Make sure you check out our Loc Talk feature on our blog! https://www.instagram.com/reel/CERlhzagMbZ/?igshid=11fa5olkomqwx
We have teamed up with unisex headwrap designer Love Wrapz to host a dope giveaway! For more details on how to enter click here
Just an appreciation post for the brothers who love headwraps and keeping their roots covered until they are able to get that fresh retwist again. I feel you brother and I'm with you! My hair hasn't been retwisted since February so my roots are basically on top of roots lol. Its ok though, lets focus on staying healthy and let our hair take a break.
Check out these wraps Jared is wearing and more below
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of chatting with Mckinson Souverain artist, filmmaker, educator and dope human being on our Loc Talk Lounge event live on our Instagram page. During the live I mentioned how beautiful his art so tonite I am featuring a few of my favorite pieces by him.
Check out more of his art on his IG @Mckinskin
Loc Talk w/Lamar
Lamar Greensboro, NC
What inspired you to loc hair? I’ve had hair most of my life, started growing it when I was 10 years old. In college, I started getting annoyed with getting my hair braided every 2 weeks, and my nature hair was so thick, there wasn’t much to do with it (and I wasn’t the biggest fan of walking around looking like Troy Polamalu) So my girlfriend at the time was a stylist and I let her know I wanted to start my loc journey. Felt as tho it was less maintenance and I had always love the styles of my friends that had them. July 10, 2011 it began, and what started off as just watching a cool hairstyles with less maintenance, turned in to a center piece of who I am as a person. They are literally and figuratively an extension of me.
How long have you had your locs? I’ve been growing my locs for 8 years now
Where do you go for loc maintenance I have a really good friend in the area that I’ve been going to since I moved to NC.
What are your favorite products? I’ve always been a fan of Jamaican Mango and Lime products.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to loc their hair? My advice to anyone that wants to start their journey is know that this is not an overnight process. There are going to be times where you just want to say “Eff this” cut it, or comb out your starters, but I can almost guarantee we’ve all been there. This journey is about patience, so have that and after awhile, they will prosper and you won’t even notice.
Random Question: If you had intro music, what song would it be? Why? Intro music right now would probably be Joyner Lucus - I Love
Kris McDred Featured On Men With Locs Instagram Live
This coming Sunday, we will have the pleasure to chat with Master Loctician Kris McDred. During the live we will talk him about his famous method Instant Locs as well as his start as a loctician. We also answer some of your loc related questions! Join Us!
In this video, Kris is demonstrating how to repair breaking locs. Check it out!
Hello Folks
It's been a while since I featured our photos from Odunde, one of the oldest festivals celebrating the beauty of African American culture here in Philadelphia. Since creating Men With Locs in 2012 its been a tradition of ours to attend the festival yearly to photograph brothers and chat with them about their Loc Journeys.
This year Odunde is celebrating 45 years and I was all set to attend however due to the coronavirus pandemic, I'm not sure if the festival will still be held and I'm terribly disappointed.
I guess we will just have to see what happens.
As always I have to extend my heartfelt thanks to you all for following the blog and the social media sites. Please stay safe and take care!
- Nina
This Music Monday I felt so inspired to put together a playlist of someone of my favorite tracks by one of my favorite artist/producer Iman Omari.
No need to thank me for the vibes, just enjoy!
Source: SoundCloud / Nina L
Men With Locs Presents: The Loc Talk Lounge!
We are all stuck so we might as well make the best of it! Join us as we go live directly from our Instagram page with a ton of brothers we featured over the last 8 years for the biggest loc talk live event we done yet! We are super excited! Here are a few of the brothers that we will be featuring:
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram so you won't miss it! Just search @menwithlocs
Fitness Friday w/Calvin
Tell us about your background in Fitness? How did you get started?
I got into fitness around 2014. I’ve always played sports but never took the weight room seriously. That being said I was always the small guy. Once I started taking the weight room serious it changed my life. Finally found my passion after years of running from the weight room.
What advice would you give someone who is interested in jumpstarting a fitness routine?
Set a realistic goal and don’t stop until it’s met. Be patient with yourself, fitness is a lifestyle, not a quick fix.
Can you give us 3 tips on staying motivated during a weight loss/fitness journey?
1. When your fitness journey starts to get rough, try and remember why you started your journey.
2. Surround yourself with people who want to see you win.
3. CONSISTENCY is key.
Lets talk about your locs. How long have you been Loc'd and what inspired you to loc your hair?
I’ve been growing my locs for 14 years. I was inspired by my hometown New Orleans, Louisiana. I’m not sure how or when the city adopted the loc culture but as far back as I remember EVERYONE wore locs. Nearly half of my family have locs, so for me it’s an upbringing/culture thing. Although I do know the real history/origin of locs.
Where can our readers find you?
Instagram @ cousin_calvin
Loc’d Talk w/Shak
Sha’Kiir
Charlotte btw of DC
What inspired to Loc your hair?
My Loc inspiration started with my father and the Jamaican Culture on his side. I’ve had locs twice before this and cut them. This third time I free-formed and once they reached a desirable length I had my mother maintain them for a short period.
How long have you had your locs?
I’ve had my Locs for about 5 1/2 to 6 years now.
Where do you go for loc maintenance?
For Loc maintenance I go to my girl
@jstnaee_ ! The best in Charlotte in my opinion. #Loccsthatlast
What's your favorite product?
My favorite product to keep moisturized and that’s all-natural would have to be Nae’s “Natty Organics” oil she’s made and perfected. @NattyOrganics
What advice would you give to someone who wants to loc their hair?
I would inform them that this isn’t just a look, it’s a lifestyle. It takes patience and discipline to be able to go through the growth process. Do not settle for just one stylist, shop around and whoever matches you energy-wise, financially, and skill-wise is best. And lastly, when people come sideways about your hair, inform them. Don’t be quick to snap back with something smart. Sometimes a little enlightenment goes a long way.
Random Question: If you had intro music, what song would it be?
It would have to be “Feeling Good Today” - By Larry June 💪🏾
Loctician’s Corner w/Kindred Knapz
How long have you been cultivating locs?
I have always had a fascination with creating art through hair since the age of 9 my barbies were great clients (lol) but, I have been cultivating Locs professionally 15 years started out as a mobile Loctician but more recently within a Salon setting 2 years.
What do you love most about being a loctician?
What I absolutely love about being a Loctician is the creative freedom to express myself through my craft and the bonds I build with people from all walks of life. I am truly blessed to have met so many great people and share and receive knowledge from every direction.
What advice would you give to a person that wants to Loc their hair?
To Anyone considering Locs I would definitely say to do your research as to why this would be a good decision for their lifestyle, make sure you're comfortable and confident with their natural state of hair and never compare your journey to someone else’s. Everyone’s hair is different from the next person.
Where are you located and where area do you service?
Modern Twist Natural Hair Studio 8910 Miramar parkway suite (301), Miramar FL 33025 in the Miramar corporate plaza
Where can our followers find you on social media?
@kindred_Knapz on Instagram and kindredknapz on Facebook both sites have a link and book button to schedule appointments
4 Tips to Stay Motivated While Working from Home
- By Nina L
With the unfortunate outbreak of the COVID-19, many organizations have opted for their employees to work from home for several weeks. When my employer made the decision for us to work from home, I was beyond relieved. I use public transportation and even though I am not a germaphobe, with this virus spreading rapidly, the idea of sitting and touching on doors that thousand of other people touch on throughout the day did not thrill me. I also have a long commute so being able to just get up and start work without having to get up or leave the house two hours before I start also was also a bonus. While preparing for my first day from working from, I searched articles online to help me stay motivated especially since its really easy to pick up your cell phone to text a friend or turn on the TV (which is right behind me) and waste time that way too. If you're human like me lol, check out these 4 tips to stay motivated while working from home:
- Get dressed: Yes it's easy to stroll over to your computer with your PJs or holey sweatshirts, however creating a morning routine like getting dressed, fixing a good breakfast can keep your focused at least until lunchtime. So jump in shower iron your clothes and get to work even if it's only a few feet away lol.
- Create a distraction-free work area: If you have multiple rooms in your home then setting up your workspace in an area without a television or other distractions can help keep you focused. If you are in a space with limited rooms try setting up your work area so your distractions are behind you so they won’t be in hindsight. Also putting your phone on silent if possible to keep the calls and texts down can also be a huge help as well.
- Create a schedule of tasks to do through out the day and make sure you include breaks in between even if its to grab a bite to eat or take a mental break.
- If you are able to, try to socialize with your co-workers even if it just to hi or check on them. We use microsoft teams to interact with each other and saying hello or checking up with another co-worker can add a little sunshine to their day which ultimately make you feel good as well.
Are you working from home? How have you been coping with everything thats been going on? Email us at menwithlocs@gmail.com and tell us about it.
A Pull Of Affection
"I wanted to know men's thoughts on women touching their hair and if they allow their mate to pull or grab their hair during lovemaking. Is it disrespectful even though it's done in admiration."
If a lady is touching my locs to wash and retwist, I don’t like it pulled but if my mate would like to run her hands through my hair I don’t mind that at all. As a matter of fact, it's a hot spot for me...lol. - Demetrius
Have a question you want to ask our Loc’d brothers? Email it to ask.menwithlocs@gmail.com
Loc'd Talk w/ Jimmy
Jimmy (Sauce Papí) Smith
Atlanta, GA
What inspired to Loc your hair?
For 2 years I had the biggest afro that I used to pick out multiple times a day, everyday haha! As it grew longer I knew I didn’t want to have to deal with the maintenance of it anymore and I definitely did not want to cut my hair so I decided to loc it. No regrets since.
How long have you had your locs?
4 Years, 5 months
Where do you go for loc maintenance?
I actually retwist my own hair, and on rare occasions I’ll find a local loctition to take the task off of my hands.
What's your favorite product?
At the moment I’m pretty much sold on Shae Moisture for shampoos, any version, any scent (mainly in love with anything coconut). I use Jamaican Mango & Lime locking gel for retwists.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to loc their hair?
The process of locking your hair of locking your hair teaches you both patience and how to love your own personal growth. It teaches you how to love yourself at all stages in life. My advice would be to not cut them when you aren’t happy with the way they look at the moment, but to embrace the beauty of growth & maturity.
Random Question: If you had intro music, what song would it be?
Masego ft FKJ - Tadow
That song just tooooo smooth ha!