A year ago, I made one of the best hair decisions of my life—I started my loc journey. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment choice; it was inspired by my mom. She has been loc’d for almost five years now, and watching her transformation made me fall in love with locs in general. Funny enough, years ago, I inspired her to go natural when I did my first big chop. Now, the roles have reversed, and she’s been my biggest source of encouragement as I navigated this past year. Some of my favorite moments are when my mom is oiling my scalp and moisturizing my locs for me. That care and consistency played a huge role in my hair growth and overall health, and it became a special bonding ritual between us. I truly don’t think I would’ve made it through those early months without her.

And let me tell you, those first few months were rough! Starting from scratch—without extensions—meant dealing with what some call the “ugly phase.” I hate that phrase, but I understand the sentiment. It wasn’t that I felt ugly, but I didn’t quite feel like myself either. My hair was short, my locs shriveled up more than I expected, and I had to fight off impatience. But every time I started to doubt myself, I reminded myself of one simple truth: trust the process. And I did. Once my locs started to grow, I developed a maintenance routine, learned to style them, and truly started to love my hair in a way I never had before.

Now, a year in, I can say with confidence that my locs have transformed not just my hair, but my self-confidence as well. There’s something about locs that just feels right on me—like they match who I am at my core. And one of the best parts? The sense of community. When I see another woman with locs, there’s often this unspoken connection—a knowing smile, a compliment exchanged in passing. It’s such a beautiful thing. And don’t even get me started on the joy of getting hair compliments! Now that my locs are more mature, I’m even more excited for the journey ahead—especially when it comes to experimenting with color.

This journey has also been a huge lesson in patience and self-love. If I’m being honest, patience isn’t my strongest trait. Even now, I find myself saying, “I can’t wait until they’re longer so I can try new styles!” But I’ve learned to appreciate every stage, to love my hair as it is in the moment. One of my favorite ways to wear my locs is just letting them be—no elaborate styling, no extra manipulation—just free. That’s when I feel the most like myself.

So, if you’re thinking about starting your own loc journey, here’s my advice: Do it! It has been the best hair decision I’ve ever made (and trust me, I’ve made a lot of them). Trust the process. I know, I know—it sounds cliché. I used to roll my eyes when people told me that too. But it’s the best advice I can give. Treat your hair well, take care of it, and then let it be. The beauty it forms on its own will surprise you.

This past year has been one of growth—both for my locs and for me. Looking in the mirror now, I see someone who has not only embraced her hair but embraced herself. I’ve learned patience, I’ve found beauty in every stage, and I’ve fallen in love with the process. And I can’t wait to see what the next year brings.

Check out my journey in photos!