Last month I was overwhelmed by the enormity of my accomplishment. I established my microlocs on April 2, 2022. I DIY’d them. I did not ask a loctitian to establish my grid. I decided the general number and the method – two strand twists. I did it my way!
I have been obsessed with my loc’d hair ever since. Last month, I mentioned a few things I have learned. Honestly, this whole blog is about things I have learned about locs – my locs specifically. It’s been quite a growth experience.
Prior to locking my hair, I had been natural for ten years. During that time I cared for my hair myself. One of the reasons for going natural was to keep from spending hours each month at the hair salon. It was always an expensive undertaking and my hair never came out of the salon looking the way I wanted it to look. Giving up on hair salons was a positive aspect for me becoming a loose natural.
Loose Natural Fears About Locs
I did not know the term “loose natural” until I began investigating the possibility of locking my hair. At first, I was fearful of locking my hair myself. I thought it would be really easy for me to waste my time locking my hair and ultimately be unhappy with the look. Or perhaps, locking my hair and finding I really wanted different sized locs.
Fear of not being happy with 96 traditional locs led me to establishing microlocs. I had sectioned off 96 two strand twists in March of 2022 to start my loc journey. I had seen about 100 loc videos by that time. Despite having thick or high density hair, the scalpiness of 96 locs was not lost on me. The other big question for me was, “Would I have enough locs to style my hair in all the ways I might possibly want over the next 10 to 20 years?” I thought not. It then occurred to me that I could simply combine my locs if I had too many. So, I washed my hair and took down my first set of locs.
Grid or Parting Mistake
This next part was the mistake. I took out each two strand twist and divided it into 2 or 3 parts. Some of these parts had diagonal sides due to my attempt to make the locs more or less of equal size. Later these diagonal lines would prove to be a hazard when interlocking. The strands of new growth hair in these sections seldom seem to know where they belong. Over the years (that sounds so good) I have learned to wrap these sections of new growth around the appropriate loc before interlocking or locksmithing.
Loc Maintenance
I have learned that my tender headedness is much more intense with locs. This is common. However, my tender headedness is not so intense when I have an inch or so of new growth. So for the holiday season ahead, I have already stopped interlocking my locs and have begun retwisting them. The retwisted locs will unravel if I wash my locs without twisting and banding them first. 8 twisted and banded sections of hair are usually enough to wash my scalp and locs. If I choose not to twist and band before shampooing, I can always do it afterwards. It takes me an hour to an hour fifteen minutes to twist each of my 212 locs. This is nothing compared to the 4 days of interlocking I usually have. Don’t gasp. I do not interlock or retie my hair all at once. I learned that I lost patience and began retying my locs in a sloppy fashion after an hour or so. I then made really bad mistakes. It was better to retie a few sections of hair a little while each day.
Locksmithing
Pauline Walker, YouTube content creator of the En Toi Beauty channel, is a gifted loctitian and communicator. She says it takes 6 months to 2 years for your hair to loc. Armed with this information, it is easier for me to locksmith my locs regularly; retwist when needed to keep my locs’ integrity and interlock when I need to. I interlocked this year so that I could swim. The pool is closed now. I can wash my hair once or twice a week with the banded method and maintain my locs’ until next summer.
I have learned that cutting and tearing your locs while interlocking them is not a healthy loc maintenance plan. The sound of snapping strands while retightening is anathema to longterm loc health. It’s better to retwist your locs as needed to keep the locs separated. When you interlock make certain all extraneous hairs are away from the loc you are working on. Use clips to hold the other locs out of the way.
I have also learned a lot about moisturizing locs. I wonder if this same information can be applied to loose natural hair with the same results. We may never know. The loc community is not definitive when it comes to moisturizing practices. Some advise that no water be applied until after a given time. I washed my locs at 3 weeks because my scalp itched so badly. I chose to ignore that caveat. Consequently, I have not lost any locs. I enjoy standing in the shower letting my locs get soaked on any given day… not just on wash day.
Distilled Water
Distilled water has been the best loc beauty aid.I have learned that well water, even though treated by a whole house filter, may still deposit chemicals in your hair. Often, crispy hair can be caused by chemicals in the water. It can be resolved with a spray of distilled water. Distilled water can be added to Rosewater you buy at a 50/50 ratio. I find this extends the rosewater and does not result in a film on my hair. Rosewater and Glycerin is a good hair additive during the fall and winter where I live in Maryland. The glycerin grabs humidity from the air; however, I find I must mix it 50/50 with distilled water. If I do not add distilled water, a sticky residue develops on my locs when I apply this 2 days in a row.
Rosemary Water
I like to make rosemary water by boiling 3-4 stems of rosemary in a quart of water. Let the rosemary water steep until the water is brown. Add additional distilled water to this mixture if you find it to be too strong a fragrance. I like to spray my locs with rosemary water before putting on a shower cap and taking a shower. When I exit the shower, my locs are moisturized and ready to go.
Finally, I have learned that locs are beautiful around the world…or at least in the countries I have visited. I used to be surprised when someone would stop me to tell me they like my hair. I have learned to look at the person complimenting my locs and see their hair. Now, I will usually say, “I like your hair too!” There’s nothing wrong with a mutual admiration between two people. If you have locs, have you gotten used to the questions and comments that frequently come with locs? Have you developed a response? What do you say?
I’m looking forward to what the next month on locs will look like for me. As you can see, my goal of length retention is coming through.
Best wishes, Bettye
Microlocs and Me: Journey to Hair Freedom 