I Got Sisterlocks When I Started My Fitness Journey

I was recently asked, “What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a Black woman who wants to take control of her health?” As a health and beauty expert who has slowly lost 100-plus pounds over the past eight years and is studying to become a certified fitness instructor, I thought about that question carefully. And I can confidently say that I could not have overhauled my wellness without my sisterlocks.

So if you’re a Black woman looking for a practical shift to help you stay consistent, my advice? Lock your hair.

It’s not just a hairstyle — it’s a lifestyle, and the cornerstone of my wellness journey.

Before you clutch your pearls and tell me all the reasons why you could never lock your hair, let me tell you about my sisterlocks journey. It’s not just a hairstyle — it’s a lifestyle, and the cornerstone of my wellness journey.

Over the years, I’ve learned that how I take care of my hair is deeply connected to how I take care of myself. Back in 2017, I was forced to re-evaluate what was working in my life and what was not. And while the confidence I had at 300-plus pounds was working (hair flip), the quality of life I was experiencing from a health perspective — joint pain, a pre-diabetes diagnosis, and gut health issues — was not. That’s exactly where I was when I decided to lock my hair.

At the time, everything in my life was moving fast. My career was growing, my schedule was packed, and I was trying to prioritize my wellness — doctor’s orders. As an ambitious woman who isn’t afraid to say that aesthetics are extremely important to me, I needed a hairstyle that I could depend on to always look good no matter what (boardroom, date night, brunch — I did not want to be caught slipping). But my gorgeous, thick 4C hair? It was demanding way too much of my energy, and if I’m honest, the results of my efforts weren’t always fruitful. There’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours on a pretty twist-out only to have the results undone by a bit of moisture from a sweaty gym sesh. Between styling, maintaining, and planning my workouts around my hair instead of just doing them, I felt like I was spending more time on my hair than on my actual goals. I needed to get my time back. I needed my hair to work for me instead of me working for my hair. That’s when I started seriously looking into sisterlocks, and I must admit — it was the best decision I ever made.

The install was an investment — three days, hours upon hours in that chair — and even though it would be months before my locs began to look like all the photos I’d saved on my Sisterlocks Pinterest board, I knew I made the right choice the moment my install was complete. When you get sisterlocks, it takes time for your hair to truly loc, mature, swell, and then begin to grow — kind of like a fitness journey. You don’t really see the results of your first workout until weeks or months later, but you keep showing up because you believe in the version of yourself you’re working toward. Around month eight, I started to see where my hair was headed. It was coming into its own, and so was I.

I remember looking in the mirror during a sweaty cycling class, feeling so carefree in my body and in my hair. There I was, fully present, no longer preoccupied with whether my hair could “handle” my workout. I caught my reflection and thought, Yes, doll, you are doing it!

My sisterlocks have completely changed my fitness and wellness journey. Before, I’d hesitate to go all-in at the gym because I was worried about sweating out a fresh style. Swimming? Forget about it. Now? I can sweat every day and swim whenever I want without a second thought. I throw my hair into two messy Princess Leia buns or an easy ponytail, and I love that I can go straight from fitness life to founder life without my hair holding me back from my career ambitions (and desired aesthetic!).

And let’s talk about confidence. There’s something about locs, especially sisterlocks, that just makes you feel beautiful. I love how versatile they are — I can wear them down and flowy, do a pipe cleaner curl set, or just throw them up in a bun. No matter what, they always look intentional — like I put in effort, even when I didn’t. And that’s exactly what I needed in my life.

Now, I want to paint a clear picture: Sisterlocks maintenance still requires care, learning, and adjusting what works and what doesn’t. There have been some hiccups in my hair journey. My edges? They’ve been on life support after too much tension. I love a high messy bun, but constantly pulling my hair up took a toll. So, I’ve made some adjustments. At first, I started sectioning off the first two rows of my locs and pinning them loosely instead of pulling them back tight. Now I prefer to leave my edges loose to free-form loc. I find that keeps them healthy, and I don’t mind the curly texture at my temples. I also started layering a silk scarf under my satin bonnet at night for extra protection during side sleeping.

I’ve also developed a hair routine that works for me. A daily, weekly, or monthly breakdown could be a whole separate essay, but one thing I can say for sure? Finding products that work for both my hair and body has been essential. At my luxe Manhattan gym, the shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, and hairsprays aren’t made with my texture or hydration needs in mind. When I got sisterlocks, I became more mindful about what I put in my hair. I didn’t want anything heavy or greasy, and I definitely wasn’t about that product buildup life. That’s why I developed my Beautiful Body Oil Mist — it’s super gym bag-friendly and so versatile for both hair and body. I use it twice a week at night before wrapping my hair in my silk scarf, and even as a little confidence boost before date night.

The thing is, even though I get my hair retightened by my amazing stylist at Sabine’s Hallway, I know that the health of my hair is ultimately up to me. It’s not just about products — it’s about intentional care. And that’s the bigger lesson in self-care. Taking care of my hair reminds me to take care of me — to rest, to hydrate, to nourish myself inside and out.

Embracing sisterlocks has been more than just a beauty decision; it’s been a journey of self-love, self-care, and self-discovery. It’s not just about aesthetics, although I adore my sisterlocks aesthetic. It’s about choosing a lifestyle that fits my goals, supports my wellness, and gives me the freedom to live without my hair dictating my every move. And if you take anything from my story, let it be this: The best beauty choices are the ones that make you feel confident, free, and more like yourself than ever.

CeCe Olisa is a trailblazing voice in inclusive health and beauty, dedicated to inspiring plus-size and Black women to embrace self-care with confidence. As the founder of Cocoa by CeCe and the creator of the Curve Method, CeCe blends personal experience with expert insights to make wellness accessible, joyful, and empowering for all.