Introduce yourself!
C: Hi! I’m Courtney and I’m from the great state of New Jersey ^_^
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
C: After countless times gripping the salon chair as the burning sensation of the perm spread over my scalp like wildfire, I finally just said enough was enough. Soon after my last appointment I cut all of my relaxed hair off and never looked back! I’ve been natural since September of 2009.
At the start of 2012 I decided to install my first set of locs (200+ loc count) because the upkeep of my afro became too tiring and time consuming. I wanted to be free of constantly having to style my hair. For all of 2012 I wore my first set of locs. In January 2013 I decided that I really wanted thicker ones so instead of combing them out, I just went to a barber and had him shave them off. I wore a short cut for a few months before I started to grow my hair back out. In September of that year, I started my second set with around 117 locs. They ended up being too thin for my liking so I tried again in December 2013 with 80, and again in March 2014 with 46. I am currently rocking my fourth (and final!) set of locs.
How would you describe your texture?
C: I’m pretty sure I am 4c. My curls are only really visible when wet.
What method was used to start your locs?
C: I started my 46 locs with finger coils! I didn’t trust anyone to part my hair the way I wanted it, so I just did it myself.
How do you style your locs?
C: I don’t really remember the details of what I was doing to my hair before I loc’d that first time, but I know that I was doing too much. Washing weekly or biweekly, co-washing and regular washing. Conditioning every month or so. Frequently mixing homemade protein concoctions and applying them to my hair. Finger detangling. Trimming. Keeping my hair stretched with twist outs and braid outs. Protective styling to maintain length. The longer it got, the more work it was. It was draining. *sigh* I’m glad that’s over.
Now I usually leave my hair as it is when I wake up. Sometimes the sides and/or back of my hair are flat or one loc may be sticking out from all the rest, but I just let it be because I feel like it gives my hair even more character! When I’m feeling fancy I’ll put my locs into bantu knots.
What does wash day look like for you?
C: It’s been smooth sailing since I decided that I was happy with this set of locs. Every two weeks I wash my hair a few times with diluted Dr. Woods Lavender Castile Soap, rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear, maybe apply a little castor oil to my scalp and locs, and I’m good to go. I’ve chosen to not to twist my locs, but I do pull them apart if they start to show signs of growing together at the root.
Tell us about your hair color?
C: Back when I had my first set of locs shaved off my cousin dyed my super low cut a cinnamon brown color. It’s now over a year later and the ends of my locs are the color it was dyed way back then. I haven’t gotten my hair dyed since.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
C: I’m only two months into this locing journey so some of my locs still unravel when submerged in water. The loc right above my right ear is pretty stubborn. I think it may be one of the last to loc. We shall see.
What are 2 do’s for your locs?
C: 1) To be patient. They will eventually fully loc and mature. Length will come in time. I need to just enjoy my locs at every stage. 2) Sleep with my hair covered every night to retain moisture and prevent lint and other stuff from getting in my hair. My hair is a lint magnet.
What are 2 don’ts for your locs?
C: 1) Going more than two days without spraying my locs with water. 2) Going to sleep without covering my hair at night.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
C: Blog: www.courtneyindepth.tumblr.com
Instagram: @courtneyindepth
YouTube: www.youtube.com/courtindepth (stayed tuned for videos!)
Love the bantu knots!
Awesome lady! I love seeing her pics and stuff on Tumblr. She’s so gorgeous, and her photos are wonderful.
Her locs look great!
You are just to cute. You are truly natural. And it works.
I HEART her locs!! They are so very beautiful to me.
Wow, I love her locs, if I were to loc my hair I’d want them super thick in similar style of hers, it’s funny because every time I used to do finger coils when my hair was longer , I’d get people asking me if I was starting locs so it’s interesting that she actually started hers that way! Great feature , interview and photos.
awww, she is so cute and adorable…luv the hair and style
Gorgeous lady!! I love your free spirit… Everything I just read just tells me to enjoy life and your hair!!
beautiful girl! such locspiration. I’m now loc’ed. just did it yesterday and im fully so now, and i’m worried they’re gonna unravel. a few got wet in the shower yesterday and tried to come loose 🙁 water makes my hair completely unravel, so i know i’m gonna have to avoid full-on douses for at least a month to allow the locs to mature. I’m so excited to be free of and done with all of the maintenance associated with loose natural hair. i’d done that for 2 and a half years and was frustrated by the conclusion so i’m glad… Read more »
Lovely! and i would love to see your locks when they grow longer.
Can someone explain to me how you can loc your hair without twisting it? I’ve never heard of that before.
Your hair locks naturally on it’s own. If you were to have a curly afro and all you did was wash it and never comb it. the hair would tangle & intertwine, which will mat together and there you have it–Locs are formed. Google freeform locs and you will see amazing pictures.
You can start them with finger coils. You can also start them with braids, though it’ll take longer to loc that way. You can also start it with palm rolls, a common way to start semi free form locs.
@Aly , Next month will be 1 year into my freeform journey, my hair is 3c/4a all I do is wash about 3 times a week with a shampoo bar and spray with Rosewater or a Lavender tea mix, Keeping it simple work well for me, I was locked in about 3/4 months.I dont twist, have never had any scalp issue or dry hair problems. I have been a natural for 14 years.
Hey Aly, if you think about it, naturally afro-textured hair (especially thick, coarse) if not manipulated in the same ways loose natural is will naturally separate on their own. Feel free to look up a few articles on semi-freeforming & free-forming. One simply washes their locs (however often), then separates whatever parts trying to grow together or “marry”, add some oil to seal, and that’s all there is to it! There’s also a good amount of videos on Youtube to check out about this type of loc maintainence.
All kinds of gorgeousness!
Ahhh!! Courtney has such beautiful hair, and a lovely spirit and blog! SO glad to see you on BGLH 🙂 You are simply stunning!
Wow, you are brave. You actually go out like that. You let your hair really be and don’t worry about how pretty you look or compare yourself to another girl. I finally get to see a loc’d girl. I want to see more. This can give other women motivation to go out like that.