how to mentally transition from curly to loc’d hair 🪴
rebuilding from my previous account @.deidra.
my hair growth journey has taught me a lot of lessons, and patience was the most valuable one.
🌞 I believe when choosing to start your loc journey, it begins with your mindset and lifestyle first.
my soul knew it was ready for locs before I even grew out my hair and completely transitioned.
I literally stopped combing and detangling my hair with combs/brushes when I had a high top fade. I opted for finger combing instead and noticed less shedding.
🌊 waves:
I’ve always wanted short hair since a teen, so cutting it this low was easy for me - my confidence was through the roof with this haircut.
I had a lot of durags and wave brushes, and training my hair to lay flat and wave up was a good challenge.
I went to the barber every week for maintenance and enjoyed this phase for about 1 year.
✨ pixie:
now I got a little something on top to work with.
lots of wash and go’s and finger coiling.
I’d dye it different colors to mix it up and stand out.
still going to the barber every week for maintenance.
🟫 high top fade:
she’s getting a bit longer on the top and my hair shape was beginning to change.
twist outs and flat twist outs were my favorite way to style it.
I was primarily finger combing my hair at this point.
I learned how to line my hair myself and was only going to the barber twice a month now.
🌳 short fro:
my hair is now in a tapered fro shape and it looked so retro - completely done with the barber.
at this point, I was getting frustrated with the length because it was at that odd, medium length where it’s a lot more challenging to style and the front/top was much longer than the sides/back.
I did twist outs and was finger combing but I didn’t feel confident with how it looked.
🟤 mini puff:
whew, now it has enough length to put in a high mini puff and I was feeling better about how it looked entirely.
the back wasn’t long enough and it stuck out so I used headbands to help with the styling process.
still finger combing and only used a brush to get the sides and back up but not to detangle.
🌱 starter locs:
I started my locs with plaits (mini braids) as I knew this was the most effective method for me.
this was the hardest mental stage with accepting my hair.
my confidence completely plummeted and I was depressed.
the budding phase was very frizzy, intense, and itchy - I hated how I looked.
nonetheless, I had to trust the process even when it looked awful.
I wore a lot of hats, scarves, and wraps during this phase.
🍀 teen locs:
things finally start making sense.
my hair was forming/swelling, still changing, but now giving the appearance of real locs.
though it was still short, I was able to do little styles with it and my confidence was slowly coming back.
patience becomes really real here.
I retwisted quite often (no styling products) and interlocked my hair every 2-3 months to
combat frizzing.
I would retwist/interlock without parting my parts with a comb to ensure healthy roots.
🌴 mature locs:
woo! at this stage, I felt like IT!
no more frizzy hair.
this is where I really began to embrace my hair and wore it down everywhere I went, no more tight styles at all.
I absolutely loved this bob length, she was so cute.
I stopped retwisting as often but continued interlocking every 3 months to keep my roots intact (still no styling products).
I continued to retwist/interlock without parting my parts with a comb.
🌲 rooted locs:
now my hair confidence has skyrocketed and I feel amazing everywhere I go.
I honestly feel as good as when I had my waves, imagine that 😄
though it’s long enough to do endless styles, I always opt to wear it down and straight - no tension.
I retwist once a month and interlock every 4 months now (still no styling products or parting with combs).
the last picture in the right corner on this slide shows my hair in a 2 strand twist and it’s literally only my second time doing this style since I had locs.
✅ short/curly hair journey length: 5 years.
✅ loc’d hair journey length: 5 years.
🌞 I don’t own any combs/brushes or styling products. I consider my hair to be vegan as I only use soap to wash it and water/oil to moisturize.
🌞 I started my locs myself and have been maintaining them myself ever since.
the only hands my scalp and hair see are mine.
🌞 this hair growth journey has taught me it was never just about hair.
it was about discipline, patience, and letting go of control.
my locs became a reflection of that.
🦋 may this message inspire someone to start their own.
Transitioning from curly hair to loc'd hair is more than just a physical transformation—it's a profound mental journey that requires patience, dedication, and a shift in how you view your hair and self-care. When I first made the decision to start locs, I underestimated the emotional challenges more than the physical ones. Letting go of traditional combing and detangling methods, especially when I had my high top fade, involved retraining both my hands and my mindset. Finger combing became my method of choice, helping me reduce hair shedding and connect more intimately with my natural texture. One thing I've learned is that patience truly is a virtue. The budding phase was particularly tough; the frizz and itchiness made me question if the journey was worth it, and yes, my confidence dipped. But embracing protective styles like hats, scarves, and headbands helped me manage these tough periods both physically and mentally. Another key aspect was understanding that hairstyles like waves, pixie cuts, or mini puffs weren't just about aesthetics but about mourning and celebrating the stages between curly and loc'd. For example, training my hair with durags and wave brushes was fun but also a form of preparation for the eventual lock formation. In contrast, my mini puff gave me confidence when my hair reached a certain length, even if the back wasn't quite there yet. Maintaining my locs without any styling products or comb parting changed my approach to hair care. Using only soap, water, and oils, and doing all the twisting and interlocking myself, gave me full control and a personal bond with my hair's health. This vegan hair care method encouraged me to rethink ingredients and styling habits, promoting scalp health and natural hair growth. As the locs matured, I realized this journey was about more than hair; it was about cultivating discipline, letting go of control, and accepting new forms of beauty. Wearing my hair down without tension or tight styles was liberating, and my confidence soared again in a way I hadn’t anticipated—in some ways, even surpassing when I had my waves. If you're considering this transition, know that it’s okay to struggle at times. Embrace each stage as a new chapter and use this time for self-reflection. Engage in daily rituals that reaffirm your self-love, like gentle moisturizing or protective styling, and connect with communities that support natural hair journeys. Your patience will pay off, and your locs will become a beautiful reflection of your growth both inside and out.
Your smile is everything! You look like a model! Every pic you posted that you’re smiling on is top tier girl 😍🔥😂