The History of Locs: How It Became a Symbol of Cultural Pride
Locs are a adored and cherished hairstyle, one which many individuals feel an emotional connection to due to numerous reasons. This month, we explore the varied and vibrant world of curly locks, from free-flowing curly crowns to curls hidden in protective hairstyles. The flexibility and adaptability of hair with afros is an extremely positive feature. The Loc, the process wherein hair strands are braided , then joined in a continuous fashion is strongly linked to Black culture and identity. They are affluent and have complex backgrounds that go back to Africa as well as Asia.
Since time immemorial, the inhabitants of various regions across the globe have tended to wear an especial hairstyle, referred to as locs. It wasn’t until years that the style began to be thrust into Western popular culture, in large part due to the huge popular reggae musician Bob Marley, who sported the hairstyle in conjunction with Rastafarianism, a religion that originated from Jamaica. Nowadays, it is not socially acceptable to refer to this style as “dreadlocks” because of its controversial meaning.
The unfortunate effects of colonialism and the establishment of Eurocentric aesthetic standards for beauty, which have led to unfair judgments as well as the regulation of natural hair and protective styles, has resulted in some people deciding to drop the notion of “dread” entirely to establish positive stories. Some people believe that hairstyles still have strong ties to religion and rituals. But, they are a way for people to showcase their heritage or simply a convenient hairstyle that requires maintaining.
Shaquone Blake, model from Toronto (@onceaking__) Shaquone Blake is a model with a long-standing fascination with locos. When he watched his father perform locs, Shaquone started his own career at the age of fourteen. He played around with different colors for five years, before settling on gray, which recalls all the knowledge that locs provide. The decision came with the challenges. regular washing and care was required to get the desired outcome. As of now, Shaquone has found his experience with locs to be an empowering journey.
For most of my time I have tried to fit in with my peers; however, I now strive to stand out from the rest of my peers. My signature style for the past three years has been the locs-mullet. This means bangs in front and long hair at the back. The sides are shaved. I attempted to get the perfect gray hue myself, but it turned out to be quite dangerous. To prevent this from happening, I took my hairdresser to the salon and had faux locs put in. My own hairstyle is tied in braids, and extensions (which are handmade and made in Polandare made with a crochet method. Thanks to this commitment that I have made, I’m sure that my work is unique, distinctive, and special.
My brothers all have the dreadlocks. My aunt is the only one with one that extends to almost her ankles. Although mine are from Trinidad and Tobago, where my family is originally origins, it’s been several years since they were first introduced. It is unfortunate that there is an unquestionably negative stigma associated with locs due to a ignorance of the way they can be perceived. It’s quite offensive to receive a question asking if you wash your hair. Additionally, some individuals mistakenly call them braids or ‘dreadlocks’, suggesting a larger misconception.
In Summation
The conclusion is that having a distinctive style has enabled me to stand out the rest of the people and show off my personal look. Over the last three years, I have embraced the look of the locs mullet. It has its distinctive grey shade achieved with fake locs crafted by hairdressers. Although I was initially apprehensive from trying it myself, I am now confident in my look and feel empowered by it. The hairstyles and haircuts you wear represent you therefore I’m happy that I am able show my individual look.
