Lock It Up! Support Thread (Sisterlocs, Dreads, Freeform, Etc)

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
No not yet. There was just too many for me to count yesterday. I might try today but I'm afraid that I will mess the coils up; there's so many and they are soft. I don't think its 200 though.

No worries! I was just curious. Maybe after the three week retwist appointment you will feel more comfortable counting them.
 

FlawedBeauty

Well-Known Member
Y'all, I am in LOVE with my loctician!! This woman is amazing. Shes been doing hair for 15 years and she has her own beautiful salon with only her! It was supposed to be her and her ex husband (he's a barber) but he turned out not to be **** lol. Being that it is just her it is a very personal expierience. She just blew me away. She was so knowledgeable about everything. She's a cosmetologist/barber/loctician/Sisterlock Brand Ambassador. I am kicking myself because she is the one I actual had the consult for and canceled with before I went to the person I saw to do those coils. She is like a female Damian Walter in that she gives it to you straight no chaser, which I love.

Anyways let me get to it. Turns out my coils were a hot arse mess, which I kind of already knew and my incessant scalp scratching helped nothing. Damn near all of em were slipping and some were "blown out" which is I guess is the term for them unraveling completely. Instead of palm rolling or retwisting she thought it best to interlock so that my hair would have a more stable base. She took my scalp into consideration too when making the decision as well because of my need to wash my scalp so much. Next time I go I can probably get rolled but because of my texture she is a bit leery about using product in my hair. My next appointment is a month from now, which I might push out a bit a longer depending on how much new growth I have. I will post pics at some point.
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
Y'all, I am in LOVE with my loctician!! This woman is amazing. Shes been doing hair for 15 years and she has her own beautiful salon with only her! It was supposed to be her and her ex husband (he's a barber) but he turned out not to be **** lol. Being that it is just her it is a very personal expierience. She just blew me away. She was so knowledgeable about everything. She's a cosmetologist/barber/loctician/Sisterlock Brand Ambassador. I am kicking myself because she is the one I actual had the consult for and canceled with before I went to the person I saw to do those coils. She is like a female Damian Walter in that she gives it to you straight no chaser, which I love.

Anyways let me get to it. Turns out my coils were a hot arse mess, which I kind of already knew and my incessant scalp scratching helped nothing. Damn near all of em were slipping and some were "blown out" which is I guess is the term for them unraveling completely. Instead of palm rolling or retwisting she thought it best to interlock so that my hair would have a more stable base. She took my scalp into consideration too when making the decision as well because of my need to wash my scalp so much. Next time I go I can probably get rolled but because of my texture she is a bit leery about using product in my hair. My next appointment is a month from now, which I might push out a bit a longer depending on how much new growth I have. I will post pics at some point.

That's what's up! I was waiting on this post. I can't wait to see your pics. I told you she would get you all the way together. @The bolded....I'm glad interlocking the roots worked for you. That's what I had suggested earlier. Are you happy with the results?
 

FlawedBeauty

Well-Known Member
That's what's up! I was waiting on this post. I can't wait to see your pics. I told you she would get you all the way together. @The bolded....I'm glad interlocking the roots worked for you. That's what I had suggested earlier. Are you happy with the results?
OMG I love it!! :yay: The only thing I am concerned about (which is not even really a concern) is the thickness of the interlocked section once they start to lock. Since my hair is already fine it might make for a skinty loc. But I guess when I really think about it if I am able to get palm rolled in the future it won't matter much.
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
OMG I love it!! :yay: The only thing I am concerned about (which is not even really a concern) is the thickness of the interlocked section once they start to lock. Since my hair is already fine it might make for a skinty loc. But I guess when I really think about it if I am able to get palm rolled in the future it won't matter much.

I wouldn't worry about it. It's a non-factor. I thought you wanted fairly skinny locks in diameter, though?

I think that issue only comes from people who continuously switch back and forth between interlocking and retwisting, at least from what I have seen. That's why I mentioned to @Guinan the importance of figuring out a maintenance method early and not switching back and forth, unless the end game is to intentionally do that to create a certain look for your locks.

Since your hair is less likely to unravel now, I think it would be ok for you to proceed with the palmrolling, but just to be sure maybe give it one or two more visits with the loctician interlocking the roots.

Did she say your foundation/base of your locks were strong enough to support palmrolling? That's your preferred method of maintenance, correct?
 

Cattypus1

All loced up...
Y'all, I am in LOVE with my loctician!! This woman is amazing. Shes been doing hair for 15 years and she has her own beautiful salon with only her! It was supposed to be her and her ex husband (he's a barber) but he turned out not to be **** lol. Being that it is just her it is a very personal expierience. She just blew me away. She was so knowledgeable about everything. She's a cosmetologist/barber/loctician/Sisterlock Brand Ambassador. I am kicking myself because she is the one I actual had the consult for and canceled with before I went to the person I saw to do those coils. She is like a female Damian Walter in that she gives it to you straight no chaser, which I love.

Anyways let me get to it. Turns out my coils were a hot arse mess, which I kind of already knew and my incessant scalp scratching helped nothing. Damn near all of em were slipping and some were "blown out" which is I guess is the term for them unraveling completely. Instead of palm rolling or retwisting she thought it best to interlock so that my hair would have a more stable base. She took my scalp into consideration too when making the decision as well because of my need to wash my scalp so much. Next time I go I can probably get rolled but because of my texture she is a bit leery about using product in my hair. My next appointment is a month from now, which I might push out a bit a longer depending on how much new growth I have. I will post pics at some point.
It’s so cool that you can find someone you can trust. It has been a struggle for me. My first and second consultations were mediocre. They basically never touched my hair. They gave it a cursory glance and then said what they normally do. The person who did my install was the shop owner and was a wealth of knowledge and seemed very professional and personable. She did a great job but I’ve been trying to schedule my retwist and I have to schedule through a service and the list for her doesn’t include that service. I sent an email message but it’s back to the same issue with the first two stylists I contacted...won’t call me back. currently getting up to speed on YouTube so I can do my own.
 

Guinan

Re-Branding
It’s so cool that you can find someone you can trust. It has been a struggle for me. My first and second consultations were mediocre. They basically never touched my hair. They gave it a cursory glance and then said what they normally do. The person who did my install was the shop owner and was a wealth of knowledge and seemed very professional and personable. She did a great job but I’ve been trying to schedule my retwist and I have to schedule through a service and the list for her doesn’t include that service. I sent an email message but it’s back to the same issue with the first two stylists I contacted...won’t call me back. currently getting up to speed on YouTube so I can do my own.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I like my loctician but the lateness is REALLY annoying. For my loc appt she was 20mins late. She is just so slow moving with her business; if that makes sense. Another client was supposed to be getting feed-in braids at 11am. The stylist who is also the receptionist didn't have the hair. She didn't leave to get the hair until 10:50am (via uber). The stylist and my locitician (who is also the owner of the salon) was just laughing and chatting like it was nothing. The girl had to leave for school by 1pm. The stylist didn't get done until 1:22 and the girl had to settle for a style she didn't want because of time.

My locitician is sweet and good at what she does but has poor business practice and is very ghetto. The ghettoness doesn't bother me too much; the poor business practice bothers me. Once my locs mature, I will be retwisting myself
 

Guinan

Re-Branding
I wouldn't worry about it. It's a non-factor. I thought you wanted fairly skinny locks in diameter, though?

I think that issue only comes from people who continuously switch back and forth between interlocking and retwisting, at least from what I have seen. That's why I mentioned to @Guinan the importance of figuring out a maintenance method early and not switching back and forth, unless the end game is to intentionally do that to create a certain look for your locks.

Since your hair is less likely to unravel now, I think it would be ok for you to proceed with the palmrolling, but just to be sure maybe give it one or two more visits with the loctician interlocking the roots.

Did she say your foundation/base of your locks were strong enough to support palmrolling? That's your preferred method of maintenance, correct?

For maintenance I was planning on palm rolling. However, I am intrigued by interlocking. One of my fav utubers had her locs interlocked once because she was going away for vacation & she didn't want to have to worry about her hair. The utuber is grizzlelocs.

Is it ok to interlock once in a while if your main method of retwisting is palm rolling?
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
It’s so cool that you can find someone you can trust. It has been a struggle for me. My first and second consultations were mediocre. They basically never touched my hair. They gave it a cursory glance and then said what they normally do. The person who did my install was the shop owner and was a wealth of knowledge and seemed very professional and personable. She did a great job but I’ve been trying to schedule my retwist and I have to schedule through a service and the list for her doesn’t include that service. I sent an email message but it’s back to the same issue with the first two stylists I contacted...won’t call me back. currently getting up to speed on YouTube so I can do my own.

I hate that that has happened to you! Especially so early into your journey. But at least it's good you know now that those unprofessional locticians don't deserve your money. It's their loss and their hands were not worthy to touch your crown.

I'm glad you have decided to learn how to maintain your own hair. And guess what? Once you get your skills up and can maintain your own hair like a pro, you won't miss them. There's nothing like not being salon dependent. Go because you want to, because you want to pamper or treat yourself and give yourself a break from doing your own hair, but by all means, never go because you need to or have to. Trust your abilities...you got this!
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
For maintenance I was planning on palm rolling. However, I am intrigued by interlocking. One of my fav utubers had her locs interlocked once because she was going away for vacation & she didn't want to have to worry about her hair. The utuber is grizzlelocs.

Is it ok to interlock once in a while if your main method of retwisting is palm rolling?

Wow....her hair is beautiful! I can't believe I never came across her or her channel before. I went to subscribe so I can see some of her videos later. @The bolded, I think that's fine and your locks would be ok doing that. I believe @Platinum was doing that, right?
 

FlawedBeauty

Well-Known Member
It’s so cool that you can find someone you can trust. It has been a struggle for me. My first and second consultations were mediocre. They basically never touched my hair. They gave it a cursory glance and then said what they normally do. The person who did my install was the shop owner and was a wealth of knowledge and seemed very professional and personable. She did a great job but I’ve been trying to schedule my retwist and I have to schedule through a service and the list for her doesn’t include that service. I sent an email message but it’s back to the same issue with the first two stylists I contacted...won’t call me back. currently getting up to speed on YouTube so I can do my own.
Yes, I'm so happy...and lucky!! I didn't want to get my hopes up going in because like most people, they look good on paper or talk a good one but really are just out to make a buck. She even told me to text her if I had any questions, or send her pics if my hair is doing something funny and I get worried. It was seriously like chilling with a friend and getting my hair done. She said once i get all loc'd and going I would never see her again because people really don't need locticians.

If I were you, and the loctician isn't far, I would just pick a service closest to the one you want and put what it is you want in the note section if there is one. That's pretty much what I did, I knew I wanted to be palm rolled but wasn't sure if it was going to be possible since I was only a month in and my coils were a hot mess. So in the notes I put that I was getting my first retwist and would be exactly one month at the date. That way if it was a problem she would hopefully see the note and call, and if she didn't see the note and it is a problem she better deal with my head when I get there cuz i left a note :lachen:
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
So in the notes I put that I was getting my first retwist and would be exactly one month at the date. That way if it was a problem she would hopefully see the note and call, and if she didn't see the note and it is a problem she better deal with my head when I get there cuz i left a note :lachen:

Okay!!!! And drove all the way over there to boot. :lachen:

I'm kinda in the same boat. I like my loctician but the lateness is REALLY annoying. For my loc appt she was 20mins late. She is just so slow moving with her business; if that makes sense. Another client was supposed to be getting feed-in braids at 11am. The stylist who is also the receptionist didn't have the hair. She didn't leave to get the hair until 10:50am (via uber). The stylist and my locitician (who is also the owner of the salon) was just laughing and chatting like it was nothing. The girl had to leave for school by 1pm. The stylist didn't get done until 1:22 and the girl had to settle for a style she didn't want because of time.

My locitician is sweet and good at what she does but has poor business practice and is very ghetto. The ghettoness doesn't bother me too much; the poor business practice bothers me. Once my locs mature, I will be retwisting myself

:nono: :nono: :nono:

There's so many things wrong here, I don't know where to start. I know you wanted to give this loctician a chance, but I think you should try to find a new one to continue your journey with. This is too much going on and it's only a matter of time before some of her bad business practices trickle down to more clients, maybe even you. We can't have that!

She definitely should have a receptionist that is only on reception and not in other roles. It's great that her receptionist is also a stylist, but there should have been another stylist also working that day.

Why put yourself through that situation if you don't have to? Are you sure you don't want to also go the self-maintenance route? It's a huge confidence booster and you will feel immense pride knowing that YOU did your hair, not anybody else. Just something to think about...

If you still want a loctician until your locks mature, I completely understand. I mentioned earlier in the thread that a good place to look for one is on IG or FB (use the recommendation feature... it's Even better to ask for recs in one or more locks groups). I hope that helps.
 

FlawedBeauty

Well-Known Member
Quick question. Is it okay to just leave my hair smushed down after I unwrap it in the morning. Or should I be shaking it out and fluffing it up. Also her is a pic of before and after. Before is on the right. I know it's a crappy pic but I couldn't get a good pic to save my life lol. The pics just weren't doing my hair justice lol maybe I'll try again later.

 

Guinan

Re-Branding
Quick question. Is it okay to just leave my hair smushed down after I unwrap it in the morning. Or should I be shaking it out and fluffing it up. Also her is a pic of before and after. Before is on the right. I know it's a crappy pic but I couldn't get a good pic to save my life lol. The pics just weren't doing my hair justice lol maybe I'll try again later.


I fluff my hair multiple times a day; maybe like 3x's. However, I only fluff with oil once a day.
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
Quick question. Is it okay to just leave my hair smushed down after I unwrap it in the morning. Or should I be shaking it out and fluffing it up. Also her is a pic of before and after. Before is on the right. I know it's a crappy pic but I couldn't get a good pic to save my life lol. The pics just weren't doing my hair justice lol maybe I'll try again later.


You should definitely fluff them, shake them out or run your fingers through (gently). A light mist of water or steam from the shower also works. Otherwise, if you continue doing that, it could lead to flat locks.

I have to stay on top of that with my son's hair, especially since he's so young and still at that age where he lays on the back of his head a lot. When he wakes up from naps and sleeping overnight there's at least three rows of locks that are flat all the time. Basically anywhere he lays and presses his head his locks will be flat in that area. It goes away after I hit them with some moisture.
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
Speaking of DS 2, I just finished his retightening a little while ago. I started yesterday afternoon once he woke up from his nap and had lunch. I did half of his head yesterday and finished the rest this morning after he woke up. He was more fussy and non-compliant this time. I had to make sure he had a few breaks to run around. I also had to clean up his parts and there were a lot of loose hairs I had to reincorporate back into some of the locks. There's only one lock that is not laying the way I want it to and it's getting on my nerves. It'll have to stay that way until it loosens up enough for me to fix it, or I may leave it until his next retightening.

I tried to fix it at least 3 times, all while distracting him, but he kept crying each time so I left it. I may have to readjust his retightening schedule and move it up some.

Overall, I think his hair looks good, though. I will post pics later on.
 
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Cattypus1

All loced up...
Yes, I'm so happy...and lucky!! I didn't want to get my hopes up going in because like most people, they look good on paper or talk a good one but really are just out to make a buck. She even told me to text her if I had any questions, or send her pics if my hair is doing something funny and I get worried. It was seriously like chilling with a friend and getting my hair done. She said once i get all loc'd and going I would never see her again because people really don't need locticians.

If I were you, and the loctician isn't far, I would just pick a service closest to the one you want and put what it is you want in the note section if there is one. That's pretty much what I did, I knew I wanted to be palm rolled but wasn't sure if it was going to be possible since I was only a month in and my coils were a hot mess. So in the notes I put that I was getting my first retwist and would be exactly one month at the date. That way if it was a problem she would hopefully see the note and call, and if she didn't see the note and it is a problem she better deal with my head when I get there cuz i left a note :lachen:
That is exactly what I did but since she hasn’t replied to my note I can only assume that she read it and understands or track her down and ask her. What I don’t want to do is make a drive only to find out that she doesn’t want to do what I need or some other craziness. It just makes me mad that I’m still dealing with this kind of service stuff. This was the main reason I was a self relaxer for years before I decided to go natural.
 

FlawedBeauty

Well-Known Member
That is exactly what I did but since she hasn’t replied to my note I can only assume that she read it and understands or track her down and ask her. What I don’t want to do is make a drive only to find out that she doesn’t want to do what I need or some other craziness. It just makes me mad that I’m still dealing with this kind of service stuff. This was the main reason I was a self relaxer for years before I decided to go natural.
My loctician didn't respond to mine either and all was well. What is it that you were looking to get done? Is it something outside of what a normal loctician would offer?
 

Cattypus1

All loced up...
My loctician didn't respond to mine either and all was well. What is it that you were looking to get done? Is it something outside of what a normal loctician would offer?
Nope. This is my first rodeo. She did comb coils as starter locs. I need a shampoo and if they are supposed to condition then do that and then palm roll, I guess. That’s my real problem. I don’t want to be guessing what’s next with my hair. I was hoping for someone to help me make those decisions. I probably sound like a whiner and like I’m hard to please but I have been researching and reading and trying to be as knowledgeable as possible. I have scheduled two and a half consultations, half because the one loctician didn’t even call me back. I don’t have a problem paying, I will be on time and I will tip. I will follow directions about what to do in between visits. I’m just so tired of trying to get a reputable loctician to do what I need. Trust me if and when I learn to do it myself I won’t even bother with these stylists.
 

FlawedBeauty

Well-Known Member
Nope. This is my first rodeo. She did comb coils as starter locs. I need a shampoo and if they are supposed to condition then do that and then palm roll, I guess. That’s my real problem. I don’t want to be guessing what’s next with my hair. I was hoping for someone to help me make those decisions. I probably sound like a whiner and like I’m hard to please but I have been researching and reading and trying to be as knowledgeable as possible. I have scheduled two and a half consultations, half because the one loctician didn’t even call me back. I don’t have a problem paying, I will be on time and I will tip. I will follow directions about what to do in between visits. I’m just so tired of trying to get a reputable loctician to do what I need. Trust me if and when I learn to do it myself I won’t even bother with these stylists.
Wow she sucks. She should have went over all that with you once you were done. I'm surprised she didn't schedule you to come back after your first appointment. You don't sound like a whiner at all. Shoot it your money and your hair so definitely take your time and weed through the bull. But at this point I would leave that lady alone and keep trying to find someone else.
 

shortycocoa

Hair Weave Killer
Wow she sucks. She should have went over all that with you once you were done. I'm surprised she didn't schedule you to come back after your first appointment. You don't sound like a whiner at all. Shoot it your money and your hair so definitely take your time and weed through the bull. But at this point I would leave that lady alone and keep trying to find someone else.

Nope. This is my first rodeo. She did comb coils as starter locs. I need a shampoo and if they are supposed to condition then do that and then palm roll, I guess. That’s my real problem. I don’t want to be guessing what’s next with my hair. I was hoping for someone to help me make those decisions. I probably sound like a whiner and like I’m hard to please but I have been researching and reading and trying to be as knowledgeable as possible. I have scheduled two and a half consultations, half because the one loctician didn’t even call me back. I don’t have a problem paying, I will be on time and I will tip. I will follow directions about what to do in between visits. I’m just so tired of trying to get a reputable loctician to do what I need. Trust me if and when I learn to do it myself I won’t even bother with these stylists.


@Cattypus1 @FlawedBeauty I agree with all of this. It sounds like she didn't value you as a client in the first place and as such, wasn't working to earn you as a returning client. Again, it's her loss! It seems overwhelming at first to have to maintain your own locks, but I promise you can do it!

Take your time trying to find someone else and refer back to some of the posts in we made in the thread about how to find a loctician in your area. If you need more help with that, PM me and I will help you.

Also, there have been lots of videos posted in this thread about how to retighten, retwist and palmroll locks. If you want to palmroll, just search this thread for that and watch more videos on YouTube about palmrolling until you feel comfortable enough to try it on your own.

If you're worried it won't look right or you may not finish it all in one sitting, that's ok too. Practice on one or two locks to see if you like the look first before you do your whole head. If you like it and are satisfied with the results, keep going! I was scared to death the first time I considered retightening my own SLs 7 or 8 years ago but I swallowed that fear, picked up that plastic yarn needle and the rest is history.

You might make mistakes starting out, but guess what? That's also ok too. That's the only way you will learn. In my opinion, there's less of a learning curve with palmrolling from what I have seen in videos, so I think you'll be ok. I made plenty of mistakes when I was learning but that experience is priceless. The only mistakes I make now might be from not paying attention or miscalculating how many rotations I can do for a smooth, tight finish on me or DS 2 but I can usually fix that also.

If you don't finish it all in one go, there's styles you can do to disguise it until you can come back to it later and finish up. You just have to work methodically so that the rows/sections are even enough to pull that off. Whatever you do, don't spend any more negative energy on this because it will manifest in your locks and the way you feel about them. It may also cause you to second-guess your decision and contemplate taking them out. If you do that, you let her win. This victory is yours, queen! Keep going...:bighug:
 
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Platinum

Well-Known Member
Wow....her hair is beautiful! I can't believe I never came across her or her channel before. I went to subscribe so I can see some of her videos later. @The bolded, I think that's fine and your locks would be ok doing that. I believe @Platinum was doing that, right?

I don't think that alternating between interlocking and palm rolling is a bad thing. Some people may disagree though.
 
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