Loc Extensions – Let’s Talk About It

I’m pro do whatever gives you confidence when it comes to your hair. Personally, I have never had any interest in loc extensions, even when I first started on my loc journey. I knew my hair would grow and it would take time and patience. Plus I wanted to experience the entire loc journey.

Last week there was a picture posted in one of the loc groups I belong to and in the comments someone mentioned that people are posting pictures of their loc growth (before and after pics) but fail to mention that they have extensions. My mind was blown! I know people get extensions left and right. But what’s not talked about are those who LIE about their extensions but post photos of their “loc growth” and they’ve only been locked two or three years and their hair is to their bra strap or beyond. I always assumed that they started off with long hair because some people do, or their hair grows really fast. Call me naive.

No one is obligated to yell from the rooftops that they have loc extensions. But don’t act like your hair did all this growing when it didn’t! A lot of women get easily discouraged because they see someone who started their loc journey the same time they did but the other person’s hair is much longer than theirs. First of all, stop comparing your hair growth or loc journey to someone else’s! Everyone’s hair grows at a different pace. We all have different genes. And we have to remember that not everyone is going to be honest.

Now I wish I had a trained eye that can spot loc extensions! These services are being advertised everywhere on social media, Youtube, Pinterest, and in local advertisements for loc shops. You can’t get away from loc extensions which tells me that they are way more popular than I think. Here I am thinking everyone started from scratch like me and went through all the phases and was patiently waiting for the growth to happen when in reality, a lot of people are getting loc extensions! That really bums me out – but it shouldn’t.

Everybody’s loc journey is different. People are going to do things to their hair to make themselves feel good and confident. Most people who get loc extensions eventually cut them out as their real hair grows. And loc extensions need maintenance and most people don’t realize that. Also, if they are not installed properly or if quality hair isn’t used, they can look raggedy quickly. There’s a lot to consider before getting loc extensions. At the end of the day, it’s not cool to lie about your hair growth when you really have extensions. You’d be better off not saying anything than lying, and if you must say something, then be honest.

Loc Extensions – Is It Cheating?

Loc extensions is a touchy subject for those with locs. Just look at any loc page on Facebook or Instagram and you’ll see the heated debates for yourself. Personally, I didn’t know this was a thing until I joined the loc community. What keeps me from passing judgment is the fact that men and women get loc extensions for various reasons. Just like there are natural hair nazis and purists, there are loc nazis and purists. Let’s get into it.

what are loc extensions?

Permanent Loc Extensions

Loc extensions is the use of human hair that is of the same grade and density of your own that is used to start your locs or add length to your current locs. This is not the same as faux locs which is a temporary protective style. Loc extensions should only be installed by a trained professional who knows what they are doing.

Why do people get Loc Extensions?

As stated earlier, the reasons vary. There are those who don’t like short hair and don’t have the patience to wait for their locs to grow. Others get them because they had issues with their hair, be it breakage or something else and they add loc extensions. And then there are those who simply want a different look and want to add length. Some prefer starting their loc journey with loc extensions and then slowly cut off the loc extensions as their locs grow.

why some view loc extensions as cheating

This is the sensitive part. Those who started their locs from scratch, especially if they started with very short hair, feel like you’re skipping the journey if you use loc extensions. They feel it’s cheating. How can you call it a journey if you don’t go through all the stages of your hair locking, which includes the baby phase, the ugly stage, and everything in between? There’s a sense of pride and accomplishment for those in the loc community who weathered the storms, persevered through all the ups and down of having locs until their locs finally reach the mature stage.

I think back to being a loose natural and how the natural purists look down on you if you have synthetic or human hair added to your own for braids or other protective styles. And don’t you dare wear a wig! Natural hair purists feel that your natural hair is good enough and you should protective style your own hair. This is how those who went through the entire loc journey feel about those who get loc extensions. They feel you’re skipping steps in the journey just to have length that many labored years to achieve.

Another fact many fail to acknowledge is some people have such an attachment to hair that not having long hair is crippling to them. They simply can’t take it. So they do what makes them feel better, and that includes adding extensions. I personally know a lot of people like this. I believe in some ways, our identity is intricately tied to our hair, especially as black people. No other race has been so maligned because of how their hair grows out of their scalps as much as black people have.

To Each his own

In my humble opinion, I say to each his own. What you do with your hair or locs does not bother me one way or another. I can see both sides of the argument. Who am I to argue about a person’s reasons for doing something that suits them? As mentioned earlier, there are those who cut the loc extensions off as their own locs grow and attain length. There are those who keep their loc extensions because they want the length. As long as they have healthy hair and maintain their locs as they should, I have no issue with loc extentions.

Loc extensions is a service that has a need, and I’m seeing these services advertised more and more on Facebook and Instagram. I appreciate those who are honest about having loc extensions. Many who admit to having them get bashed on social media, and this should not be. We don’t know their story, nor are we walking in their shoes. It is not our place to judge anyone for doing something that make them feel better about themselves.

Everybody’s journey is different – that’s why it’s called a journey. Be it your natural hair journey or loc journey, we sometimes take different paths than others. There is no rule book that says you must do things this way or else you’re not natural or your locs aren’t real. What about those who have cut off their long locs but a a few years down the line decide they want their locs back and have them reattached? Is that cheating? Or what about those who have lost their hair due to chemo treatments, but after they are done with the treatments and their hair has grown back, they decide to reattach their locs? Is that considered cheating? Where do we draw the line? We draw the line by minding our own business and stop judging others journey.