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.

Gone Natural: Dalia!

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Dalia
Dalia

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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!

Jungle Dreads (Clip-on Locs)

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Jungle dreadsSo now you can get them in clip-ons. You can get them custom made from Jungle Dreads. They’re handmade with Australian Merino wool. Here’s a quote from their website:

Felt dread locks are a great way to have fun with your hair without the permanence or destruction of getting real dreads. They are created from wool so they are soft and natural. The dreads are all made by hand so you can choose any color, length, thickness or style you want. Below are some ideas and examples to get you started. If you have any questions please contact us.

They come in 62 different colors. They have three unique styles: Transitions, Twists, Leaves & Flowers. (Yes, leaves and flowers.)

The statement that locs are permanent is a myth, although taking out locs can be very time-consuming and difficult for some. I’m still trying to figure out what they meant by locs being “destructive?” As far as the whole Jungle Dread thing is concerned, I’d say that they’re neat coming from an artistic perspective, although I can care less for the name of the product. Whoever thought of this idea is creative nonetheless. The hairstyle in the picture to the left has even inspired me to make a new art piece.

This product makes me have an even greater appreciation for real locs that are created on kinky hair, as locs created on kinky hair cannot be duplicated on any other texture NATURALLY (as in without any major, unnatural manipulations). What do you think?

Gone Natural: Mona!

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Mona
Mona

1. Tell us about yourself.
I am a twenty four years old, born in French Caribbean and living in France.

2. What made you decide to go natural?
I have been natural for the most part of my life, but in high school, I lost my way in relaxing during 2 years. I don’t even know why I relaxed? To look like others girls…wanting to try something new maybe. Anyway, relaxed hair wasn’t for me. I wasn’t willing to have split ends, hair lost, and scalp burnt by the lye no matter how I take care of my relaxed hair.

I don’t really regret this experience because I learned from this mistake. I discovered I really loved my natural texture and I missed it. Even if sometimes it can be hard to manage, I realized I preferred my kinky hair, it’s a part of myself and I don’t want to change it! I learned how I can take care of my hair through forums, blogs and other’s websites. It’s where I realized I was lucky to have such hair, it can be so versatile, so beautiful and unique! I made up my mind and 5 years ago I cut all my relaxed hair and come back to my fro’.

3. What made you decide to get locs?
Coming back to natural hair opened my eyes. I never seen how beautiful locked hair could be. I didn’t know anyone among my friends or family who have locks. I believed locks were for those who don’t want to look after their hair and they just let it live its life or those with spiritual believes. I realized that there is also people that choose to have locks without any specific religions, or beliefs, and like any other head style, they have to care about it.

That’s when I fell in love with locks, you let your hair do what it have always wanted: tangle, no more comb, low maintenance, just have to wash them as often as you like, and moreover you can do gorgeous up-dos! That’s the style for me! 2 years ago, I made two strand twists and I let them turn slowly into locks.

4. What is your hair regimen?
-Wash my locks every week, sometimes apple vinegar rinse,
-Apply some moisturizing product after my shampoo
-Twist my roots maybe once a month, sometimes more depends of my mood…That’s it!

5. What are your least favorite products?
I know there is people that use beeswax or others sticky products to maintain their locks. In my opinion, it’s the best way to have dirty locks and I avoid this. With locks I think it’s better use very few products and they have to be light, not greasy or sticky because it’s really easy to have build up. I only moisturize my hair after I wash it, it’s enough for me. The only thing I absolutely need is a shampoo!

6. What do you like about being natural/having locs?
Freedom!

Sisterlocks Began in Africa

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Nyangatom TribeI promised that I would talk about the tribe who wears a hairstyle that’s similar to sisterlocks, so here it is: The Nyangatom tribe. Although they’re usually not as long as sisterlocks and sisterlocks are often styled in many different ways (other than what’s pictured in this post), one can still see the resemblance. How they do it is something that I can’t tell you. (If there’s anyone who knows how they do it, let me know!) Could this style have influenced sisterlocks?

Nyangatom TribeThe Nyangatom are located in south western Ethiopia and south eastern Sudan. This tribe is divided into about twenty clans. Each person is apart of the clans that their fathers are/were in, and each generation is given their own nickname.

Aside from these awesome hairstyles, the women of Nyangatom wear beaded necklaces made of either glass or plastic, or seeds. These necklaces were put into place to show one’s social and wealth status. It may also be used for beauty purposes, giving the illusion of an elongated neck. I thought that this tidbit was really neat, so I thought that I would zoom in on a couple of other tribes who wore necklaces for similar reasons.

Ndebele At one point, women of the Ndebele in South Africa, commonly wore brass and copper rings (iindzila) around their necks, arms, and legs. Kayan Tribe Brass rings are still used in the Kayan (Karen) tribe of Burma and Thailand. While they traditionally wore these copper rings for some of the reasons that other tribes wore them, many wear them to attract tourists. The rings eventually move the collarbone and ribs down and are said to be more painful than how it looks.

Now back to the Nyangatom. The land in which they and their neighboring tribes live on was turned into Omo National Park in 1966. In 2005, the land was handed over to the African Parks Foundation (a European organization founded by a billionaire).

Government park officials coerced the Nyangatom into signing documents that they couldn’t even read. Little did they know that the agreement stated that the Suri (a neighboring tribe) agreed to give up the land without compensation. This put the Nyangatom, along with neighboring tribes Mursi, Dizi, and Surma, in danger displacement. Not only would they not be allowed to live on this land, they would no longer be allowed to use its natural resources.

In 2007, the African Parks Network (African Parks Foundation) terminated their management contract with Omo National Park. They claimed that there was too much “inappropriate” activity going on within the tribes on this land and it was getting out of control. They handed the management over to Agency for Tourism, Parks and Hotels of SNNPRS. (You can read about the termination of their website by going here).

Lets just hope that the current and future management doesn’t force these tribes off the land.

Photo credits: dlbezaire, floratheexplora, un_photo, and christiancaron2000. Other resources: African Parks Network on Wikipedia, the Kayan on Wikipedia, the Nedeble on Wikipedia, the Nyangatom on Wikipedia, Omo National Park on Wikipedia|

New Format

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

I came across an awesome Fotki album of a girl who looked like she was having a lot of fun with her natural hair.  It also looked like she had a lot of fun throughout her transition as well, and we know that making the best out of a stressful situation is the best way to go.  Anyway, her album inspired me to post the “Gone Natural” posts in a new format.  They will now contain the following photos:

Three most current natural hairstyles.
This is plenty self-explanatory. They will be the header of the post.

Relaxed
This will show everyone the state of the person’s hair before going natural.  It may either be suffering from extreme damage, or probably won’t show any signs of damage at all.

Transitioner Hairstyle
If the person transitioned before going natural, it will show photos of hairstyles that they’ve worn while transitioning.  This can give transitioners ideas on how to style their hair.

Before and After Picture
This will include a picture of the hair taken right before the “big cut,” along with a photo taken after the “big cut.”  If the person is a loc wearer, it will simply show one’s hair prior to getting locs, and their hair after getting locs.

If you would like to be in this blog, you can answer the questions below and send them to contact@afroglitzmag.com.  It would be best for you to send me a link to your gallery (if you have one), as I can hand pick the pictures.

Questions for Loose Natural Hair

1. Tell us about yourself (name, where you’re from, etc)

2. What made you decide to go natural?

3. How long have you been natural?

4. What’s your hair routine?

5. What are your least favorite products?

6. What do you like about being natural?

Questions for Loc’ed Hair
1. Tell us about yourself (name, where you’re from, etc).

2. What made you decide to go natural?

3. What made you decide to get locs?

4. How long have you been natural? How long did you have locs?

5. What is your hair regimen?

6. What are your least favorite products?

7. What do you like about being natural/having locs?

Discrimination in the Military

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Update 08/27/09: It was brought to my understanding that the main reason why locs aren’t allowed is because many of the sizes worn are too thick for head gear, so for the most part, it’s for more of a safety issue and safety should always come first. Also, while there has been discrimination towards those with natural afro hair in the military, not all naturals in the military have faced this type of discrimination and it’s not an overall representation of the military, but of certain military personnel.

For years, the military had no problem with showing the black people who serve them that they had a Locs problem with common, natural afro hairstyles. Black females in particular were given slack for wearing small, clean-cut afros. The ones who wear locs weren’t shown much mercy either, as many of them were forced to cut them off.

When coming across this blog, it was bought to my attention that the military is at it again. This is the message that was sent to her from one of her readers:

Greetings Sister Karen:

I am one of your biggest fans. I have been following your website and blog for months. Thank you for this great avenue for women of color to share their thoughts and celebrate their natural hair. I was hoping that you can share this link below to friends of your blog/website One of my close friends who is in the US Air Force is being forced to chop her locks and relax her hair. We are asking everyone we know to sign this petition and also send a letter to your state representatives. Here is a brief synopsis of the matter at hand. Please share with everyone you know. Thank you in advance for your support!

It has come to my attention that the United States Air Force has a regulation, AFI36-2903 DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL, which in part, discriminates against African-American women serving in the Air Force. The code was recently updated to include a bans on a common natural African-American hairstyle, which the Air Force has called “dreadlocks”. Female personnel with neat, clean, professional well-kept hair are being forced to choose between cutting their hair and treating it with chemicals to conform with this regulation which I feel unfairly and unnecessarily discriminates against African-Americans. The regulation itself does not define “dreadlocks”. This leaves women with hair that is in no means a distraction or a detriment to their duties, subject to disciplinary action.

Please pass this information along to as many people as possible. Also, if you’re a blogger, you can blog about it as well. We have voices; let the military hear it loud and clear. Afros and locs are apart of who we are. If we don’t speak out about it, they’re going to continue seeing our hair as some sort of an oddity, and it’s going to be hard for everyone to proudly rock their natural hair and serve in the military in peace. If they know that they can use you, and force you to alter yourself without having to worry about getting a backlash from it, they will keep doing it. Don’t allow it to go on without a fight.

If you have a strong love for your natural hair and you’re the type of person who refuses to change it for anyone other than yourself, it would be best not to join the military. It’s just not worth it. The military needs you more than you need them, and they should accept you for who you are.

Make sure the sign the petition by going here.

Loctician: Tai’Rae Phoenix

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Loctician: Tai'Rae Phoenix Check out the work of this amazing loctician. He’s Tai’Rae Phoenix of the The Phoenix LocKticians Network and he resides in Brooklyn, New York.  He even styles his own hair (refer to the pictures to the right). Here’s what he says in reference to styling his own hair:

I’ve been doing my hair for over a decade so I play with it a lot. I tend to get a little intricate sometimes but it’s only because I know my head and parts best. The only time that I require help with my head is when I’m shooting and need a style change-up.

The work of Tai'Rae Phoenix The work of Tai'Rae Phoenix

Call 347-368-3367 or 347-368-5369 to set up an appointment.

The work of Tai'Rae Phoenix The work of Tai'Rae Phoenix