10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option

September 20, 2025, marks four years since I loc’d my hair. To this day, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. For years, my self-worth was tied to my hair. I missed school and work when it wasn’t done. I spent hours in the bathroom trying to make it presentable. I canceled dinners with friends when I couldn’t nail the >Imani Goodridge

Age: 26

Loc’d: 16+ years 

“I love that my hair issrc="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Imani-Goodridge.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="459" />Screenshot Jennifer Leigh 

Age: 43

Loc’d: Almost a year 

“Starting my microlocs was the most intentional thing I’ve done for myself. I was diagnosed with CCCA alopecia, and one spot never grew back, but I keep flare-ups at bay from the inside out, and having smaller locs with thicker hair hides it and strengthens what’s thriving. Maintenance can be pricey, but I gladly invest because I love the flexibility to care for them myself. Fresh retwist or not, there are no rules with locs—my hair’s always ready and I’m outside.”

Age: 60 

Loc’d: 20+ years

“I initially locked (Sisterlocked) my hair for ease of maintenance, but it quickly became so much more of my life decoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Kimberly-Collins.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="457" /> June Moses

Age: 56

Loc’d: 15+ years

“I was over being stressed out about getting my next relaxer because my hair had grown out, and my finances were short. I love my locs, especially since they’re good and gray now, even though maintenance isn’t easy breezy, but it’s not what I left behind. Although I have had many hair lives on this life journey, this is the hair life that fits like a glove.” 

Age: 27

Loc’d: 4 years

“Locs are my foreverdecoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Levette-Quammie.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="460" />Screenshot Sharon Turman-Hall

Age: 59

Loc’d: 3 months

“No longer do I wrestle with shelves of products or stand in the mirror, wondering whichdecoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sharon-Turman-Hall.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="551" /> Elizabeth Farrell

Age: 28

“Maintaining my loose 4C strands took hours and left me frustrated. When I struggled with my mental health, I often avoided caring for my hair, which only exacerbated my insecurity. My locs have given me back both time and confidence. Regardless of what I am going through, I know my hair will always look good, and it’s one less thing I have to worry about.” 

Age: 49 

Loc’d: Almost a year

“December 2024 marks one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself and my hair. Getting Sisterlocks helped me live in my power at this stage of my life. As a professional full-time working wife and mother, my time is valuable. Besides being fun, healthy, easy to maintain, and offering flexibledecoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sonyett-Bailey.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="287" /> Briana Glasgow

Age: 27

Loc’d: 2+ years

“I know this is my foreverdecoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Briana-Glasgow-scaled.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="533" /> Felicia Butler 

Age: 56 

Loc’d: 5+ years

I’ve always struggled with my weight, and because of that, working out on a daily basis was never easy for me. One of my biggest challenges was my hair. After an intense workout, I would consistently sweat out my loose natural hair decoding="async" src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Felicia-Butler-scaled.jpg" alt="10 Loc’d Black Women On Why Returning To A Loose Natural Isn’t An Option" width="400" height="533" />TOPICS:  Locs

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