of build up in her locs. 

She decided to cut them due to that build up (it was visible by white "spots" in her locs) and as we cut and picked apart the remaining locs, the "goo" was sticky and I think it was unrinsed shampoo because she didn't use products on her hair.  It also could have been Sebum with dust trapped in...I really don't know.  But the other children don't seem to have the same issues with their hair.

I should also mention that Rachel isn't locked, Jonathan recently started over because he wanted smaller locs, Leah is still locked and proclaims she is never getting rid of hers and little James is no longer locked but is wearing a low cut because he refused to allow me to do ANYthing with his hair.  Yeah, I could have just allowed his locs to grow organically with no maintenance or seperating, etc. but in all honesty, I'm not quite "there" yet.  Leah's locs are free-formed as she doesn't like getting them tightened either, but she does let me seperate them after washing.

Ok, my other pet peeve regarding dreadlocks is due to permanence.  Although dreadlocks represent their own source of freedom, they are just as restrictive as relaxed/chemically treated hair in that you generally have to cut them in order to move to the opposite end of the styling spectrum.

How do you regard the permanence of locks as different from the permanence of relaxed hair?
Well, as I stated in my online "tutorial" on the myths and misconceptions about locs, there are 3 ways to get rid of them...

1.  Cut/shave them off - the fastest and easiest way, but depending on the person, not necessarily the most desired way.
2.  Grow them out and then cut - this allows the person to have a little more hair to work with after chopping
3.  Take them down - the most tedious, time-consuming method but many have done because they don't want to cut all that hair off.

My daughter, Rachel, did a combo of #2 and #3.  She had stopped having her hair tightened for about 6 months (maybe longer, I lost track) and so she had a good maybe 2-3 inches of loose roots.  We cut her (approximately) 12" inch locs down to about 6-7 inches and unravelled the locs down to the loose roots.  Some were more difficult than others but it took us about 3 days to complete it (with LOTS of breaks) and now she is rocking about 5 inches of loose natural hair.  She wears a fro, twists or plaits and says she "might" lock up again later, but for now she is happy wearing it loose. 

So, I don't have much of an issue with the permenancy. We realize that it's hair and will grow back.  Sometimes in order to make a change hair has to be released one way or another.  Just as one who has extremely long loose hair, if they want a major change, that usually entails a hair cut in most instances.

So is it more about rejecting chemical processes as a whole and embracing oneself naturally? 
Yes, I believe it is.  I mean, locking means different things to different people, no doubt...but for me and my family, it IS about accepting the natural texture of our hair and embracing it and rejecting the toxic chemical relaxers.  We don't have a spiritual attachment to them or anything like that, but in a way, we do in that we want to not make God feel like He made a mistake by giving us kinky hair but this can go for locs and loose natural hair.

Ok, so you may have swayed me a little bit but how do you know when your child is ready for the permenance of locks?  How do you know it's not just a phase?  I know grown folks who still can't rap their minds around the concept that locks, once lock'd, are permenant.
Again, I think it's about teaching your child that it's hair and will grow back.  I mean, there are a LOT of reasons a child might have to cut his/her hair...lice, an illness or surgical procedure, or just to commemorate being older and having more leniency in decision-making.  I don't know, I just can't rap MY mind around being so hung up on hair that one would be afraid to lock up because they think the only way to get rid of them is to cut.  I mean, "so what!" is my response to that. 

If my kids wore their hair loose/natural all this time and then it grew and grew and one day my daughter decided it was too much to handle or that she just wanted a TWA (teeny weeny afro for the readers who may be unfamilar) or she just wanted a change, period...she's gonna get a haircut.  In my mind, while a child is under the parents care, they can wear the locs as long as mom sees fit.  Then when they are older they should be able to have more of a choice. 

Now as I see it, many teens who had long-ish hair most of their young lives end up getting a haircut almost as a "right of passage" as they grow to an age where they are now making more decisions on their own and breaking away from who they were as a young child.  I know I did!  I chopped my (then relaxed) hair off first in 8th Grade, then again a few years later.  Most of the styles for older girls were short anyway.

So, if one has a child (mainly daughter) who had locs from a young age and then they become a teen, it's cool for her to get a hair cut and do her thang.  I allowed my daughter to make that decision for herself and even bought her a flat iron and blowdryer with the comb attachment for whenever she wanted to (temporarily) straighten her hair.  When she is grown and gone, if she chooses to relax it, that's her decision...I may not feel the best about it, but I will respect her choice.  But for now, she is almost 14 and I gave her the freedom to choose within reason and she's happy with her choice. 

With boys, we all know it's much less of an issue with them because society expects them to have low cut hair much more than they expect that of a young lady.  My son's friends are always asking him why won't he wear a "Fade" or something but he doesn't want to and prefers locs for now.

How did you prepare your children for the tedious and often long, dreadlocking process?
I don't think I did "prepare" them.  I talked to them (the older ones) about locking and what it entailed but that's about it.  We just did it!

What methods do you think are best for parents looking to lock their child's hair?
Well, I don't like to get into "best" and "better" when talking about locking methods.  I mean, I am partial to starting with braids mainly because it (seemingly) holds up better during a shampooing and that would come in handy if you have more than one child as I do and don't want to have to redo full heads after each shampooing (during the beginning stages, that is) due to the twists or coils coming undone. 

If the family is ready to face and accept the challenges that society brings with