Starting Locs

Locs do not happen overnight.  The time it takes for your hair to lock depends on the type and texture of your hair.  It can take as little as a few weeks for coarse hair, or as long as 2 years to fully lock straighter hair.  Don’t be scared, many loc in 4-8 months.

There are several ways you can start your locs.  The method depends on your preference.

Some people are very detailed and exact in there sizes of locs, others are not.  Basically, there are two “types” of locs.  There are the freeform locs which are allowed to grow as nature wants them to (like dreadlocks).  And, there are cultivated or manipulated locs which are guided to loc in a certain manner.  With the cultivated type of locs you part your hair into sections to work with.  The sizes of your sections depend on the size you want your locs to be, however, do not make your sections smaller than the size of a pencil.  Locs started off too small may eventually break off from the weight of the hair after they grow long. 

Freeform Method

This is the easiest method.  Just wash your hair and towel dry in a circular motion.  Then, leave it alone.  Repeat at the next washing.

Cultivated Methods

SingleTwists.  Use a product to twist your hair, such as pure aloe vera gel, or a lock and twist butter.  After washing and towel drying, apply product down the length of your hair, and use your finger to twist/twirl your hair into a coil.  Or, use a comb to twist into a coil.  Or, palmroll your hair into a coil by placing the hair in the palm of your hands and rolling it in the same direction.

 Single Twists

Two-Strand Twist.  Follow single twist instructions except you take two portions of hair and twist them around one another.

Braids.  Just braid the small sections of hair.  Now, as your hair at the roots starts to lock, your hair at the ends will still be in braids.  You can eventually cut the braids off to leave just the locked portion.

Sisterlocks is a registered process done in a salon that uses a tool to lock the hair.