In a recent video, the owner of Philadelphia’s The Loc Spa, sparked a lively debate by suggesting that locs should not be considered a permanent hairstyle. She emphasized the potential long-term impacts on hair health, due to the tension and weight of the hairstyle. Her perspective has resonated with many, leading to a broader discussion about the longevity of them among women who wear them.
“I’ll start off with a disclaimer,” she began in her video. “Locs should not be a permanent hairstyle. You should not intend or plan to keep your locs forever.”
She explained that the constant tension from wearing them can lead to inflammation and hair loss over time. Additionally, the accumulated shed hair within the hairstyle adds significant weight, which can cause thinning at the hair follicles. According to her, the ideal timeframe to wear locs is under ten years, ensuring ongoing conversations with a locitician to assess the hair’s condition.
Many women have their own unique and personal experiences with keeping their locs or making the decision to comb them out.
Tyler Whitley’s Loc Journey: Love and Lessons
Digital creator Tyler Whitley has had her own journey of joy and challenges with her locs.
“I absolutely love locs,” she said. “There’s something about them that makes me feel regal and queen-like.”
For Whitley, locs were a low-maintenance hairstyle that allowed her to experiment with different looks without much tension. However, she acknowledged the potential for damage.
“I believe locs cause thinning,” Whitley told 21Ninety. “Frequent hairstyles with tension will cause thinning, and the weight of the locs can also contribute.”
Whitley decided to release her locs when she realized that her initial stylist had not started them in the way she had envisioned.
“He was into interlocking the hair from root to ends for a neat look, and I was interested in a more bohemian style with volume,” she explained.
Although she eventually found a stylist who understood her vision, by then, her hair was maturing. She chose to start over. Her only regret with her locs was “not waiting for the right loc stylist to be available.”
Grace Jeanelle’s Experience: Connection and Change
Grace Jeanelle’s experience with locs also highlighted the sense of community and connection she felt.
“My overall experience with having my locs was positive… besides how they pulled on my edges after some time,” Jeanelle said.
She found a sense of belonging among others with locs, whether on TikTok, at the grocery store or on her HBCU campus. However, she agreed with the locitician’s claims on a personal level.
“One reason I decided to comb mine out is because I couldn’t stand how they pulled on my scalp and edges the longer and heavier they grew to be,” she told 21Ninety.
The decision to part ways with her locs was also influenced by personal tragedy.
“On March 31, 2021, my family suffered from two tragic losses,” she said. “I cut all 12 inches of my hair off in November 2021 and loc’ed it up that same month.”
While locs provided a sense of closeness to her family during a difficult time, Grace ultimately missed the versatility of loose natural hair and decided to comb them out. She has no regrets and values the journey and the freedom to express herself through different hairstyles.
Ultimately, the decision to wear locs, and for how long, is deeply personal and varies based on individual experiences and hair health. As Peace advises, it’s essential to have ongoing discussions with a professional to ensure the health of your hair. Whether you choose to wear them for a few years or a decade, what matters most is making the choice that feels right for you and your hair.
“At the end of the day, I believe that Black women should do whatever they want with their hair,” Jeanelle said. “If that means combing out their locs or chopping them off—then so be it! It’s just hair.”