Let’s keep it real—growing and rocking locs is a whole journey, and not just in the spiritual or stylish sense. While most men with locs wouldn’t trade their crowns for anything, there are some legit annoyances that come with the territory. So this question was asked the brothers in the Men With Locs Facebook group: What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to your locs?
The responses were funny, relatable, and SO real. Here’s a roundup of the top 10 pet peeves—ranked by likes and love.
1. “Is that your real hair?” – The Extension Assumption
The #1 most liked comment. Y’all, can we stop asking men if their locs are fake? Gabby Jones said it best: “Like nah, some of us actually took the time to embrace the journey.” Keenan Beasley chimed in too, saying folks assume it’s not real just because it’s long. Respect the growth, literally and figuratively.
2. Lint. Sweater season is the enemy.
Lint was a major complaint—sweaters, bedsheets, random fuzz from the air. Lamont Loyd-Sims and Dee Mone’t Fields both agreed that lint in locs is a battle, especially in colder months.
3. People touching your hair without permission.
A whole invasion of space. Lori Jones and Jillian Seigle were crystal clear: stop. touching. our. hair. One member even warned: “I bite.” If you’re not the loctician or the partner, keep your hands to yourself.
4. The face battle – hair all in your grill.
Donnell Campbell admitted he rarely wears his locs down because they’re always in his face. It’s beautiful, but it gets real annoying—especially when you’re trying to work, eat, or just see.
5. The post-wash struggle: separating locs.
Listen, this one hits hard. A lot of brothers admitted they forget or avoid separating locs after a wash, then regret it later. Jessica Alston and many others echoed the same: separating is necessary, but we hate it.
Josh was one of our models at the What Naturals Love Hair & Fashion Show. He just LOVED these Magic Headwraps.
6. That chia pet phase—roots on full wild mode.
Jenny Love had us laughing with, “When I wait 3 months for a retwist and my roots look like a chia pet.” Been there. But hey, it’s part of the journey and the roots still tell a story.
7. Putting on a shirt becomes an obstacle course.
Jarrid McDonald nailed it: trying to pull a shirt over long locs is suddenly a workout. Hair gets stuck, flipped, or caught and you’re standing there wrestling cotton.
8. Finding a good loctician or maintenance person.
Kiana Collins dropped a gem—finding someone consistent who actually knows how to care for your locs is a mission. And when you do find them, you’re tempted to never move out of state again.
9. Barbers charging full price for a lineup.
Donnell also added that some barbers are wilding—charging a full cut price just to line up or fade the sides. Make it make sense.
10. Sitting on them / Rolling over them / Choking yourself.
Long loc problems are real. Whether it’s rolling over your hair in bed (Christopher Fields), accidentally choking yourself, or even sitting on your locs like Tonjala Knight-Worrell mentioned—length comes with its own set of drama.
Honorable Mentions:
– New growth be wildin’ (Marquise D. Pierson)
– Neck pain from the weight (Bria So’Real)
– Getting caught in your nose ring (Gerald Chandler Jr.—ouch!)
– Folks calling them braids (Fredrick B. Dolce… we feel you)
Locs are beautiful, powerful, and personal. But let’s not pretend the journey is all smooth. Shoutout to all the kings out here embracing the process—pet peeves and all.
Got one to add? Drop it in the comments. Let’s keep the convo going.
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