Loc Journey w/ Kearah-Armonie
You may have been warned that you won't get a job, accepted into a school, or just won't be taken seriously. Your loc journey may have all types of challenges that you don't know how to face, but we're here to tell you... You Are Not Alone.
We sat down with Kearah-Armonie to learn more about her Loc Journey of 5 years. Below is what she had to say:
How long have you had your locs?
5 years
Do you remember what inspired you to grow locs?
I've wanted locs since I was a kid, going to college in Brooklyn (Bed-Stuy/Crown Heights, and Flatbush) and seeing so many more Black people (Caribbean, "afrocentric", etc.) with locs, re-ispired me.
What's the most important lesson you've learned along your hair journey?
Patience. After having my locs for about 8 months I was frustrated and worried that they would never fully loc. But I've realized that they mature over time, they're not gonna be "perfect" right away, especially since I didn't retwist often. I am relatively low maintenance with my locs and I let them do their own thing.
What advice would you give to a person that wants to loc their hair?
Just go for it. Be patient. Most people assume locs are totally low maintenance or no maintenance, which may be relatively true, but you still have take care of your hair. Do your research, check out some YouTube videos (maybe some of mine) and Instagram pages, ask around, but also- just do it.
Do you have any hair tips you'd like to share?
MOISTURIZE! Rose water, Coconut oil, Castor oil. Moisturize every other day, and ESPECIALLY after you wash you hair as soon as you're finished washing it.
What does professionalism mean to you?
Words like that are usually used specifically for discrimination in the work place. I'm not sure what it means to me because it was created by inherently elitist, capitalistic, racist systems and it is still not clear who or what gets to be called professional in particular lines of work. But in general: no nudity, no foul/inappropriate language, and no content that does not apply to or counters the academic/work setting you are in.
What's something you enjoy doing or what's one thing you're passionate about?
I enjoying creating and sharing my art with others, whether it be primarily film or poetry, or whatever I can do.
Lastly, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
Well I'm currently raising money for a short film (gofundme.com/nailsalonfilm) about a young woman's internal struggle to do what's right after a racist incident occurs at the nail salon she frequents. It's called The Nail Salon (@nailsalonfilm), it is written and directed by me and we're shooting next Spring.
Kearah-Armonie, thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your loc journey with us and we look forward to supporting you and your upcoming film!
Now It’s Your Turn!
Join us by sharing your loc journey and help people learn more about life with locs.