Tell us about yourself.
I’m Dalia; a beauty/fashion writer originally from Toronto, now living in Montreal.

What made you decide to go natural?
It wasn’t really a conscious decision. I “went natural” at 22, precipitated by my hairdresser’s absence. I had a short little Halle Berry type hairstyle back then, but my roots were growing in. There was a big, festive long weekend in Toronto happening at the time, and I wanted to get my hair re-done. She wasn’t around, and I refused to be seen with my hair in the state it was in, so I chopped it off. I wore it like that (short and curly) for years.

What made you decide to get locs?
This is my second set. The first time around, I was inspired by my cousin, but I started them too small, and they were too much work (no one told me about the fuzzies). So after six months of trying to look cute (and failing miserably), I unpicked them.

I only started the second (current) set because I moved to Montreal last year. I was wearing a big afro again, and the colder, drier climate was wreaking havoc on my hair. I didn’t want to to a big chop in the cold, so I decided to loc again.

What is your hair regimen?
Oh, I’m really low maintenance. I do a weekly wash in the shower with organic surge sulfate-free shampoo, rinse with ACV. After I’ve towel/air dried them for a bit, I oil the locs (not my scalp) with either grapeseed, olive, or jojoba oil. Whatever’s handy. Then I palmroll.

Sometimes I braid them after a wash while they’re still damp. Sometimes I use sponge rollers (old school!). I can’t wait until they’re long enough to tie back.

What are your least favorite products?
You know, I can’t say I have a LEAST favorite, because different things work/don’t work for different people and hair types. I’ve realized over the years that my while my HAIR thrives on oils like olive and grapeseed, my SCALP doesn’t like any oils whatsoever…not even the residue left over from conditioner.

I have a sensitive skin type, so I use things straight from nature whenever possible. No brands or no product lines. If you come to my house, all you’ll see is the aforementioned oils in big bottles; some witch hazel, lavender, clove or rosemary, EO’s, ACV, and glycerine.

What do you like about being natural/having locs?
Having locs has been great because I’m weather proof! LOL. When my friends are running from rain, snow, or wind, I’m out walking and not worrying about my hairdo falling flat, curls melting, or shrinkage (like I did when I had an afro).

To be honest, I don’t LOVE having locs because right now I’m married to one look, more or less. Yes, I can twist them up, curl them, or pull them back, but at the end of the day, my hairSTYLE is locs, period. Since they’re neither short nor long at this moment, I’m at a perpetual in-between stage, which makes me antsy. I look best with either REALLY long or really short hair…

I was happiest when I was bald. Not a TWA. Bald. Like a buzz with a number 2 blade at the barber. I was at my most comfortable (and cute-haha) then, but the locs are just another chapter in my hair story. I may cut them, I may not. However, I’m thankful that they’re healthy and growing like crazy!