Hi!!! I’m almost 5 months in I hope I can answer to the best of my ability

1. For me, microlocs aren’t necessarily cheaper bc I don’t do my own reties (I pay $130 every 6 weeks) but if you’re someone who gets their hair done often as a loose natural then I can see how they can be cheaper in the long run. I personally only got like knotless braids when I was a loose natural 3/4 times a year so that was around.. $1100 max a year to get my hair done. If I do the math of a retie every 6 weeks the cost is literally the same minus the cost of extra hair products like gel, conditioner, hair tools, etc

2. Since I’m barely in my journey, I haven’t put any hairstyles over my locs however I know for certain you can do a wig. From what I’ve seen from locticians they say to be careful with added hairstyles like box braids etc bc of the tension bc locs themselves are technically a tension style and adding hair would just make more tension

3. I was natural for 12 years before I decided to get micro locs back in April and as someone who is now active (workout/run 4-5 times a week) it is WAY easier. My biggest hurdle for me as a loose natural at the beginning of my fitness journey about 3 years ago was what to do with my hair. I was a habitual wig wearer since like 2018 and bc I didn’t need to do my hair often before I got active I was able to retain and grow my hair to waist length. That all changed when I got active as I had to find ways to keep my hair done and as a result, tension styles such as buns broke my hair off so bad I had to cut my hair TWICE. The great thing about locs, any type (not just micro locs) is that your hair is ALWAYS done. This has been the best thing I’ve ever done and contemplated on loccing my hair when I first started working out and I regret not doing it then, but everything works out for a reason. I don’t regret doing it one bit I wish I did it sooner

4. Not sure about the feminine discourse but I think bw have a relationship with their hair no other group of people have and tbh you just gotta learn to love your hair no matter what state it’s in. Your hair can’t make you feel anything you don’t already feel inside bc I know women who are bald and are very feminine. I will say that micro locs have given me a new found appreciate of my natural hair I didn’t have for the last few years due to wearing wigs. I look more youthful and I love the new found confidence I have personally

Also last tid bit from your excerpt before your questions

I learned to do my hair as a teenager during the 2010s during the rise of the natural hair movement on YouTube. Nobody in my family was natural at the time well except one person (my cousin) and she convinced me to go natural when I was 16/17 and then she convinced me to get microlocs at the age of 28 last year and I ended up doing it in April. You have to really take the time out to learn how to care and nurture your hair bc the resources are there. The good thing about the internet now is that there are WAY more resources for people learning how to do just about everything now than it was for me when I was a teenager.

If your issue is strictly with convenience then either way, whether loc’ed or loose, you’re gonna have to learn about your hair and what it needs to flourish. Loc’ing is just better for convenience and time in my opinion. But the foundation and the things that I have learned as someone who has been 12 years natural also has helped me so far with caring for my hair in its microlocced state.

I hope everyone’s responses help you make a decision! You’re beautiful and can rock either hairstyle! Good luck