True or False – You have to cut your hair to start locs? False.

True or False – You can brush your hair when you have locs? True.

Chances are you weren’t expecting those answers and it’s because there are so many misconceptions and myths when it comes to locs. I’ve made it my personal mission to dispel these myths and promote the versatility and beauty of locs; starting with what you should know before you start locs.

5 Things You Should Know Before Starting Locs

1. You don’t have to shave your head. This is true for starting locs and if you decide that you want your loose natural hair back. I personally spent 10 hours combing out my Sisterlocks with a thumbtack and still had a lot of length to play with afterwards. As long as you’re properly taking care of your locs (see Tip #4) you can comb out your locs without cutting them off.
2. The method you start with matters. There are several ways you can start your loc journey – comb coils or gel twists, two strand twists, braids, organically / freeform, interlocking or backcombing. The most important thing to know about each of these techniques is that the stating method you chose will determine the end appearance of the locs. So you should do your research and plan your loc journey based on how you want your locs to look once they’ve matured.
3. You can still do popular hairstyles. Many people chose not to lock their hair because they like to try new things and think if you have locs you will be limited to just one hairstyle. This is a myth. You can still get box braids, Marley twists, Crochet Braids, and wear straight or Afro wigs over locs. The beauty of it is that you don’t have to worry about detangling your hair once you take out the protective style.
4. Most commercial products “for locs” are horrible. If it says “For Locs” and is in the Beauty Supply store more than likely the product contains petroleum, wax, or is a creamy substances that will cause build up in your locs, thinning and breakage. I’ve found that you truly only need water and a light oil, like jojoba oil, for your locs – on a daily basis and to retwist. However if you feel you must use products, try to only use homemade flaxseed gel or Aloe Vera Gel which take about 15 minutes to make, cost less than $5, and lasts for at least 6 months! Never use Jamaican Mango and Lime. EVER!
5. You can seriously get up and go! One of the main reasons why I chose to lock my hair was because locs are so low maintenance I didn’t have the time to spend hours on “wash day” or detangling my hair on a daily basis. A loc regimen basically involves moisturizing, protecting them at night and shaking them out in the morning (maybe some Loc Brushing once they’re mature) but that’s it! I only spend about 3 minutes finessing my locs in the morning and I’m good to go.

Understanding these 5 things before starting locs will save you a lot of time, money and frustration during your journey!

And now that you know more about locs are you considering locking your hair in the future?