The Making of The Loc District

A woman with dreadlocks, smiling, getting her dreadlocks styled with hair clips. She is wearing a gray shirt and apron, in a room with a TV screen displaying two men.

2021

Kitchen Appointments & House Calls

Afia began taking clients while still working as a middle school teacher, servicing people from her kitchen and traveling throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Those early appointments laid the foundation for the business and helped her understand what clients were looking for in loc care.

2021-2022

A black hair salon styling chair in front of a yellow wall, with hair salon equipment including a hooded hair dryer and ring light visible in the background.

Building the Business

Moving into her first studio marked the transition from side hustle to entrepreneurship. Afia stepped away from house calls, invested in classes and continued education, expanded the services she could offer, and began building the systems, standards, and client experience of an established business.

A multi-story red brick building with many windows and a parking lot in front, featuring street lamps, leafless trees, and a clear blue sky.

2023 - 2024

The move into a larger studio created room for the business to grow beyond one person. New locticians joined the team, services expanded to include shampooing, treatments, and more specialized loc care, and clients began trusting not only Afia, but the growing brand and team around her.

Growing the Team

2025

Nighttime exterior view of a hair salon named 'The LOC District' with large glass windows showcasing hair care chairs and hair styling images inside. The sign is illuminated in white on the black facade.

As the business evolved, Afia Locs became The Loc District, a name that better reflected the community it had grown into. Today, The Loc District serves clients throughout Rhode Island and New England, from students and families to brides, grooms, professionals, and professional athletes, while maintaining a high standard of quality, professionalism, and client care.

Becoming The Loc District

Today

Group of seven diverse individuals posing inside a modern office space with large windows and a view of trees outside. They are dressed stylishly, with some standing and some sitting, displaying confident expressions.

What began with kitchen appointments has grown into a salon, team, product line, and community with a vision beyond one location. The Loc District continues to grow with the goal of expanding access to specialized loc care, creating opportunities for professionals, and raising the standard of the loc salon experience.

Built for What Comes Next

A woman with locs
A woman with locs

Meet the Founder

Afia
Founder, The Loc District

Afia’s background in education continues to shape the way she leads The Loc District today. She has always believed that people deserve to feel informed, supported, and confident in the spaces they trust.

Her own loc journey sparked a deeper interest in the industry, but building The Loc District became about much more than hair. Through her work, Afia has also seen the need for stronger education, better business support, and more intentional spaces for beauty professionals to grow.

Today, her vision extends beyond the salon chair, toward creating opportunities for clients and professionals through education, mentorship, community, and thoughtfully designed spaces that support both great work and long-term growth.

Meet the Team

  • A woman with glasses and jewelry smiling as she toasts with another person holding a glass of yellow beverage, inside a bright room with a mirror behind her.

    Muva Earth

    Senior Loctician & Assistant Manager

  • A woman with long, blonde, wavy hair wearing a black top with lace detail and multiple earrings, smiling indoors near a white wall and green plants.

    Jania

    Master Loctician

  • A woman with bright pink, wavy hair wearing a black dress with large gold buttons and a sparkly headband, standing in front of a white background and green plants.

    Lexi

    Licensed Cosmetologist & Loctician

  • portrait of a woman with long dark hair and highlights, wearing a white turtleneck and a black blazer, standing indoors with a white wall and green plant leaves in the background

    Diosa

    Operations Manager

  • A woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling softly, wearing a black blazer and a white top, standing indoors near a plant.

    Yumi

    Social Media Manager

Two women sitting on black couches inside a building by a large window. One woman with red dreadlocks is toasting with a glass of champagne held by a woman with dark curly hair, dressed in a white blazer and pants. Outside the window, parked cars and a building are visible.

Our Values

Expert Craftsmanship
We approach loc care with skill, intention, and attention to detail. Quality and consistency are standards we bring to every service.

Healthy Hair First
Beautiful locs begin with knowledgeable care. We prioritize practices that support healthy hair and scalp while helping clients better understand their locs.

Exceptional Client Experience
Great work is only part of the experience. We value professionalism, communication, comfort, and making every client feel genuinely cared for.

A Space for Every Journey
Whether you are starting your locs, maintaining them, restoring them, or looking for a new loc home, The Loc District is built to feel welcoming, elevated, and inclusive.