BGLHer Nev, a Boston native and winner of the Now and Then November giveaway, is currently free-forming her locks.

Check out what she had to say about her choice of style:
โAs you may know, I am currently freeforming my locs, which to many, is not โmainstream friendlyโ as it is usually considered a โmessyโ or โdirtyโ style, even to those who claim to appreciate natural hair. However, I consider my hair to be just as beautiful as that of any other natural head, regardless of the direct and indirect negativity I receive pertaining to my choice. I want to point this out because I feel that hair complexes are indeed a problem for black women all over the world, as you have mentioned in many of your blogs, and it does not stop with the natural hair community.โ
What are your thoughts? Do you think locks are stigmatized, even in the natural hair community? And if so, why?
I think some locs are stigmatized. I personally like the smaller sized locs that people get done at the hairdresser or start on their own. If there are parts between each loc I think it looks good.
On the other hand to me โfreeformโ locs is just another way to say letting your hair loc up because you didnโt comb it. Controversial to say maybe but I just donโt like it
Iโm not going to lie,Iโm not crazy about free forming just because its not something I find attractive..Its not something I would be comfortable wearing either. Excuse me if thats ignorant, as its my own personal opinion. People are always going to have something negative to say about how we wear our hair its just how it is. I say she do whatever works for her bearing in mind that it will be extremely difficult and to have close supporters aroundโฆ
I applaud Nev! She is being her true authentic self โ and you couldnโt ask for more. I will say however, that sometimes think of locs as โthe easy way,โ (of seeing results, length etc) but I acknowledge thatโs crazy thinking. There is no โeasyโ or โhardโ way of doing things, itโs what you feel comfortable with and what you want out of life. Kudos to you.
I think a lot of naturals feel the need to make sure certain styles are โwork-appropriateโ because our hair in itโs natural state is already so different. It can be big, wild and crazy, but that doesnโt mean our hair is not done. However others donโt always see things like that, especially if you work in a conservative environment. Although I support any style/form of locs, others in the mainstream definitely see it as an โunkept style.โ Not saying itโs RIGHT, but it is what it isโฆ Think about it, when have you ever seen a sista with free form locks… Read more »
Iโm rather apathetic when it comes to locks for the most part. Donโt get me wrong, some are very beautiful. I love Goapeleโs locks, theyโre gorgeous. But for the most part itโs neither here nor there with me. Now please try to understand, the natural hair community isnโt obligated to accept locks any more than they are obligated to accept a twist out as a go-to style. Please remember that it is a hairstyle. I know some natural girls who only do wash and gos, never do bantu knots and sometimes do twist outs. Itโs a matter of taste. No oneโs grows… Read more »
Hmmโฆ I think they are stigmatized by most people has being dirty, gross and unprofessional on both blacks and whites. I think they are pretty cool has long as they have some upkeep.
I would like to first say that I do have an appreciation for Natural Hair and Natural beauty. But free forming locs, I just canโt always get down with. Iโve seen people with all sorts of loc looks. Short, long, different lengths, different colors etc. Locs can be really diverse. But free forming locs do not always translate well into the mainstream world. Mainstream hair is something that neat, tidy, and clean. A lot of people see free forming locs are something that is unkempt and dirty. And sadly its because a majority of the people Iโve come across who had free… Read more »
Here are my two cents: Weโve had locked style icons on BGLH and weโve had free strand style icons. To me, attractive natural hair is attractive natural hair, whatever the style or texture. Nia, our most recent locked icon, had gorgeous red (dyed) locksโฆ and we actually have a couple more locked icons coming up. However, I think that developing locks is a process, just like developing a beautiful head of free-form hair is. Every style icon on BGLH has developed some measure of โcompletionโ and โresolveโ with her look, which can then be presented as a model to the… Read more »
Woopsโฆ I actually forgot that Leah was our most recent locked style icon.
I think that there is a stigma against freeformed locs and young locs. There is a so called โuglyโ phase with locs in the first year as the locing process starts whether your locs are free formed or cultivated that people are intolerant towards because they think your hair looks unkempt and messy. The budding process is not always pretty and depending on the texture of your hair and how you choose to maintain your locs can make your hair look pretty wild. I think that the appearance of freeformed locs triggers the assumptions that people with locs have neglected,… Read more »
i had locs for almost 6 years. they were neat and smaller (pencil sized or smaller). i retwisted about every 5 or so weeks. people loved my hair!! i wasnt much for doing a bunch of styles but i would wear them up, in a bun and also crinkly from time to time. i got a job at a top corporation with my locs. iโve been promoted with my locs. i teach at the gym and got that job with locs. i think locs can be accepted by others as long as they are neat, clean and maintained. the freedom… Read more »
Wowโฆgood to see people being honest and sharing their opinions, but I have to admit that Iโm a little stung. I hope we all see that some of our ideas about what is โunkemptโ or โuncleanโ come from someone elseโs standards. I canโt speak for anyone else, but my hair gets washed SO much more often than it did when it was relaxed or when it was loose and natural, and maybe thatโs why Iโm so troubled by the perception of locs as dirty. Theyโre really just matted hair, and yes, you can wash them thoroughly despite that. If you… Read more »
I know what you are going through and Iโve had my locs for going on 9 years now. People are always talking about my hair and saying that it needs to be retwisted or why it looking so untidy! At one point, I began to retwist my hair every 2 weeks, because I work at a law firm, but now, I donโt care do it. I realized that my hair is growing even thicker since I began to wait about 2 months to retouch my locs. I applaud you for this and ask that you continue to grow it naturally.… Read more »
i have read everyones comments, and i just donโt get it. are we not individuals. who says that locs are trying to be mainstream, freeformed or cultivated. thatโs the whole point of locs. people loc, i loc, because i love the texture of natural hair. i like the feel of it in my hands. that is why some, including me, freeform. the hair is washed, conditioned and moisturized. everyone wants to know what their hair texture is, but when someone wants to showcase theirs, you are examined and evaluated on whether you have the right to. i combed out my… Read more »
I love freeform locs
When I was freeforming, I had many compliments but also looks..lol
supremedjan did a video on freeform hate and sheโs soo right
Are locs stigmatized in the natural hair community? I find that hard to believe, but maybe thatโs because theyโre extremely popular in the DC Metro area. I absolutely adore locs and am considering transitioning myself. I am West Indian and, having grown up around rastas, I differentiate between locs/locks and dreads. Free-form locs fall into the latter category and I would say Iโm a big fan, but I say do you. Itโs all about confidence. I saw an asian guy on the metro recently with the most beautiful dreads. He had a very artsy vibe and they fit him perfectly.… Read more »
I think locs are stigmatized. When I first cut my hair people and my friends were like โWhatever you do, just donโt loc itโ. People giving me that warning me. I wouldnโt get locs but I think they are veRy beautiful ๐ O and I agree with what you said Leila โclarity and completionโ, so true!
i think when you have it in your life often, it affects your positionality. i have natural hairโalways have. free form locks are not for me BUT i have had my own hair, unrefreshed and uncombed for a a while and had people assume it was some kind of locking going on. even though i donโt think it looked that way [always a black american. i am west indian] and theyโd be like โi love your locks!โ or โi looove women with locksโ random dude trying to mack. i just smile, say thanks and keep it moving. kinda funny that… Read more »
I didnโt think they were stigmatized, until I read the comments above and it seems that most who have commented agree that they are. Iโm actually quite surprised. To me, locs are so beautiful, and the ultimate in natural hair. For those with 4a or 4b hair, I think itโs our default state (in my opinion). I wore cultured locs for 7 years before BCing about a year ago. Admittedly, the first 18 months were quite difficult, when my hair wouldnโt do what I wanted it to do, but by the third year they had settled in and I would… Read more »
i was excited to see this question as a former lock star who recently chopped her locks off i have had lots of comments about how nice my hair was then and why would i โregressโ to wear free forms, fros, twist and goโs etc. i am confused. when i started the locks, folks were concerned since iโd cut off my long healthy relaxed hair to do so. as the locks grew long and gorgeous i was more presentable. its a tier huh? i wanted to feel my texture and learn about my hair. the locks didnโt not allow that. Yes there… Read more »
I do think locs especially free forming locs are not completely accepted in the natural hair community. It sad that we as a race feel the need to tone ourselves down (which we have been doin 4 centuries) so other races wont feel threaten by our strong & different appearances. This shows that even with natural sistahs slave mentality still lives on. Every ethnicity has beauty & is apart of Godโs masterpieces. I just wish that instead of looking at our differences as curses & things that need to be fixed/shunned whether that be straighten,lightened or trying to force our natural… Read more »
In typical Nigerian mainstream culture; locs are considered a sign of dirtiness, waywardness, or even madness (also known as โdadaโ). A person with locs may be considered as someone who is morally depraved, like a drug addict, for instance. It is only nowadays, I would say since the millennium, that locs โcoming out of the closetโ with major celebrities donning the controversial style (e.g, Dakore & another female singer in Lagbajaโs band). I think sister locs or more deliberately-constructed styles are more socially acceptable than free-form rasta-looking dreds. But confidence is everything. If she rocks her free-form dreds with self-confidence… Read more »
Greetings Sis. Your question, โis there a stigma against locks, even in the natural hair communityโ honestly made me laugh a little. I say this because, as a woman who has been locked up for nearly 10 years, I can honestly say that I have seen more stigma against non-locked natural beauties than myself with my locks. Some of the most beautiful natural styles can be seen as unprofessional, unkempt, or dirty, but I can honestly say that (besides my own personal insecurity in the beginning about what my boss might think) Iโve never experienced anything besides admiration since Iโve… Read more »
I also have mixed feelings about locs. I have seen BEAUTIFUL, small locs (on both men and women in all phases- from 1 inch long to mid back) and I have seen awful looking, makes-me-start-itching locs. I think itโs all about neatness. If the hair doesnโt look neat, I wonโt like it and make no apologies for that. Thatโs not an ethnic thing. Iโve seen white and asian girls who had unkempt hair- they also made me itch. Locs donโt equal unkempt in my book, but in NYC Iโve certainly seen my fair share of raggedy locs. Hereโs my thing,… Read more »
I think locs are stigmatized. People make assumptions about loc wearers. I have been offered marijuana on several occasions, and I do not smoke. I have been called Rastafarian. People stare at meโฆitโs ridiculous. People think I donโt wash my hair when in fact, I was my hair regularly. People with natural hair sometimes judge me. They ask me โHow could you do that to your hair?โ Or they think I am just locking my hair to have long hairโฆor they perceive me as being lazy. Whatever the case, it is sad that I face judgement all aroundโฆfrom those with… Read more »
I smell some hypocrisy here. As natural girls we blow the trumpet saying I can wear my hair how I want and still be beautiful yet we have a young lady here who is doing just that but itโs free form locs so thereโs an issue. To be honest this conversation reminds me of the hooplah over whether Zahra Jolie Pitt should wear her hair loose or combed. Honestly who cares, just do what makes you happy
well said M.J.
Frankly, when I first though about free form locks, I didnโt even know what it was (which was yesterday when I saw a video and the person said she was going to start free forming again.) Then I learned what it meant and I was like, ew! I then thought about it while reading the comments and now Iโm like, I LOVE IT! But only after being informed. I Think the average person being drenched in euro-centric ideas on how hair is supposed to look is going to be disgusted. But not all.
Thanks for talking about this topic!
Well, I had locks, and did not like them. I tried to feel good about them. I went through the โugly phaseโ and I hated them. My hair grows fairly quickly, so they were shoulder length in under 2yrs. Lengthโฆwas not the problem. I hated my hair. I tried curling them, twisting them, putting them in all kinds of intricate styles, but I still could not stand the look, or the feel of them. Meanwhile, a friend of mine has waist length locks and I adore her hair. The point is, to each his or her own. Freeform locks..are natural… Read more »
Is there even such a thing as โthe natural hair communityโ
what hypocrisy going on hereโฆwow iam amazed by what so called โi am proud of natural hairโ people are saying.โฆreally what is wrong with freeform locs? i do not have locs or plan on having them however, i am proud of every black or any other race of women for that matter, who has come to a point where they want to be true to themselves regardless of what people think or mainstream society wants us to thinksโฆwhat is the point of natural hair? isnโt it to be free of societies trap of beauty? isnโt coming to a point of… Read more »
@Patricia Grannum, that question really has me thinking. Is there a natural hair โcommunity?โ We toss the term around a lot, but does this community really exist. I personally find some naturals to be some of the most judgemental people, supportive only of what fits into their idea of natural beauty. Look at the comments about Halle when she wore her natural or Solange when the pics first came out or about Venus on the forum. Instead of being applauded for being brave enough to be natural in an industry where weaves are king, the โnatural communityโ bombarded the net… Read more »
Just want to throw a thought out here:
Does being a community mean that we like whatever style any natural decides to do?
Do we lose our right to be critical because we are a community?
ugh.. if i see one more person associate an ugly phase with locks im going to fโn scream- no such phase existsโฆall that aside its ur natural hair. I say ppl should feel free to do what ever the hell they are ever so inclined to do with it W/ out worrying about the backlash from other pplโs ignorance or non- appreciation of the PERSONAL aesthetic that u decide is a right fit for YOURSELF and YOUR LIFESTYLE. as long as ur hair is clean, whats the prob? yes people are entitled to their personal opinions & we are not… Read more »
No we donโt lose our right. If someone has a hairstyle that isnโt cute, one doesnโt HAVE to like it just because itโs โnaturalโ. My friend is natural but she doesnโt like wearing her hair in an afro,she likes its for others but not for herself. Some people like locs and others donโt. Some like it others but would never get it (thatโs me) Itโs that individualโs opinion and theyโre free to have one. Locs donโt make a person more โtrue to themselvesโ versus a person who doesnโt have locs.
The thing is, not everyone is going to like each and every single style out there. That is fact and has nothing to do with having euro-centric mindset either. Seeing the beauty in an individual regardless of what style they wear on their head is all that matters. Also, wear your hair they way YOU want it. Itโs bad to constantly seek some type of validation from others, even people in the โnatural communityโ themselves.
I actually donโt like โfreeformโ locs either (we call them janks or hands here) as they tend to look (at least the ones Iโve seen) messy and unflattering. Thatโs just a personal thing. I just like locs with a little more method.
Itโs one thing to not like/appreciate a certain style. Itโs another to make comments, thus making the person who chose that style feel uncomfortable. Weโre all entitle to our opinions. Weโre not necessarily entitled to share them without being asked.
I think a mess is a mess. Not appreciating natural hair should not stem from textureโฆthatโs been my platform. I like locs, but anything just thrown together โ thatโs how it looks โ can be off-putting.
@MSJAIM โ As far as Iโm concerned, my whole phase of locks was ugly. You making a statement like that is being just as โjudgementalโ as those โnaturalsโ who only like a certain kind of hair. The whole term natural really gets my goose, if you ask me. What is โnatural?โ Is dyed hair still natural? Pressed? Weaved? Wigged? As humans, we are judgemental creatures. Its just the way of the world. So letโs just stop pointing fingers and calling names and being negative. As long as you are pleased with what youโre doing to your hair, at the end of… Read more »
@ The Notorious Z.A.G.,I stand by my statement & Its def your perogative to refer to your hair being locโed or your begining stages of locโn as ugly if u please, but I dont advocate negative self perceptions- thats the rationale behind my statement. Im sure there was nothing ugly about ur hair. Ive been on several hair boards/ blogs & that term & negative way of thinking just perpetuates the whole topic were discussing now. what Ive noticed with some ppl who start locs is they see the end result that they want to acheive, not realizing that like… Read more »
I have quietly followed this blog for a very long time. Iโve never even been interested in posting before now. As a woman who has worn her hair natural for most of her adult life (except for a short 2 month stint) I am just amazed by the comments here. But am I surprised? I canโt say that I am. I have noticed here that there have been many occasions in which lines seem to be drawn and demarkations made about what is natural and what is more authentic natural, etc. This is a huge surprise to me because as far… Read more »
I think there is a stigma, one blog that champions natural hair was like I donโt โsupport relaxers and locs on children because they are permanentโ (What? They arenโt even in the same category!)Locs are gorgeous! Especially the big and beautiful ones (like on the musician Valerie June). As a kid in Lagos(Nigeria), one of my childhood friends had the most gorgeous freeform locs (dada we used to call them) I have ever seen (even to this day), but they were for religion reasons and I was gutted when he chopped them off and then I moved to the UK… Read more »
Anyone regardless of hairstyle can be professional or unprofessional. People are just judging those with freeform locks before knowing them. Yes, Bob Marley had freeform locks and he smoked ganja a lot, but most ppl w/ freeforming locks are just average ppl like everyone else. I currently do a wash nโ go and just wear my afro out, but iโm considering getting locks in may. Iโd get regular locks and not freeform ones though. Just my preference. People can prefer any hairstyle they want but why call those with freeformed locks or even regular dreadlocks lazy or dirty. Its not… Read more »
In my opinion, locs cannot truly be considered โnaturalโ unless they are free-form locs. There is nothing natural about the locking process. Manicured locs are twisted into submission to create a neat, easily-digestable style for the masses to accept. I am a natural woman of two years, and I absolutely love free-form locs. Nev, keep doing your thing.
nakias thatโs interesingโฆlocs not โnaturalโ. do you feel that when someoneโs hair is in a two strand twist or cornrowed itโs not natural either? not trying to be confrontational just curious about your logic on manicured locs not being considered natural.
I just donโt like free form locks. Iโm sorry. I think itโs because itโs too limiting in style. with more uniform locks you can do more things, IN MY OPINION. Have I seen beautiful free formers? YES. Do I look down on free formers? NO. Itโs just me. Sometimes I donโt like high ponytails on certain people with straight hair. Sometimes I donโt like locs on certain men. Sometimes I donโt like afros on certain women. Are they still wonderful people? YES This is just a question of aesthetics for me. I donโt think they are dirty or weird or… Read more »
If you donโt have chemicals in your hair, thatโs natural! When did manicured locs become NOT natural?
Sometimes I think blk people find anything to divide us.โIf you donโt loc your hair then your NOT TRULY natural.โ โIf you have manicured locs, then youโre NOT TRULY natural.โ Since when did all of this become true?? Even if it is true, why does it matter? Sometimes there are more important things in life than whats on top of someoneโs head.
Iโve been natural for 5 years and have come to admire the different hair textures, โtypesโ (i know the term is loaded) and styles that we can achieve. I admire manicured locs modeled by Goapele and Lauryn Hill, as well as sister locks. For me, my preferences are really based on versatility. With loose hair I feel like I have can anything and more that I could do with my relaxed hair (minus the chemical damage) and I feel that those with manicured, somewhat small locs, can accomplish just about all the styles one does with loose natural hair (save… Read more »
Wow so many comments, hope I am not repeating. I donโt think locs are stigmatized in the natuaral community its just one other option amongst many when you decide to go natural. I have worn locs, twists, twa I donโt feel their was any stigma with either one of the styles. However, that said I did try to distance myself from the Rastafari camp when I had my locs. I just was not with the sexist, backwards mentality of some of the Rastafariโs I encountered. Women being treated like second-class citizens, the lambasting of non-naturals, the obssesive facsination with racial… Read more »
My two centsโฆthe rule where I come from in Ghana is that, whatever else in the world you do (or donโt) to your hair, you comb it at least once a day. Thatโs the standard of presentability. As someone else said regarding Nigeria, unkempt hair is most closely associated with madness. Thatโs the reason we tend to frown on locs, especially freeform locs which are more visibly uncombed (and uncombed afros). Iโve seen a few musicians and entertainers with cultivated locs, and there are a handful of Rastafarians with freeform locs, but thatโs the extent of it.
Youโre a natural and you comb your hair once a day? Do you suffer breakage? I could never do that, too much manipulation!
I think for the most part, locs are still stigmatized โ mainly stemming from ignorance about how they are formed (the ever-changing process) and how they are maintained (even if low maintenance, healthy locs still require some maintenance โ washing at the very least). Wearing your locs with pride, keeping healthy, and carrying yourself respectably will show ppl that you are more than your hair. But on the other hand, I donโt think that because someone doesnโt like the aesthetic of locs (free-form or other), it means the person is stigmatizing them or the loc-wearer. Simply put, not everyone will like… Read more »
Iโve been locing for 13 years and get compliments on my hair often, especially when itโs due for a wash and twist. Irrespective of culture and hair texture, the adage must still apply; hair looks best when itโs dirty. But early on there were questions. Do you you wash it? Why are you doing that to your hair? Thankfully, my parents took a wait-and-see stance with me and younger my sister, who has loced for 15 years. My late aunt once said, โIt just donโt look Christianโ which was curious, because neither my sister nor I are Christians. I agree that… Read more »
I feel like the natural hair community is just as diverse as any other community. There are the extreme purists *cough*snobs*cough* who think that to have the extra neatly parted locks and/or extensions is as bad as a lye perm. There are the more casual folks who think anything non-chemically straightened is just fine and all the people that fall in between. Iโm personally not a fan of the absolute free-form, where there is no separation of the locks and prefer a more cultivated look.
Hehe!!!
I love kinky hair. Iโm talking straight up 4z hair but, personally, free form locks rub me the wrong way. It may be clean but itโs basically matted hair and I find that unattractive on any hair texture or race. Again thatโs my personal opinion, so I would never do it. There are lots of things people do with their hair that I donโt like. I donโt judge them for it; I just choose not to copy the look. P.S. I remember when I was a kid on the bus and man with a free form lock tuft of hair on… Read more »
i love all types of natural hair to be honestโฆand like someone said above it depends on the style and how the person keeps their hairโฆwhether itโs a huge round afro (which i prefer), curly fros, sister locks, freform locks, etc.โฆnatural hair is too diverse to just only like one or two styles lol.โฆiโm a loose natural and one day i could definitely see myself locking in the futureโฆbut anywayโฆi actually think that locks are more accepted than loose (especially type 4) natural hair and this is why.โฆto a lot of people including myself, locks almost mimic straight hair, which… Read more »
As a natural hair stylist for over 15 years, I have seen the acceptanceโ of our natural hair grow, but as a loc wearer i am feeling a bit forgotten by all the curly hair creme campaigns going on now, there is a stigma of i being โuncleanโ and for vagrants and the poor. I donโt think weโve seen then portrayed as classy and sophisticated yet, and though I love the โnaturalโ hair movement going on, I am sorry that sistahs still feel they have to โdoโ something to there hair when they go natural, I do BCโs almost everyday… Read more »
It is really ridiculous..if your natural your natural point blank. Todayโs natural community is more geared towards curls and kinks and not so much locks. I donโt think itโs done purposely but rather the majority of naturals are loose naturals. Itโs okay to dislike something but to dislike it for reasons unbeknownst to you makes you uneducated and ignorant. You canโt say people with locks appear to be dirty or unkempt. Are loose naturals not stigmatized by some relaxed folks? Or have we forgot. Child please. Please the ignorance in our community is killing us. Frankly those who are natural… Read more »
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I think natural hair is beautiful. It is as god intended it to be & nature has itโs own natural pattern and it is beautiful. Know all you gotta do is smile and the sunshine will be complete!
I am Waaaay late to this commenting to party. But, I want to contribute as a newly loc starter. Yes I do believe there is a stigma attached. I have found from the many questions I have received about locโs since Iโve started them is that it stems from ignorance about locks. That is within our black community as a whole, as well as the natural hair community. Many loose haired naturals(who do not have close friends or relatives with locks really donโt know much about them.) They believe once you see one locโd head youโve seen them all. They… Read more »