What Every Person Considering Locs Should Know: Real Talk from the Microloc Community
If you're thinking about starting your loc journey, you've probably spent hours scrolling through photos of perfectly formed, mature locs—shiny, long, and full of personality. But here's the truth those pictures don't always tell: the road to get there is a journey, not a destination.
We rounded up honest advice from real people living the microloc life. No fluff, no filters—just the wisdom they wish someone had handed them before they started.
1. It's a Commitment, Not a Trend
Let's start with the big one. Locs are not a hairstyle you try on a whim.
"This is not a trend. Not to sound deep but it's a mindset, a commitment. It's a change that you must embrace." — Jo-Ann LadyJay McCrary
If you haven't researched the locking process for at least three months, you're probably not ready. Interview locticians. Ask questions about different techniques. Understand what you're signing up for. This isn't a "wake up and decide" kind of style—it's a lifestyle shift.
Growing Locs - Check out my Locs Journey Gallery
2. Patience Isn't Optional—It's Required
Your hair will go through stages, and not all of them are cute.
"You're not going to love your hair every day. There will be awkward stages, frizz, shrinkage, unraveling. They will teach you patience whether you like it or not." — Awiɛnnaab
And the stages follow a pattern:
"1st they shrink. 2nd they swell. 3rd they elongate and your length starts to show. It's a process so just embrace it." — Tasha Nurse Coco Tid
Shrinkage is real. Frizz is unavoidable. Unraveling happens. Your job? Do nothing and trust. Your hair knows what it's doing.
3. Budget Accordingly—Being Cheap Costs More
Locs can be expensive, especially if you can't do your own reties.
"Being cheap will cost you more time and money in the long run." — Emily VirtuRho-so Sessions
"It's an expensive hairstyle if you cannot do your own reties. So budget accordingly." — Nikki Jackson Sylvester
"Make sure the up keep is in your budget. I self retie when I started I now go to the shop. But if money is funny/covid I know how to do it." — Laylana Bell
Pro tip: Learn to maintain your own locs. Even if you prefer a loctician, having the skill in your back pocket is invaluable.
4. Find a Loctician Who Educates You
Your relationship with your loctician matters.
"Make sure you go to someone that knows what they're doing." — Tricia Jackson
"Find a loctition that educates you." — MercedesandJay Banks
A great loctician doesn't just install or retie your hair—they teach you how to care for it. Ask about maintenance, shampooing routines, and what to expect at each stage. The more you know, the smoother your journey.
Growing Locs - Watch Reels from my Locs Journey
5. Stop Comparing Your Hair to Others
This might be the hardest lesson of all.
"NEVER compare your hair to others, and be actually ready to commit. Complaining everyday is not going to make your process any better." — Sydnii Robinson
"Your journey is your journey don't compare to others." — MercedesandJay Banks
"No two head of locs are the same." — Chelly Brown
Your texture, density, growth rate, and locking pattern are uniquely yours. What takes someone six months might take you a year. And that's perfectly okay.
6. The "Ugly Stage" Is a Lie
You might have heard whispers about an "ugly stage." The community has thoughts:
"There is no ugly stage." — Missez Lockett
Every phase of your loc journey serves a purpose. What looks like frizz is your hair doing the work of locking. What looks like shrinkage is your texture showing up in full force. Reframe how you see each stage, and you'll find beauty in all of it.
7. Manage Your Expectations
If you're expecting instant length or a perfectly polished look within a few months, adjust now.
"It may take more than a year to get your desired look." — Chelly Brown
"Shrinkage is FOR REAL." — Alicia Taylor
Your desired look is coming—but it's a marathon, not a sprint. Document your journey so you can look back and see how far you've come.
8. Daily Maintenance Myths
Let's bust a common misconception:
"You do not have to mist/spray with water every day." — MercedesandJay Banks
Less is often more. Over-manipulating your locs can cause more harm than good. Find a simple, consistent routine that works for your hair and lifestyle.
9. Frizz is Part of the Package
"There will absolutely be FRIZZ involved. You can’t escape it."
— AttractivePineapple9690
Frizz is not a sign of failure—it is a mandatory part of the hair fibers tangling together to form a solid loc. Embrace the halo!
Also read: Embracing frizzy locs and curly ends in the first months of my Braidlocs Journey
10. Locs are a Mindset, Not a Trend
"This is not a trend. Not to sound deep, but it's a mindset, a commitment. It's a change that you must embrace."
— Jo-Ann LadyJay McCrary
Locking your hair is often a personal journey toward self-acceptance and freeing yourself from daily manipulation. Respect the shift!
We got this from a thread from the What’s one thing you wish every person considering locs knew before they started? from the Micro Locs group on Facebook.
