Sa-Roc was originally featured as a Natural Hair Style Icon on March 8, 2012. Along with a beautiful head of locs she had an amazing sense of style, so we caught up with her to get the scoop on her style game.
Introduce yourself!
S: My name is Sa-Roc. I currently reside in Atlanta and I am an emcee.
What is your style philosophy?
S: Don’t box yourself into styles, trends, and labels. Using trends as a guidepost is fine I guess, but a lot of folks like to label their look (bohemian, classic, etc.) and stay within those confines until the next fashion dictates. But I believe this limits you. I think you should dress however you feel. That’s why you’ll see me in a pink embroidered Mexican dress and moccasins one day, and a fedora and high waisted jeans the next. I just do what I like.
How would you describe your sense of style?
S: I like to call it urban ethnochic. It’s pretty eclectic and undefined. I love African and ethnic prints and chunky jewelry, so I like to combine patterns and a myriad of colors together. But I also love throwing on a fly baseball cap, doorknockers, and red lipstick. My style totally depends on my mood.
What is the process of deciding what to wear in the morning?
S: I don’t really have a process per se. Again, my mood dictates my color choices and style selections. But my shoes also play a huge role. I usually choose heels or flats first, then go from there.
What are the three favorite things in your closet?
S: They would have to be my cowl neck, hooded, sleeveless sweater that I got from Karmaloop, my Ankara fabric high waisted pants that I had my tailor make for me, and my Irregular Choice open toe, canvas booties from Free People.
What are some of your favorite shops/websites for clothes, shoes and accessories?
S: I love Nakimuli.com for their dope patterned leggings. They are a staple in my wardrobe. Nuwbia.com for their baseball caps featuring Egyptian symbols. I love Pharaonicdesigns.com for their fly apparel with cultural iconography. Peaceimages.bigcartel.com has AMAZING handcrafted jewelry that I stay rocking. I love to support indie designers, but I also dig Free People and Anthropologie.
How long have you been natural?
S: I have been natural my whole life. I’ve never used chemicals or heat to treat my hair. My parents taught me to fall in love with the texture, feel, length, and versatility of my hair and I have never felt the need to stray away from natural hair. I wanted to loc because I just always thought it was a beautiful form of self-expression. So strong, like tree roots.
What method was used to start your locs?
S: I started my locs myself, 4 days after my 18th birthday. This was my third attempt. I used my fingers to make the parts, so there is no uniformity in my scalp, lol! The sizes are pretty consistent though. I did double strand twists and braided the ends so they wouldn’t come out when I washed them. I have around 72 locs I think.
What is your signature hairstyle?
S: I usually wear my locs crinkled from braid outs, but my signature hairstyle would have to be the barrel roll mohawk created by Rayna.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
S: I wash my hair every week. First, I use Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Castile Soap to cleanse my scalp and hair of any buildup. It’s really wonderful if you’re prone to a dry scalp like I am. Then, I use Giovanni 2chic Ultra-Moist Avocado and Olive Oil Shampoo. It’s really great for hydrating the hair and it smells so good! I then condition with the Giovanni 2chic Conditioner. I oil my scalp with jojoba oil. This oil is similar to the sebum our skin naturally produces, so it absorbs and moisturizes really well. I use coconut oil to moisturize my locs. I usually don’t use anything on my roots, but when I want a tighter hold for photo shoots or videos I use aloe gel to twist and metal clips to hold.
Tell us about your hair color?
S: I always go to my stylist Rayna, of It’s a Natural Thang salon to color my hair. Currently, it’s kind of an ombré color. I don’t know what brand of color she uses, but Rayna always finds the exact color that I want. Coloring has definitely made my hair more brittle, so I make sure I condition it every time I wash it, and moisturize everyday.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
S: My website is sarocthemc.com. I also have an Instagram and Twitter account under the username Sarocthemc and a Facebook page under the name Sa-Roc.
