Question 1

How long does my hair have to be before I can have my hair locked?

Accepted Answer

Your hair needs to be at least 6 inches to lock your natural hair, this includes the hair at the nape of your neck. The longer your hair is, the easier it will be to lock and the quicker it will mature. If your hair is on the shorter side, lock may just need a little more maintenance before they really start to lock and tighten.
 
If your hair isn't quite long enough let you might consider getting temporary extensions while waiting for your hair to grow.

Question 2

What process do you use to get the hair to lock?

Accepted Answer

We use a combination of backcombing and crochet/latchook method. We never use thread, root ties, wax, or chemicals.
 
There are many ways to start and maintain natural locs. We are professionally trained and have years of experience with our 100% all natural, WAX-FREE, back comb and crochet methods for natural loc installation and maintenance. This method will work on ANY texture hair, no matter how straight, curly, thick, thin, coarse or soft it is. We never judge anyone on any way they choose to start their journey. This method can be used for any locs regardless of the method you used to start them.

Question 3

How much does it cost to have my hair locked?

Accepted Answer

A consultation is required to give an accurate estimate of how long the process could take and therefore how much it will cost. The amount of time can vary greatly depending on the length of your hair, the size of the desired locs, and whether or not you'd like to add extensions. Our rates vary from $85-140/hour depending on each stylists years of experience. In my experience:
A partial set of locss can take 1-2 hours.
A full set locs can take take 3-5 hours.
Extensions cost $5-10 each depending on length and require extra time to install.

Question 4

How much will my locs shrink after install?

Accepted Answer

How much length you loose depends on your hair type, as thinner hair tends to result in more shrinking than thick hair. The thickness of the actual locs also tend to play a part. On average, expect to loose about 20% of your length.

Question 5

How long will it take for my locs to mature?

Accepted Answer

Well this depends on a couple of things - some hair types lock easier than other and the amount of time you spend on maintenance can influence the time they take to mature also. Here is an idea of what you may experience:
On day 1, you might find some of your locs feel quite stiff and not very solid. Perhaps some are standing straight up, particularly if your hair is shorter, but over the coming days and weeks these little guys will start to settle down.
Between weeks 1-4, it may seem like they are starting to loosen and you'll have lots of loose hair coming away from the locs. Don't panic, this is totally normal as locs tend to tighten and mature from the inside out. Keep them on track by palm rolling. 
By weeks 6 - 8 you should notice them really start to tighten and mature. You may notice them shrink a little more and perhaps get a little lumpy and bumpy as some mature faster than others. Your locs are basically going through puberty, but hang in there, they are well on their way to adulthood! This is the time when I usually like to see you back for a maintenance appointment to tidy everything up and make sure you're on track to happy healthy locs. 
At the 3 month mark they are becoming smoother and tighter by the day. Be sure to keep them clean with a residue-free dreadlock shampoo as this will also help encourage the new growth to lock up. 
During months 6-12, they should be well over shrinking and you're on your way to getting some length. They should feel tight and smooth and no doubt can hold a lot of water - make sure you squeeze them out after washing and allow them to dry thoroughly.
By their 1st birthday you should be sporting a hot head of mature locs - congratulations! From here on, maintenance only gets easier.  By now you've developed a routine and know what works and what doesn't for your particular locs to keep them (and you) happy and healthy.

Question 6

How often should I get my roots maintained?

Accepted Answer

I recommend getting your roots touched up every 6-8 weeks for the first 6 months. After that appointments can be spaced out as needed. Maintenance sessions take an average of 1-2 hours.

Question 7

What type of maintenance do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

Week 1 - I recommend that you avoid shampooing your new locs for about the first week with a loc-safe, residue free shampoo like Luxe or Locsanity. If your scalp is not particularly oily and can handle less frequent shampooing, then you can wait longer before your first shampoo. Oily build up, however, can cause itch, irritation and dandruff, so I recommend maintaining the health of your scalp and hair by shampooing sooner if required. A good trick is to take a color bottle and mix a little shampoo with water and squirt the mixture onto your scalp between the dreads then gently massage your scalp and let the soapy water run over the rest of your locs as you rinse.
 
Ongoing Maintenance
Shampooing: How often you need to shampoo depends on your hair and scalp type. For most people, shampooing once a week would be sufficient but you may wish to do more or less frequent shampooing if you have a particularly oily or dry scalp. Keep in mind that the cleaner the hair, the easier it will knot and lock up. It's very important to use a non-residue shampoo designed for locs as regular shampoos will leave behind conditioning agents which could build up in your locs and inhibit the locking process. Make sure you never leave your hair tied up in a ponytail when it's still wet. Leave your hair down and allow it to air dry or blow dry before putting your hair up.
Palm Rolling: Frequent palm rolling with downward pressure will ensure your locs remain separated, help keep them nice and rounded, and will help stretch out and minimize lumps, bumps and shrinkage. Do this after shampooing and as often as is convenient.  Locs are usually nice and tight immediately after installation but it is normal for them to become a little messy and untidy, particularly after shampooing. Wearing a headband or bonnet when you sleep as well as a silk or satin pillowcase can also help with fuzziness.

Question 8

Should I condition or oil my locs?

Accepted Answer

Locs don't tend to need or like conditioner OR oil. Conditioning is the opposite effect of what locs need. It will make them feel soft, which can be nice, but also fuzzes and loosens them up, which isn't what you want!

Question 9

Can you dye or bleach locs?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Colored locs can look amazing! Coloring and bleach do tend to dry out the hair but this is fine for locs, if done safely, as it means knotting and locking up will be easier. If you already have locs, just wait until they are about 10-12 weeks old before coloring them. Check out coloring products here.

Question 10

I've seen photos of some locs where you can see the scalp. Will I look scalpy?

Accepted Answer

All new locs show the scalp a little as they've been freshly sectioned. It's the same as when someone gets their hair done in braids - some of your scalp shows because the hair is pulled tight to the scalp when they're fresh. Only someone standing over you and looking down head will see it, and after about 3 weeks your new locs relax a bit you won't see the scalp anymore. If you prefer the relaxed look straight away, just ask your Loctician to make the bases a bit looser.

Question 11

What about swimming with locs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can swim with locs. Chlorine won't hurt them and salt water helps the hair lock faster, but it is a good idea to rinse chlorine out after you swim. If you have baby locs, you may end up with a few loose hairs but just follow your swim with our recommended maintenance routine of palm rolling. You can also purchase a special swim cap that accommodates the size and bulk of locs.

Question 12

Can you take locs out after install?

Accepted Answer

Most locs, or at least the method I use, are not a one-time-only hairstyle. They will tighten and mature over time, so if they are only a few weeks old then combing them out will be much easier than trying to comb out mature locs. Combing them out is tedious but can be done using deep conditioners or coconut oil and a flea comb.  And lots and lots of patience.

Question 13

Are natural locs right for me?

Accepted Answer

The transformation that occurs when someone locks their hair is a significant one, but locs don’t always deliver that instant gratification like a new haircut and hair color may.  When you leave our salon after having new natural locs installed they will look nice and tight, but will look nothing like what they will eventually mature to be. Locks typically take approximately 1-2 years to fully mature and will change significantly throughout that time. They require a ton of patience and a good amount of TLC from you at home especially if you want them to be on the neater side of things. Natural locs are a commitment and not what we would consider a temporary hairstyle.  If you're looking for a temporary style to see if natural locs are for you, you might consider trying temporary, braided in locs.

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