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

I really want to get there!
You will! I started stretching a little past the 2 year mark. My only upkeep I do is washing my hair and retwisting my edges every 2-3 weeks. With my job being at random places its easier to go long stretches than trying to find a loctition in every single location. It’s awesome spending less than $300 a year on salon services haha.
 
You will! I started stretching a little past the 2 year mark. My only upkeep I do is washing my hair and retwisting my edges every 2-3 weeks. With my job being at random places its easier to go long stretches than trying to find a loctition in every single location. It’s awesome spending less than $300 a year on salon services haha.
2 years is a long ways away for me. I’m just barely at the 3-month point. Ive been digging through this thread to find early pics for inspiration. I know my hair is my hair but it’s nice to have pics to look at for reference points.
 
2 years is a long ways away for me. I’m just barely at the 3-month point. Ive been digging through this thread to find early pics for inspiration. I know my hair is my hair but it’s nice to have pics to look at for reference points.
I understand. And 2 years will fly it’s really not that long. at the 3 month mark my locs got washed out. :rolleyes: I was personally using Instagram and Pinterest pics for chronological time frames of locs. You’ll have better luck there then this thread IMO.
 
I understand. And 2 years will fly it’s really not that long. at the 3 month mark my locs got washed out. :rolleyes: I was personally using Instagram and Pinterest pics for chronological time frames of locs. You’ll have better luck there then this thread IMO.
I think I’m loced, I’m not mature yet but they don’t wash out. I have a hair journal so I’m keeping up with my hair as it changes. I’ll check both apps for pics, thanks.
 
I understand. And 2 years will fly it’s really not that long. at the 3 month mark my locs got washed out. :rolleyes: I was personally using Instagram and Pinterest pics for chronological time frames of locs. You’ll have better luck there then this thread IMO.

I agree....I mentioned earlier that I was doing the same thing on IG...which reminds me, I need to go on there and drool over all the '9 months locked pics', because I don't think have done enough of that this month. Or got my fill from last month. :look:
 
Retwist appointment went smoothly. What helped during that 5 month drought was making sure none of my locs merged together during that time. As a result, the process was pain free. Also they still don’t seem like they got any longer only thicker.o_O:lachen:oh well. I believe the only way to see truth length in mine is if they are soaking wet. Either that or for every 3 inches of growth the length drops 1 inch like my loose hair:rolleyes:

Before retwist: very puffy frizzy roots.
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Retwist appointment went smoothly. What helped during that 5 month drought was making sure none of my locs merged together during that time. As a result, the process was pain free. Also they still don’t seem like they got any longer only thicker.o_O:lachen:oh well. I believe the only way to see truth length in mine is if they are soaking wet. Either that or for every 3 inches of growth the length drops 1 inch like my loose hair:rolleyes:

Before retwist: very puffy frizzy roots.
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BEAUTIFUL!!

How do you keep your hair from merging. My loctician told me to separate my locs, which I have been doing. The problem is when I get my hair wash at the salon, my hair mats up and they merge together. When my hair is dry it doesnt merge b/c I separate them, but when it's wet it's matted
 
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2 years is a long ways away for me. I’m just barely at the 3-month point. Ive been digging through this thread to find early pics for inspiration. I know my hair is my hair but it’s nice to have pics to look at for reference points.

I LOVE looking at the pics in this thread. There was one poster that used to post all the time about her loc journey, but I havent seen her in here in a long time. I loved how many pics she shared. It really helped me with maintaining realistic expectations. I cant remember the poster's name. I want to start posting more pics of my journey to help or share with any newcomers.

ETA: @Arian, was the poster's name. I REALLY enjoyed seeing her starter locs mature and I loved reading her posts about her frustrations and her joys with locs.
 
BEAUTIFUL!!

How do you keep your hair from merging. My loctician told me to separate my loc, which I have been doing. The problem is when I get my hair wash at the salon, my hair mats up.
Thank you! Your locs are fairly new so hair escaping from the locs cause this. Mine did the same. I pull them as part while I’m oiling my scalp. I do this every 2-3 days so it’s not painful at all. Also the lady who twists my hair doesn’t pile my hair on top of my hair after washing and drying it itwith the towel. It causes instant matting. She towel squeezes.

Oh and as your locs mature, if you have very kinky tightly coiled hair (I do not) that is naturally prone to matting it might be inevitable regardless of what you do. Especially if you go beyond the standard 4-6 weeks of retwisting My cousin has hair like this and if she ever started locs, I’m almost certain hers would be completely loc’d within a week. She has true Loc ready hair.

For my roots, as it’s growing in, all of the new shorter hairs don’t grow into the existing locs in certain sections of my head, so that’s why my roots frequently marry.
 
BEAUTIFUL!!

How do you keep your hair from merging. My loctician told me to separate my locs, which I have been doing. The problem is when I get my hair wash at the salon, my hair mats up and they merge together. When my hair is dry it doesnt merge b/c I separate them, but when it's wet it's matted
I have the worst time separating my locs in the back. I think I've actually caused bunching in a few of the interlocks by accidentally pulling hair out of the interlocked part when separating :(
 
I LOVE looking at the pics in this thread. There was one poster that used to post all the time about her loc journey, but I havent seen her in here in a long time. I loved how many pics she shared. It really helped me with maintaining realistic expectations. I cant remember the poster's name. I want to start posting more pics of my journey to help or share with any newcomers.

ETA: @Arian, was the poster's name. I REALLY enjoyed seeing her starter locs mature and I loved reading her posts about her frustrations and her joys with locs.
That’s awesome. I’m going to look her up.
 
Retwist appointment went smoothly. What helped during that 5 month drought was making sure none of my locs merged together during that time. As a result, the process was pain free. Also they still don’t seem like they got any longer only thicker.o_O:lachen:oh well. I believe the only way to see truth length in mine is if they are soaking wet. Either that or for every 3 inches of growth the length drops 1 inch like my loose hair:rolleyes:

Before retwist: very puffy frizzy roots.
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Love love love your locs. Thanks for posting the pics.
 
I have the worst time separating my locs in the back. I think I've actually caused bunching in a few of the interlocks by accidentally pulling hair out of the interlocked part when separating :(
I had a few in the back do this same thing in my earlier locking stages and I let it be until my next Retwist appt. they could see the parts and what was going on back there better than I could haha.
 
I never get tired of looking at beautiful locs at all stages.

I agree! I absolutely love it.

Retwist appointment went smoothly. What helped during that 5 month drought was making sure none of my locs merged together during that time. As a result, the process was pain free. Also they still don’t seem like they got any longer only thicker.o_O:lachen:oh well. I believe the only way to see truth length in mine is if they are soaking wet. Either that or for every 3 inches of growth the length drops 1 inch like my loose hair:rolleyes:

Before retwist: very puffy frizzy roots.
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View attachment 442937 View attachment 442939

Your hair still looks so beautiful, full, and lush! And that ponytail is gorgeous! Your locks might end up getting super thick first before the length consistently drops. You are far enough along in your journey for the length to be crazy, so I think your explanation is on point.

I think it's cool, either way and I love seeing YouTubers who have the same type of hair do that, loose naturals or locks.

I LOVE looking at the pics in this thread. There was one poster that used to post all the time about her loc journey, but I havent seen her in here in a long time. I loved how many pics she shared. It really helped me with maintaining realistic expectations. I cant remember the poster's name. I want to start posting more pics of my journey to help or share with any newcomers.

ETA: @Arian, was the poster's name. I REALLY enjoyed seeing her starter locs mature and I loved reading her posts about her frustrations and her joys with locs.

Me too! I really liked reading her posts and I liked being able to see her hair throughout her journey. I had hoped that she would come back and share more and give us some updates, but she hasn't posted in a while.
 
I agree! I absolutely love it.



Your hair still looks so beautiful, full, and lush! And that ponytail is gorgeous! Your locks might end up getting super thick first before the length consistently drops. You are far enough along in your journey for the length to be crazy, so I think your explanation is on point.

I think it's cool, either way and I love seeing YouTubers who have the same type of hair do that, loose naturals or locks.



Me too! I really liked reading her posts and I liked being able to see her hair throughout her journey. I had hoped that she would come back and share more and give us some updates, but she hasn't posted in a while.
Thank you so much @shortycocoa i can honestly say I’m ok with the length not being as long as I thought they should be. I can pull it up in a high bun and tuck the ends under now. As long as I can do that, I’m good. :lachen: That’s all I do with it anyway. :rolleyes:
 
I’m nearly three months in now and the roots fuzzy. :lachen:I normally don’t care about this, but I had a formal event and I had to figure out what to do. Shrunken my hair is still just past shoulders. So I figured out an updo and used water and the tiniest bit of clear aloe vera gel to lay these edges down. It turned out pretty good.
In the past a formal event would be an excuse to straighten my hair. I felt beautiful with my hair this way. That is awesome to me.
 
I’m nearly three months in now and the roots fuzzy. :lachen:I normally don’t care about this, but I had a formal event and I had to figure out what to do. Shrunken my hair is still just past shoulders. So I figured out an updo and used water and the tiniest bit of clear aloe vera gel to lay these edges down. It turned out pretty good.
In the past a formal event would be an excuse to straighten my hair. I felt beautiful with my hair this way. That is awesome to me.
I want to see pics please.
 
This is really pretty! You did a good job establishing your starter locks. I can envision how they will look once they mature. I like the size.
Thanks!
I’m now getting around the three month mark and I’m seeing little changes. The roots seem fuller and some of the twist parts seem skinny. It reminds me of when I went natural and had thick regrow this and anemic relaxed ends.
I’m torn on maintenance. I interlocked the first time and it’s already grown quite a bit. I feel like some of my roots are slightly bumpy where I interlocked before. Is that normal? Would it be smoother if I palmrolled?
 
I’m torn on maintenance. I interlocked the first time and it’s already grown quite a bit. I feel like some of my roots are slightly bumpy where I interlocked before. Is that normal? Would it be smoother if I palmrolled

I believe that's normal. I mentioned in another post that as your hair grows out after a retightening, you can clearly feel a hard spot on the lock and right above that is where the new growth is. I use those spots as indicators to tell me how much my hair has grown.

It might feel and look different on each set of locks, but it sounds like that's what you're describing.


It will blend in/disappear at every retightening as your hair grows out. Sometimes it disappears on it's own before then.

I could be wrong though. Can you post a pic so I can see what it actually looks like?

Some other possible scenarios:

The bumpy appearance could have came from an interlocking mistake, but off the top of my head I don't recall you mentioning that you had problems in terms of retightening.

It could also be your hair budding. Buds can happen anywhere along the length of the locks.

But without a picture, I can only give you my hypothesis of what I think is happening, based on what you have described.

I'm not sure if palmrolling would lessen the bumpy appearance. Maybe try it on one of your locks at your next retightening to see?
 
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