Pictures by Naskademini. Design by Kayleen Dicuangco.

That is Texture Speak, a weekly column that deep dives into the dynamic world of curly hair, from crowns of curls which might be free flowing to strands which might be tucked away in a protecting fashion.

By
Natasha Bruno

Date March four, 2021

There are a lot of issues to like about about Canadian tv broadcaster and etalk co-anchor Tyrone Edwards, from his magnetic potential to ease celebrities into candid conversations to his drive for talking out publicly on behalf of the Black neighborhood. However one factor you merely can’t miss are the unimaginable dreadlocks (generally known as locs) that attain previous his shoulders. It’s a pure coiffure not often seen on-air.

The Toronto-bred popular culture aficionado started locking his hair greater than 10 years in the past — solely a short while earlier than touchdown his dream job on MuchMusic. For Edwards, locs are a protecting coiffure (one which retains ends tucked away, encourages hair development and doesn’t require chemical compounds to create) that he has lengthy considered cool for his afro texture. However he admits that in his early tv audition days, he hesitated going ahead along with his now signature look in addition to his a number of tattoos. Why? For concern of including to the systemic biases already stacked towards him and jeopardizing his possibilities, he shares. “It’s loopy for me to even say this, however I didn’t lock my hair or get tattoos for a very long time as a result of I believed, ‘I’m already a giant Black man, and if I add the dreadlocks and tattoos, who the hell goes to rent me for a job — a lot much less a job on TV?’It wasn’t a matter of me not loving my Blackness. I simply knew the place our society was, and looking for a job as a Black man with dreads didn’t sound like a sensible strategy.”

It wasn’t till after a number of failed TV auditions that Edwards determined to relinquish these smug stigmas and societal pressures and embrace locs — a coiffure that he says has allowed him to come back into his personal. “I actually imagine there’s a lesson right here: I locked my hair as a result of I used to be accomplished making an attempt to get on tv and simply months later I bought a chilly name from MuchMusic,” he says. “As soon as I made a decision to be my true self, that’s when the universe granted me that blessing. I really like my hair. It means lots to me.”

Loc upkeep 101

Edwards is not any stranger to exhibiting up for hair and make-up solely to be greeted by ill-trained professionals. “I’ve by no means been on a set the place the hair is catered to me and the hairstylist is aware of something about my hair,” he shares, including that for years he would come ready along with his personal merchandise. After incomes some pull within the biz nonetheless, Edwards now brings his personal squad to set, like his longtime hairstylist, textured hair skilled Nakisha Straker. Right here, Straker shares the go-to steps and merchandise she makes use of and recommends to maintain Edwards hair trying digicam prepared.

Clarifying Shampoo

($36, Kenra)

Each 4 to 6 weeks, Edwards will go see Straker to retighten his dreads and obtain a deep cleanse, since locs require loads of oils and moisturizing merchandise on the common to maintain them trying pristine. “Utilizing oils is all the time an excellent factor as a result of with textured hair, it takes perpetually for pure oils to slide down the hair shaft and moisturize the hair. And the longer your locs are, the drier they turn out to be, making them inclined to break,” Straker explains. The stylist begins out with shampooing Edwards’ hair with a clarifying shampoo adopted by a moisturizing shampoo, she says.

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Quick Meals Depart On Conditioner

($20, AG Hair )

Straker then applies a leave-in conditioner earlier than tending to free new development on the root utilizing an interlocking technique that’s accomplished with a crochet needle. She then strikes onto palm rolling (a hand method to maintain locs compressed) from mid-lengths and ends.

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This nourishing, oil-based hair pomade is Straker’s go-to for palm rolling locs, and a product she has Edwards use at dwelling in between his salon visits. “I inform him to take a dime-sized quantity, emulsify it in his fingers so it melts and rub it into his hair.”

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Peppermint Rose Moisture Replenishing Spritz

($28, London Ivy )

To keep away from dryness, unraveling and breakage, locs shouldn’t be washed too usually at dwelling in between salon visits. As an alternative, “utilizing a rosewater spray each two to a few days is sweet for maintaining the scalp refreshed and clear,” says Straker.

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Recent Oil Sheen Moisturizing Spray

($10, Sulfur8 )

One other at-home should, this shine spray “helps with dry scalp and to lock in moisture,” says Straker.

A typical conundrum with pure hair, particularly when in loc kind, is that the hair tends to gather seen fuzz. “Brushing locs with a boar-bristle brush helps take away lint and brings out pure shine,” says Straker, including that tying hair up each night time with a silk or satin scarf will stave off fuzzies, too. Wrapping hair earlier than mattress additionally retains locs from drying out.

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