Locked vs Loose

Maybe you have heard/read things like: “Natural and locking your hair are almost the same.” “The easiest natural hair option is locked hair.”

While sometimes that seems to be the general perception. These thoughts are not necessarily true. Having tasted both worlds, I can honestly say that you will always have to do your hair. Both having locks and keeping your hair looking nice natural requires a degree of work.

There are benefits that come with having your hair natural. There are also benefits that come with having locks. I currently have my hair natural and I have had two sets of locks, so I feel that I can share from both points of view.

Both Have a Learning Curve

What I have learned is that locked hair is no easier to maintain than natural once you are aware of all of the ways there are to style and maintain your hair in its loose free state. There is a learning curve with both. Once you are over the hump, it is pretty much smooth sailing wherever you want to go.

Both Take Time

With my first set of locks I would spend all together about three to four hours washing, tightening, and sitting under a dryer waiting for them to dry. With the 500+ micro-braid-locks it was more like almost twelve hours re-tightening every three to four weeks. I would have paid someone to do it for me if I could have found a willing set of hands.

This weekend I spent five hours washing, twisting and rolling my hair. Before I take these out, I’ll wash it and re-roll it. That will take an hour. Then I will undo all the twists, wear a twist out for a while and then detangle it and start again, in about three weeks.

I just took out a set of yarn-locks. It took me an afternoon to do them. I wore that style for two months. It took me four hours to take out. Before that I had a curly half and half (half weave half braids.)

My point is I still spent about the same amount of time with locks and as I do with my hair natural. I tried to keep both looking presentable. I had to make time for locks and I have to make time for my hair as it is now, natural.

Count the Costs

Locks are great I enjoyed my times with them. But I have come to enjoy my natural hair. The bottom line is if:

You want locks because you want a quick fix.

You want a style that your don’t have to worry about.

You just hate doing your hair.

Consider another style. Better that now, then having to cut or pick your locks out later. There are lots of natural styles as well as looks-like-locks styles on this site. You will also find instructions on how to do some basic and not so basic styles.

But. . .

If you appreciate locks for what they are – a way to wear your hair that does have many benefits but will require an amount of work. If you have counted the cost both in time and effort, go for it. You will have a journey but you will be happy in the end.

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