I’m really excited to share TB’s hair story with you because not only is this my first feature but it is also the first feature for men. Often times in the natural hair community we forget that men also go through a journey and it gives me pleasure to share his story with you from buzz cut to locs down his back!
How long have you been natural/ transitioning?
(almost) 5 years and counting!
What or who inspired you to go natural?
It was a personal decision. My dad used to drag me out to the barbershop every sunday for the ”high and tight” airforce cut. When I got old enough to make some decisions, I just let my hair grow! So I went through a bushy afro phase in high school, braided every now and then through college but my tender scalp didn’t like those… so I got some gel twist summer ’06, which turned into locs, and the rest is history 🙂
What advice would you give to someone considering going natural?
Do it! At least see what it’s like. For men, it’s easy because with 2-strand twists, individual braids or gel twist, you can already kind of tell what they’re going to look like when they mature. It’s a process though, so beware the ”ugly phase”. Gotta be in it for the long haul (at least 2 years).
What products are you currently using in your hair?
Juices n berries…. straight natural. I’m playing 😛 Um, I let my stylist do her thing with my hair, but I use some natural shampoos (Taliah Waajid Herbal Cleansing Shampoo and a natural Tea Tree shampoo), and witch hazel to help with dryness/itchiness, mixed with rosemary sometimes.
What products have you tried and highly recommend?
was a fan of the Jamaican Mango & Lime line for my retwist, it has good hold and smells great! Tea Tree and Grape Seed oil too. Now my hair pretty much holds without much gel, just a palm roll and let it set under the dryer for a few.
Oh, shout out to Loc Soc too! Best thing ever!
Related Article: Dreadsock vs. Loc Soc: Which is Better for Protecting Locs?
What products (if any) have you tried and do not recommend?
Conditioners…. I get yelled at by my stylist because my hair is already soft, so my roots don’t hold well when I mess up and put conditioner in… makes me all fuzzy up top. Mane & Tail shampoo is some garbage too. Just make sure if you use gel it’s specifically for locs or comes recommended by a natural hair stylist.
What is one thing that you know now, that you wish you knew in the beginning of your journey?
Hmmm….I wish I knew that gel twist started locs… I had them for my senior prom and loved em, but washed em out and went back to the afro/braids for another couple years… My locs would be crazy long now!
What reference(s) do you frequent for information about products, advice, and/or tutorials about natural hair?
Lol… curlynugrowth.com (no paid promo, she’s just a beast with natural hair) Need to rep more for the fellas, but I’m trying to help out with that 😉
Stay Connected with TB
Twitter: _@whoisTB
Tumblr: StyledByTB.tumblr.com
UPDATE: We got married! 
And he cut his locs off before our first son was born. Then, I installed his locs on my Mom as transplant loc extensions. Crazy how things come full circle, lol.
Blog Comments
Starting Brotherlocks from Traditional Locs? | CurlyNuGrowth
March 13, 2015 at 11:54 am
[…] been contemplating letting me takedown his Traditional Locs and start Brotherlocks. If you read his Hair Story, you know he’s been growing his locs for a little over 6 years now and they’re more […]