MEET STEPH

Hey,

I’m Stephanie James. I founded Love Locs in 2018 with a vision to create a brand of dreadlock products that are plant-based and residue-free, giving those who love wearing locs a cleaner and fresher solution to caring for their hair.

Stephanie James Love Locs Natural Dreadlock Care
Stephanie James Love Locs Natural Dreadlock Care

MEET STEPH

Hey,

I’m Stephanie James. I founded Love Locs in 2018 with a vision to create a brand of dreadlock products that are plant-based and residue-free, giving those who love wearing locs a cleaner and fresher solution to caring for their hair.

Stephanie James Love Locs Dreadlock Care

THIS IS THE STORY OF OUR BRAND

I was born and raised in Paris. My ethnic background is based in Martinique, an island located in the French Caribbean. My first love was chemistry and biology, leading me to graduate from the Pharmacy Faculty in Paris. While I continued to enjoy science over the years, I realised that I could apply my scientific background to something I was even more passionate about – hair styling and care. 

I moved to London in 2008 to begin studying hairdressing and learn more about styling and caring for natural afro hair. This move ignited a 10 year journey that would ultimately lead to my founding of Love Locs.

From my early days apprenticing in Eftal, a dreadlock hair salon in the colourful Jamaican neighborhood in London, I cleaned the floor, washed hair, and did whatever it took to help me take steps towards realising my dream. This is where I began developing my dreadlock skills with coworkers in my free time, which led to me becoming a practicing loctician. Throughout the years, I went on to style locs that made it on high profile magazine covers, I graduated from the prestigious Aveda Institute in London, and eventually moved to Australia to work as a loctician and hairdresser in Brisbane. 

To cap off this beautiful, challenging, and highly rewarding 10 year process, I went on to start Love Locs in 2018.

Stephanie James Love Locs Dreadlock Care

THIS IS THE STORY OF OUR BRAND

I was born and raised in Paris. My ethnic background is based in Martinique, an island located in the French Caribbean. My first love was chemistry and biology, leading me to graduate from the Pharmacy Faculty in Paris. While I continued to enjoy science over the years, I realised that I could apply my scientific background to something I was even more passionate about – hair styling and care. 

I moved to London in 2008 to begin studying hairdressing and learn more about styling and caring for natural afro hair. This move ignited a 10 year journey that would ultimately lead to my founding of Love Locs.

From my early days apprenticing in Eftal, a dreadlock hair salon in the colourful Jamaican neighborhood in London, I cleaned the floor, washed hair, and did whatever it took to help me take steps towards realising my dream. This is where I began developing my dreadlock skills with coworkers in my free time, which led to me becoming a practicing loctician. Throughout the years, I went on to style locs that made it on high profile magazine covers, I graduated from the prestigious Aveda Institute in London, and eventually moved to Australia to work as a loctician and hairdresser in Brisbane. 

To cap off this beautiful, challenging, and highly rewarding 10 year process, I went on to start Love Locs in 2018.

WHY DID I START LOVE LOCS?

My vision was to create a brand of products that are gentle on the scalp, leave no residue, and have that natural, delicate scent that is appealing to the nose and easy on the environment. 

During my 13 years working as a loctician, I witnessed so many clients struggle with having dry, irritated scalps and dandruff. Sometimes their dreads would be very sticky due to their use of waxes or heavy shampoos. I quickly realised that many of the dreadlock products my clients used were made with ingredients that are NOT dreadlock friendly. As a result, these products were leaving residue. This was especially true with shampoos.

WHY DID I START LOVE LOCS?

My vision was to create a brand of products that are gentle on the scalp, leave no residue, and have that natural, delicate scent that is appealing to the nose and easy on the environment. 

During my 13 years working as a loctician, I witnessed so many clients struggle with having dry, irritated scalps and dandruff. Sometimes their dreads would be very sticky due to their use of waxes or heavy shampoos. I quickly realised that many of the dreadlock products my clients used were made with ingredients that are NOT dreadlock friendly. As a result, these products were leaving residue. This was especially true with shampoos.

I also learned that these damaging products were often the only available options in most dreadlock markets, leaving people like my clients without healthy, dreadlock-friendly alternatives to choose from. 

After years of watching my clients experience these struggles, I decided that it was time to combine my scientific skills with my loctician knowledge to create a new kind of loc products. I founded Love Locs in 2018 to fulfill my vision of creating a brand of products that would offer real solutions to the problems affecting the community of people who love wearing dreadlocks.

I also learned that these damaging products were often the only available options in most dreadlock markets, leaving people like my clients without healthy, dreadlock-friendly alternatives to choose from. 

After years of watching my clients experience these struggles, I decided that it was time to combine my scientific skills with my loctician knowledge to create a new kind of loc products. I founded Love Locs in 2018 to fulfill my vision of creating a brand of products that would offer real solutions to the problems affecting the community of people who love wearing dreadlocks.