3 Tips to Lock Your Hair Faster

Any hair type or texture of hair can turn into locs.  With both my Sisterlocks and my current set of Traditional Locs, I’ve tried many different methods to make my hair lock faster, but I’ve come to realize that some textures are reluctant to lock quickly.  I have that kind of texture —soft, fine hair with loose curls that looks like waves instead of coils— a.k.a the “its going to take awhile for your hair to lock” texture.

The fact that soft hair doesn’t coil or look like tightly-wound springs means that the loc’ing process is going to take longer and require more patience. With both sets of locs, my hair would constantly come undone in the beginning stages, and [finally!] started loc’ing around the 2 year mark. If you have found yourself dealing with the same frustrations, I want to share with you what worked in my journey (and what I’ve learned you shouldn’t do!).

3 Tips to Lock Your Hair Faster

1. Add a style after retwisting. When you palm-roll your locs, you’re trying to convince the hair to grow into the shape of locs; but let’s be real, how often does your hair do what you want it to do?! After you retwist, try styling your locs. Nothing fancy or with a lot of tension, instead try two-strand twists, braids, or bantu knots. Styling after a retwists is like giving your hair instructions then enforcing the new rule.

2. Keep it Tied Up. You want to prevent unraveling as much as possible to encourage your hairs to intertwine. That means keeping everything contained. Make sure you’re wearing a satin scarf at night and you can try using a stocking cap when you shampoo.

3. Products Don’t Create Locs. Contrary to popular belief it is not the product that creates locs it’s the hairs connecting and forming an internal matrix. There was no “Locking Creme” in the 18th century, yet there were locs. Think about that. So avoid all beeswax, petroleum, or anything that says “firm hold” because all you’ll do is cause build up and attract lint by trying to “glue” your locs together. If you’re unsure of what products to use, please avoid “trial and error” which often leads to thinning and breakage. You want to use brands that are specifically created for loc’d hair, such as Crown Elements.

Personal Words of Advice

I really wish I had known those tips for getting my hair to lock faster in the beginning of my locs journey. Had I known, I believe my locs would have loc’d faster, but I went through it so you don’t have to! Here is some other advice I have to offer:

• If you start your locs yourself (which is great!) still seek a professional opinion early on. A consultation is at most $50 and they can provide tips/insight or let you know if you’re on the right path before you’re too far into the process to easily correct any issues. And if you’re uncomfortable with Locticians in your area, you can schedule an online video consultation for locs at NuGrowthSalon.com.
• NO LOC JEWELRY for at least 6 months. I have so many lumps in my locs from where I wore loc jewelry and it prevented areas of my locs from filling in and having a uniform appearance. I definitely wished I had listened when a Loctician told me this early on, but I thought I was fancy.

If you feel like you don’t have the patience to wait for your hair to naturally form buds and start loc’ing you can try interlocking to instantly start locs. The beautiful thing about locs is that they are versatile. So, even if you chose to start your locs with interlocking, you can maintain them with palm-rolling or vice versa (but please read “Switching Between Palm-Rolling & Interlocking Without Causing Damage” first!).

Did these tips help you? What will you be changing in your regimen?