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

[shortycocoa]

Heres a pic

First, let me just say your hair is GORGEOUS.....and you did an excellent job cutting off the heat damaged parts!

Second, all this is normal. Your hair is doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing right now. Let me put it this way. Do you want perfectly defined coils or do you want locks? Cause you can't have both. I know you want locks, so you have to let the idea of holding on to those coils go so your locks can come through and shine. They call it starter locks for a reason, because you start out with them and this is only the beginning. Where it all ends is up to you!

I promise you, the frizz has a purpose. I'll put it like this. The frizz is there to help catch all the shed hairs and help buds form. You have to bud before you can lock. I would be lying if I said it doesn't last long, but again, try not to focus on it too much.

Your hair is doing fine and your locks will be dope! Enjoy your wash day and let that hair soak up ALL that water and moisture.

 

[FlawedBeauty]

First, let me just say your hair is GORGEOUS.....and you did an excellent job cutting off the heat damaged parts!

Second, all this is normal. Your hair is doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing right now. Let me put it this way. Do you want perfectly defined coils or do you want locks? Cause you can't have both. I know you want locks, so you have to let the idea of holding on to those coils go so your locks can come through and shine. They call it starter locks for a reason, because you start out with them and this is only the beginning. Where it all ends is up to you!

I promise you, the frizz has a purpose. I'll put it like this. The frizz is there to help catch all the shed hairs and help buds form. You have to bud before you can lock. I would be lying if I said it doesn't last long, but again, try not to focus on it too much.

Your hair is doing fine and your locks will be dope! Enjoy your wash day and let that hair soak up ALL that water and moisture.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I feel much better now. I don't know why I was thinking something was wrong. I need to get out of my own head and just let it do what it's gonna do!!

 

[shortycocoa]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I feel much better now. I don't know why I was thinking something was wrong. I need to get out of my own head and just let it do what it's gonna do!!

You're welcome! We can be our own worst enemies and critics sometimes, and it's never nearly as bad as we may think it is. I'm glad you feel better. Relax, don't overthink it, get out of your own way, and your hair will take care of the rest. TRUST THE PROCESS!!!

 

[shortycocoa]

@FlawedBeauty, do you follow Valerie Cradd on YouTube and IG? If you watch from when she first started out and see her progression, she is a good example of frizzy hair/starter locks. But look at her present day. She just made it to one year. I'm watching her 1 year lock update video now.



Sister Soko also has a good video showing hers. It's all a part of the process.:



Morgan Alexis and her locks: (which I LOVE BTW...)



Quotidianlight starting her son's locks on looser textured hair:



first retwist:



note the difference between the first retwist and the starter coils themselves.

And look how much his hair changed here, almost a year in. I don't agree with her cutting the ends off, though.:

https://youtu.be/3LoQuF1vS1U

ETA: I think this is what his hair looks like now (in 2018). I couldn't watch this whole thing, because the going back and forth was too distracting. But at 34:25 she asks him to take his hair down and show how long it is now. It's kind of blurry, but you get the idea.:

https://youtu.be/oaJUnxSpNdQ

There was maybe one or two other people's videos I had in mind to post, but I can't remember their names right now. If I find them, I will come back and post.

 

[prettywhitty]

Checking in. Still in the research process. I’ve washed this set of small twists to get used to the process. I love how light my hair feels and hoe styling is not taking tons of time.
I’ve learned that while I have a lot of hair, the strands themselves are fine. So I’m thinking I’ll make the next set smaller and practice my grid pattern. My natural journey as a whole has been self styled. I want my loc journey to be the same. I feel like neat parting is an important foundation for retwisting/interlocking. I want to minimize bunching at the root too. I hope I’m making sense.
Should I use a locking gel with my twists when I start? I will begin early 2019.
And I want a nose ring too.

 

[shortycocoa]

Checking in. Still in the research process. I’ve washed this set of small twists to get used to the process. I love how light my hair feels and hoe styling is not taking tons of time.
I’ve learned that while I have a lot of hair, the strands themselves are fine. So I’m thinking I’ll make the next set smaller and practice my grid pattern. My natural journey as a whole has been self styled. I want my loc journey to be the same. I feel like neat parting is an important foundation for retwisting/interlocking. I want to minimize bunching at the root too. I hope I’m making sense.
Should I use a locking gel with my twists when I start? I will begin early 2019.
And I want a nose ring too.

This is great that you're doing this. You are learning so much about your hair through data collection and observation. By the time you get ready to do your starter locks, you will have a definitive guide for how to get started, how they will behave, and how to take care of them based on all of your research.

One of the unique characteristics of mini/micro twists is just what you described. Every time I used to do a set on my loose hair years ago, I loved that about them. They truly do feel light and airy, and look so pretty and full once they dry and as the days progress.

Remind me, how long is your hair? Bunching can happen anywhere along the length of the locks, but it's more common for it to happen near the ends, if that makes sense. It's also not as severe/pronounced on shorter hair. Since you are still practicing with mini-twists, a good way to prevent that until you're ready to lock is to braid and/or band the twists before you wash them or wet them.

You can also get different looks from this process once your hair is dry and you undo the braiding and banding.

When you start your locks, I don't think a locking gel is necessary (for the hair to lock) but you'll probably want to use something for hold and to get the twists to stay and not unravel. It's really going to come down to what you prefer. Some people generally use some type of product (s) when they start their locks, while others don't use anything at all, or just oil and water. Whatever you choose, make sure you choose something that will wash out of your hair and not cause buildup, flakes, or residue. Something clear is best. Also, try not to be heavy handed.

I used Long Aid Curl Activator Gel (the green label) and my spray mix of Infusium-23 leave in, water, and peppermint essential oil to start my locks and I started with two-strand twists.

This rinsed out fine whenever I did my first wash. I'm sure I didn't "need" to use it, but I felt like I wanted my hair to be neat initially starting out. I also used it because I needed to define my curls and have them clump together because I used the curl parting method to determine my lock size and parts.

I can't remember if I posted these upthread already, but here are the 2 videos I used for reference. I did NOT do the maximum hydration method before I started my locks. Ain't nobody got time for that. Plus, I understood that my hair was going to become "deconstructed" during the locking process, so it didn't make sense for me to load it down with all these products and steps.





This is Kyra at 15 months and 3 years later, respectively:





Her hair in that 3 year update is EVERYTHING!!!! So drool worthy and healthy looking.

For some reason, I can't find Trinity's updates, even though I'm sure I've seen them before.

They also influenced me to do primarily water-washing only.

I had a lot more I wanted to say, but I had to stop composing this post to get my son ready for bed. Now that he's settled, I have to recollect my thoughts. I'm all for the nose ring, though.

 

[prettywhitty]

This is great that you're doing this. You are learning so much about your hair through data collection and observation. By the time you get ready to do your starter locks, you will have a definitive guide for how to get started, how they will behave, and how to take care of them based on all of your research.

One of the unique characteristics of mini/micro twists is just what you described. Every time I used to do a set on my loose hair years ago, I loved that about them. They truly do feel light and airy, and look so pretty and full once they dry and as the days progress.

Remind me, how long is your hair? Bunching can happen anywhere along the length of the locks, but it's more common for it to happen near the ends, if that makes sense. It's also not as severe/pronounced on shorter hair. Since you are still practicing with mini-twists, a good way to prevent that until you're ready to lock is to braid and/or band the twists before you wash them or wet them.

You can also get different looks from this process once your hair is dry and you undo the braiding and banding.

When you start your locks, I don't think a locking gel is necessary (for the hair to lock) but you'll probably want to use something for hold and to get the twists to stay and not unravel. It's really going to come down to what you prefer. Some people generally use some type of product (s) when they start their locks, while others don't use anything at all, or just oil and water. Whatever you choose, make sure you choose something that will wash out of your hair and not cause buildup, flakes, or residue. Something clear is best. Also, try not to be heavy handed.

I used Long Aid Curl Activator Gel (the green label) and my spray mix of Infusium-23 leave in, water, and peppermint essential oil to start my locks and I started with two-strand twists.

This rinsed out fine whenever I did my first wash. I'm sure I didn't "need" to use it, but I felt like I wanted my hair to be neat initially starting out. I also used it because I needed to define my curls and have them clump together because I used the curl parting method to determine my lock size and parts.

I can't remember if I posted these upthread already, but here are the 2 videos I used for reference. I did NOT do the maximum hydration method before I started my locks. Ain't nobody got time for that. Plus, I understood that my hair was going to become "deconstructed" during the locking process, so it didn't make sense for me to load it down with all these products and steps.





This is Kyra at 15 months and 3 years later, respectively:





Her hair in that 3 year update is EVERYTHING!!!! So drool worthy and healthy looking.

For some reason, I can't find Trinity's updates, even though I'm sure I've seen them before.

They also influenced me to do primarily water-washing only.

I had a lot more I wanted to say, but I had to stop composing this post to get my son ready for bed. Now that he's settled, I have to recollect my thoughts. I'm all for the nose ring, though.

@shortycocoa thanks a million for being so active in this thread and being so encouraging!
My hair is between APL and BSL. I washed my mini twists by making six separate braided sections and that worked really well. It’s good to know I can keep that up when I start.
My hair likes to escape my twists so I already can see I’ll have a fuzzy stage. That’s why I was curious about needing product when I start them. What was the ratio on your mix? And how can I find info on the curl parting method?
I know my locs will swell at some point so I think I will twist a bit smaller than I have right now.

 

[shortycocoa]

I'm so excited for all these people making it to one year, ya'll!

Here's Glamazini (aka Roshini):

 

[shortycocoa]

@shortycocoa thanks a million for being so active in this thread and being so encouraging!
My hair is between APL and BSL. I washed my mini twists by making six separate braided sections and that worked really well. It’s good to know I can keep that up when I start.
My hair likes to escape my twists so I already can see I’ll have a fuzzy stage. That’s why I was curious about needing product when I start them. What was the ratio on your mix? And how can I find info on the curl parting method?
I know my locs will swell at some point so I think I will twist a bit smaller than I have right now.

I typed out a reply to this quote and then somehow lost it trying to add a pic to it, so now I have to start over and try to remember everything I wrote the first time.

If your question is about the ratio of my Infusium spray mix, I believe I used a 12-ounce spray bottle from the Dollar Tree. I put about 1/3-1/4 of Infusium, fill the rest with water, (leave room for the peppermint EO) and then add about 15-20 drops of peppermint EO. Put the lid back on and then shake it all up to mix everything together.

I probably used this 2 or 3 times after I started my locks, but discontinued. The only reason I discontinued is because one of the properties of Infusium is that it is a detangling conditioner. I am saving it to resume use for when my locks fully mature. This may be perfect for you since you are practicing and you don't want your hair to start locking, though.

If you are asking about the ratio of how much gel I used, I approached that differently. I would wet each parted section of hair with a little bit of plain water from the bathroom faucet first, then run that through my hair. After that I would then use the spray to wet my hair some more, then use my hands to smooth that into my hair so my curl pattern became visible. Then I would take 2-3 fingers and scoop some Long Aid out then smooth that over my sectioned hair from root to tip. Some sections required me to repeat this but after that the curls were well defined and parted. From there it was easy to see the size of each twist and hence my parts, so I would just twist my hair together. The curls that made a section of hair that was too small to stand alone as a twist/lock I would just join with the adjacent section of hair.

I referenced the method in posts #1894 and #1896 with visual supports.

What products are you using now?

 

[Foxglove]

I'm so excited for all these people making it to one year, ya'll!

Here's Glamazini (aka Roshini):

I am hella late I had no idea she locked

 

[shortycocoa]

I am hella late I had no idea she locked

Girl, where were you when I told ya'll she locked her hair earlier in the thread?

Her hair looks so good!

 

[shortycocoa]

@prettywhitty I also wanted to say you are most welcome and I am glad to be of assistance! I didn't wash nan dishes, fold any laundry or take my hair down today but I don't care. This thread gives me life and when I tell ya'll I love this thread, I LOVE this thread! I'm happy to do it.

But this is the spray:



And this is me doing the last section of twists. I didn't think to take more pics like this while I was twisting, but something told me to get these last few shots just in case I needed it later for reference.




I'll try to explain so it makes sense, but if you follow the pic from where my palm is as the starting point, and then go to my ear, I was able to make three two-strand twists based on the way the curls separated themselves after they were defined with the gel and spray. But if I wanted smaller twists, I could have easily gotten six two-strand twists out of this section. I hope you are able to see that and that I explained it clearly.

Here's a couple pics of what it looked like after I finished.





My avatar pic is from my last retightening in September at 5 months.

 

[shortycocoa]

I was trying to attach pics of what my hair looks like now but for some reason it wouldn't post. I'll try again later on. I need to try to get some sleep so I'm not dragging come 5:00 a.m.

 

[prettywhitty]

I typed out a reply to this quote and then somehow lost it trying to add a pic to it, so now I have to start over and try to remember everything I wrote the first time.

If your question is about the ratio of my Infusium spray mix, I believe I used a 12-ounce spray bottle from the Dollar Tree. I put about 1/3-1/4 of Infusium, fill the rest with water, (leave room for the peppermint EO) and then add about 15-20 drops of peppermint EO. Put the lid back on and then shake it all up to mix everything together.

I probably used this 2 or 3 times after I started my locks, but discontinued. The only reason I discontinued is because one of the properties of Infusium is that it is a detangling conditioner. I am saving it to resume use for when my locks fully mature. This may be perfect for you since you are practicing and you don't want your hair to start locking, though.

If you are asking about the ratio of how much gel I used, I approached that differently. I would wet each parted section of hair with a little bit of plain water from the bathroom faucet first, then run that through my hair. After that I would then use the spray to wet my hair some more, then use my hands to smooth that into my hair so my curl pattern became visible. Then I would take 2-3 fingers and scoop some Long Aid out then smooth that over my sectioned hair from root to tip. Some sections required me to repeat this but after that the curls were well defined and parted. From there it was easy to see the size of each twist and hence my parts, so I would just twist my hair together. The curls that made a section of hair that was too small to stand alone as a twist/lock I would just join with the adjacent section of hair.

I referenced the method in posts #1894 and #1896 with visual supports.

What products are you using now?

Right now I’m using up what’s left of my stash. I used Meille Organics to shampoo and deep condition before install. Put a small amount of TGIN’s wrist cream for install. On wash day I used diluted shampoo that I placed in an applicator bottle and used Shea moisture JBCO leave in. I put a small amount of Castor oil on the ends when they feel dry.
Counted my twists and I have 126 this go round. I’m a long way from 300

 

[shortycocoa]

Right now I’m using up what’s left of my stash. I used Meille Organics to shampoo and deep condition before install. Put a small amount of TGIN’s wrist cream for install. On wash day I used diluted shampoo that I placed in an applicator bottle and used Shea moisture JBCO leave in. I put a small amount of Castor oil on the ends when they feel dry.
Counted my twists and I have 126 this go round. I’m a long way from 300

Girl, that sounds like so many products and work....I can't. But you are giving them lots of nourishment and TLC and that's also important.

Make sure you are taking lots of pics to document your process so you will have a reference point to go on in choosing/selecting which look wins out for your starter locks.

Do the 126 locks feel like they will give you the look you want? 300 might end up being too many, especially since they will thicken up as your locks progress. I think that with each set, you should also practice manipulating them in the way you plan to maintain them so that you aren't all thumbs when it does come time for your first retwist, so that you have the rhythm down, and so that you can get a feel for what the process will be like to maintain them. That way you can decide if the number of locks in each set feel like too many or not enough.

I think you should split the baby somewhere in the middle and do 150-175, 200 at the most. Keep in mind that you can always combine if it ends up being too many, but if you start out with what you believe are not enough, there's no way to remedy that besides starting over.

Maybe you should also look for videos/pics of people who have the same characteristics in common with what you are trying to achieve in regards to the number of locks you want, hair texture, starting length, density, maintenance method, etc. and get advice from them. Your locks won't turn out exactly the same, but it may give you an idea for what you might be in for.

I was trying to find a woman on YouTube who started locks recently that had what appeared to be your same starting length, and she also started with two strand twists. She popped in my head as soon as you told me you were between APL and BSL, but for the life of me, I can't remember her name. I thought I had liked or saved the video, but I still can't find it in any of those playlists.

At any rate, I will not be defeated! I'll keep looking and when I find her, I'll be sure to post her video in this thread so you can see her and follow her journey.

 

[shortycocoa]

I was trying to find a woman on YouTube who started locks recently that had what appeared to be your same starting length, and she also started with two strand twists. She popped in my head as soon as you told me you were between APL and BSL, but for the life of me, I can't remember her name. I thought I had liked or saved the video, but I still can't find it in any of those playlists.

At any rate, I will not be defeated! I'll keep looking and when I find her, I'll be sure to post her video in this thread so you can see her and follow her journey.

@prettywhitty Ok, I'm back. I *think* this was her, but this isn't the initial video I saw that I wanted to post. So I don't know if this is really her and she just deleted it, or if it's someone else entirely. I'm going to keep looking cause this is really going to bother me until I find it.

ShaneilM:



Apparently, she had locks before, combed those out, and started again with these. I don't remember her saying that before, so that's what makes me think I have the wrong person. But her face, mannerisms, accent, etc. all see like it's her.

At the time she posted this video, she was at 10 months. She'll be 11 months this Saturday.:



I like this bun style she did here.:



Also, I found someone else with long hair that started with micro twists. She doesn't have a video that I could find on her channel with her actually starting them or showing them after they were started.

Christi McLester:



3 months:




This is her 3 year lock update. I like her messy bun!:

https://youtu.be/TFYTDdvY3JA

 

[shortycocoa]

@prettywhitty I found her!!!!!! I told you I would not be defeated!

Her name is KinkyStyles1980!





Her one year update:

 

[prettywhitty]

@shortycocoa
I watched her yesterday!!!
In regards to loc number I’m thinking more around the 200 mark. I’ve realized that with this set of twists I thought my parts were clean... nope. So that will be the focus with my next set.
I’m all over doing 2 strand twists until I watch Damian Walters comb coils. Then I want them but I’ve never tried to do them. There is a loc salon right around the corner from me. I may talk to them just to see if I’m on the right track.

 

[shortycocoa]

@shortycocoa
I watched her yesterday!!!
In regards to loc number I’m thinking more around the 200 mark. I’ve realized that with this set of twists I thought my parts were clean... nope. So that will be the focus with my next set.
I’m all over doing 2 strand twists until I watch Damian Walters comb coils. Then I want them but I’ve never tried to do them. There is a loc salon right around the corner from me. I may talk to them just to see if I’m on the right track.

200 is a good number. Are you watching enough videos about parting? I think I posted some earlier in the thread, if I'm not mistaken. I think comb coils are pretty but there is definitely a learning curve there that I never mastered.

I did finger coils once when I was a loose natural and I liked the look, even contemplated how that would have looked if I had started my locks with those back then.

I think that when I would play around with different sets of twists and box braids as a loose natural, I learned that the longer my hair got, the less I liked my hair in box braids. So, it was easy to rule out starting my hair with braids. (Which I actually did back in 2007 or 2008, but I took those out.) It could have also been that I didn't make the braids small enough or the parts were off.

I never really could say I "hated" any set of twists I ever did on my hair, except for maybe one set that was too small and spacey. So that also solidified my decision to start my locks with twists.

It's good that you have a local salon that you can go to to ask questions and get feedback. Hopefully they will provide you with more guidance and clarity.

My other suggestion to you will be to join the braidlocks, microlocks and Sisterlocks group on Facebook. That will give you lots of encouragement and inspiration. Those ladies have some exceptional skills with starting microlocks.

I told one woman earlier this week that she gets the award for the smallest set of two-strand twists starterlocks I have ever seen. She wanted the Sisterlocks look but didn't want to pay the hefty price so she did her own and they were microscopic. But they looked really good!

 

[mz.rae]

Just a little length check I’m amazed at how far my hair has come! Retighten is on Tuesday.

 

[shortycocoa]

Just a little length check I’m amazed at how far my hair has come! Retighten is on Tuesday.

Looking good!

 

[mz.rae]

Looking good!

Thank you!!

 

[shortycocoa]

I'm up early so I can hit this workout like a driveby and then get an early headstart on retightening my locks. I *hope* DS 1 stays asleep. Yesterday he woke up at 5:30 and scared the living daylights out of me. I'll have to stay in his room while I'm working. I think he wakes up and gets scared when he doesn't see me or feel my presence.

 

[shortycocoa]

Ya'll have been quiet in here all weekend. What's up with that????

I finished my retightening this morning. I documented and added up all the time I spent on my hair this weekend. Sunday morning I started and I spent 11 hours retightening. I had to stop periodically through the day for breaks, meals, taking care of my kids, etc. I really thought I was going to be able to push through and keep going when 11 p.m. hit last night to finish up my last two sections in the front, but I wasn't really about that life so I called it a night and got ready for bed.

Those front two sections always seem to need the most work, but it was the same way when I had Sisterlocks. This morning I finished up and it took me 3 hours. I kept making mistakes that I had to undo and fix, new locks I had to put in that unravelled, and a couple locks I had to combine to give the weaker ones a stronger base.

I love how my hair feels so thick and full after a fresh retightening. I think I'm going to continue maintaining at 8 weeks. The ones that keep unravelling and loosening up fast will get done at 4 weeks or sooner, if needed.

Here's a few pics:

 

[mz.rae]

Every time I wash my hair I notice something weird. I have no idea what this situation is right here. Is the end about to come off? Is this bunching? I’m glad my retighten is tomorrow.

 

[shortycocoa]

Every time I wash my hair I notice something weird. I have no idea what this situation is right here. Is the end about to come off? Is this bunching? I’m glad my retighten is tomorrow.

Is that the only lock you see this on, or are others affected? I could be wrong, but IMO, the curled up part looks like the beginning of bunching, which shouldn't be hard for your consultant to fix, since it's in the early stages. It's harder to repair and more expensive the longer you wait, because more shed hairs will continue to wrap around it.

The part near your finger right above where it looks like your ends are sealing (or have already sealed) looks like slippage. Your consultant should be able to fix that also. Anytime you can't see a clear interlocking pattern that looks like loose hair, it's slippage.

The longer you wait to fix it, there's the potential for it to get thinner and break off.

I'd love to hear what your consultant said about these issues, as well as how she fixed it. We talked about bunching earlier in the thread but no one that I can find has an actual solution that doesn't involve cutting the hair.

Can you please post an after pic so we can see?

 

[shortycocoa]

I like Desiree Marie's channel and her videos. I just watched this video not too long ago.

 

[mz.rae]

Is that the only lock you see this on, or are others affected? I could be wrong, but IMO, the curled up part looks like the beginning of bunching, which shouldn't be hard for your consultant to fix, since it's in the early stages. It's harder to repair and more expensive the longer you wait, because more shed hairs will continue to wrap around it.

The part near your finger right above where it looks like your ends are sealing (or have already sealed) looks like slippage. Your consultant should be able to fix that also. Anytime you can't see a clear interlocking pattern that looks like loose hair, it's slippage.

The longer you wait to fix it, there's the potential for it to get thinner and break off.

I'd love to hear what your consultant said about these issues, as well as how she fixed it. We talked about bunching earlier in the thread but no one that I can find has an actual solution that doesn't involve cutting the hair.

Can you please post an after pic so we can see?

I found one other loc near that one that has the same situation going on. I’m definitely going to show my consultant she is usually good about fixing issues. I was scared the end was just going to snap off. But I will definitely show an after picture after my retighten today.

 

[Guinan]

I like Desiree Marie's channel and her videos. I just watched this video not too long ago.

This was funny!!! Especially the one with the dude.

 

[FlawedBeauty]

I like Desiree Marie's channel and her videos. I just watched this video not too long ago.

LMAO OMG hilarious!!!

So I'm finally gonna wash my hair today after a week and a few days!!!!!! I'm so excited to wash lol. I have a retwist scheduled for December 1. I think I mentioned that already I can't recall lol