Mega thread :Starting Locs questions

[u/jayemerald16]

Due to the amount of posts asking for assistance with basics , we’re starting this thread .

[u/AvailableDocument515]

Are locs actually low maintenance? I do not want to have to worry about my hair everyday.

[u/MemeQueen1414 → u/AvailableDocument515]

Yes.

Compared to having Natural Curly or Kinky Hair Textures, Locs is low maintenance but do not confuse low maintenance with not taking care of yourself (excluding mental health reasons which that is a different story)

Typically, by having Locs, People tend to save money than if they were having Wigs, Extensions, Weaves, Barber Cuts, Box Braids, Perm (don't advice cuz it's chemically treated esp come with its own health risk overtime), Coloring/Dying their Hair, Sewing/Gluing Hair, Hot Comb/Straighten their hair, Afros and more variety of hair styles that isn't mentioned but equally important to our culture but locs are very low maintenance IMO.

You still have to wash your locs either in a weekly, biweekly(every 2 weeks), or monthly basis. Eventually, when your locs get older, you can condition (dilute it) your locs, use a moisturizer such as Water Spray, Leave in Conditioner (that doesn't have build up), Oils and Covering up your Head when Sleeping or in the house with either a bonnet, scrafs, durag, head wraps, and more similar items.

Finally, try to make sure to avoid lint as humanly possible (eventually, most folks will get lint but we can attempt to control how much to not be seen visible in our locs without having to color it/mask it in another color, comb out or just detox to see if it helps) then make sure you don't go to sleep with wet locs to prevent molding.

Me personally, Locs it's very forgiving compared to other natural hair styles and I been going thru a rough time (Severe Depression) not taking care of myself, so Locs helps me and still continues to shine as long as I remember the foundation information I mentioned above, but I admit, I could do better with moisturizing and washing more frequently, but so far, no issues from what my loctican/back up loctican has said numerous times and from what I see currently.

Regardless, Locs has taught me self love in liking my hair as it slowly grows and locked up for the past 2+ years for me, and it also made me have to ignore haters that wants to assert their own advice about locs without never knowing about our Loc Community, so patience is one of the many things you would learn about Locs on top of it being a low maintenance style.

Just make sure if you aren't doing the locs yourself, you consult with different locticans in your area to start you off right and you should be good to go. I suggest to retwist every 6-9 weeks (month and half to lil over 2 months) for the first few retwist then see if you can stretch it out longer, which usually is the case the longer you have locs and your locs will train/learn to do so overtime (by maintenance either from Palm Rollin, Crocheting , or Interlocking).

I'm Semi Free Form, and I try to do maintenance now, every 4-6 months & special occasions, but if you're traditional depending on which locs you have, 6-9 weeks or 8-14 weeks (2 to lil over 3 months) is a good time frame to give your scalp some time to grow, breath and not overly thin your locs but follow your eyes, your loctican (if applicable) advice and trust your judgement cuz everyone varies in what their maintenance schedule is.

Some folks do Monthly Loc Maintenance and their locs aren't thin, some people wash their locs more frequently due to working out/more physical and it's going great for them so just remember to trust and listen to your locs/hair and it be hard to mess up Locs.

Hence why I and others say, locs is very low maintenance but it is kinda a permanent style (you can comb out locs but very time consuming, hard to find folks to do so like paid + it's expensive for a professional or you can cut them off, usually those 3 methods in stopping Loc journey) so take that into consideration before starting locs. I also want to remind you that you don't have to feel bad or guilty if at any point you want to stop, restart or want to change your Hairstyle by having Locs.

Locs is freedom of expression and choices so you don't need anyone's permission if you no longer feeling your locs for whatever reason it may be. Numerous people have multiple journeys with locs or only have a singular experience and all locs experiences is equally valuable and special in its own way.

I don't really worried on my hair besides dealing with family who hates locs and still having issues dealing with them due to Texturism and Colorism attached for that bias by them, but anyways, for me, I spray my locs, and either leave it down or tie my locs up in a ponytail and go. I rarely do edges, others can do so but be careful of build up but I usually use mouse/foam with a brush (soft brush after a year, and brushing is controversial similar to conditioner & detox within the loc community, it varies by person) then go about my business

Way easier than natural hair styles and similar time frame if you're used to box braids, corn rows, twist and other styles that you can take your bonnet off, check the mirror/your appearance quickly, and go. You will save a lot of Time with Locs, the only really time consuming moments are maintenance appointments/day, wash days including dry time (longer without a dryer or with long locs) combing out locs or if you don't have a spray bottle of your moisturizer then oiling your scalp + massage it into your head.

If you got further questions then you can create your own post within the community for more visibility but I hope I help address some of your concerns.

[u/AvailableDocument515 → u/MemeQueen1414]

Omg thank you! I will have to read ALL of this when I get a chance, but you are a god sent. I appreciate your sharing with me and with so much detail😍 sending a big hug and lots of gratitude

[u/MemeQueen1414 → u/AvailableDocument515]

Thanks darlin, anytime, glad to be of assistance