| A Loc Chat with daez and KimiLocs.... |
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| Meet Kimi ya'll...Kimi visited daezhavoo.com and emailed me, and I invited her to partake in a loc chat with me...I think you will enjoy this charming lady and her views on locing...I know I did...Thank you Kimi!! (((HUGS))).... |
| daez:Hi KimiLocs and welcome to our loc chat... Kimi: Thank you! It's so exciting to finally get to chat with my "Locs Mentor'!..(((Big Hugs))) daez: Kimi, tell us about yourself, what state do you live in... Kimi: South Carolina (Myrtle Beach Area)... daez: What made you decide to loc your hair? Kimi: Do we have a lifetime to chat?..(giggle)..I think I've tried everthing from press and curl, to creme relaxers, and everything in between. However it was my last hair- tragedy in 2003 that resulted in my going natural. The hair tragedy was that I had my previous stylist dye my hair blonde. We waited a minimum of three weeks before attempting a retouch, but when we did my hair broke off. I ended up with chemical alopecia with sporadic baldness in spots. In other spots my hair was to short to braid. I had to go to work wearing headwraps and scarves. This was emotionally traumatic for me...I ended up seeing a dermatologist for a month of radical treatments and a year of prescribed shampoo treatments. This worked and I was eventually able to wear synthetic twists until I started locing... Oh wow Kimi..that truly IS traumatic! When your friends and family first found out you were locing your hair how did they respond....your husband....your kids.... My friends all love my locs. My husband has been supportive and receptive to my decision to loc my hair. My daughters were very receptive and fascinated by each phase of the locs. My Mom...would prefer another style for me (giggle) but she respects my decision. One or two relatives have made reference to "Predator" and I view that kind of response as callous, insensitive, idol and 'ignat' (ignorant). I've begun recommending that family and friends who don't understand the loc journey, next time they run into someone with locs, try letting them know how much they admire the fact that the person is not ashamed of the natural hair that God has blessed them with. Make it a practice to embrace each one. This will bless them and help them see that they truly are beautiful, creative, down-to-earth, loving folks.... |
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| When did you actually begin your loc journey Kimi?... September of 2005 after two years of contemplation, decided to let my new loctician loc my hair. She started with 2 strand twists. My hair initially looked like I had a curl relaxer put in. The texture changed rather quickly and locing was well underway within 12 weeks! So your locs are... One year two months and ----inches long How have your co-workers responded to your locing....any negative comments..any positive comments... One thing I LOVE about my job is that the management should be commended for being extremely culturally receptive! I book show reservations and may have to personally interact with the public. I told my boss, the Operations Manager for the entire company that I was going to loc my hair. I also asked him if locs are acceptable for the company dress code. He was just as excited as I was and told me to go for it! I would have probably done it anyway--but since we have a great working relationship, communication has been very instrumental to cultural diversity and acceptanceof personal professional styles in the work place: even with other types of colors of hairstyles when worn by black women in the company. |
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| You seem soo excited and happy about your journey KimiLocs..what has it meant to you so far... I am EXTREMELY excited!! It has meant total liberation from the pressing comb and the relaxer. It also is an--- expression of my cultural heritage (Cherokee, African American, and Welsh). It is natural, down to earth and honest. My hair is a Gift from God and I wear my crown of locs with dignity! As a Black woman, it's traditionally been difficult to find images of ourselves in magazines that are not of relaxed hair. It's getting easier now on the internet to find real people speaking of their journey's to becoming natural... Oh I totally agree...I've learned so much from reading the loc journeys of others (including my mentor- 'Mama daez'- smile)... There are magazines that showcase locs and miriads of loc styles now. My loctician has them displayed in her shop. We have so many options and no excuses for not being creative. I needed all the encouragement and resources I could get because I no longer sported relaxers or tracks for straight hairstyles. You know, it seems like our society has been conditioned to gauge and measure the level of quality, class, and cleanliness based upon hairstyles and the grade of ones hair. I am so thankful for all of our brothers and sisters who are unashamed to wear their beautiful locs! Name the HARDEST thing you have faced during your journey KimiLocs... I'm learning patience with each phase of my loc journey. Also the initial itchy scalp...I was clawing sores into my scalp until I was able to settle on a routine.. So scalp itching has been a problem for you...how have you handled it.. PHEW!!! Yes Ma'am! I inherited psoriasis from my father. Using chemicals only magnified the problem over the years. When I finally started locing, I was itching like crazy! It was recommended I wait a few months before washing my hair so the hair could loc up...the PROTEST WAS ON until I was finally able to hug the shampoo bowl within six weeks of initially locing my hair. I've been shampooing every 7-10 days ever since. I also sleep in a combination silk/satin cap to restrict friction against the pillowcase and keep the hair from drying out while I sleep. Kimi, what is your maintainence routine... I shampoo every 7-10 days or so and use a periodic conditioner that rinses well. If I have been sweating between shampoos, I'll do a shower rinse. I use base oils like jojoba and avocado oils and add a scented oil to my hair and scalp. I tend to run on the dry side with my scalp. I also try to remember to massage my scalp once a day for 5 minutes for growth stimulation. Whoever said less product is best was right. Your favorite product is.... You've just put me on the spot. (Laughing!) I am so 'living' to try Naani Products! Until I get to try them, I favor Doo Gro Products and natural oils from the health food store.. Have you ever used hair color KimiLocs...and what were the results... I LOVE color! I also love natural black. But my hair started doing something strange when it began to gray: my silver grays are gorgeous but my black strands took on a deep smoke color after my dad. So I decided to color my hair. Since locing, the results of coloring have been FABULOUS. Burgundy and Purple tones work really well with my complexion so I experimented with these colorsand created the perfect recipe for me. I love it! I'd also wear peach colored locs if I thought it would look good (laughing)... (LOL)...I have this obsession with RED HAIR!!!...I'd look GOOD DAMMITT!!!...((LOL))...but I'm slowwwly getting over it... now I just wish I didn't have so much GRAY!!!...(LOL))..how do you feel about gray locs Kimi?... Gray locs are beautiful! Gray hair represents beauty, wisdom, strength. I don't see myself elderly with purple locs-so when the time comes to make the transition, I'll be sure to find a color recipe for my gray so that the change will appear gradual. Also certain shades of makeup brightens the look of women of color with gray and silver hair. Ok KimiLocs...I'm gonna keep tabs on you and watch for the "transition....((LOL))...I personally am allergic to hair color, so I have no choice in the matter...you're very lucky to have the opportunity to use color girl friend!!...(lol)...but enough of the color trip...Have you decided how long you allow your locs to grow...((LOL))..mine are getting pretty long..and HOT! I LOVE your locs!! I want mine to grow down my back to my behind--seriously!! If not...at least long enough without stressing the roots. I am soo ready to experience length again. Oh yeah!! I hear ya KimiLocs...I remember when I first started growing mine I thought I wanted them so long they would bend my head backwards...(LOL)...the reality though is that when they are wet they are extremely heavy and take forever to dry...the longer they are the more hair you have getting alllll up in your face...food..'bidness' period!!! ...The thing is though...I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER WAY!!...I LOVE MY LOCS Kimi...I feel so free...so beautiful....KimiLocs...if you could start all over again, what would you do differently... NOTHING!!! I am sooo pleased with my inital loc results!! I only wish I had done this years earlier! Stealing a bite from my 'lil' boo NeAisha at Naani "What do you see KimiLocs doing this time next year"... Celebrating my locs as well as encouraging the journey of others--Including my daughter who just started locing May 2006. Do you have any questions for me.... I read about people on line who dry twist their hair...I know you have concerns about hand-in-loc disease. I was guilty until recently--what advise could you give that would help me? A couple of things I recommend to people with hand-in-loc disease who also dry twist is to keep a small bottle of water with them at all times...it's to spritz their hair so that ONE, they are conscious and aware of what they are about to do, twist their hair...(this way they are not twisting DRY)...TWO, now that their hair is damp, (even when they are at work!!!) they will find themselves MORE conscious of what they are doing, be MORE conscious they are messing with their locs...disturbing the process...look...it's sooo much fun and sooo amazing to find these wonderful locs sprouting out of our heads it's almost impossible to keep from TOUCHING them...THAT'S not what makes it a problem!! What makes it a problem Kimi, is when the touching becomes DRY TWISTING the loc and doing ROOT DAMAGE....I figure like this....(and I've gotten many emails from people who have tried it , so I keep recommending it!)...Nobody wants to walk around with a WET HEAD all day...eventually, YOUR MINI ME WILL GET IT--HANDS OFF DA LOCS!!!....((LOL))...so : The absolute BEST thing about locing for KimiLocs is: Wearing locs allows my own hair to thicken again because I'm not combing it or tearing it out from the roots. I feel so beautiful...and sooo sexy--and my self esteem is improving after all I've been through with my hair. The absolute BEST thing for me most of all is that after I take off my silk/satin cap, I just "shake" my hair and GO!.... Thank you KimiLocs, for doing what I am sure is only the first of our loc chats.... Oh yes...I agree. Looking forward to it, thank you!... We will keep your pictures updated...and chat whenever you have something new to add...(((HUGS)))... That will be great!!!.... :-D Thank you God for giving me another day of life....AMEN ....just me...daez |
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