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

caltron

Well-Known Member
I am seriously considering getting dreads. I have been wearing tree braids on and off for the last 5 years and I am TIRED of hair. Tired of thinking about it. Tired of styling it. Just tired!

My favorite hair style have been braids and twists, but I hate the time involved in taking them down, getting them put in, and I hate worrying about what it's doing to my hairline. I like with locs that you can get the look of braids and twists but they are permanent and I like the softness.

I've never really considered getting dreads before now because I was worried about how permanent they are. Also ten years ago I was afraid of how dreads would been seen in the workplace, but now they are so mainstream I don't worry about that more.

I really like the look of pencil sized locs. I also like the look of sisterlocs but those look like they take more time than I would want to invest and plus I don't see myself doing any intricate styling so I'm pretty sure pencil sized is the way to go for me. Also I'm not in the mood to pay sisterloc pricing!

I have soft, fine, 4a/b hair and I hear that is a good texture for locs so I'm hopeful they will turn out beautifully. I am a little confused about where to start but I will enjoy reading up on it.

How much do you pay to start and to maintain pencil sized locs??? Also, I have some grays. Is it hard to dye them??
 

Platinum

Well-Known Member
caltron

I paid $60 to get my Locs started by way of two strand twists last year. I do my own maintenance (shampoo and interlocking my roots) but I don't bother to dye my grays. :)
 

LavenderMint

Well-Known Member
Someone mentioned they are freeforming for six months. What does that involve? I'm dreading another palm roll session, even though it doesn't take me that long anymore.
 

Arian

Loc'ing Up!
caltron, my locs were started in December with two strand twists. It cost $70 to get them installed. Each maintenance visit is $55--this includes a wash and retwist. I do maintenance every 4-6 weeks, depending on how much new growth I get.

I had to change loctitians in the middle of my journey, so it has its twists and turns. It was a good decision, though. But I'm a newbie, so still navigating the waters. So far, good decision!
 
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caltron

Well-Known Member
$60-$70. Now I am liking the sound of that!! Do I have to worry about whether to start them off with braids, interlocking, twists or will the loctitian make that call?
 

Platinum

Well-Known Member
$60-$70. Now I am liking the sound of that!! Do I have to worry about whether to start them off with braids, interlocking, twists or will the loctitian make that call?

caltron you should go in for a consultation. The loctician should be able to look at your hair and make that call based on texture, length, and your lifestyle. I would suggest finding a loctician who uses natural products. I wouldn't deal with locticians who use black gel or beeswax because these items cause build-up.

If you workout often, you may want to try starting your Locs as twists or braids.
 

Arian

Loc'ing Up!
I keep touching my twists, feeling for buds. I am starting to feel more and more buds and I can tell that my hair is becoming more firm. My roots are locking nicely. Can't believe it will be almost 4 months since the twists were installed. Excited about where they might be in a year!

I decided that I will switch from the SheaMoisture oil blends to just plain jojoba oil mixed with rosemary and lavender essential oils. The SM oils make my scalp itch.
 

Arian

Loc'ing Up!
My loctician shop is the same. They gossip and talk about EVERYBODY including each other. They are a mess. My own loctitian has told me about another lady's personal story as soon as she walked out of the salon. I said to myself, why do these clients tell these women their business??? I wouldnt share a thing with any of them.

On my last visit, this gay client was recently dumped by his boyfriend who also goes there. Well the dude brought his new boyfriend there knowing he'd bump into the one he dumped and apparently the whole dern salon knew about his issues and it was a drama the whole time. Apparently he knew his ex would be there and wanted to rub it in. How cold is that. You dump him then want to rub your new boytoy in his face.

These ladies are good at what they do so I plan on going no where...at the same time, I wont see them as much because I am also loving the 5 month freeforming intervals.

Yep, in the old shop, the young lady constantly talked about the other loctitian and when clients talked about her, she joined in with them. It was pretty awful. I knew then that I wanted to leave, but I felt stuck because I didn't have a backup.
 

caltron

Well-Known Member
I love this young lady's locs. She is so gorgeous too.
http://ericarascon.com/locs-101/
 

caltron

Well-Known Member
Brandnew your locs are so gorgeous!!! So inspirational!

I've finally gotten through all the posts in this thread and I also want to thank all of the ladies who have posted pics. It's so helpful to newbies like me. It also helps me to relax and not worry about how my locs will end up looking. It helps to see all the different hair types and to see that no matter the hair, they all turn out looking so good.

And Platinum, I loved the pics you posted when you first started with your headband. That look was gorgeous.

I'm still a little overwhelmed at the moment but I'm getting there!
 

caltron

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know of any good loctitians in the Atlanta metro area? I've seen some good recommendations for a couple on the northside but I'd prefer someone who is Downtown/Midtown or on the south side.
 

Harina

Well-Known Member
Harina I just purchased Natures Bounty Optimal Solutions Hair, Skin & Nails Vitamins. I'm going to try these for a while. I wish they were available in a vegetarian formula though.


I purchased these as well. Did you get the gummies or the regular pills? I ordered the gummies. I wanted the traditional multivitamin but I already had some so I guess I'm really just getting them for the biotin.

I hope it doesn't break me out. This is actually my first time ever takng hair vitamins. I've been able to have pretty decent thickness and growth without them so I hope I see some sort of boost.
 

Platinum

Well-Known Member
I purchased these as well. Did you get the gummies or the regular pills? I ordered the gummies. I wanted the traditional multivitamin but I already had some so I guess I'm really just getting them for the biotin. I hope it doesn't break me out. This is actually my first time ever takng hair vitamins. I've been able to have pretty decent thickness and growth without them so I hope I see some sort of boost.

Harina I got BOGO free of the Gummies as well as BOGO of the Advanced Argan oil gelcaps from Walgreens.
 

LavenderMint

Well-Known Member
Gonna try diluted Kinky Curly Curling Custard as my gel for this weekend's retwist. No idea what to expect but I don't like the way aloe gel makes my hair feel & the minimal hold.
 

Oasis

grabbing life by the pussy
i have to do a baking soda and acv cleanse. i dont like the way my hair smells after a wash.

i also need to find a new, preferably natural, product to moisturize. i finally finished my kinky curly.
 

kulikuli

New Member
Hi y'all

I am about to start swimming 3x a week and I need your advice.

My routine is gonna a be like this:

Wet locs thoroughly
Apply olive oil
Don lycra & latex swimming caps
After swim, rinse hair
ACV rinse
Seal with oil mix

Do you think I can get away with doing an ACV rinse after every swim and using a clarifying shampoo once a week WITHOUT using conditioner?

Keep in my mind my dreads are only 3 months old...

Any tips would be greatly appreciated
 

Platinum

Well-Known Member
Hi y'all

I am about to start swimming 3x a week and I need your advice.

My routine is gonna a be like this:

Wet locs thoroughly
Apply olive oil
Don lycra & latex swimming caps
After swim, rinse hair
ACV rinse
Seal with oil mix

Do you think I can get away with doing an ACV rinse after every swim and using a clarifying shampoo once a week WITHOUT using conditioner?

Keep in my mind my dreads are only 3 months old...

Any tips would be greatly appreciated

kulikuli I may be wrong but I think doing ACV once a week is too much. The clarifying shampoo is okay.
 

LavenderMint

Well-Known Member
Hi y'all I am about to start swimming 3x a week and I need your advice. My routine is gonna a be like this: Wet locs thoroughly Apply olive oil Don lycra & latex swimming caps After swim, rinse hair ACV rinse Seal with oil mix Do you think I can get away with doing an ACV rinse after every swim and using a clarifying shampoo once a week WITHOUT using conditioner? Keep in my mind my dreads are only 3 months old... Any tips would be greatly appreciated

When you say an acv rinse, is it diluted?
Both the chlorine and the clarifying shampoo could be quite drying. How will you actually moisturize before sealing?
 
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kulikuli

New Member
Platinum

actually was planning on doing it thrice a week!


MeaWea

Yeah it'd be diluted.

Yeah you're right, they'd be quite drying, I think I might just have to bite the bullet and start using conditioner OR maybe use a moisturising shampoo as opposed to a clarifying shampoo...I dunno:perplexed
 

LavenderMint

Well-Known Member
Platinum actually was planning on doing it thrice a week! MeaWea Yeah it'd be diluted. Yeah you're right, they'd be quite drying, I think I might just have to bite the bullet and start using conditioner OR maybe use a moisturising shampoo as opposed to a clarifying shampoo...I dunno:perplexed

Are your baby locs under the care of a loctician or do you know one to ask?
They may have other options for you.
 
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