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

[Oasis]

When I first started my locs my hair was BSL but shrank up to my ears/neck. I was in the military at the time and that would not fly so I added extensions like a week after starting. It wasn’t recommended to add extensions until the hair was fully locked but I do what I want.

After sticking by me for 3 years they have decided to start slipping out. In public. Like, at work. Or at the airport. At the same time they all just said **** it.

I decided to remove the rest and was met with a few surprises:

- My hair in the front grows super slow. There is a significant difference in length after removing the extensions.

- My hair in the back grows really fast and my real dreads are nearly BSL.

- My ends are jet black. My roots are black but my hair eventually turns an ugly shade of brown. I guess the extensions shielded my hair from the sun so each loc is black – brown – black.

 

[Arian]

Some of my locs in the back refuse to loc at the roots... I even feel where I have a small amount of "free" hair hanging out back there. I am not sure how that happened or what to do about it. I could get a fresh retwist and these same two locs would unravel at the roots and feel wavy.

I have been taking MSM lately, so I hope it is not preventing my hair from locking.

 

[Nicarie]

Does anyone follow Yanni the Locologist's channel? She has a very low key approach to locing. I've been using her techniques since February '17 and I've seen a huge improvement.

 

[mz.rae]

Ladies I am so butt hurt right now and mad at myself! I've been wearing this wig on the weekends, and when I took it down I notice that a lot of my Sisterlocks in the front around my edges are slipping out and in my nape area as well where the wig cap rests. I'm mad because I knew better and should have been braiding my hair down prior to putting the wig on. Thus far I haven't had any issues with slippage just one coming out, and now this. I'm hurt because I wanted all my hair to loc at the same time. Thankfully my retighten is this week. No more wigs for me!

 

[msdeevee]

Ladies I am so butt hurt right now and mad at myself! I've been wearing this wig on the weekends, and when I took it down I notice that a lot of my Sisterlocks in the front around my edges are slipping out and in my nape area as well where the wig cap rests. I'm mad because I knew better and should have been braiding my hair down prior to putting the wig on. Thus far I haven't had any issues with slippage just one coming out, and now this. I'm hurt because I wanted all my hair to loc at the same time. Thankfully my retighten is this week. No more wigs for me!

@mz.rae...What!!! Why did you start with the wigs? From what I've read and researched wigs will inhibit your hair from locking.

You have beautiful Sisterlocks. Let them flourish. After your retight pamper your locks . Get some advice from your consultant and follow it. She knows your hair better than you or at least that's what the training teaches them. Every time I went for my retights I would ask my consultant questions about my hair, what her opinions were and where did she think I was in the locking phase. I'm 13 months in now and I've never had any slippage or other serious issues. I did everything she told me to do.

My Sisterlocks are not mature but she told me their settled. I can now wash my hair gently without braiding & banding and I was desperate to color my greys so she told me how to do that safely. Sisterlocks is an investment we have to protect. Barring any serious health issue or other life changing event I plan on keeping my locks for life.

What are you planning for your locks? Are you on any of the Sisterlock Facebook sites? You can get a lot of help & advice there.

Sorry for the long rant I mean well.

 

[Foxglove]

Some of my locs in the back refuse to loc at the roots... I even feel where I have a small amount of "free" hair hanging out back there. I am not sure how that happened or what to do about it. I could get a fresh retwist and these same two locs would unravel at the roots and feel wavy.

I have been taking MSM lately, so I hope it is not preventing my hair from locking.

My edges took forever to loc and the shorter ones unraveled a few times before locing. ITA with the above poster leave the wigs and stick to simple styles (i.e. avoid braid outs, etc) while they're babies. Once they're more mature you can do more to them without damaging them

 

[mz.rae]

@mz.rae...What!!! Why did you start with the wigs? From what I've read and researched wigs will inhibit your hair from locking.

You have beautiful Sisterlocks. Let them flourish. After your retight pamper your locks . Get some advice from your consultant and follow it. She knows your hair better than you or at least that's what the training teaches them. Every time I went for my retights I would ask my consultant questions about my hair, what her opinions were and where did she think I was in the locking phase. I'm 13 months in now and I've never had any slippage or other serious issues. I did everything she told me to do.

My Sisterlocks are not mature but she told me their settled. I can now wash my hair gently without braiding & banding and I was desperate to color my greys so she told me how to do that safely. Sisterlocks is an investment we have to protect. Barring any serious health issue or other life changing event I plan on keeping my locks for life.

What are you planning for your locks? Are you on any of the Sisterlock Facebook sites? You can get a lot of help & advice there.

Sorry for the long rant I mean well.

I just started wearing wigs over the weekend for some length, I got tired of the short hair. And yes I'm in three Sisterlock groups on Facebook that have been helpful though I don't really post in them. I guess right now I'm really self conscious of the keloid on my ear that is keeping me from enjoying my short locs. Hopefully I will be getting it removed from my ear soon, till then I can't wait for when my hair is long enough to cover it up.

 

[msdeevee]

@mz.rae, I understand.

I thought my short starter locks were going to embarrass me . I bought literally a drawer full of headbands and wraps but after the first week I said forget it.

In the 13 months I've had my locks they have doubled in length. I started with 3-4" inches and now it's 8" and growing fast. I can do a lot more than I could when I started out.

Your locks will grow fast too. Time will fly, You'll see.

 

[mz.rae]

I just got my retighten yesterday, and I am back in love with my hair. It looks like I've gained some length. I will post a four month update picture soon.

 

[Foxglove]

I forgot to post my 3 year anniversary was this week. I'm working on uploading pics since photobucket is no longer an option

 

[Oasis]

I forgot to post my 3 year anniversary was this week. I'm working on uploading pics since photobucket is no longer an option

what happened to photobucket?

 

[Foxglove]

what happened to photobucket?

Now they're charging. I refuse to pay for photobucket of all things

 

[mz.rae]

Looking at these pictures is really showing me how much my hair has grown. I'm getting ready to go into my fifth month being sisterlocked.

 

[nothidden]

Ladies I am so butt hurt right now and mad at myself! I've been wearing this wig on the weekends, and when I took it down I notice that a lot of my Sisterlocks in the front around my edges are slipping out and in my nape area as well where the wig cap rests. I'm mad because I knew better and should have been braiding my hair down prior to putting the wig on. Thus far I haven't had any issues with slippage just one coming out, and now this. I'm hurt because I wanted all my hair to loc at the same time. Thankfully my retighten is this week. No more wigs for me!

When my Sisterlocks were established, I used to wear a LocSoc at night and while working out. I stopped using it because I believe the band was wreaking havoc on my perimeter. Things are a lot better now that I use a plain old satin scarf.

On another note, I think I'm one and done w/the SisterLock starter shampoo. I haven't experienced an itchy scalp since allowing my hair to grow the past 3 years. After one use of the starter shampoo, my hair itches daily, and I've noticed scalp buildup and flaking. I will be switching to either DIY soap nut shampoo or Cush Cosmetics' mango babassu shampoo bar. They both leave my hair rough enough to tangle but w/NO buildup or itching. I will probably followup with an aloe vera juice/rose water rinse.

 

[mochalocks]

Two strand twisted my locs. I love it! My hair grew so much too.

 

[Growinpainz]

Haven't been on this side in a long time

I started my sisterlock journey last July but took them down and had them reinstalled this past April. The first consultant rushed and only put 200 in. I was pissssssssed and hurt and frustrated. A nice lady saw my story on facebook and reached out to me to help me take down and redo them. I've been through so much with this hair that I've considered shaving it all off. The only thing stopping me is knowing what the outcome will be if I'm patient.

 

[Arian]

I got color this weekend. It was time for a change. I am excited.

 

[Foxglove]

View attachment 409673

I got color this weekend. It was time for a change. I am excited.

I love the color

 

[Foxglove]

Fixed. See below

 

[Arian]

I love the color

Thank you!

 

[Foxglove]

Ok let's try this again. I'm trying imgur this time
Day 2 vs year 3 comparison shots

 

[mz.rae]

Ok let's try this again. I'm trying imgur this time
Day 2 vs year 3 comparison shots

Love your progress!!!

 

[Foxglove]

Love your progress!!!

Thanks! Now I feel like I can set length goals lol

 

[mz.rae]

Thanks! Now I feel like I can set length goals lol

Lol! I can't wait for when I get to that point.

 

[acapnleo]

was finally able to get a hippy hair beach pic...sort of the front still acting a fool but the majority if not all are at least budding now and trying to thicken up.

View attachment 407379

@BillsBackerz67 didn't realize you had locs

Nice pic, looks pretty

 

[Arian]

Have we posted our loc maintenance regimens somewhere in this thread? To include products, frequency of retwist, etc?

I am curious. Looking for better ways to take care of my hair in between retwists.

Storytime: I have had to change locticians several times and I am wondering if I need to start learning how to retwist my own hair. I am just having some difficulty right now.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

@BillsBackerz67 didn't realize you had locs

Nice pic, looks pretty

Thank youIt will be 18 months in November.

 

[KinkyRN]

Thanks to you ladies for having this thread. I started my bay locs on 9/9 after wanting locs for years!! I am enjoying the ease of getting up and going. I will be dependent on my stylist until I get enough length to care for them myself. I have thin hair so I will probably re twist every 6-8 weeks. Please keep the info coming I need it.

 

[mz.rae]

I'm thinking about using a clarifying shampoo my next wash. And instead of braiding my hair I want to use twists, as I can't for the life of me braid loose at my scalp. I hope the twists will be as secure as the braids so I don't experience any slippage. My birthday is this weekend and I am trying to figure out how to style my hair.

 

[Platinum]

Have we posted our loc maintenance regimens somewhere in this thread? To include products, frequency of retwist, etc?

I am curious. Looking for better ways to take care of my hair in between retwists.

Storytime: I have had to change locticians several times and I am wondering if I need to start learning how to retwist my own hair. I am just having some difficulty right now.

I don't think we posted our regimens. I'll post later.