3 Questions to Ask if Your Child is “asking” for Locs

We see locs everywhere, at work, school, in the gym, restaurants, church or court, yes everywhere. Locs have been ridiculed and finally in many realms accepted. Locs for many people represents a part of who they are and are welcomed by many as a part of a culture that does not have to be done away with, as a matter of fact, Locs, dreds, or whatever word you choose to use to describe the tresses of our hair have been in many ways, modernized.

There are so many variations of Locs and I am without judgment for whichever form any individual may choose for ‘their’ locs. Simply put, I love LOCS, all locs, any locs. While I choose to wear a tiny loc form, which I call Lacelocs™, and is a form of micro locks, many others have their own desire for what they want their locs to look like.

With that said, we’ll turn our attention to children. More and more, kids are wearing locs. I have quite a few children under 13 years of age that wear locs. The big question is what do you, the parent do or say when/if your child asks “can I get locs?

• 1. WHY?

Your first question to that question may be WHY? That is probably the number one question. Well, look around you. Are you wearing them? Or some other parent or guardian or perhaps an authority figure around them may be wearing locs.  Some of the children I have installed locs for have parents, siblings, or other family members wearing them and they identify with that as strength, independence, and uniqueness.

• 2. ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?

I have 4 kids, all adults, 2 wear locs and 2 do not, so we know that our kids ask for A LOT of stuff. And sometimes we give them a quick yes or no, other times we may say, ‘I’ll think about it’ hoping they forget and sometimes they do. But what about if they do not forget and if they don’t go away with that request.

You might want to have a discussion with them to the best of your knowledge, with patience to share with them the pros and cons, of having locs. Talk to them about the process, the time it takes to mat over, the necessary maintenance involved, and the fact that they too will be responsible for the care of their locks, and then assess where you believe they really are with the request. I’ve installed locs for children as young as 6 years old, I believe it’s important that I make it a good experience for them. I definitely would not recommend attempting to force them to wear locs, that is a total nightmare for them and for yourself.

• 3. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE JOURNEY WITH THEM?

Even if your child sees you proudly wearing your tresses in some beautiful, locked form or fashion or perhaps others wearing locks and they keep asking for locs, ultimately the final decision is yours, the parent, the one who’ll have to make the appointments and find the time to consult with a professional, if you will not be giving the care for their locs, plus you are the one with the wallet.

So the 3rd question is really for you, the parent. Will you be able to share information about locs and why we yet hold on to such a beautiful way of wearing and caring for our hair? Will you be the one tending to, maintaining, and caring for their locs, or will you find, for them ‘their person’, who you’ll take them to, and pay and support them along their journey?

#Hekeptasking

Whatever decision you make for them and with them these questions must be considered. In an effort to always support our children and to help them make good and wise decisions, I’m here on the journey with Y’ALL. Perhaps they’ll be able to come along for Locs on the JOURNEY!

Peace.