From Self-Doubt to Confidence: Lindsey’s Dreadlock Journey

(Watch the full interview in the video above 👆)

Today, I’m so excited to share a conversation I had with Lindsey—a beautiful soul, mother of four, and emerging loctician—about her journey with dreadlocks, self-expression, and building a life that truly aligns with who you are.

This wasn’t just a technical conversation about hair. It was about identity, courage, and choosing yourself.

Meet Lindsey

Lindsey is a busy mom of four young children, all under the age of seven. Her life is full, fast-paced, and deeply rooted in family—but beneath that, she’s always carried a strong desire to express herself more freely.

From a young age, Lindsey felt drawn to a more natural, wild way of living—climbing trees, being outdoors, and feeling connected to something deeper. Even then, she imagined herself with dreadlocks… although she didn’t fully know what they were at the time.

It wasn’t until later, when a friend introduced her to interlocking, that she realized:
“This is the hairstyle I’ve been dreaming about.”

The Fear of Being Seen

Like many people, Lindsey struggled with confidence growing up.

She shared a powerful story from her teenage years—how she spent months building the courage to wear her hair in a dreadlock-inspired style to school… only to see a popular girl do it first.

That moment stopped her completely.

She thought:
“Now it looks like I’m copying her. I can’t do it.”

And just like that, she abandoned something that felt true to her.

That feeling stayed with her for years.

The Turning Point

Fast forward to her early twenties—Lindsey still felt the pull toward dreadlocks, but life, expectations, and the pressure to “look a certain way” held her back.

She tried to fit into a box:
Perfect hair. Perfect clothes. Perfect image.

But inside, it didn’t feel right.

Then, everything changed.

After the heartbreaking loss of her younger brother, Lindsey experienced a deep shift in perspective.

“Life is short… I’m tired of not being who I want to be.”

Just two days after his passing, she made a decision:
👉 She was going to start her dreadlock journey.

The DIY Experience (And What Went Wrong)

Like many people, Lindsey started her dreadlocks using a DIY method—specifically twist and rip.

At first, she loved it.

But within weeks, problems started showing up:

• Dreadlocks congoing (growing together unintentionally)
• Uneven sections
• Shrinkage and stiffness
• Weak roots and structural issues

She later sought help from a local loctician, but unfortunately, the methods used—like felting needles at the root—caused even more damage.

Her hair became thinner, weaker, and more difficult to manage.

And this is something I see all the time:
People trying to fix problems that were created from the start.

Finding a Better Way

Eventually, Lindsey found my work and began learning a more holistic, structured method.

That’s when things started to shift—not just in her hair, but in her confidence.

She even made the bold decision to:
👉 Brush out her entire set of dreadlocks and start over

It took her 10 days.

But the result?

Healthier hair. Better structure. And a completely different experience.

Now, when she compares her new dreadlocks to her first set at the same stage, the difference is huge.

Becoming a Loctician

As Lindsey continued learning, something unexpected happened:

People started asking her to do their hair.

At first, she hesitated.

But after helping her very first client—a woman in a wheelchair with complex challenges—she experienced something powerful:

Transformation.

Not just physically, but emotionally.

“She was just glowing… she finally felt beautiful.”

That moment changed everything.

The Real “Aha” Moment

One of the biggest realizations Lindsey shared wasn’t about technique…

It was about life and business.

When she started training, she thought she was just learning a skill.

But she quickly realized:
👉 Becoming a loctician also means building a business

And more importantly:
👉 You get to build it your way

As a mother, Lindsey doesn’t want to work every day—and she doesn’t have to.

Her biggest breakthrough?

“Being okay with creating a schedule that works for me and my family.”

The Kind of People Dreadlocks Attract

Something we both reflected on during the conversation is this:

There’s a certain depth to people who choose dreadlocks.

Many of them are:

• Survivors
• Seekers
• People who have gone through transformation
• People who want to live more authentically

And the same goes for locticians.

There’s a shared understanding. A connection.

Looking Ahead

Lindsey is continuing to grow—both as a loctician and as a person.

Right now, she’s balancing motherhood and her new career, but she sees a future where she can expand her work even more as her children grow older.

She’s also stepping into the global community—joining workshops, connecting with other locticians, and continuing to evolve.

And maybe one day?

A grandma with beautiful grey dreadlocks 💫

Final Thoughts

Lindsey’s story is a reminder that:

✨ It’s never too late to become who you’ve always felt you were
✨ Doing things “the right way” from the start matters
✨ And building a life that fits you is the real goal

If you’ve been feeling that pull—whether it’s toward dreadlocks, a new career, or simply being more yourself—take this as your sign.

Life is short.

Choose you.