Tag Archives: essential oils

Loc Journey Tips & Insights

February 2026

The holidays came and went. Happy New Year! The temps have been in the freezer around here. Brrrr….. My locs are sitting on my shoulders in all their resplendent glory and will not be ignored.

Welcome to the Blog! My name is Bettye. I have been sporting my microlocs (aka locs) since April 2, 2022. So, I have been on my loc journey for 3 years and 10 months. During this time I have learned a few things and I have tried several things about which I had no real clue. Somehow, my locs are thriving and healthy. Let’s talk about what’s been going on.

Why Locs?

I came to the decision to loc my hair out of frustration. I had been a loose natural hair devotee for about 10 years when I started my loc journey. I had a shelf full of hair products and yet I was often surprised by the way my hair would turn out after I shampooed and styled it.

The biggest surprise was that after 10 years I did not have natural hair on my shoulders. I really longed for length retention and that eluded me for 10 years. Sometimes it takes a while before we open our eyes to the truth. The truth is my natural loose hair was never going to grow to the length I desired.

This was an eye opener because I had let go of my relaxed hair which seldom grew beyond my neck, in order to have long natural hair. When I realized that neither permed hair nor loose natural hair was going to provide me with length retention, I was ready to try locking my hair. Maybe you have been coming to this same realization. If so, I hope this is your sign that it’s time to try something different.

Microlocs?

When I established my locs, I started with 212 – 215 two strand twists. The number is not set in stone. I had read that to start microlocs you needed at least 200 locs. Last year, I read that microlocs started at a count of 250 locs. I was surprised, a little, but not to the point where I wanted to start over with smaller locs. Currently, I have 208 locs on 4B and mostly 4C hair. I am so happy with the number of locs I have I would not consider changing the count to be classified as a microloc wearer by that author.

In my mind, I have 208 fat microlocs and I am very pleased with my locs. If you are thinking about establishing microlocs, I say Go for it! You do not need 300, 400, 500 or more locs to enjoy the benefits of microlocs.

Semi Freeform Experiment Ended

While I love, love, love my microlocs, I have had a questionable relationship with interlocking since the first week of my loc journey. Like many I started my locs with two strand twists and within the first week of establishing my locs, I interlocked the roots of my twists. I had planned to use the interlock method because I didn’t see anyone else with microlocs retwisting their locs. Also, I couldn’t see how retwisting or palm rolling was going to hold all of those locs in place.

I bought 2 different type of interlocking tools from Amazon and a “crochet” tool which is used to grab and mat hair within a loc. All the advice suggested your hair should be wet when you interlock. So, that’s what I did. I think the wet hair was the biggest problem. Fortunately, my hair shrunk so much after my first shampoo I had short, small locs to work with. Short, little locs were easier to interlock. Keeping them separated as I made my 2 and 3 point rotations still required a slight learning curve.

At first, I interlocked whenever I had new growth as thick or long as the width of my middle finger. Every time I interlocked I saw new length retention and I was ecstatic. Even so, I was worried that the process of interlocking would ultimately lead to thinning locs. I was very worried about the number of strands I would break while making the passes with my locking tool.

Consequently, I decided to try different methods of maintaining my locs. I decided to wait and extend the time between interlocking to 3 and 4 months.

In January of 2026, I interlocked my hair for the first time in four and a half months bringing to an end a period where I only locksmithed my hair in an experiment to see if my locs would become thicker. This experiment both did and did not work as expected. Locksmithing entailed separating my locs, pulling strands of hair embedded in the wrong loc out of that loc and wrapping or braiding the loose strands around the correct loc. More about locksmithing tips below.

With my 4C strands, the locs were matting on their own and they were locking. However, I have a swath of 4B hair that goes grows in a half circle across the center back of my head just below the crown. Some 4B hair is also located around my front perimeter. Please note that I did not realize the extent of my 4B hair until after I had locked my hair…and I had taken care of my hair as a loose natural for almost 10 years.

The 4B locs did not respond well to locksmithing. First, the hair in those locs when retwisted would twist and flatten into curls. These twisted pieces at the roots were thin…and you already know I am afraid of thinning locs.

Knotted Locs

On either side of my face, just below the temples there are 2 locs, one on each side, that looked like they were attached with only strands of hair. I tied knots in them to make the base of the loc the same thickness as the length of the loc. I realize this might sound radical. Keep reading.

In the summer of 2024, I had tried 3 knots in 3 of my locs as an experiment in ways to keep locs thick. This method was promoted heavily by Melissa Blake for use on thinner locs. For me, it was an experiment and I picked the smallest of my locs to try it. Today, I can only find one of the original 3 knots in my locs. Having had that experience, I was comfortable repairing my two temple locs with knots.

Have you ever intentionally tied a knot in your locs? What was the outcome?

One Maintenance Routine

I interlocked the 4B locs in the back to make sure those locs maintained their integrity at the roots. While I was interlocking, I thought about having two maintenance practices for my locs and then discarded that idea. I did not and do not want to have a great variation in the size of my locs. So, for the time being, I am back on Team Interlock for maintaining all of my locs.

Locksmithing

There are some things about locksmithing I do really like. I still have hand in hair syndrome. I love the feel of my locs. Even though I am interlocking again and I plan to interlock regularly…maybe every 6 to 8 weeks, we will see. I like separating my locs daily…or as close to daily as I can. I still separate by individual strands of hair. One at a time. 99% of the time I am able to extricate one strand from the wrong loc without any breakage. Proud of that! Then, I wrap the newly freed strands around the right loc. Sometimes, if there are several strands, I will braid the strands around the right loc. This does hold the strands in place better.

Just wondering, if you have locs already, what types of locksmithing do you use on your locs? Do you locksmith between interlocking sessions? Do you call this attention to your locs by a name other than locksmithing? What do you call it?

Interlock: With or Without Water

The new experiment that arose from this last round of interlocking is the use of water…or rather, the lack of using water. In preparation for this interlocking session, my hair was dry. I sprayed my locs with my daily moisturizing spray. If you have been here before you might remember I spray my locs daily with a combination of distilled water and essential oils.

Occasionally, I will use just distilled water and sometimes I will use rosewater just because I have it. The rosewater spray can only be used once or twice between shampoos because it leaves a buildup if I spray it on consecutive days. However, spraying rose water one day and distilled water with essential oils the next leaves my locs feeling very supple and without any product residue. I highly recommend you try this combination if you’re using rosewater.

Interlocking with relatively dry locs actually worked very well. It seemed as though there were fewer strands of hair broken bringing the loc through itself. I am not sure why this worked so well. I only know that going forward I will start with dry locs and spritz them before interlocking.

Conjoined Locs

The biggest take away from this interlocking session is probably the need to use more clips, take my time and put the tools down when I am getting fatigued. Why? Well, truth be told, I interlocked two small locs together. Again.

I have conjoined locs before and the tip is to Leave It Alone for a couple days then come back and see if you can withdraw the last pass of your loc. Sure, I tried to do this as soon as I had interlocked the two locs together. I waited about a week and tried to separate the two locs again. Sometimes you need a little new growth to give the loc room to pass through. In this case however, the two locs were both 4B locs and as I struggled to separate them I realized at the root they would be better as one loc. Have you ever combined any locs?

Combining Locs

The length of the two locs presented another problem. I have previously combined 2 similar locs by twisting them around each other. There is a slight bulge at the end of the shorter of the two locs that I am still rolling between my fingers to make the loc look smoother. The two cojoined locs were almost the same length and thickness so I didn’t want to cut off either one. My solution: Sew the two locs together. I used black cotton thread and a regular sewing needle. I held the two locs together and ran my needle in and out of both locs pulling every couple of stitches to make certain the locs are sitting close together as one. Basically, I used a running stitch to combine the two locs. Voila! No more two headed dragon!

It’s humbling to be almost 4 years loc’d and still interlocking two locs together. I will recommit to taking my time when interlocking. I will be interlocking because this maintenance works for all of my locs. Just wondering if anyone else occasionally interlocks two locks together by accident?

Despite the hitches, I am ready to roll with the punches because my locs give me a sense of accomplishment. I have brought my hair from a head full of short twists to a head full of luxurious locs.

At almost four years, you might think my locs should be longer. I am happily accepting the length I have. When I walk down the stairs I am surprised to see locs bouncing above my breasts. When I look in my 3 way mirror, I see locs on my back lying on my shoulders. When I go outside, my locs lie against my neck and keep it warm. Friends this is the length retention I was hoping for all those years ago when I first did my big chop. How do your locs surprise you?

Grey Locs

I have no plans to color my locs because as my hair changes from dark brown to grey to platinum, I have all the color play I need going on naturally. Grey locs are gorgeous like all locs and they really elevate your look and style. Just saying.

If you have started your loc journey would you please drop in the comments how long you have been loc’d. How many locs you have and why you decided to lock your hair. I would love to hear it.

Moisturizing Spray Recipe

This month, this is the essential oils combination I am using in my daily spray. Start with 10 ounces of distilled water (this amount is due to the size of my spray bottle).

3 drops of Tea Tree Oil,

7 drops of Peppermint essential oil,

7 drops of Orange essential oil, and

7 drops of Jasmine essential oil.

Tea Tree oil, orange and peppermint essential oils have antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties. Orange essential oil acts as an energizer, fighting fatigue and increasing alertness. The scent is a natural deterrent to ants, spiders and other insects. Peppermint oil acts as an astringent, manages oiliness and soothes itchy skin. It can also increase mental focus and enhance stamina. Jasmine essential oil is antiseptic, antibacterial and antioxidant. It helps fight skin infections, reduce inflammation and is called the “perfume of love”. I have not picked a name for this blend, yet. If you try it, and the fragrance suggests a name to you, please drop the name in the comments. I will mention it in next month’s blog.

I like this combination because while it makes my locs smell wonderful, it will make my hair an inhospitable place for mold, mildew and lice – not that I have a problem with any of these, I just like to stay ahead of any issues. If you try this blend, please let me know what you think.

Until next time, if you are loc’d enjoy your locs, follow your maintenance routine and stay loc’d! If you are still on the fence about locs, what is keeping you from taking the plunge? Really. I want to know. Let’s chat again next month.

Microlocs and Me: A Woman’s Loc Journey

Issues. What Issues?!

The thing about issues is one woman’s issue is not necessarily the issue the next woman has. My extensive YouTube research led me to believe unraveling and bunching would be big problems. Very few videos mentioned itching.

As I reviewed the entries in my loc journal, I was surprised to see that I mentioned itching on April 2, 2022, the day of my loc install. Full disclosure,I finished my microloc install in April but I had previously installed 96 locs the previous May. When I divided those locs, I went row by row , spraying my hair with water and separating each loc. I did not take them down, or rewash my hair.

Some women take issue with not washing your starter locs for 4 weeks. I did not have an issue waiting four weeks to wash my hair. As a loose natural, I usually washed my hair every four weeks. With newly loc’d hair I had a hard time going four days without washing my hair because my scalp itched so badly from the first day. The intensity of the itching was unexpected. Fortunately, I found a few ways to make the itching stop. First, I sprayed my scalp with rose water. I used a clean, regular spray bottle hijacked from spraying another hair product. I sprayed the rose water 2 or 3 times a day on my scalp. After 3 or 4 days I felt a build up on my locs from the rose water. I wonder if this is specific to my locs because this surprised me. I had not heard about rose water causing a film on hair or face. I wonder if anyone else has had this minor issue?

I decided to cut the rose water with tap water fifty/ fifty. That resolved the issue for me. Please note, we have a whole house water filter because our water comes from a well. If you have hard water you should try distilled or spring water when spraying your locs.

Moisterizing my scalp with the rose water mixture worked but, I knew better than to go to bed with wet locs. They might crink up, shrink up or worse mold up and smell. I knew there had to be another solution to the itchy scalp situation.

Essential oils, specifically peppermint and tea tree resolved the itchy scalp issue. I used either sweet almond oil or apricot oil as carrier oils for the essential oils. I used 2 drops of tea tree oil in a 4 ounce bottle. To that I added 10 -15 drops of peppermint oil and then filled the bottle with either sweet almond oil or apricot oil. Occasionally, I added Jamaican Black Castor oil to the mix. For adding fragrance to my locs, I would use lavender or orange essential oils added to Jamaican Black Castor Oil or Argan Oil. These are my favorite scalp oil blends.

At one year loc’d the itching has subsided. if my scalp itches now it is a sign of dryness or a need to be washed. I now apply oil to my scalp after washing or after rinsing my locs only if my scalp feels itchy after I massage and towel dry my locs.

My first shampoo did not happen for 4 weeks; however, with the itching I had to run water over my scalp. My locs were too short to braid and band. I did twist a few together before deciding to just section my locs , fold over the ends and place a black hair tie on the little bundle. This left plenty of space for me to massage my scalp WITH THE PADS OF MY FINGERS – ONLY. Despite the itch, using my nails to scratch would have only made matters worse. So, again, the issue was a non issue. I washed my locs at my one month “locaversary” but I had been wetting my scalp completely by the end of my first week of being loc’d.

One thing I did to ensure I did not change my mind was to interlock my newly installed two strand twists. I chose to do a 4 point rotation. I think this helped by minimizing slippage – that is, hair strands slipping out of the loc. When I retwisted my locs after this first retie, I have used a 2 point or a 3 point rotation.

In the sections where my hair has a looser curl pattern, over time I have noticed more slippage and more expansion and contraction of the size and shape of the locs. I am now one year loc’d and at the ends of my locs , the two strand twist section, there is a little more thickness and a longer retention of the curl created as the two strand twist locks up on it self. This size difference has not been an issue for me. I admit I do manipulate my locs. I will roll a wildly shaped damp loc between my fingers. I roll it back and forth between my thumb and forefingers – only the section I want to shape. I don’t roll the whole loc between my fingers or palm roll it. Palm rolling looks like it applies a lot of tension to the roots.

I started my locs with two strand twists. Bunching is usually an issue with locs started from twists. When my locs started bunching at about 3 weeks along the journey, initiallyI was excited. Bunching was evidence my hair was going through the process of becoming locs. My hair stated bunching mostly at the top of my head where my loose natural hair had a softer curl pattern. I believe it is 4B. I have not had a professional give me an opinion. Not a priority.

My locs in the back were not experiencing any bunching and very little slippage. Those locs in the back fell like ringlets of curls the first time I wet them with water. The sizing of each of these locs was perfect for my hair. Each loc filled its grid and still does. These locs’ new growth consistently grows into the loc. This is the area where I am currently thinking about semi freeforming.

How I would maintain my locs was an issue, or so I thought. I had 212 microlocs. I wanted versatility but I also wanted to maintain my locs myself. The summer before I loc’d my hair , I met a woman with locs down to her calves. She had been growing her locs for 20 years. She told me that she didn’t retwist her locs any more and hadn’t retwisted in years. She maintained her glorious 4C silver, white and grey locs by keeping them separated. She washed her locs with “regular” shampoo. She sometimes used conditioner. She usually wore her hair down. I sensed immediately that she was giving me encouragement while describing her simple loc maintenance routine. The message was clear. I have this beautiful head of long hair and it is not hard to maintain.

After I installed my two strand twist locs, I told my daughter I was unsure whether to retwist my hair or interlock. She scoffed and said “You better interlock.” I ultimately did interlock my hair.. I couldn’t understand how rolling the hair was going to create locs. I didn’t see how the hair would stay twisted long enough to lock up. At least, not my less coilly hair.

I did my first interlock within one week of having installed my locs. I didn’t want my locs to disintegrate into loose hair. At 4 weeks, I washed and hennaed my locs. It was the best henna application I had ever done. I didn’t worry about henna particles getting into my locs. I already knew how quickly they fade out of my hair. The coverage was good but I decided I would not apply any more henna. Instead, I would see what my natural hair color looked like.

After squeezing most of the water out of my locs I wrapped my head in a grey microfiber towel and squeezed out more water. I then began interlocking my locs. I interlocked again at two months and again at 3 months. I then started seeing videos about interlocking too frequently and the types of damages that can occur. I raise for your attention the YouTube channels that brought me awareness: Yannie, The Loctologist; Alexis Harris; and Naps Are The New Black (who actually has microlocs.)

When I was 3 months loc’d, we took a little vacation to Mexico. My daughter and I were in the pool pretty much everyday. I had been to Mexico at least 3 times before and never gotten my hair wet in one of the pools. With locs, I was free to jump into the pool any time I felt like it. I would wash the pool water out of my locs with my mixture of Dr. Bronner’s and water which I applied via spray bottle. By dinner my locs were ready to go out for the evening!

While in Mexico I I brought home a bottle of luxury shampoo from the hotel. My daughter had used this shampoo conditioner mix on her locs while we were in Mexico and she loved the way it made her locs feel. I tried the same shampoo conditioner mix sparingly when I returned homeand the slippage was really alarming to me. I have not used conditioner in my locs since. I will probably try conditioner again at some time in the future when my locs really need conditioning. Right now, they are doing well without any conditioner at all.

My final issue was the mental hurdle I had to climb to see my locs as beautiful when they began to bunch or unravel. I had had two locs unravel the first week which was another reason I chose to interlock my locs.

I have been told that I “Rock my short locs”. I think the tricks I used to process the changed appearance may be helpful. First, I told myself that nobody cared what my hair looked like. I did not tell my husband I had loc’d my hair. When we were in Mexico he asked me if I had done the same thing to my hair that Schuyler had done. I said, “Something similar.” I had been wearing twists for the month of February and March. I had finalized my loc install on April 2 and this was July. Obviously, my hair being loc’d was not a big issue for him.

It was May before anyone asked me about my sisterlocs. I thanked them for noticing and explained that I had microlocs and I had installed them myself. So, so proud.

The image at the beginning of this post is from my 3 month loc journey. It was taken in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. Shrinkage is really real, but locs will grow. It takes patience.

This one got away from me and its a long blog post. If you stuck with me this far, thank you for your time and attention. I will talk about loc structure, how it affects loc growth and length retention in my next blog.

Until next time, blessings and I hope you love your hair!