6 Important Things You Should Know Before Starting Locs
written by kaila Daley
Photo by Joshua Mcknight from Pexels
When it comes to locs we admire how beautiful they are and the reason why someone chooses to loc their hair is different for each person. However, there are a few universal things everyone who is considering this hairstyle should know before deciding to commit fully to the loc’d life.
1. Choose A Reputable Loctician
This may seem like common sense to most of you but you would be surprised by the number of people who do not research the person who is going to loc their hair. Because this is such a permanent hairstyle for many, it is important that you research who will be doing your installation and what their clients think about their work. Can they work with your hair type? Are they knowledgeable about different products? Is their cost within my budget? These are just a few of the questions that should be asked before deciding to get your hair loc’d by anyone.
You can find a good loctician in your area just by doing a google search and looking at their website and some of their reviews. Most reputable locticians should offer some form of consultation for new clients, that way you can ask the important questions before you begin your new hair journey.
Another aspect of researching locticians is that you should be comparing price and work. If two locticians for example, charge vastly different, don’t just go to the cheapest person you can find. You need to compare their actual work with clients and see which results will best suit you.
2. Say Hello To Shrinkage 👋🏽
Photo by Larry George II on Unsplash
If you have curly or coily hair then you are already very familiar with shrinkage and how it can hide the true length of your natural hair. Well, the same thing happens when you decide to loc your hair. The majority of the time when your hair is locd it will be half or less than half its original length.
Because the hair is wrapped around itself in some way it causes the length to shorten. You can not expect to have the same length before and after your hair is locd. You should expect a decent amount of shrinkage, especially after a few washes. Water as we know makes the hair shrink even more. After some time as your locs begin to grow out, your length will gradually start to return.
Hair shrinkage is all a part of the loc journey and everyone’s hair will respond differently depending on texture and density.
3. Exercising May Cause Unraveling
If you are newly locd and have opted for a retwist instead of interlocking your roots, then you should know that unraveling may occur with excessive sweating. This especially can happen when working out because we tend to sweat from our scalp. If you are someone who lives a very active lifestyle and works out multiple times a week then this is something to take into account before deciding to loc your hair. Retwists are not as tightly locd as interlocking and can unravel a lot easier.
For newly retwisted hair on starter locs, I would recommend that you wear a tightly fitted headband, cap, or a scarf so that there is not a lot of moisture. After your workout, allow your locs to air out and dry because moisture in your locs can cause a funky smell or even become moldy. I would also recommend adding some peppermint or tea tree oil mixed with other carrier oils to the scalp as they both have antibacterial properties.
At the end of the day, our health should always come first and I encourage everyone who can to do some form of weekly exercise that will get them moving even if it’s for 10 minutes. There are different methods that you can use instead of retwisting your new growth so that they can last longer when working out.
4. Beware Of The Lint Buildup 👀
Photo by Styves Exantus from Pexels
When we think of lint we tend to picture our clothes covered in tiny pieces of accumulated fibers and other types of material. Well, when you are rocking locs this tends to become a common issue. The oil in locs tends to attract lint to the hair from fabrics such as wool, cotton, and other things. This is why it is good to do a loc detox every once in a while and take the time to inspect your locs and remove any lint.
To help prevent lint buildup in the first place I would recommend you to be more mindful of the materials you are wearing and how your hair is styled. If you are wearing a wool coat for example then I would recommend that you keep your locs off of the coat maybe by styling it in an updo or putting it in a ponytail.
I would also recommend that you wear a satin or silk scarf not only to bed but around the house to help prevent any additional material from attaching itself to your hair. If not a scarf then changing your pillowcases to satin or silk is great not only for your hair but also for your skin. The last thing I would recommend is to not use towels that are made from cotton fibers, those will definitely cause lint buildup.
5. Always Let Your Hair Dry Fully
Letting your locs properly dry is really important especially for preventing mold from growing in the hair. This can often happen when the hair is still damp or wet and putting it up into a style or under a cap or scarf can cause mold. This makes the hair take a longer time to dry. Keep your air down to allow for accurate airflow. Locs can smell like mildew if the hair is not properly dried.
I recommend using a microfiber towel to soak up as much water as you can from your locs. Squeeze the locs into the towel and avoid rubbing because it will cause a lot of friction and breakage. The longer your locs are the longer they will take to dry. Another option you have is sitting under a hooded dryer. This is an indirect form of heat and will allow your hair to dry a lot faster especially if you have somewhere to be.
The moral of the story is to make sure your hair is fully dried before doing additional styling.
6. Your Locs Go Through Different Stages
Photo by Romina Farías on Unsplash
If you are considering locking your hair then you should be fully aware of all of the stages that your loc journey could go through.
Locs are very beautiful however it is an unrealistic expectation to think they will always look neat and uniformed. When you first install starter locs they will become frizzy and bigger over time. Depending on your locking and retightening method your hair will look different from your peers.
Stage1: The first stage is usually the starter phase whether that’s done with a two-strand twist, comb coils, or interlocking. This stage can tend to be very frizzy after washing with a lot of shrinkage and potential unraveling.
Stage2: The budding phase usually happens around 4 months into your loc journey and your hair finally starts to transform from starter locs.
Stage 3: Then comes the teen phase which is probably the most unruly and frizzy of them all. In the teen phase, your locs can double in size from their original shape.
Stage 4: After the teen phase is the mature phase. This phase is where you notice the length of your locs and you won’t have to get your new growth retwisted as often.
Stage 5: Last but not least is the rooted phase, this is where your locs have completely and fully matured and have settled into themselves.
To see more information about the several different phases of having locs check out our other blog post “5 Different Stages Of Locs To Expect On Your Journey”. Overall I don’t think any of these things are a certain dealbreaker however they are things to consider before deciding to fully commit to your loc journey.