Posts Tagged ‘Locs’

Military Locs

Friday, February 5th, 2010

I guess it’s not just because of head gear after all.

Are twists and dreadlocks authorized? U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter Two, Section 2, Article 2201.3:DEFINITION: Twists – A process by which two or more locks of hair are twisted together to form a rope-like appearance. Dreadlocks – Are mats of hair that have been allowed to grow out over time. Sometimes, if hair is simply left ungroomed for a period of time, particularly if the hair is naturally coarse and kinky, dreadlocks will form by themselves.

a. “Twist” hairstyles are not authorized because they fall within the guidelines of being faddish.

b. “Dreadlocks” are not authorized due to its conspicuous nature.

“Hairstyles shall not be outrageously multicolored or faddish, to include shaved portions of the scalp (other than the neckline), or have designs cut or braided into the hair. Hair coloring must look natural and complement the individual. Haircuts and styles shall present a balanced appearance. Lopsided and extremely asymmetrical styles are not authorized. Ponytails, pigtails, widely spaced individual hanging locks, and braids, which protrude from the head, are not authorized. Multiple braids are authorized. Braided hairstyles shall be conservative and conform to the guidelines listed herein. When a hairstyle of multiple braids is worn, braids shall be of uniform dimension, small in diameter (approx. 1/4 inch), and tightly interwoven to present a neat, professional, well-groomed appearance. Foreign material (i.e., beads, decorative items) shall not be braided into the hair. Short hair may be braided in symmetrical fore and aft rows (corn rowing) which minimize scalp exposure. Cornrow ends shall not protrude from the head, and shall be secured only with inconspicuous rubber bands that match the color of the hair. Appropriateness of a hairstyle shall also be judged by its appearance when headgear is worn. All headgear shall fit snugly and comfortably around the largest part of the head without distortion or excessive gaps. Hair shall not show from under the front of the brim of the combination hat, garrison, or command ball caps. Hairstyles which do not allow headgear to be worn in this manner, or which interfere with the proper wear of protective masks or equipment are prohibited. When in uniform, the hair may touch, but not fall below a horizontal line level with the lower edge of the back of the collar. With jumper uniforms, hair may extend a maximum of 1-1/2 inches below the top of the jumper collar. Long hair, including braids, which fall below the lower edge of the collar shall be neatly and inconspicuously fastened, pinned, or secured to the head. No portion of the bulk of the hair as measured from the scalp will exceed approximately 2 inches.
[Source 1 and 2]

I was talking to my dad about this (a marine veteran) and he replied, “Who’s hair? You mean the MILITARY’S hair?” I thought about it and I hate to say it, but once a person joins the military they do become the military’s property. It’s one of the things that they sign you up for. However, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to join. Also, the fact that even natural hair-wearers with afro textured hair in general are being targeted for their hair even when they’re following guidelines doesn’t sit too well with me. I guess that’s one of the reasons why I wouldn’t join.

Dreadlock Ripped Out

Monday, January 25th, 2010

dreadlockspJordan Miles, an eighteen year old violinist of a jazz band and the orchestra at the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Pittsburgh, was walking to his grandmother’s house when three policemen decided to harass him. When he decided to run back to his mother’s house before they got to him, he slipped on the ice and found himself surrounded by them.

That’s when they started beating me, punching, kicking me, choking me.

They thought he may have been carrying a gun. His face was swollen and a dreadlock of his was ripped out of his head (that sounds rather painful). What they found after the beat him? A soda bottle, ya’ll.

I feel that my son was racially profiled. It’s a rough neighborhood; it was after dark. They assumed he was up to no good because he’s black. My son, he knows nothing about the streets at all. He’s had a very sheltered life, he’s very quiet, he doesn’t know police officers sit in cars and stalk people like that.

The police officers were reassigned (slap on the wrist like always). If these cops keep getting away with racial profiling, they’re going to continue to do it. What makes me angry about this was that this young man wasn’t even a trouble maker. Even when you have young black men trying to do right in a society that sees them as monsters half the time, they’re punished for no reason.

Here’s the source.

Locs In Cartoons

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

May Back in 2008, I looked over at my daughter who at the time had her hair loc’ed. I then looked over at the television to see what she was watching and noticed that the characters in the show that she was viewing had hair that looked loc’ed like her’s.

She was watching Sid the Science Kid on PBS Kids.  Sid the Science Kid was produced by Jim Henson Productions and KCET in Los Angeles, California using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio.  I don’t know if the was the intent of the artist to make their hairstyles of of locs, but they look like locs to me. It especially looks like locs when I look at the character, May (to your right), along with the teacher, Ms. Susie. What do you think?

Sid the Science Kid

Sid the Science Kid

Sid the Science Kid

PBS KiSid the scienceds

Musician Valerie June’s Locs

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Valerie June

Valerie June

Valerie June

Gone Natural: Dalia!

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Dalia
Dalia

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?
Dalia 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!