Loc'd Man: Jason

Tell us a little about yourself? (ex. name, age, state, school) My name is Jason “BrotherSpanky” Edwards, I’m 26 and I live in Washington, DC. I’m a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in Philly.

How long have you been growing your locs? I’ve been growing my locs for almost nine years now.

What do you use on your hair, product wise, to maintain it? I’ve been through a litany of products throughout the life of my locs, depending on who was my loctician, how long I spent between visits, where I was living, and a host of other factors. I started out a fan of the mango & lime product line, but most recently, I’ve been using a simple almond and shea butter shampoo, tea tree castile soap (which leaves no residue), and a mix of oils including tea tree and jojoba for moisturizing and maintaining it.

How often do you have to wash and re-twist your locs and who styles them? It depends on the weather and how much I sweat, but I thoroughly wash my locs about every two weeks. I’m at a point where I no longer get my hair palm-rolled and now prefer to have them interlocked every six weeks or so (a process that includes a crochet-style hook) since they keep longer (cycling and bikram yoga undid the palm-roll process far too quickly!) I’ve gone to the same shop since shortly after I started my locs (Twist It Sista @ 317 T St NE) but rarely get them styled anymore. They’re pretty heavy now, and I think as long as they’re clean and healthy, I’m fine. I don’t need to see my scalp all the time.

What do you think about women with natural hair? Do you care if your woman is relaxed, natural or loc’d? I’ve dated sisters both with and without natural hair, and I think many women make an assumption that men with locs somehow require a loc’d counterpart! I don’t make my decisions based on that factor.

Do you think women who choose to loc their hair are sexy? Incredibly so. I do actually have a secret weakness for women with natural hair, and a head of healthy locs is a beautiful thing. While I don’t throw any shade to my “relaxed” sisters, there is something to be said about a woman being comfortable and proud enough to prefer her hair in its natural state, Madame CJ Walker be damned.

What are the pros and cons about having your hair loc’d? I’d say besides the ease of daily maintenance, the pros are largely due to my own aesthetic preferences. I enjoy having locs largely because of my own attachment to my own hair; we’ve been through a lot together! As for cons, because of my hair being quite thick, I think finding headwear has consistently been an issue, although I’m no longer much of a hat person. Most recently, finding an appropriately sized bicycle helmet has proved quite impossible. (Me having a pretty big head also compounds this issue!) I think there’s always a little bit of profiling that goes on with folks who have locs as well, but that’s all in their minds!

What made you decide to loc your hair? Have you always had hair or did you start your loc’s from “scratch.” As a little kid and as a high-schooler, I grew my hair out for a while, but after doing so much (the fro, the braids, the cornrows) I decided to commit to something permanent; something that might give me a bit more connection to those curly, kinky naps. I started myself off with short two-strand twists and began the process from there.

What makes a woman’s hair beautiful to you? I think beyond its styling is how she carries it. Hopefully with confidence, as a crown. That subconscious dialogue we have about “good hair” that creates a hierarchy of hair textures concerns me, since I truly believe that the hair that God gave you is the best hair you can have. Don’t be self-conscious about that kitchen!

Do you have any advice for my readers who are considering loc’ing their hair? Think about it. Be sure about it. I know many say that locs reduce the variety of hairstyles in their arsenal, but I’ve definitely seen amazing things done with locs (chalk that up to the artistic ingenuity of our people!) Also, understand that they’re not for everyone; and depending on your hair texture, there’s always that varying period of time where your hair just looks, um…interesting before it fully locs itself.

Where can we find you on the web? Check me and my music out at www.brotherspanky.com, on twitter at @brother_spanky, and @brotherspanky on instagram! Thanks Alex!