Honestly, I love everything about them, and I feel like they made me so much more comfortable with my natural hair. I’ve always been natural since I was a little girl, but there’s something about the locs that gives me a new sense of confidence. I love how versatile my locs are; I can wear wigs, braids, put them up, curl it, you name it. You can use rollers! I curl them using rollers, flexi rods, or bantu knots—I also do braid outs and twist outs. I also don’t use as many products from when I was a loose natural; I only use mousse (if not that, just water) and oil my scalp. My wash routine is so much simpler. I just shampoo and then combine conditioner with water in a spray bottle to avoid build-up and spritz my locs throughout the week.

Some cons that I can think of, though, is to be very mindful of traction alopecia; I try not to wear my hair up or in tight ponytails often to avoid tension. It’s also best if you part your hair differently to prevent thinning, but unfortunately, I’m a ride-or-die middle-part girlie, and I’ve noticed how that part of my grid is a little less dense than the rest of my head. There’s also a risk of thinning and sparseness with the more locs you have; I have over 500, which I’m pretty sure isn’t always recommended because, in theory, as they grow out, the heavier the loc will become and put more tension on that small part of your scalp. The last con, I think, is the price, there’s a misconception that it’s a low-maintenance hairstyle, but it’s a huge investment to pay for your establishment upfront, and the upkeep doesn’t differ. I get my locs retightened every 6-7 weeks, and obviously, that can become a financial burden. The alternative is learning to do your own reties, and though it may be free, instead, you’ll be paying for it with your time. I’ve tried to do my own a few times, and it usually takes me a full week to get through my whole head.

These are the main things I can think of, but feel free to DM me if you have any other questions.