I Tried Barrel Roll Locs for the First Time — Here's How It Went

After 13+ years of locs, I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and swapped my trusty bantu knots for barrel roll locs. Spoiler: it was easier than I feared, and the result was better than I hoped.

For an upcoming party I wanted to do something different with my locs, which by now are well over thirteen years old. Usually I just do curls, because you really can't go wrong with those. Curls in locs always look good — pretty and cheerful — but instead of the bantu knots I've got pretty much down by now, I decided to try barrel roll locs.

Honestly, it was quite the challenge. I think they're beautiful, but I had never done them before and really had no idea whether I'd be able to pull it off.

Every great style starts with clean hair, so let me walk you through exactly what I did.

Step 1: Washing with My Loc Bombs

First things first — of course I washed my hair. My standard shampoo: loc bombs. This time I did it in the shower, nice and easy, instead of using the Loc Basin. And although lying in that inflatable basin with your locs really is pure bliss, you need to have the time for it. When I do a loc detox, I set aside at least two to four hours — but more on that another time.

This time I simply worked the loc bomb into my wet hair, massaging it from scalp to the full length. Then I brushed it out under the shower with the Loc Brush. That doesn't just remove dust and buildup — it simply feels heavenly on the scalp. Now that my hair is longer it takes a bit more time, but of course that's time I'm more than happy to spend.

Quick Drying Microfiber Loc Towel

Step 2: Drying with the Microfiber Loc Towel

Once my hair is clean, it's time for the next ritual: kneading out as much excess water as possible. This starts the moment the shower goes off. I bend forward, bring my locs to the front so my hair hangs down over my forehead, and start kneading the water out.

Once that's done, the Microfiber Loc Towel goes on. This thing is wonderfully large — it covers the entire length of my locs and absorbs all that extra moisture really quickly. While the towel does its job, it's break time: get dressed, enjoy a cup of tea, or just knock out a few small tasks.

After walking around with the towel on my head for half an hour to an hour, the real work can begin.

Step 3: The Barrel Roll Locs

Unfortunately I didn't record this part (rookie mistake!), and the result was far from perfect — but it honestly wasn't all that difficult. I simply followed this gentleman's instructions, and off I went.

And I was more than happy with the result. No, they definitely weren't that tight, and you can't really compare them to the professional way of doing it. But I got to experiment with a fun new style, and the result was nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes "good enough and full of personality" beats "perfect."

Step 4: WNL Hair Serum and Styling the Barrel Roll Curls

Here's the most important loc care tip I can give you: when your hair is completely dry — or the next day — roll the WNL Hair Serum over your scalp. This is really important to keep your hair and scalp from drying out. The evening before I took the barrel rolls out, I treated my scalp to a lovely dose of serum.

Untwisting the barrel rolls takes the longest, by the way. I didn't secure mine very tightly, so it wasn't too bad, but I do have quite a few locs, so it takes time. When I visited my loctician a month later, there was still one twist left in there from the barrel rolls. Ha!

Final Thoughts

So there you have it — my first attempt at barrel roll locs: imperfect, homemade, and completely worth it. If thirteen-year-old locs can handle a new experiment, so can yours.

Now I hope my little hairstyle experiment has inspired you. My question is: which hairstyle would you love to try? Drop it in the comments — I'm curious!