Before I started locing, I did a lot of research so I would know what I was getting into. As it turns out, doing research is essential to prevent yourself from making obvious mistakes but living the journey teaches you the real deal.
No matter how much research you do, you will always learn things no one ever told you when you are on your loc journey. It doesn’t matter whether if you have Sisterlocks, traditional locs or any type of micro locs, it is personal and yet it is all the same.
There are a few things that I’ve had to learn the hard way. Hopefully by sharing this you won’t have to. So, here are the 5 things I would never to do my locs.
Going longer than 5 months without a retie
Especially in the beginning, I was postponing my retie visits as much as I can. Sometimes as long as 3 months. Not only is the maintenance part, the part of locs that I don’t really like. Sitting still in a salon chair was never my favorite waste of time but also because it hurts.
It was the worst after the pandemic though when I had 5 months of new growth. Ouch, that was painful.
Then one time, I went for a retie on the right time. It was in Suriname and I wanted to get my hair done before I left the country. Exactly 8 weeks before Johanna, owner of the Hair Box in Paramaribo, had already retied my hair and it took her a little over 4 hours.
This time, 8 weeks after that retie, it only took 2.5 hours to get my retie done. I was amazed. Not only was it hours faster, it also didn’t hurt as much! I had no idea that this would make such a world of difference.
As you can imagine, I am scheduling my reties right on time now. Saving hours and less, a lot less pain.
Detoxing with ACV and baking soda
There was a time when I had buildup. I knew I should have stayed away from conditioners but I tried using them and a couple of other things anyway and o yes, pretty soon after, my locs smelled bad.
Can’t say that I regret it because it was just an experiment to see and I learned that ACV and baking soda would take it out anyway, or so I thought.
Initially I thought the combo worked reasonably well. The odor was gone for the most part but unfortunately not completely gone. What was really troubling though was how dry my locs felt. Super, super dry!
I knew I had to detox at least one more time to get everything out but the risk to me was losing my locs. I mean, I didn’t want to oil or condition my locs after because wouldn’t that defeat the purpose?
Luckily, I found the Loc bombs. They saved my locs. After only one wash, my hair felt soft, pliable. And, not only were my locs super clean, they smelled great plus my hair shined!
I totally recommend them.
Using an ultra plush blanket
ultra plush blankets are notoriously known for shedding. When you have locs you want to avoid any fabric that sheds, especially ultra plush blankets.
I bought a great one for summer when I had guests over then one day in the winter, I decided to use it.
My, my, my. My bed was covered in plush from this blanket. Yes, some are probably still caught up in a few locs. Never again!
Scheduling a retie during that time of the month
Do not, and I mean do not, schedule a retie during that time of the month. For the same reason you didn’t relax your hair during that time of the month or get a wax.
Your skin and senses are heightened. You feel a lot more pain. I know this. One day tears just rolled down my eyes. Could have been my hormones to but: Avoid!
Wash my hair the same day of my retie
This was a tip from a sister who’s name I unfortunately can’t remember. She had Sisterlocks and this tip is for people who retie rather than people who maintain their locs by twisting or palm rolling.
When I thought about it, it made sense that your shouldn’t wash your hair the same day you get your locs retied.
I should have known this from my natural hair days because it is the same reason why you don’t add extensions while your hair is just washed and wet. When your hair is wet, the strands are stretched and they naturally shrinks when it dries.
However, when you add extensions to your hair while your hair is wet, your hair has a hard time shrinking to its natural state. This doesn’t only cause pain, it also causes stress on your roots and your scalp.
So, when you get a retie, make sure your hair is washed a day before and dry when you are ready for the grooming service. You can definitely spray it while you retie but your hair should not be wet from a wash.
Add oils or hair products while my hair is wet
Another tip from a sister I read on a board that is very true. I used to think it was better to add oil to your hair while it is wet because oils are easier absorbed when your hair is wet rather than when it is dry. Often oil just sits on op of your hair when you do that.
However, oil also traps water so when you have locs this is a recipe for buildup and odor.
So, add products to your locs while it is dry.
Now, these are my 5 things I would never do to my locs again. What are the 5 things you would never do? Please let us know in the comments.