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| A Loc Chat With Eric and daez |
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| It was time for Eric and I to have our loc chat since he's started maintaining his own babylocs now.... So we got together to sit down and talk about locing...beeswax....and doing his own hair..... |
| daez: Hi Eric...glad we could sit down and finally have our chat..... Eric: Yeah...I was looking forward to having this conversation as well..... daez: So Eric....why did you decide to loc your hair... Eric: It was time for something new....I had been balding up(keeping hair bald) my head for some time...simply because it was easy....but it wasn't nearly as expressive as I wanted it to be....by locing...and letting them freeform especially, I really like the look of having my hair be wild and unmanicured...My locing had nothing to do with religion...I was ready for a change...it could have been re-peircing my tongue...or getting more tattoo's...but I felt it would be more expressive to mess with my hair.... daez: I understand...there is nothing wrong with expressing yourself with your hair....the majority of people now days loc for purely fashion reasons...but a lot of them won't actually admit it....So when I started your babylocs your hair was very short...less than an inch...it's grown sooo much in the last 6 to 8 weeks!! I am very surprised and happy about it....what made you decide to start using beeswax...you KNOW that is not one of my favorite products....lol.. Eric: I was surprised how quickly my hair was growing also...after seeing the pictures...but in response to the beeswax question...when you first started my locs...um...I was coming every 5 days and I was happy with the way my hair looked when I left your house...however...three to four days later my hair was just wack....um...I started talking to a few other people and started to realize that with beeswax being a thicker substance it might be better to hold my baby soft fine hair....um...lol....beeswax WORKS!!!...after a week and a half to two weeks my hair was holding longer....and I like the un-uniform look it gave me...so... sorry daez...we're sticking with the wax...lol... daez: lol....well I gotta give you big props for sticking to your guns...I was determined to MAKE the PK's work for you but you taught me a very important lesson...beeswax CAN work for some types of hair....but ....er...um...Eric...you have some LINT and debris in your locs....lol...does that bother you at all....I mean when I first started your coils you were adamant about having them look neat....lol....now they look real cute..but the parts are gone and you still work in sales....so how have you gotten around that issue.... Eric: It's worse than that even....because I am not JUST in sales...I have to work with people who are sticklers....from Corporate...because I manage the store....um....at this point...I'm not concerned anymore with how people at my job perceive my hair....I'm having fun with it...and it's a direct expression of ERIC...take it or leave it...you know...And as far as the lint....that's not lint...that's just poor lighting...lol... daez: Okayyyyyy....well....I'll just leave that one alone..but if you need help in the future picking the lint....er...um...I mean fixing the lighting just let me know...aiight...lol.. Eric: lol....oh...okay....lol.... daez: Aiight...so let's get down to business with what the new maintaince routine is for you...there are a LOT of people who are going to want to know if you have any itching..flaking...any problems with your scalp at all...I SWEAR you are immune to beeswax...because so many people have had really bad itching with it..but what about you... Eric: I told you daez...I have that dominant trait of itching immunity...lol...but as far as my routine is concerned....every morning before I go to work I get up 15 minutes early....shower...and twist my hair...which takes about 15 minutes....and at least once a week I give my hair a really good washing...and spend about 25 minutes making sure I twist every one in the "crew"(Eric's name for his babylocs)....I've never had a problem with flaking or any other scalp problems....I guess I'm lucky because I've heard that can really be a problem... daez: That's excellent news...you've already made me eat my words....lol....but this is very good to know....so do any of your "crew" have special personalities....lol... Eric: lol....I can definetly say some of the boys on the north side...they definetly have a knack for doing their own thing and sticking straight up....lol... daez: lol...I know what you mean...I have some weird ones too....so let's talk about locs being dirty and nasty...myth or fact.... Eric: Myth!!...locs are no more dirty or nasty than any other style....when you use creams or holding products....or like in my case beeswax....this is not the norm for handling your hair..but I keep a regular washing schedule....so MY locs are clean.... daez: I understand....so do you feel like your locs will cause you to have problems in the future getting a different job...or problems with employers or co-workers... Eric: No not at all...my personality...character....experience....and degree's...THAT will get my jobs....and as far as the co-worker's....considering my locs are an extension of me...if they are shallow enough to judge me based on my hair...I probably wouldn't want to know them ANYWAY....lol.... daez: Eric...how has your family reacted to your locs.... Eric: My family lives in Wisconsin....so they really haven't seen my locs....they do know I'm locing....but coming from a very traditional family...I'm sure if I were around them they would be accepting of them....but at this point I get questions as to why I would want to do this...especially from my mother....my sister... on the other hand... is of the younger generation....has seen some of my internet photo's and is all for it...Thanks Melissa.... daez: Ahhh....that's very sweet to give her a shout-out....so I wonder....have you had any problems with people wanting to touch your locs....and if so what did you do about it... Eric: That actually HAS been an issue...and it really surprises me...cuz I really don't see what the thrill is about touching my hair...up to this point it really doesn't BOTHER me....as long as it's just women....an example would be hanging down on the 16th Street Mall area....sitting outside a bar....and the waitress proceeded to reach for my hair...and started to talk about how long had I been locing and locs...I am new to this so I am still excited about it...and she had locs too...but I didn't feel the need to touch HER hair?????....lol... daez: That's really common....but usually not with someone who already HAS locs....I think it's because you're so cute....lol.... Eric: That's definetly a possibilty....lol.... daez: You seem to have things in control right now....but you know I am keeping that special jar of PK's for you just in case boo....lol.... Eric: That's great....daez....lol...what's the shelf life of PK's....lol.... daez: Ahahaaa....very funny...lol...but we shall see....so would you like to add anything else to our chat Eric....tell the world just how you REALLY feel about locs....for now and in the future.... Eric: One thing I would like to say...especially for other people just starting out or thinking of locing up....is to be prepared for a committment....I had NO idea....that the process would take as much time...or be as tedious as it was at first....however you soon learn to appreciate the time taken for something you really enjoy....so be it for expression...fashion...religion...or whatever your reason....have fun with it...and loc on!! daez: Well aiighty then....lol....so Mr. IMMUNITY TO BEESWAX.....lol...I just want to tell you what an honor it has been starting your locs and giving you the heads up to take care of them yourself....you will never regret it...and the journey lasts forever....and if you ever need assistance I am here...aiight...and I will always cheer you on as YOU grow along with your locs boo.... Eric: Thanks for everything daez.... daez: You're welcome boo...and we will have another chat one day.....about lint....lol.... Eric: ...lol......hehehe.... Thank you God for giving me another day of life....AMEN..... |