Let me be first to say that I’m not a “loctician” or some glorified loc guru. No…nonono, no. I’m a frugalista if you haven’t learned by now. A DIY-er, a crafter, a….broke women, don’t you know. THEREFORE, I must do things on my own while upholding a certain quality for my professional career. Understand where I’m coming from? Okay. Let’s get to it.
1) Go to your local beauty supply store and ask to be directed to the aisle with the bleaching agent. If they don’t know what you’re talking about, you may want to find another associate, lol! Other terms, such as color-stripping or lifting the color may also be useful. I have multiple bleaching products: some in powders where you mix with other stuff, agents that come already mixed, yada yada. I opt for anything that is already mixed because, simply put, I’m lazy. Also, not that I could not adequately mix the product, but this will also help with consistency if it is already packaged this way. Afterwards, pick that bright color you wanted. After all, if you wanted a hint or tint of color or dyeing your locs a darker color you wouldn’t be reading this post, right? I hope so. Once you got this step completed go to the next. Note: It would be AWESOME if you could purchase a hooded dryer from Wal-mart (it would be cheaper than getting one from the beauty supply store). Believe me, it comes in handy with those who have (or have not) locs.
2) Go ahead and prep your locs and your bathroom because it’s about to get messy. I’m not about to repeat everything over, so you might to read up my post “Dying to Dye: Tips for Dyeing Locs“. Yep.
3) Follow the instructions with the bleaching agent to the T. Just that simple. Believe me, it’s not as scary as you think.
4) Apply the color, follow the instructions. My favorite product so far is the one I said in my post “Dyeing Your Locs Red“. Put on a shower cap, let it set for 15-30 minutes, preferably under a hooded dryer as stated before.
Bright, including that thumb in the picture.
Covered wet, freshly dyed locs in a t-shirt wrap.
The back of the T-shirt Wrap
Bright red locs, ladies and gents.
The dryer is not a pleasant experience for me. It appeared to be drying more than my locs.
YO! DUDE! WTF! and whatever new slang kids are saying nowadays. Basically, @*%&#!!! I am FURIOUS!!! At first I had noticed, then I worried, then I was unsuccessful, now I am furious!!!! My locs…in the front….are thin…like balding thin…like I’m touching patches of skin thin. Before motherhood, my front was good. I had problems here and there, but overall–good. Let’s fast forward to me finding out was pregnant in May 2011. I was awesome. I had the motherhood glow going on and my hair was just growing out the wazoo. Again, awesome. Let’s fast forward again, but this time after my daughter was born. The only disappointment I had at this time was that my weight did not melt off like it was supposed to because I had that dern C-section. I say 6 months later (about June 2012), the joys of motherhood (I am being sarcastic by the way) kicks in. I notice that my hair has thinned out more than the previous year (not to mention my little one has pulled out a couple of locs in the front). In September 2012, I was like “Whoa, but I got this. I can do it.” Pssbbbbbt. Yeah, whatever. NOW, my poor locs are barely holding on in the front. Shut the front door or burn it one, because I’m ticked. When I first started my blog in like what 2010 (2009? I’m getting older) ANYWAY, I was like queen mother-freaking guru when people came to me with the thinning problem, like “Yes, my child, thinning comes and goes. You must be one with your locs and repair it through natural, essential oils and do this and do that…” BULL****. I’m not saying that it doesn’t work, but now….NOW that I have experienced the urgency and the concern that these people have came to me with this, I can hear and see the frustration in their emails and posts. Just a side note, if at any point I appeared insensitive or as if I didn’t understand how you felt, please…PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE forgive me. What’s that saying? You never know how it is until you walked a mile in someone’s shoes? Well ladies and gents, I have felt I have ran–not walked–a marathon. And I’m TiReD. I’m tired of my locs looking discombobulated. I hope I spelled that right, because I’m too “tight” (as my old New York friend used to say) to even bother using spell check. My left front lobe is aching, I’m slumped in a chair, looking at my soon to be 2 year old daughter with thick, full, delicious hair. Yes, I said delicious, hair. Frizz and all. I will pull myself together eventually and do what I always do: find a solution on a budget. But until then, I’m setting this keyboard on fire to vent my frustration. Thanks for listening.
While I’m at it, I’m going to let you guys see my 2012 pics and maybe later I’ll upload my 2013 pics.
I know you have met those jackholes that just stare at your locs or look at them as filthy pieces of rope. Yup… I know, I know. I wish we could round them up too and hang them by their toenails, but that wouldn’t get anything accomplished. BUT what about those times you strolled somewhere in public and have someone compliment your locs? Makes you want to catwalk something awful right in the middle of the building, don’t it!? The point is this: Locs are sexy. Always. Sometimes it’s hard and you may feel a little stuck in a rut and need something fresh to make you wave them lovely locs. Try something new like:
A fresh wash and retwist. There’s nothing like locs that have been washed and retwisted. Feel that breeze on your scalp!
Add some curls, crimps, or some other new cute style.
Add an accessory or stylish hat.
Plan a sexy night out and do numbers #1 and #2 WITH a new sexy outfit. What?! Nobody ain’t going to have nothing to say! (Disclaimer: I’m from North Carolina and we do, at times, use double even triple negatives when we get excited)
Try a new color. It’s easier now than ever to try a new color. Red, burgundy, honey blonde, etc. Color is in! Try coloring your tips, half or all of your locs. And if you don’t like it, you can always redye your hair black (or whatever the original hair color).
Everyone has neglected their locs at one time or another. Take a new pride in your locs and improve the condition of your hair. Keep it moisturized and maintained. Within a month or so you should see a difference.
If you have the money, have someone else pamper your locs. No work or stress on your part. All together now: Ahhhhhhh! Feels nice.
Post your pics on your profile on facebook, twitter, or in a locs interest group and show off your locs. Guarantee it makes you feel like a million bucks to have people “Like” and comment on your locs.
Still feeling a little blah about your locs? Maybe it’s because of your health. If you’re not healthy, your locs are not healthy. This means you should be getting enough:
Rest; at least 7 hours each night.
Nutrients. If not, get a multivitamin, supplements, and some omega-3 in your diet stat!
Exercise, which actually releases those feel-good hormones into your body. Not to mention you get to shape up and boost your confidence about your overall appearance as well.
Self-care. Doesn’t make sense to have beautiful locs and ashy skin, tart breath, and jacked up clothes does it? Pamper yourself, including those claws.
Fun. Stress will not only release cortisol (a stress related hormone) into your body, but raise your blood pressure and thin your hair out. Don’t believe me? If your body isn’t doing it on its own, you’re physically doing it yourself. When you’re in deep thought or stressed do you twirl your locs, scratch your head, twist-retwist, pull, or any of the sort to your locs? Now think about how many times you do this per day during stressful moments. Mmm-hmm.
Did I miss something you do to get your sexy back? I would love to hear it!!
This is the exact red I used for my current color.
I’ve ALWAYS loved burgundy as a hair color. Red has also grown on me a lot since especially since Rihanna has been wearing it like the diva she is. So, you guys, I’m not longer honey blonde. I’m now a Redhead. I really love it, but word of caution. Red haircolor fades so much faster than other colors. I kid you not. That is not a myth and is very much true. Alright, alright, I’ve finished babbling. Let’s get to it. If you haven’t read my other blog post for “Tips for Dyeing Locs” then you may want to check it before you actually dye your locs because the information on this post is just a brief overview of what I did to get the red color.
To begin, if you hair color is dark you may have to lift your color. They have products that lift your hair color in beauty stores, but since I’m not a hairdresser (lol) and don’t want to mix chemicals that I’m not familiar with I’ve chose another method. I was already honey blonde for a while. So really, my haircolor was already lifted. The product I used for this “lift” was the Clairol Honey Blonde.
Afterwards, you can use a dye of your choice. I used “Creative Image Adore 68 Crimson.” Which was absolutely awesome. It wasn’t a fire truck red, but a deep red. The picture of the dye I used is in the first picture of this post. I purchased it from the beauty supply store and believe it or not, it is significantly cheaper than the Clairol–like $3 cheaper! They have multiple shades of red, too. SO… follow the instructions for dyeing. Now, what I’ve learned from a hairdresser to set the haircolor is directly after dyeing your dreads, put on a shower cap and sit under a hood dryer for 15 to 30 minutes. If you don’t have one, get one. It’s like $30 bucks from Wal-Mart–$29.97 to be exact. It’s collapsible so it doesn’t take up space (see pic below).
Hood Dryer in collapsed and open positions. I actually have this hood dryer 🙂
The Results
1st Trimester Preggers & Honey Blonde
After-baby & Redhead (this is 2-3 months after my locs were dyed)
A person on the Yahoo! Answers forum asked the question:
“What can I use if I wanted to cleanse my dreadlocks without soap or shampoo?”
My answer at that time was:
“Do you want to clean your scalp and your locs dreadlocks or just your dreadlocks? If you are having issues with just your scalp, you can use witch hazel or some other astringent with a q-tip. If you want to thoroughly clean your scalp and dreadlocks you can use apple-cider vinegar and water concoction. You can find a recipe online depending on the strength you want to use. It cleans very well..and no you won’t smell like potato salad if you thoroughly rinse it out.”
Another poster to this forum suggested this:
“You can use a mix of baking soda and witch hazel or baking soda and water mix the two together to make a thin paste or cloudy liquid and put in a squeeze bottle. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil, lemon juice, or sage/rosemary oil. I have also heard of people using strong herbal teas made out of cleansing herbs like milk thistle, chamomile, sage. Also investing in a high power water pressure detachable shower head (you can get one at Lowe’s/home depot), the strong water pressure has the ability to penetrate the locks and remove debris and oils with warm/hot water.”
Loc’ers, Lockers…Get it? Hardy har har. Yeah. I know. It was lame (-_-)
The pride you get from your new locs is undescribable…but the frustration ain’t. I’m sure you got your new locs and have found after a couple of days–if not the first night–unsure of some things. Okay, a lot of things. The fact that you’re annoyed says quite a bit, but for the most part it says, “You’re on the right track.” Everyone with locs has had and continues to have these moments. So here are a few tips to help you out:
Keep your locs covered while you are at home with satin scarf/bonnet. It will keep a lot of lint and whatnot out your hair. Not to mention, if you happen to lay down, this will decrease the amount of unwinding/unraveling.
Don’t use grease or beeswax. If so, use at your own peril.
Do not let people tell YOU how YOUR hair is. You’ve lived with your hair all your life and know what works or not.
DO pay close attention to how your dreads are maintained, so you can learn to do them on your own (just in case you don’t want to keep paying that money or if you are in a bind).
Do wash at least once monthly. Contrary to belief, clean locs lock faster than dirty ones.
If you must wash your hair, use a stocking cap (Read my post about washing baby locs).
Do not use a lot of product when you twist your dreads. A little product goes a long way.
Do NOT overtwist your dreads. It will thin the root.
Do not be a product junkie, lol. Stick with the products that work bests for you!
Do try natural oils such peppermint, coconut, jojoba, tea tree oil, et cetera. Shea butter is great, too!
Expect your hair to unravel a little. It’s a normal thing. Don’t fret, you will learn to contain it after a while. It’s not as hard as you think!
Try to keep your locs in its natural position for now. Styles will come in due time. You don’t want to undo any progress/locking.
Before you even ask, the answer is “yes,” that white stuff you see coming out of your locs is beeswax mixed with whatever else in your locs. Anyone who knows me or has read my posts can complete my sentence, ” Beeswax is the _______!” If you haven’t learned by now, it’s the devil. Beeswax has been used traditionally in the past on locs. For a while, this was the way that most people did. But with time and deliverance, people has learned how the beester, the beesmeister, the big “B” is sneaky, attracts nothing good (i.e., dirt, pollutants, etc) and a pain to get rid of. Sound like a particular entity? I figured you would understand the correlation.
So how do you get this crap out of locs once the damage is done? Well, let’s start with addressing the problem:
First, PLEASE do NOT believe this myth—>”The only real effective way to get beeswax out is to cut the dreads off.” Please do not do this because this is not true. You can wash out the beeswax.
Do not use petroleum/latum-based products. Twist with holding gels and then pin the dreads down with duckclips; that will keep the root twisted. You can even followup with a holding spray (White Rain will suffice, you don’t need that expensive stuff even though I love John Frieda’s!). Just be sure to do a light mist with the spray. Be sure to also use a small amount of gel because a little product goes a long way. The plus to using these items: They wash out much easier than beeswax and other petroleum products.Moisturize your hair with oils (such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, peppermint oil, olive oil, et cetera), shea better, and stuff of that nature. It will do you some good.
Time for the washing:
Baking soda and water. You can start out by putting the baking soda on the root of your locs (make sure to rub in a generous amount). Spray your locs with water. This should attack the residue at the root. You can also use a clear, clarifying shampoo. The main purpose of this shampoo is wash gunk out of your hair. You can find one at your local Wal-mart (products like Pantene, heck, the Equate brand works great, too! I use it!), beauty supply store, or Dollar General. I’m going to let you know now that you are probably going to do a couple of rounds of shampooing before you feel any difference. You could also do an ACV (apple-cider vinegar) rinse. This WILL thoroughly clean your locs. Believe me, lol. No, you won’t smell like potato salad afterwards if you wash it out your hair. You may want to do this before using clarifying shampoo.
You do not want to wash your locs frequently (i.e. every week or daily) since they are fairly young. You should wash your hair, at minimum, once a month. If you wash your hair every two weeks, fine—be careful. However, it’s not the washing you should be worried about; it’s how you wash your locs. Get a stocking cap or make one. Before you go into the shower (or if you are washing it in the tub/sink), put it on. Rub shampoo, conditioner, or whatever your preference, over the cap so that the product is getting in, but you are not rubbing your locs completely loose. Tip: Rub in one direction, such as from front to back with one hand, while holding the cap with the palm of your other hand. This way, the cap will not be moving everywhere! (video demonstration: scroll to bottom) After rinsing, squeeze the water out of your locs. Blot your locs dry with the towl. NO RUBBING. NONE. NADA. ZILCH. Those babies are gonna come loose if you rub the towel vigorously around your locs. Got it? Okay. If you have the time, I highly suggest letting your locs air dry. Spray some oil or moisturizer over your hair. *Find a spray bottle in Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, or beauty supply store and mix your favorite moisturizer with a little water. If you have a spray bottle with the adjustable nozzle, be sure that the nozzle is screwed on close because you want a mist NOT a squirt/stream.
To secure your roots after you have twisted them, you can use hair pins while your locs are shorter/younger. I would advise you to use duck/two-prong clips (you can find the picture on my products page). They are much easier and quicker; to put in and take out.
I am now a new mommy. With this comes new territory…and new threats to the locs. This post is not so much to teach anyone anything, but moreso for me to vent and identify with other parents who have or will experience this inevitable circumstance. So…without further aduadoadoo adieu, I will now let you know what I have found through this “comedic act” by my infant daughter (which only she finds funny)called: spitting up in mommy’s hair.
SOME way, SOME how my locs manages to get into the trajectory path of my daughter’s bouts of spitting up. Did I inform you that my daughter had terrible reflux after every feeding? Because I don’t think you get the idea of the frequency of how much this happened. What’s worse is the amount that would ooze and soak my locs. Seriously, going to work with dried spit up in your hair is not only lame, but also questionable. Can we say awkward stares from male coworkers?
Oh, you think this is a simple task to avoid? Let me advise you that baby throw up is not easily resolved by a wet/damp cloth applied to the locs. Ohhhh noooooo, of course it wouldn’t be that simple. You will have to thoroughly soak your locs in water or you have to wash them. And to do this daily was a chore. What was that? Put your locs in a ponytail or a bun? Two things with this: (1) My locs are to the point where a ponytail even put high upon the crown of my head will touch my shoulders (2) my locs NEVER stay completely within the bun. The stragglers falls right out into the line of fire.
After some time I just said eff it… If it happens, it happens and if don’t, it don’t. Because being a new mommy, trying to maintain your sanity, and trying to scrap for all the sleep you can get is worth more at times than aesthetics. It’s 7 months after having my daughter and I’m JUST starting to put makeup back on. It’s THAT serious. Sidenote: I commend all parents with locs (mommies and daddies) who are actively taking care of their own or someone else’s children.
So what did you do to avoid the warm drips of toruture??
Yes, I actually use relaxer in this vid, but it’s not what you think!!! I know you dun wanna hear it, but it works! The good thing about it is that you don’t have to worry about applying it again for a very long while compared to using other products daily or weekly. Before doing this method, I try other methods such as gel, latch-hooking, palm-rolling, stringing, or interlocking these hairs and so forth. Also gel, whether holding gel or conditioning gel and a wave/stocking cap/scarf work temporarily (maybe until 11:00 that morning) and the frizz and stuff is back sticking up. Again, this is a once in a blue moon ordeal not everyday, monthly, or yearly. Occasionally. You don’t have to use this method, so please no comments about “You shouldn’t do that” or “It’s bad for your hair and skin.” Newsflash: I know this and I’m probably going to do it again in the future. Different things work for different people. Sometimes you have to do what you gotta do to make things work. 😀
I will do a vid for this soon, but I just wanted to show a cool do when you don’t have time to do curls and other stuff. All you need is a few regular hair pins and about 4 decorated hairpins. Here’s the pix:
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Q: I’m black and thinking about dreading my own hair. At the moment, I have a lock it up gel that I plan on using. I’ve done a little research and everyone says you should wet your hair while twisting or backcoming it. How does wet hair affect the initial dreading process? If I decide to twist mine with dry hair, will it damage my hair?
My Answer:
1) Who told you that your hair has to be wet? lol.
(2) Using gel or oils is just fine. You don’t have to pack on gel, though. If anything, your hair being too wet will cause the strands to unravel while you are twisting or encourage breaking during backcombing.
(3) Wetness can actually inhibit the hairs from meshing properly because the hair becomes soft. That is why they encourage you to not wash your hair for a few weeks.
(4) Drying twisting your hair with a little gel is fine. I wouldn’t recommend your hair being unmoisturized (meaning, your hair shouldn’t be fried, overdried, or brittle).
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Q: What the fastest way to grow dreadlocks?
My Answer:
It’s not a particular way to grow your hair “quickly.” This decides on your own biological hair growth rate; everyone’s is slightly different. However, proper maintenance is what gives you long, healthy locs. The better you take care of your scalp, root, and locs the better off your locs will be (and it then it will seem like your hair is growing really fast, lol).
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Q: My question to you, can anyone start latching at any stage of there ocks? Take me, I’ve been loc’d for 29 months it will be 3 years come December, could I start latching? And final question, do you do a 3 pt or 4 pt rotation? Will you ever do a vid showing how to latch?
My Answer:
As far as your questions:
(1) I think people can start latching at any stage. The reason I say this is because I started my locs with the TST and palm-rolled. However, in November 2009 I started to interlock my locs and have been hooked every since. Basically, I interlock where is it matches the width of the lock; it’s not too tight or too loose. I think the most important thing to consider when changing methods is making sure there is a drastic change in the pattern of your locs. You want it where the size is consistent throughout the whole lock. You don’t want it to be loose/thicker at the root to the middle of the lock and thin/tight the rest of the way. The other way around would not look bad (tight at the root and thicker at the ends; this would like your locs are budding at the end). You have to play around with it a little bit to see what works. Believe me, it was just luck on the first try with me; not to mention, I experimented on the locs on the bottom and the back of my head.
(2) I’m not familiar with the 3- or 4- point rotation, lol. I just twist/palm-roll my locs in the same direction. Sometimes I pin them, sometimes I don’t, lol. That’s about it.
(3) I might show a vid on how to latch if I can learn how to do it without messing up my loc pattern. 😉 Good idea for a video, lol. Thanx!
Q: so yea, im black (incase relevant)…but i jus got my hair twisted for dreads n ive been hearing that spraying a mixture of warm water, lemon juice, n salt on ur dreads helps with the locking process.
My answer:
I’ve never used salt in my hair. Just so you know, salt isn’t the greatest for you locs, lol. It’s just like when you sweat after a workout or go to the beach you must wash your hair because of the salt. Now, I have heard of lemon juice and honey. I’ve used this concoction, but I didn’t see any big improvement/increase in locking my dreads. I just used regular gel, twisted them, pinned/clipped the dreads down, spray a little holding spray, and cover my hair with satin scarf/bonnet/cap to keep hair from catching and unraveling.
…oh yeah, just b/c ur black doesn’t change anything, hun. lol 😉
Q: i have dreads and i put beeswax to start my dreads and now when i get my hair wet it turns white where i put in the beeswax at im not cutting my hair or taking out my dreads so do this work or do you know what will
If you have any more questions, feel free to email me 😀
**I keep names/usernames anonymous so no one will feel embarrassed or exposed….unless the Q&A is on a public website such as Yahoo! Answers. (^_^)
There was someone who asked a question about how to restore their dreads after dyeing. The question:
“I HAVE LOCS. I GOT THEM DYED AND NOW MY LOCS SEEM TO BE DRY, THIN AND MY ROOTS ARENT AS STRONG what can i do?
restore my hair so that it can be strong again and to kkep it from being dry, please help”
I replied with this:
“What may of happened is that some of the dyeing product was left in your dreads and has been eating away at your dreads. So… let’s get to it.
1- I’m assuming that your dreads are mature enough to handle washing. So, you need a good clarifying shampoo (like Pantene Clarifying shampoo, it’s clear. That’s what you want; a clear shampoo that works). You may need to wash your dreads a couple of times to get any product out.
2- Even though I do not use a lot of conditioner (maybe once a month), I do use it when I think my dreads may need it. Therefore, after shampooing find a thick, (all natural if you can find one), conditioner that doesn’t have all that perfume in it and cover your dreads. Then put a shower cap over them and leave in for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse well! You will probably notice a difference in the way your dreads will feel.
3- Towel blot (not rub!) your dreads. Wrap the towel around your dreads and squeeze (not twist) the water out. Spray or apply tea-tree, olive, peppermint, OR SOME KIND OF HAIR OIL (lol) to your dreads. Don’t overdo it, where it’s dripping down your neck. Apply it to the root and the length of your dreads. Let your dreads AIR DRY.
4-For the next month or so, refrain from tugging or putting your dreads in ponytails. NO overprocessing either with any method you use to maintain your dreads (like backcombing, latching, interlocking, twisting). Meaning, wait bi-weekly or even monthly if you can to redo your dreads.
5- Moisturize weekly; daily if you notice that you dreads are dry. A lot of attention needs to go towards the root of your hair so that you can encourage more healthy hair to grow.
Change isn’t going to come immediately, but you should start to see a difference after a week or two.”
**Tip (5/17/10): You can purchase “neutralizing shampoo” from Wal-mart or a beauty supply store. It’s the same kind of shampoo that is used in perm or dye kits to neutralize/cancel out/deactivate/clean out leftover chemicals.
I used to think that I would never interlock for two reasons: (1) I thought it took much time (2) I was native to only palm-rolling. It appeared interesting and tempting at the same time. Why? Because you didn’t have to worry about your locs unraveling at the root….or at all, for that matter. However, I did not want to worry about the texture of my locs changing or run the risk having little bumpy knots from inaccurately interlocking. So why the change of heart you ask? Well, I shall tell you why (very short story, actually). One afternoon, I was riding back from another county with a couple of coworkers. While they were yacking on their phones, the slightly irritable-from-hunger My4tress needed something to dwindle time away while she waited for the stoplight to change for the turning lane in 5 o’clock traffic (instead of twiddling my thumbs). I subconsciously started playing with my locs of course. Next thing you know, I was weaving the root (interlocking) the back locs. They’re usually the ones to unravel at the root much quicker than the rest of my locs. As I felt for what I’ve done, I realized that I did it pretty well; no lumpy knots. I rolled the loc in one direction to see how it would’ve looked/felt if I palm-rolled the interlocked part later. No difference. Hmm! I was quite pleased. So I learned that if you do not interlock too tightly and not in the same direction, you have a nice result that will not change even if you palm roll later. You want to interlock as closely as possible to the already locked part of your locs. However, if you did it incorrectly, you will end of with:
(1) separated roots
(2) if palm-rolled, a twisted part
(3) a hole in the middle of your loc. (I put a q-tip inside of the hole so you could identify it easier.)
FYI: Interlocking becomes addictive when your hands are idle or if you don’t have nothing to do (lol) and doesn’t take as long as you think.
Next thing you know, all of my locs have been interlocked. So, I washed my hair just last week expected to roll some roots, when I looked at the mirror and barely saw any puffiness (a sign of a root(s) needing retwisting). That saved me a lot of time. 🙂
(I’m going to try to do a vid on interlocking; however, letting you know now that I’m not an expert interlocker, lol.)
Did I tell you what I’ve been up to lately? I have been trying out new oils. Yessiree, Bob! (I know that was corny, shut up). Sometimes the best products are the most natural ones. Yeah, twist and lock gel is good, but what about products such as shea butter or peppermint oil? (I’m still making my way towards these products). They have an extensive amount of benefits and fairly inexpensive! So far this is what I’ve tried out:
Coconut Oil: Very light, softens the root and locs. Great for locs. It is also great for skin (on a clean face, I applied the coconut oil to my whole face, let it sit for like 15-20 minutes, wash off with soap and water, and use facial moisturizer. My face was so soft!).
Vegetable Oil: Don’t give me that look. I needed something quick because the coconut oil was solid and I didn’t want to wait for it to melt and I ran out of my herbal oil. SO I used vegetable oil… Maaaaaan, why didn’t I use this stuff sooner?? It’s great! My locs soaked it all up and it was fairly light. My locs softer and the oil took away ashiness pronto!
SUGAR SWEET SHINE ON (from http://sadiemagazine.com/) Tangle Free Shine Booster
Fine or oily hair needs conditioning too, just of a lighter weight and involving few oils and creamy mixtures. If your hair is fine or oily and damaged, using the recipes for damaged hair before a gentle shampoo should help, but to boost shine and prevent tangles, try these:
What You Will Need:
• 1 bag peppermint tea
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Another “hair tea.” Steep the tea for ten minutes in boiling water, add the apple cider vinegar, and allow to cool. A plastic spray bottle will make even distribution easy. Spray onto the hair, comb through, and rinse with cool water.
I didn’t know what to call it, lol. If your curls are a little bit more defined or fresh, this would like awesome at a special occasion, going out, or where ever you feel comfortable wearing the style.
I found this to be useful to moisturize and soften locs. It also makes them smell really good by using your favorite oil. It can also soothe your scalp.
Yes, laides it can be done. I noticed that while having shorter locs that I really needed something that can be professional, dressed up, and give me some options. Ha! A bun! Didn’t have the lenth, however… So I came up with an idea of creating one. Go to your local beauty supply store and look for “Marley” Weave or something that is (1) Nappy-looking (2) Hair rolled in cords or “locs.” Here’s my vid about getting that bun:
It happens to the best of us: unraveling locs. Whether it’s at your root or your ends, it’s a hassle. What to do, what to do?! How can I lock my locs if they don’t stay together?! You’re right, it’s going to be difficult if your root unravels or the ends unravel. But before we dive in, be aware that this happens to just any type of locs (exception: those who use the latch method and such). This is especially true if you have younger locs. Don’t fret, my pet… Your locs will lock if you persevere. Let’s get to it:
Tie your hair up nightly or during idle time at home with a satin scarf. Be sure to sleep on a satin pillowcase if you don’t have or don’t want to use a scarf (but I highly recommend using one!).
I’m sure you have read this throughout my blog. Don’t use, what? That’s right. Don’t use petroleum/petrolatum products to twist yours locs. It will attract lent, dust, dirt and whatever else and mix with the product. This will create a buildup. Clean locs lock quicker than dirty ones.
Beginner locs: do not wash your locs as frequently. The minimum, once a month. Heck, bi-weekly if you’re careful. But before you let a lick of loc touch any water, put on a stocking cap. I have instructions washing on washing your locs in my other posts (loc maintence, starting your locs).
After washing, do not vigorously towel-dry your hair. Blot and squeeze. Pin or clip your locs after twisting.
Be sure to twist/palm-roll your locs teh same way every time. Doing otherwise will just undo the process.
Don’t scratch wildly scratch your scalp. If you must, be conscious of where you are scratching and do it as little as possible.
You may want to get a water bottle to spray water, oil, moisturizer, or whatever on your scalp. This especially useful when your locs and/or scalp is dry, when your head is itchy, et cetera. Also, using the spray bottle will mist the product on your locs rather than you using your hands to slather it on.
Believe or not, dying your hair will assist in locking your locs. Please, don’t dye your hair as a desperate attempt to get your hair to loc. Do it because you want color.
Some people put rubberbands on the ends of their locs to keep them from unraveling; however, if you are not careful, it will pull hair out of the locs.
I used a little hair glue to keep my ends from unraveling. (I got this tip while sitting in court with a client, lol). At first, all is well. On the other hand, as weeks go by, little beads of hair glue started to appear everywhere! It helped out, but what a pain…
If your ends are unraveling and you have more mature locs, maintain the split as two different locs (even if they are attached to the original loc). If the split goes to the root, retwist the root and follow the tips above and other loc maitenance. Or if you want, combine with another loc.
[update 8.7.10] Or you could use hair glue:
Email me some of your tips I would love to post them! Don’t worry. I’ll give you the credit! Email me at: locd4life@yahoo.com
No loc journey is exactly alike. No. Journey. Each one is unique in its own pathway. Some say its mystical, soul-purifying, frustrating, horrific, trying and challenging, easy, enchanting, and a whole dictionary of adjectives that describes their journey. But you, starting out will understand this soon or already have experienced what this is like. Enough of the intro, let’s get to it.
Starting with Relaxer
Yes folks, this can be done. Proof, you say? Well, unbeknown to you, I started my locs this way. I was sick of spending my money on a process that I was going to sweat out. I guarantee my perm would stay in three days–tops! And that was on a good week. I wanted locs since I was a young gal. Now was my chance to get ’em. BUT…I didn’t want to let go of my length just yet. So I started my locs…with permed ends. At first, it looked funny–especially since I had highlights. Secondly, I still looked funny because I was trying different ways to loc my hair. Two-strand twists help my hair to loc even with permed ends. People say your hair won’t loc while it is permed. Like my psychology professor used to say, “Bullshit.” If you don’t comb your hair, wash as is, and palm-roll it will eventually matte and lock. The only factor that you have put in the equation is PATIENCE.**Updated (1/14/2010) I used the TST to start my locs while my hair was permed. I noticed that I did not want my locs as thick, so I untwisted the twists after a couple a months, which they had already started locking as two individual locs; and I’ve kept them that way ever since. I’ve used different methods to keep my ends together, such as using hair glue (lol).
Starting without Relaxer
Some have the patience to grow out the chemical in their hair (whether texturizer, perm, whatever) and do a BC (the Big Chop). I didn’t have the courage or the patience. You can see many rocking the TWA (teeny-weeny afro). Starting from scratch makes the process easier.
Before you start, you want your hair to be clean, moisturized, and healthy. You may want clip those split ends! I would not recommend using beeswax or petroleum/petrolatum products. They do not make your locs lock up any faster. These products will attract dirt, lent, dust, and other pollutants to your hair. They give a nasty buildup! Clean locs lock faster than dirty ones. Use products that you can wash out, such as gel and natural products.
Two Strand Twist (TST or 2ST)This is the method I used to begin my locs. I used beeswax, like an idiot and could not understand why my cotton-picking twists would not stay together. Too much product and having a perm did not help. So, uh, I stuck with it. At times I used rubberbands to hold my ends, but it is a no-no because it pulls your hair out. I definitely did not put them around my root. I also used hair glue to keep my ends twisted. Caution: It kept my twists together, but like hair glue, it will start to clot after a while and you will find little beads on your shirt and everywhere else. After a while one or two things happened: (1) the twists loc’d (2) one or both of the strands within the twist loc’d. Also, if I felt that the loc was too thick I could easily separate the twist and voila! The method: Part your hair with desired thickness. Take two strands of the boxed area (make sure the strands are even as possible) and simply twist one around the other. It’s like braiding, just without the extra strand.
To my understanding, this is done by taking strands of your and twisting it around your finger, while using some product (like gel) and twisting them. You can part your hair into little boxes and do this with a rat-tail comb, but I guess it would be better to simply let your fingers make natural parts.
This basically means locs with no manipulation. The most you are doing is washing your hair and letting it matte on its own. Some people use a dark towel or a sweater and rub their hair in circles around their whole head. This is giving the hair the sole responsibility of forming into any size or shape it wants. I’ve seen a lot people start this form when their hair is shorter or closer to their scalp. The rubbing helps the hair makes little buds around their head.FreeformIt’s pretty much like organic, but it is palm-rolled into the different sizes according to the individual bud/loc.
I live by this method, especially since my locs are longer. For beginner locs, it will train your hair and give your locs the direction it needs. It will make your locs more uniform and/or even. With more mature locs, it wraps stray hair back into the original loc and reduces the frizz. If you simply twisted your locs using your thumb and pointer in the same area over a period of time, the spot will start to wear and thin. Palm-rolling is the least offensive method for your locs, in my opinon.The method: Roll each loc between both palms of your hands in one direction; NOT back and forth. You want to make sure that each occasion you are twisting your locs you are twisting/palm-rolling in the same direction every time. Doing otherwise will reverse the process.
Basically, you get your hair microbraided–without the artificial hair. As the braids stay in over a month or so, frizz/stray hairs will start to unravel from the braid. To create the loc, the braid is then palm-rolled (as mentioned above) to return the hairs back to the braid/forming-loc. Over time, a loc will form and there you go.
I’m not really familiar with this method, however, I have read that it is done by: (1) Parting the hair in boxes in desired size (2)Twisting the hair until it makes a “knot” (3) Wear the style as is for several months (4) After the several months, unravel the knots and the hair should be loc’d.I guess the trick behind this is just like regular locs. You leave your hair as is, wash it in the form that it is in and keep it that way for some time. I heard that this method creates very pretty locs.
Your guess is good as mine. This method is copyrighted/incorporated/whatever (lol). For your hair to be loc’d in this form, you must find a loctician who has been specifically trained. I’ve read blogs about them and by the looks of it, it is: (1) outstandingly beautiful (2) expensive to get them done and maintained (3) price varies by loctician (4) thousands are proud of their sister/brotherlocks. Want to know more? Head over to http://www.sisterlocks.com for information.
It’s basically taking a bundle of hairs (the widthe depends on how much you have in this bundle), holding the end, and (by using a comb) you lightly comb/tease the hair towards the scalp. This encourages the hair to matte up. It can be done on any type of hair. This method can create more instant dreads; especially with those who have long hair. Here’s a vid that explains it little better through a demonstration:
More to come:
Latch method
Comb coils (I think it’s called?)
Three-strand Twist
and the Shoe-string method (yes, shoestrings).
Got questions about locs? Email me at locd4life@yahoo.com
I got this tip from Ms. Kat (sorry, she moved the article). I, too, have Eczema (click for explanation) and it can be a pain when you have locs. Seriously, you do not want to be scratching out your locs because of this condition. According to Ms. Kat’s blog, she used EVO (extra virgin olive oil). First, she washed her hair and then used the EVO. Each washing she used an apple-cider rinse, shampoo, then the EVO weekly for a month. Although my Eczema is contained, I just might start doing this so I can have a healthy scalp! Way to go, Ms. Kat!
Here are a few different recipes for the ACV (apple-cider vinegar) rinse:
Recipe #1 (least potent): 1/2 tablespoon to each cup of water.
Recipe #2 (moderate): 1 cup apple-cider vinegar and 1 cup of water.
Recipe #3 (potent): Use the apple-cider vinegar as is (simple, right?)
Recipe #4 (variant): Apple-cider rinse mixed with oil.
Don’t worry about the smell. After a rinse or two, the smell will go away. I’ve done this once before and I did not smell like potato salad for long (just kidding!). I rinsed my hair and it went away. Plus, shampooing afterwards will kill the smell. You can pour it over your locs while hovering over the sink or do it in the shower. I’m lazy, I wash my locs and do these things in the shower. I would probably use the oil while in the sink, though. Don’t want to slip and bust my head open in the tub! Some claim that after using the rinse their locs are softer, shiner, no dandruff, et cetera. So give it a try! (Mine felt about the same, but I didn’t have any dandruff) On top of using EVO, also try other oils such as peppermint or almond. I’ll be trying these soon!
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Recipe #5 (9.10.09)
SUGAR SWEET SHINE ON (from http://sadiemagazine.com/)
Tangle Free Shine Booster
Fine or oily hair needs conditioning too, just of a lighter weight and involving few oils and creamy mixtures. If your hair is fine or oily and damaged, using the recipes for damaged hair before a gentle shampoo should help, but to boost shine and prevent tangles, try these:
What You Will Need:
• 1 bag peppermint tea
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Another “hair tea.” Steep the tea for ten minutes in boiling water, add the apple cider vinegar, and allow to cool. A plastic spray bottle will make even distribution easy. Spray onto the hair, comb through, and rinse with cool water.
Everyone’s locs are different, but we all have some common problems. Like this cowlick for instance… Your hair will pick days where it wants to make you look silly. I had actually had a loc to stick straight up and my hair wasn’t even curly…yep. This is not an exclusive list on every problem you may have with your locs. Which brings to me to this point: Leave a comment about some of your common frustrations or challenges. Maybe there is something I forgot or did not know about. Either or, I would be happy to write about and/or find out more about the subject. This can help me, you, and others who visit the site. Everyone wins! So let’s get to it.
Thinning Locs
Different causes can result in thinning locs. Some of these are:
Overprocessing (e.g. dye)
Not thoroughly rinsing chemical or product out the loc(s)
Deep condition the locs. After washing, be sure to return the moisture that you may have lost during the process.
Restrain yourself from messing with the loc(s). I know you want that bad boy to fill out, but if keep messing with the loc it’s bound to fall.
Try not to twist your locs as frequently; that’s including during idle time.
Don’t use rubberbands because they pull your hair out.
In regards to dying or other chemicals, read the directions on the product in its entirety. Just because you’ve read one type of product doesn’t mean you’ve read them all. Don’t use it more or keep it on longer than directed. Doing so may result in you frying the locs.
Frantic or even scratching your scalp a lot can result in you thinning your roots. Use oil or other types of relief for an itchy or dry scalp.
It does not matter if you have freeform or uniform locs, you still need to maintain your locs regularly. Locs aren’t a low maintenance hairstyle when it comes keeping the locs healthy. This means knowing when to wash, moisturize and twist the locs. If you don’t know how, read my other maintenance tips or look at other hair sites such as Nappturality.com or sites I may have listed on the sidebar. I am willing to help!
YOU need to be eating right. What you eat, feeds your body. Make sure you getting the nutrition that you need.
Vitamins (updated 8.8.09): Again, make sure you are getting your supplements! Decreased Vitamin D levels contribute to hair loss. Start taking supplements such as omega-3 fish oil, vitamin E, daily multi-vitamin (catered to your gender), and plenty of water! Take care of yourself, love.
For thyroid disease/deficiency ( updated 8.8.09) visit your doctor and get medication. The medication should prevent you from losing any more hair. It may help it return.
Seborrheic Dermatitis (updated 8.8.09): I read that you should avoid products that have oils or petroleum/petrolatum. I noticed that a lot people where talking about using an AVC rinse. The generic terminology for AVC is Sulfanilamade.
Try not to pull and tug at your locs. If they’re getting in your face, tie them up for the day. Heck, try to maintain the style for two or three days if you can. If you can do it for longer, that would be awesome.
You are not going to see results immediately. It will take approximately, at the most, the same amount of time for your locs to recover as it took for them to thin.
If the loc is too thin, maybe you can join it with another loc at the root. Simply begin twisting the two roots each time you are retwisting all of your locs. I’ve done this plenty of times when my locs were younger. Look at my video about combining locs. Scroll to the bottom of the page. (Updated 8.25.09)
Do not have a thick loc with a thin root. The root will not be able to support or hold the loc if this occurs. Again, combining locs will most likely help. Possibly find a loctician who can add artificial hair around the loc if it cannot be fixed this way. I have a DVD where a loctician demonstrated how, so I know it can be done.
Find outlets for your frustration, whether it is prayer or meditation, seeking support, being around family, a hobby, socializing, exercise, counseling, or simply relaxing. Take time out of the day to address your problems rather than worrying the whole day. If you are working a 9-5 job, tell yourself, “At 6 p.m. I will deal with this problem.” You will now have time allotted where you can focus 100% on the issue. It will make you feel a lot better and gives you time to think freely. Who knows, a solution may arise before then!
Your hair “should not” be the determining factor of becoming employed or getting opportunties. If anything, it should show that you have character. Your hair should not outshine your knowledge and experience—in the workplace, professional network…just general business. As I last recall, there isn’t a law stating that an employer could turn you down because of your hair—well—in a restaurant setting maybe. However, I think that employers tiptoe around this hair thing because they do not want to cross the line t0 offending someone’s culture and such. Plus, an employer would be crazy to hire someone who has another hairstyle with minimal to no skills compared to an applicant that has extensive know-how and experience who just happens to have locs.
Although it is almost easy to just have your locs as is, it is not always the best option. It doesn’t matter if you are Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, WHATEVER, just because you are among your own kind does NOT give you an excuse to wear you locs as is in a professional environment. I’ve been in work environments where the majority is African-Americans (and I was just starting my locs) and predominately Caucasian offices as well. Now, you know I work in Mental Health so I HAVE TO BE PRESENTABLE AT ALL TIMES.
My recent employer, who was a White woman, had a very deep conversation with me regarding my locs. You know, to get over the awkwardness she asked how they (locs) are started and how they stay locked. I explained all of this and cleared up any misconceptions. I got her opinion directly on my hair as well. This counts especially since this employer is nationally known! So she says that my locs are very nice and neat (Yay!). She also said that she did not have any problems with my locs whatsoever and never knew they could be styled in the ways I have used. So I was curious about what she deemed as unacceptable, so I asked her. These were some of her common peeves:
Dirty or locs that appear dirty.
Weird hairstyles.
Weird colors (will be explained).
Untwisted locs.
When locs look bulky or unkept.
Look, you don’t want to scare your employer or destroy your chance for potential opporutnities. On top of that, especially if you work in human services, you do not want to put a gap between you and others. In another words, they should be looking more at your face than your hair. If you notice that people’s eyes are darting between your eyes and your hair, something needs to be done…now.
Some things I’ve picked up on to make sure my hair is presentable:
You need to have little to no frizz. It makes a huge difference, love. Make sure you’re sleeping in a satin head cap/scarf or with satin pillows. Even so, check for frizz before you leave the bathroom and wrap stray hairs around the loc it belongs to in the morning. Use a little twist-and-lock gel or something non-flaking to keep it there. Mousse works well, too!
You see them itty-bitty hairs on the hairline around your face. Yeah, tame them. Take a little gel or mousse and slick them jokers down (see video below). Don’t overdo it! You don’t want caked up gel around your face. It will look like dandruff later in the day. A little goes a long way. Also, it would be great if you could do it the night before and use a scarf to make the hairs lay down. Guys, get that good edge up!
No strange hairstyles, please. You shouldn’t have your locs sticking straight up like street lights. If you’re Black working in a predominately White or other environments, you WILL get “those” looks (lol).
No multicolored locs. Don’t get me wrong, highlights and colors (burgundy, blondes and golden tones, et cetera) within the same palette are great! However, this bright red and orange, florescent blue or pink locs AT work are not going TO work.
It doesn’t have to be always, but being able to see your scalp makes your locs look twisted and clean even if you haven’t. This is highly favorable in the work place.
Moisturize them locs! Ashy locs are not a good look! Stop being lazy and oil up those cotton-picking locs.
Freeform locs can cause problems in the workplace if they are not maintained. I know it’s possible to keep them looking great. I’ve seen women on sites such as Nappturality that have done so. Not an excuse.
Primed with a Natural Look
Come to work with a fresh face. Women, make that makeup work for you. No drama queen stuff either,make it look natural and chic. Men, again, get the edge up and the facial hairs cleaned up pronto. If you’re not going to get it edged up, at least have those itty-bitty hairs twisted into a loc. (There is a video below about edging up your locs)
Please, please, PLEASE dress appropriately. It brings everything together. You’re already doing that? You’re on point!
Curls, buns, and pinned locs look very professional. Wearing your locs straight are fine, but make sure they don’t pull any stunts like sticking out in strange angles.
Men look very nice with short, close to scalp (and laid flat) or shoulder length locs in the work place. Men with longer locs look very nice when they pull them back. I’ve seen men who killed the look with each length.
Here’s how I started: I washed my locs, towel dried them, and while it still was damp, I put it in little knots.
(The are videos on how to do the knots or using pipe cleaners for getting curls on the bottom of the page.)
Or you can use perm rods and wrap around the rod while the locs are still a little moist. Make sure you put the rubber part across the end of the loc when you finish rolling. This will keep the rod from rolling.
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I knotted my locs by two (by twisting them). I took out the knots, but did not unravel the loc twsits and I had tights curls. You may want to unravel a couple of them if they are too tight.
Upstyles
It’s all in a matter of pinning up the curls. (It isn’t the greatest one I’ve done, but I really wanted to get it out there. You get the idea!)
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Headbands
Try use 2 or 3 headbands in the same color palette or if you want to be colorful, mix it up!
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Quick and Easy
Use a clip to hold the curls and you’re out the door!
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Just curls
Or you could just wear the curls as is.
Berret
Buy one from a beauty supply store and put it on for a quick hairdo!
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I am far from being the loc guru, but I do have some pointers.
Washing
Beginner locs: Don’t wash your hair as frequently and when do, you shouldn’t be doing it vigorously. I was told by a friend to use a stocking cap for younger and shorter locs. This will keep the root from unraveling while you are washing your locs. And it worked. Even now, with more mature locs, I use the stocking cap when I do not want to go through the trouble of having the roots being completely unraveled.
More mature locs: I use the Jamaican Mango and Lime Shampoo Pantene clarifying shampoo (both found on the products page) to remove dirt and leaving my scalp feeling refreshed. Again, you don’t want a lot of vigorous rubbing. I get a slather and smooth it down my locs. Afterwards, I squeeze the locs so it can get in them. I may do this a couple times or so. I do the same for rinsing; squeezing the water out as I let the water run over my locs.
Contrary to what you have probably heard, clean locs lock faster than dirty ones. Why? Buildup keeps your locs from locking with other hairs. If you put too much product on your hair it will undo the loc. If anyone has had box braids, you notice that you have to take them out after a certain time. Why is that? Because your hair starts to lock. Box braids keep you from putting grease and other stuff on your hair. So in a sense, your hair is pretty clean. Do you see where I’m going with this?
Conditioning
I use the Jamaican Mango and Lime Sproil daily. Since it is a spray, it is not very heavy. I may alternate between the glosser and the Sproil…doesn’t make a huge difference. I especially spray the oil after washing my hair. I’m sure I’ve washed a lot of the natural oils from my hair and need to replenish my hair. I’ve noticed while doing this, my locs have grown significantly and are healthier. You can use a conditioner after shampooing, however, it leaves a residue to make hair softer. Some people have a serious issue with this since it can weigh down your locs and add to buildup, which I can understand. Some days I do, some days I don’t. Oh well. This brings me to my next point.
Products
Do not put in what can’t wash out. Let me tell you a quickie: I used products with petroleum and petrolatum ingredients when I was beginning my locs. After a month, I washed my hair. My…bathtub….was filthy. Maybe not the whole bathtub, but the floor of it was! It had a ring of grayish grime. Ugh. The petroleum/latum had trapped the dust, lent, the moon, the sun, and everything else in my locs. Did I tell you I live in North Carolina? This dusty, crop-abundant state full of swamps and…You get the picture. (Not all of NC is like this…just 95% of it). Not to mention, no matter how much I washed that day, the slimy goop, a combination of grease and water and whatever else, oozed as I squeezed my locs. So what do I use now? Anything I can wash out: Gels. If it flakes, guess what? I can wash it out! Oils? What is that? I can wash it out! Again, do not put in what you can’t wash out.
Palm-rolling
Basically, your loc is between both of your hands and you roll it in one direction. You want to roll ALL of your locs in the same direction. Doing the opposite will just simply unravel your root and undo the process. This method also returns stray hairs to the original loc. You do not want twist your locs back and forth between your thumb and pointer finger, as tempting as it is (I see a lot a men do this). It does nothing! At times I see a few strands straying from a loc or root. I just take it and rap it around. By the time I know what’s going on, I’ve done it for almost every loc. You become addicted to making sure your hair is looking good. I don’t get compliments for nothing!
Overprocessing (updated 1.30.10)
-I know you want your locs to be fresh, but don’t overdo it. Twisting your locs daily can actually lead to thinning the root and, if you’re not careful, thin the loc. So try to shoot for weekly or bi-weekly; heck, go for a month. The key to less frizz is to sleep nightly with a satin scarf, du-rag, or bonnet. Scratching could be the culprit, too. Try to use the end of a rat-tail comb, hair pin, or something similar. You can pinpoint the itch more effectively this way. Using your nail/finger can disturb the root and start frizz.
-Dyeing your locs is fine if you want to do it, but make sure you wash all of the product out of your locs. Not doing so will allow the dye to eat away at your locs until you completely wash out the product. I have tips here (Dying to Dye) & (Overfried Dreads).
Head Coverings
You are going to want to keep that hair lint-free and fresh for as long as possible. Make sure whatever you wrap your hair with at night is satin or get satin pillow cases. Look on the products page for head coverings.
Smell Good
Use a little body spray—mist—whatever, and spray a light mist over your hair. Guys, you may want a female friend to go and get this for ya if you’re too afraid to go in the beauty aisle.
**OR**
Spray a lil’ cologne in dem locs to get da girl 😉
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Have questions about locs? Email me at: locd4life@yahoo.com
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Even though it is not up here, I love using the shampoo as well! It has menthol, which really relieves an itchy scalp.
Even though it is not up here, I love using the shampoo as well! It has menthol, which really relieves an itchy scalp. The conditioner makes your locs a little softer; however, remember it is because it leaves behind a light residue. It’s not noticeable, so don’t worry about it. The Jamaican Mango and Lime Sproil also has menthol. Believes me, it helps between washings. It gives my roots a very nice shine as well. This will be especially good if you have beginner locs. You don’t want to scratch your scalp too much because the root will unravel! If you have a nozel that doesn’t work, replace with one that simply sprays (like you use for body spray, mist…whatever). I used to use the creme wax during the beginning stages, but please be m
odest. You do not want your hair to be propellant to water. Not to mention, it can trap dirt, grime, lent, et cetera. You can learn more in the maintenance section (coming soon!)
Don’t be sleeping on White Rain! Availibility: In Wal-mart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, just about anywhere. Now, I know plenty of you have seen the White Rain products. Don’t lie. Maybe you aren’t, but you probably overlooked it. It is probably the cheapest stuff you will find on the shelf. However, it does a pretty good job of holding my curls. Double prong clips (also known as duck or duckbill clips) are a big help. Hairpins stick you while you are sleep and they are tedious to put in and take out. Save yourself some time and use the clips. Not to mention, you’ll save more strands of hair. John Frieda Collection Moisture Barrier Firm-Hold Hair Spray
…but if you don’t mind a few extra bucks for a hold like no other, you might want to purchase this holding spray from John Frieda. And yes, you ca
Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Sheen Spray and African Royale…Stuff
Availibility: Again in Wal-mart. You know what, I’m not repeating this anymore (lol).
You can use the sheen spray to directly spray on your scalp or on your locs. I know when I started my locs it made them soft. I use the African Royale on my ends to make my hair drop from being curly. At times, I just want my locs to be straight so I can look at how much they’ve grown. It’s also good for relief and making locs temporarily soft.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVO/EVOO)This is not only great for your skin, but for your locs as well. Head Coverings
All of the coverings are satin except for the knitted beret and stocking cap.
Top left: It’s a satin cap that is like a stocking cap, except without the not. Very useful for short or beginning logs. It will keep your hair from unraveling or getting lent.
Bottom left: knitted beret. I got it from a beauty supply store. Not as simple to find. I did not find this in Wally World or any where else. It’s a really cute, inexpensive, and super quick way to look chic!
Middle: Stocking cap. Yes, you’re going to have to buy a pair of stockings for this. If you are beginning your locs or even do not want your roots to competely unravel, you can use a stocking cap in the shower. Put it on, put shampoo in your hands, and rub it on the stocking cap. I usually do it in one motion (front to back) while holding the cap so the cap won’t come off. Then again, I’m always in a hurry so you can probably do it other ways as well.
Top right: A satin night cap is excellent for when you have more mature locs or if you have recently twisted your roots. No more rapping with that satin scarf!
Bottom right: The satin scarf is great for making your locs lay flat and has the same functions of a night cap.
Glosser
I use the glosser when I want my locs to look healthier and smoother.
Africa’s Best Herbal Oil and General Applicator Bottle
When you have younger locs, it may be a little difficult to get your scalp. The herbal oil is found just about anywhere and the applicator is found in beauty supply stores. Just open the applicator, put in the oil, and there you go. Just don’t squeeze too hard!
If you need to get those roots to stay twisted…
If you use too much it will flake. I will be adding a product that is a twist and loc gel soon that does not flake. However, that product does not hold as strong as this gel. It’s a dark gel and it blends in with my locs. Twist with this gel, leave over night with duck clips (double-prong clips) in a satin cap and you will be straight in the morning!!
As your hair grows, those small elastic bands are not going to hold your locs. These are basically skinny headbands used to hold my ponytails.
I used this dye and it did pretty well. I liked it. I also used Clairol Texture and Tones the first time around. Neither fried my hair and locs stayed healthy!
If you have the the time and patience
I use these to get curls, preferrably after washing my hair. I dry my hair, but my locs are still slightly damp when I use the perm rods. If I remember, I will spray my scalp with the Jamaican Sproil and my locs with the White Rain before putting the on the rods.
Pantene Clarifying Shampoo
Now that I have more mature locs, I use the Pantene Clarifying Shampoo. It’s fairly inexpensive, found in Wally World (I said I wasn’t going to say that anymore). It’s refreshing, lathers well, and doesn’t make my locs feel stiff. Good stuff.
Works pretty well. Nice shine, not really heavy. It cost like $4.99 from Wal-Mart. It smells really good, too! I get a lot of compliments about my hair smelling nice with this product.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the natural color of my hair…BUT I always admired those who had burgundy highlights or hair color. At first, I was thinking, nah, I’m all natural: no chemicals, no perms, da-da-da… Somehow I convinced myself otherwise (“Hey, you’re using twisting gel and crap. That’s chemicals, too!). Yeah… So…. You know, I’m a frugal type of gal. I have to do it myself. Not paying no one else to do it. What better way to learn how to maintain it than to do it, right? After two boxes of dye, I realized it did not go as planned. No, I did not fry my hair or thin them out, I just did not get the color I was looking for. Letting you know if your hair is dark, you’re not going to get brightness right away (in the back of my mind that stupid little voice is humming, “You should’ve went to the African hair shop…”). No I refuse! I like paying $15 tops for hair care. And that is what I did. You think I’m kidding?? My bathroom was a wreck afterwards, but I did it! Like I said, in “Loc’d and Loving It”…. It is far from glorious….Glamorous either (lol).
Here are some things that I have learned through dyeing my hair:
Prepare for the worst! Just kidding, but you must have generous amount of time to pay attention to what you are doing. I know you are anxious and want to see the result, but slow and easy does the trick. Remember, you are just a novice compared professional hairstylists.
Do not condition your hair a few hours before application. However, your hair must be clean before doing so.
If you do it in your bathroom, protect your rugs (especially if they are light colored). As a matter of fact, put newspaper down and remove anything that could be stained easily.
Make sure you have towels readily available. You may want to buy some extra ones for this job. If you can, but dark towels.
Make sure you have gloves for doing the job. Some kits do not come with gloves believe it or not.
Read—I SAID—Read the instructions before doing so. No skimming either.
Get a timer. They’re cheap and can be found in Wal-mart or Dollar General.
Have a shower cap or plastic bags (if you have longer locs) to cover your hair while waiting.
Be careful about where the dye gets on. Your face WILL get stained. You may want to use petroleum jelly around your hairline and on your ears to prevent staining (just like when you put in a perm).
Wear clothes that you do not mind getting stained, wet, or destroyed (lol). Notice my pictures…
Don’t overdo it! If you did not get the desired effect wait a few weeks before trying again. Or after a few days, try using hydrogen peroxide before shampooing. This could lighten the color a little bit. Also, your hair will lighten as you go into the sun. My hair is probably a shade or two lighter since last year. Ask or get professional assistance if you still do not get what you want.
New tip (8.8.09): If your hair has never been dyed or it is very dark, you may need to “lift” your hair. My impression is that you are basically bleaching your hair first before you apply color. I came to this conclusion (1) Someone I had told me the year I had first dyed my hair while I was complaining about not getting the desired hair color (2) I recently dyed my hair last week with a blonde-type of dye and realized that my older color was brightened. Therefore, if I had lightened/bleached my locs a couple of days or so before I dyed them burgundy, the color would have came out much brighter. A-ha! Told you I learn stuff from being a DIY-er and frugal.
After application and waiting, wash thoroughly. Any left over dye will strip your hair and slowly eat at the loc. You should rinse until the water comes out virtually clear.
**Tip (5/17/10): You can purchase “neutralizing shampoo” from Wal-mart or a beauty supply store. It’s the same kind of shampoo that is used in perm or dye kits to neutralize/cancel out/deactivate/clean out leftover chemicals.
Please, please, please deep condition your hair after application. You want your locs to remain healthly. I’ve seen some women with blonde locs and could tell that it was not taken care of. That is not a good look!
Oh yeah, clean out that tub afterwards!!
(Tip: If your locs haven’t locked yet, they will after your dye your hair! Mine surely did. You get why, right? Good. I didn’t want to make this post any longer, LOL)
**Update (2.2.10) Are you wondering about how I got my color?? Read below:
There isn’t an exact “color” per se in my locs, but there was a combination of colors I’ve used. I didn’t lift my hair color prior to dyeing my locs, but I used a burgundy/red color (from Creme of Nature) the first time I dyed my locs (that’s what I was aiming for). Instead of becoming burgundy, it gave my locs a reddish tint. Maybe another 6 months to a year, I dyed it again with the same color, but a little lighter color hoping it would’ve gave me a better result. Nope, just a little bit more reddish tint. SO… After discovering that I needed to lift my hair color, I said screw it, I’m going for a blonde color. I used the next to the lightest blonde (Clairol) and viola, this color came to be. First, I didn’t think that the dye didn’t do squat, but after a couple shampoos I saw the color. I was first like, EEK!! Then the orangey color kinda faded and the true color finally set. So there it is!
**All of these products came from Wal-Mart, by the way.
**Updated Pictures of my current hair color (5/17/10).
Have questions about locs? Email me at: locd4life@yahoo.com
Here’s a great tutorial on dyeing your locs:
I started loc’ing my hair almost three years ago. I started and kept them up without the help of a “professional” loctician. A glorious new beginning! HA, yeah right… From trying other people’s suggestions (e.g. hair glue on the tips to keep them from unraveling) to figuring out the natural coil of my hair to crying uncontrollably on the floor because of my frustration–I was far from glorious. Look at some of my pics from when they were a little shorter and you can tell I’m forcing a smile.
Let me tell you, before I started I thought this could not be difficult. I was proven otherwise. Anyway, to make a long story short, I made it through. I was determined to start and maintain my own locs. I refuse to pay some African hair shop $100 just to begin my locs and about $50 to $75 maintain them regularly…and that’s the lowest fee I found.
Many of my old classmates or friends in my hometown ask me, “Why did you do ‘this’ to your hair?! You had pretty hair!” ……. THIS?! What is THIS?! As I LAST recall, THIS is my hair! I can do what the @$(*&#$^ I want to do with it! …. Of course, I did not say this to them, especially if they were my elders. I think it is very flattering! And that is what locs should do. Make you proud to be who you are in front of whomever. So now when people ask me why I have dreads, I ask them, “Why not?” and they usually end up baffled with nothing else to say. (hehehe, bliss).
Now, I can’t imagine cutting my locs…well…the thought crossed my mind, but, uh, I didn’t act on it. So that counts! Moving on… Now don’t go thinking I’m some tree-hugging hippie or some Neo Soul Diva (…well, a little). I am a Diva nonetheless. My locs are an extension of myself. People can barely remember me without them, especially since they have grown. I never tire of wanting to roll my eyes at those who when I first got my locs said, “Dreadlocks are dirty. They are not for me blah, blah, blah…” and now seeing my hair that proves their theory otherwise say, “Oh, I was going to do locs. They are so pretty. I just couldn’t do it. It looks hard. I really want them, now. How do you…” Hehehe, sweet bliss. But I don’t remind them of what they said, beause it would ruin our friendship…for the moment (believe me, I contemplated it).
I hope to continue to grow my locs as I age. Not to mention, the day I have a child I won’t have to worry about my hair when a picture is taken of me. My face on the other hand…
Look at the photo albums of my journey thus far: http://public.fotki.com/My4tress/
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(7-26-09) See the nervous pic? Recently, I’ve been spotting other peoples’ locs and natural hairstyles. I gotta say, I’m slightly intimidated. There are some whose locs go to their butt or the others who has beautiful colors to highlight their hair. Some have these magnificent hairstyles that only God himself would only know how they get their locs to pull that form. Here I am with a measley blog I thought was pretty cool. Then my sarcasm kicks in and helps me to believe otherwise. They didn’t get their locs in a blink of an eye, heck, they may even have loc extensions (hehehe). Yeah, that’s it! Half of those people ain’t (yeah, I said ain’t) real. Well, that’s what I can tell myself as long as don’t think it verbally or through text. *sigh* False hope lasts for only as long as you believe it. Mine ended as soon as I thought it (lol). One day I will get there… Curse you, normal scalp growth!! Curse you!!
================================================================================= Scared to Be Me
(8.8.09) There was a member on Nappturality who was afraid to go home because of her parent’s views on her locs. Her parents, unfortunately, were very authoritarian and saw locs as disrespect and associated them with crime. You see, her parents are from the Caribbean and they are, according to the member, are old school. Her father was very disrespectful to her while she was wearing a TWA (teeny-weeny afro) and said that the reason she wore her hair that was because she “had no respect for herself.” Her mother threatened to take her locs out while the member slept. Seriously, this is bull####. I mean, really? Are you so stuck in your ways you force your views on your adult children? Views that really are not that serious… Her hair does not affect her health and isn’t life-threatening. So why should it matter? This was my response to her:
This is the wig I wore to my parent's home while I was visiting. This was when I was just beginning to loc my hair.
“Wow, you and I lead similar lives. I, too, was afraid of going home when I started my locs. My parents are authoritarian and they do not like “different.” I hid my locs under a wig anytime I went home. I mean, people back in my home town were used to me wearing braids, weaves, and wigs (because I made sure my hair was always on point). However, one day I just got sick of the nonsense and realized that I was not even wearing the wig. And when my parents came back from their outing, my mom was like, “What are ‘those.’ ” I told [her] what they were. She asked why I did it and I told her why. She surprised me and said that having locs was the healthiest thing for my hair. HOWEVER, a couple months down the road she was challenging me and asked me what if they become permanent or can you take them [locs] out… I let her know that they couldn’t [be taken out]and I plan on keeping them forever. My father looked at my [hair] constantly and I could see his disapproval. I just knew he was going to say something that was going to belittle me. They didn’t seem pleased, but parents are always hard to please when you’re their child–whether you are fifteen or fifty! I was kinda scared, but I stood my ground. Here I was, an adult living out on her own, paid her own bills, own job, own car (sort of), and was very independent. Who are they to say how I wore my hair? Wanna disown me? Go ahead, but you’re missing out on an outstanding daughter. Wanna take away something you [have] given to me?? Fine, I don’t need for you to have leverage over me anyway. What is the worst that can happen? I doubt that they will try to kill their offspring over a hairstyle. If they are physical–uh–exhibitionists (lack of a better word), then I would advise you to get the heck out of Dodge!”
Besides the typos, did I say it well enough? What do you think??
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Oh my freakin’ goodness… Mark history—NOW! My ol’ school parents are actually impressed with my hair. I was unbraiding the locs when my mother asked me to come closer. She liked the way my hair looked. She liked it so much she told my father to look at my hair. She said, “Do you know that is all of her hair??” My father was surprised and was like, “Wow! I didn’t know that. All the people I see who have hair like that looks dingy and unclean. It looks like you condition your hair. I didn’t know you could do all of that to your hair.” Ha! I TRIED to tell ya’ll. Of course, I didn’t say this aloud, but I definitely was doing a victory dance inside! Let’s just say, I’m content with my lil’ win. This comes at a time where, frankly, I didn’t care what my parents or anyone thought of my hair. I KNOW my hair is beautiful—I stare it for like 10+ hours a week: in the car, in the bathroom, in any mirror, in my reflection, yada yada yada… My coworkers, friends, strangers compliment my hair as well. So now I’m to the point where my locs think that they are grown. I say this because they maintain themselves. I don’t twist them as much or fuss over them… Yes, the babies have grown and have earned their keep!
Oh yeah, my hair may look fine, but it is absolutely not what you think!
Dry Spell
12.5.09 Winter, oh winter, how I despise thee. I enjoy your holidays and the togetherness of the season. But oh how I hate the dryness of my body. Dear God, PLEASE release me from this dry spell!! MY skin is dull, my scalp is itchy AND my locs are dry and brittle. What the duce??! As much as I care and pamper my locs nothing seems to work. The hot-towel treatment—didn’t work. Oil—nothing happened except an acne breakout all over my face because the amount I applied. Next day, it was dry all over again. Steam, ACV rinse, conditioner, everything I tried did NOT work. So I’m wondering what the deal is. For one, I’ve been rather sickly lately, kinda stressed; however, I have been drinking water religiously (hitting that 8 cups a day)! So I’m really questioning what’s going on here. Then I regressed. *sigh* You know that I know that petroleum is the devil. Okay, okay, you can stop your gasping and wall slides now, I know. So I did it. I used petroleum, well, the Jamaican Mango and Lime Twist and Lock Crème/Wax stuff. Whatever it’s called, its been sitting around my house for like 2 years or so! I was using it for everything EXCEPT my locs (such as for hands and feet, if needed, lip balm…)But I was desperate. I just would like to say that: I verify and validate all my previous statements and blogs about not using petroleum and how it is the devil. This curse-ed (emphasis on the –ed) has brought immediate relief and disgust at the same time. I applied the grease (that’s what I’m going to call it) to my scalp. I loathed the feeling of stiff locs. No, no, I didn’t palm-roll or even twist this stuff into my locs, I DARE NOT! Yet, just the application of grease to my scalp barely touching the root has made the locs either (1) stick to my scalp (2) stick out (3) unmovable/stiff (at this point I have my head on the table). Just the thought of scratching my scalp only to get it under my nails annoys me! Oy!! To resolve this, I blow-dried my locs so that the grease could melt and hopefully decrease the irritation.So as I plan to wash out this ‘grease’ for the next month and a half, I’m at least grateful that my scalp isn’t dry and the scratching has ceased—for now.
Seriously… seriously?? Your 9 month year old son?? This lady is looking for someone to put locs on her 9 month old son… Way to go. I don’t know if this is normal anywhere else, but here in the state of North Carolina I have never seen an infant have locs. She said that they do this in Maryland. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m weird to think that IT IS WEIRD to put locs on a baby. I’ve seen them on children around 6 to 8 years old and older. Some people have a problem with this, you know? They feel like the child should have the option to make their choice about their hair. At 6, I don’t think a child knows the responsibility and the permanency of locs (i.e. On January, “Mommy, I want locs like yours.” June of the same year, “Mommy I don’t want them anymore.”). Yet when I see them on kids I’m like, “Awww, how cute!!” I’m neither here or there about the issue with them on children, but on babies?? Nah, I don’t’ think I could handle, lol. Whatever, lady.
Party in the back with the PigTails 😀 Oink! (That was corny, I know)
Cured Dry Spell
((4.23.10))So I’ve discovered the root of my dry spell. It’s ironic I use the word “root.” *sigh* Well, let me start from the top. I had started interlocking in November of 2009, which in turn, keeps from retwisting my new growth for long periods of time. On top of that, I have also been wearing styles where new growth is contained and/or not very noticeable (for example, crinkles with the curly ends). I still oiled my scalp and cleaned it well (not in that order, of course), yet I could not understand why in the world my head would feel so dry!! Honestly, what could possibly be going on? I definitely did not want to retry the “grease” route *groan.* So… while talking on the phone one day, I subconsciously went into primp mode. This consists of standing in front of the bathroom mirror probing, admiring, touching up and touching, oiling, and most likely twisting my locs. After the phone conversation, I realized my scalp felt relieved. What did I do, you say? I interlocked my new growth and sprayed my scalp with a soothing scalp spray (it had menthol in it and you know I love that!). O.M.Gosh. I was so happy, until my afterthoughts invaded my consciousness: “Are you serious?! This was all that was needed?! What the Tom Cruise?!” Four months or so of dryness just because the locs needed just a tad more TLT (tender loving twisting). So the lesson: It may be doing a lot of good from not retwisting your new growth, but your scalp needs to breathe (and see the light of day!) at some point. Yay me!! (^_^)
Update 9.9.10 Well, this is the current length of my locs. I cannot believe they’re at this length; however, I’m still not satisfied. I still feel like they’re short. I guess, I’ve always a perception of what “long hair” was since I was a child. To me, long hair was where my hair was mid- back INCLUDING IN THE FRONT. My locs in the front are not as long as the back *sigh*. So I’m kinda frustrated with that, but it will get there… eventually. I do love the way my hair looks, though. You know, the condition it is in, the color… Oh yeah, I re-dyed my hair in July of this year. I know, I know, this is the fourth time (I think) I’ve dyed in my who loc-history. But I really love this color. At first, I shrieked because I didn’t aim for this color to be so light. But that’s what you get when you talk on the phone while dyeing your hair. Yes, I was. It was a blessing in disguise. Everyone says it fits me and they love the color and I love it, too. I still interlock and palm-roll religiously. One day, when I’m confident enough, I will do a vid on interlocking…. but that day seems far, far away. Lol. Three more months until my locs turn 4 years old. Yay!
Have questions about locs? Email me at: locd4life@yahoo.com
Did I tell you what I’ve been up to lately? I have been trying out new oils. Yessiree, Bob! (I know that was corny, shut up). Sometimes the best products are the most natural ones. Yeah, twist and lock gel is good, but what about products such as shea butter or peppermint oil? (I’m still making my way towards these products). They have an extensive amount of benefits and fairly inexpensive! So far this is what I’ve tried out:
It happens to the best of us: unraveling locs. Whether it’s at your root or your ends, it’s a hassle. What to do, what to do?! How can I lock my locs if they don’t stay together?! You’re right, it’s going to be difficult if your root unravels or the ends unravel. But before we dive in, be aware that this happens to just any type of locs (exception: those who use the latch method and such). This is especially true if you have younger locs. Don’t fret, my pet… Your locs will lock if you persevere. Let’s get to it:
I got this tip from 
Everyone’s locs are different, but we all have some common problems. Like this cowlick for instance… Your hair will pick days where it wants to make you look silly. I had actually had a loc to stick straight up and my hair wasn’t even curly…yep. This is not an exclusive list on every problem you may have with your locs. Which brings to me to this point: Leave a comment about some of your common frustrations or challenges. Maybe there is something I forgot or did not know about. Either or, I would be happy to write about and/or find out more about the subject. This can help me, you, and others who visit the site. Everyone wins! So let’s get to it.
As I last recall, there isn’t a law stating that an employer could turn you down because of your hair—well—in a restaurant setting maybe. However, I think that employers tiptoe around this hair thing because they do not want to cross the line t0 offending someone’s culture and such. Plus, an employer would be crazy to hire someone who has another hairstyle with minimal to no skills compared to an applicant that has extensive know-how and experience who just happens to have locs.
I am far from being the loc guru, but I do have some pointers.
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I started loc’ing my hair almost three years ago. I started and kept them up without the help of a “professional” loctician. A glorious new beginning! HA, yeah right… From trying other people’s suggestions (e.g. hair glue on the tips to keep them from unraveling) to figuring out the natural coil of my hair to crying uncontrollably on the floor because of my frustration–I was far from glorious. Look at some of my pics from when they were a little shorter and you can tell I’m forcing a smile.
Loc'd and Loving It 