Saturday 16 April 2011

How many sisterlocks/locs do you have?

This topic rolls around regularly. I'm writing about it only because I was reminded of the loc number saga on LIU when someone with traditional locs posed a question(unrelated to loc number) and some of the answers focused on loc number. This post isn't about that thread . I'm merely stating that it brought back memories of my own struggles with 'the loc number' when I first got SLS. It's been the bane of many a locers life. Loc number was never important until I got SLS-ed. (Yes I knew (approx) how many locs were on my head when I had TLS.) That was just for knowing sake and proved nothing. But with SLS it became a different ball game. It was one of the means by which you could tell if yours were real or fake, whether you consultant had cheated you out of 400+ locs or not, whether you belonged or didn't etc etc. It's a terrible rollercoaster once you get on it. Folks with perfectly healthy/beautiful locs have taken them down to restart them based on this. Granted some people did actually receive bad installs from someone who didn't know what they were doing. I was chatting with my friend Seiwa about this last year and the impression that something was somewhat lacking if one didn't have at least 400. It made me realise how we can stress about something that's not really important. At the end of the day, many factors are going to influence the number of locs you have. Size of loc, size of head, density of hair, texture of hair, amongst other variables such as thinning hair/hair loss and of course personal preference. I know a popular Sisterlock saying is'...no 2 heads are alike'. This is true. And yet folks are comparing heads all the time. It's as if our eyes lighted upon the number 400+ in SL literature and that was IT. I'm sure this is not what Dr C meant it to be. It was a general guideline rather than writing in stone. I feel for consultants who may be accused and harassed over this. How can you create up to 400+ locs on a peanut head? I've seen a few photos of 800+ locs on people. Usually it's down to the fact that their hair is very thick/dense, and some have a coconut, not peanut head. There's also the lengthy retite sessions to consider, the $$, the fact that maintenance will be a lot higher. I do think they are beautiful when styled. But hanging straight,a full head of thread-thin locs just doesn't grab me. I think I'm probably in the in-between camp. I like small locs, but not too small if you see what I mean. All this to say Your locs are individual to You. No one has the same as you. The number, the size, the texture, the density can never be replicated exactly on another head. The things to pay attention to is loc health, keeping it strong, moisturised and growing.

6 comments:

Bajan Lily said...

As someone who used to have 450+ and who now currently has NONE, I found this post delightfully amusing :)

Having done my SL training and qualifying heads I can tell you that 400-450 is the ballpark to aim for BUT like you mentioned, you have to take into account the size and shape of the head, where does the hairline start, what's the density like? Are there thinning issues or areas of alopecia? All of that matters!

No TWO SL heads are alike and your locs are exactly that: YOUR locs... like fingerprints, unique to only you.
Ps We were discouraged from doing >600 locs on a head BECAUSE of the installation and maintenance costs. That would just be bondage - and locking is meant to be about freedom no?

anthia-ofo said...

Agreed. It's about freedom. And if I might add Bajan, your story illustrates the point...how we can stress about nothing- whingeing bc we have 20 locs less than the 'benchmark'.We have a lot to be thankful for and you're a goood example of a positive attitude even when you went from locs to none. Now I'm headed over to your blog to see what you're up to re: SLs wig

Britlocs said...

Having been S loc'd for almost 2 years I have been put off by the snobbery factor with Sisterlocks and the obsession with numbers.
It is for this reason I have never counted the number of locks on my head. I simply don't think it is important. My hair texture is extremely fine with almost invisible hair strands. My locks are beautiful and I am incredibly proud of them.

Thanks for this post. It's a great one.

Nubian1 said...

Ofo, coconut head, peanut head.....i wonder which one i come under? lol.....your'r right though a lot of fuss over nothing....... have joined a lot of mine because personally i found the micros too tiny so i join as i see fit....my head my wahala!!! ; o

anthia-ofo said...

Nubian you're a peanut head..like me!!! How're the silver streaks coming along?

Thanks Britlocs.

KnottyAuthor said...

I remember when I started my first set of BL in '06 the magic # was 350-it's all a mind game. I think as others learn the tools of the trade, the rules shift to preserve the business-nothing to do with a healthy head of locks at ALL. Glad you posted this, oldy and a goodie