How To Part Your Hair For Starter Locs

After you’ve decided that you’re ready to begin your loc journey, the next step is determining how to part your hair for your starter locs.  The way that you part your hair for locs is formally known as your parting system.

A parting system is defined as a systematic approach to sectioning the hair.

There are 4 commonly used parting systems for locs— square parts, diamond parts, crescent parts, and organic parts— with each parting system having advantages and disadvantages depending upon your hair texture, hair density, and how you want your locs to mature. You want to take careful consideration of your parting system because it is the foundation for your locs and is essentially the last time that you will be parting your hair— like ever (at least while you have locs).  I encourage you to explore each parting system in more detail to determine which technique would be best for your hair.

How To Part Your Hair For Starter Locs

The parting systems that are most commonly used for starting locs are the square parting system, diamond parting system, crescent parting system, and the organic parting system.

Square Parts for Locs

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The square parting system is one of the most well-known ways to section your hair to start locs, and it’s really easy to do. This parting system can be executed by a professional or by yourself if you chose to start your own locs. However, in either instance, you do have to be cautious of how the squares are placed on your head. If the square sections are arranged in a grid pattern, this will create straight lines for styling purposes, but a significant amount of scalp being shown when the hair is not styled— especially if you have fine hair and/or thicker locs.

Diamond Parts for Locs

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The diamond parting system is one of the more advanced parting systems because you’re essentially putting diamonds on a round shape. This parting system must be executed by a professional and it not a DIY parting system. There are several benefits to using the diamond parting system on all sizes of locs. One of the benefits of using a diamond parting system is that even when your hair is pulled back in a simple ponytail it appears very intricate. This makes the diamond parting system a great option for you if you do not like to spend a lot of time with complicated styles and prefer to wear ponytails or let the locs hang down more often than not. Also, as it relates to thicker locs, a diamond parting system will show the least amount of scalp; however because you will have fewer locs the intricacy of the diamond parting system will not be as evident as with smaller locs.

My current set of locs were installed using the diamond parting system and I absolutely love them! In my latest video, I share my 3 reasons for choosing the diamond parting system for my locs.

Crescent (Half-Moon) Parts for Locs

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The crescent parting system, also known as c-shaped parts,  is most common amongst people that want to have a more natural or semi-freeform loc journey. One of the benefits of the crescent parting system is that it is fairly easy to do and it gives a natural fall to the locs regardless of what size they are. This parting system is especially great for women because the locs will fall in a way that frames the face.

Organic Parts for Locs

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You can also choose not to have specific parts and this would be known as an organic parting system. Simply put, your hair is randomly sized and would offer no systematic approach to the way the locs are arranged on your head. An organic parting system is typically the result of a freeform foundation.

What Type of Parting System Would You Chose?