Category: loc maintenance

Locs Maintenance: Cutting Uneven Locs

Cutting uneven locksI have been growing my locs for a little over three years  now. I had been thinking about cutting my dreads to give them a more even look. I finally built up the courage to trim them to get most of them even.

Knowing How to Cut Long Uneven Locs

Cutting your locs to make them even can be tricky, as you don’t want to make them look like you just chopped them off sloppily.

When I started my loc journey, all my locs were looking all uniformed and neat, but over the years, some got a little happy and grew faster than the rest. I always wondered if it was safe to trim them just a little bit.

My biggest concern was that my locs would just unravel and all my hard work would go down the drain. I’m not fussy about the upper half of my head. I just wanted the locs to fall neatly on my shoulders.

How I Cut My Locs To Get Them Even

I separated my locs into two sections just like if I were trying to do a top bun and a bottom bun. I cut one loc to the desired length I wanted and then use it as  a guide to cut the rest. I didn’t cut all the locs in the top bun because most of them were already at the right length.

 

The Benefits of Cutting My Locs

I must say that I saw amazing results instantly after trimming my locs. They had more life and was super bouncy. The ends of the locs that were cut did feel like little brushes, but they didn’t unravel.

The tips will eventually become round again, but for now I like the new look and feel.

Keep in mind that if your locs are not fully matured, it’s not recommended that you cut the ends. If you do so, you might end up having to start the locking process all over. Mine was fully locked and matured, so there was less risk cutting them.

How to get Round Ends on Locs

After cutting the ends of your locs, to get them back to a round shape quickly, palm roll your dreads all the way to the tips. Regularly palm rolling your hair, especially when damp, will help your ends lock up faster.

Natural Hair: Quick Wash & Go Routine For Locs

Wash day no retwist locsYour locs wash and go routine gets easier as they get more mature. Now that you’re out of the delicate stages of baby locs or the budding stage, washing your hair becomes much more enjoyable. I am past my 3 year anniversary mark of having dreads, and find it much easier to wash and maintain them.

Fun Wash Day for Locs

Washing your locs doesn’t have to be something you fear doing, especially when your dreads get longer. Now that my hair is fully locked, for years now, and it’s grown so much longer, I look forward to wash days. I don’t find myself worrying about retwisting so much like I used to in the beginning.

My Wash and Go Locs Strategy

Before washing my dreads, I like to add some Jamaican Black Castor Oil with extra virgin coconut oil to my hair, starting from my scalp.

I will then massage it thoroughly into my hair, then apply heat to it by using a cordless heat cap to help my hair cuticles open up, so that the hot oils can penetrate my locs. The cordless heat cap helps me to keep multi-tasking chores, since I don’t have time to sit in one place for long.

Dreads Wash Day Routine

I start the washing process by applying shampoo to my hair. To remove the excess oils from your hair, you should use warm water to wash. Gently scrub your scalp with the balls of your fingers to remove any grease or build up from the scalp.

The Right Way to Wash Dreadlocks

I know this might sound really simple to most of you, but there is a right and a wrong way to wash dreads. We cannot wash them the exact same way we do loose hair, whether natural or chemically treated.

Remember that each loc consists of intertwined strands of hair, so since we can’t literally touch those hidden strands, we have to use the squeeze and release technique.

Sectioning Locs on Wash Day

Dirt and buildup can get trapped in these areas, so in order to allow the shampoo to dissolve those buildup, you have to wash your locs a certain way. The best way to wash your locs is to separate your hair in sections and firmly hold a section, while squeezing and releasing the section of dreads.

This is similar to how you would wash a piece of sponge. This squeeze and release motion forces the shampoo through your locs, which helps it to attack dirt and grime.

No to Wringing Wet Locs

I know it is tempting to just wring/twist out the water from your hair, so that it can dry quicker, but if you want healthy, strong locs, please do not wring your locs. The best way to remove the water out of your hair, is to squeeze it out using the above method, rather than wringing it out.

Conditioner for Locs or Not

I love to put conditioner in my dreads after washing it. When I just started my locs journey, I was scared to put conditioner in my hair because I heard that it was not good for locs, but eventually I realize that nothing was wrong with conditioning your dreads, especially deep conditioning. This helps my hair to retain moisture, keeping it soft and beautiful.

 

Locs Maintenance: 6 Tips for Successfully Deep Conditioning Dreads

deep conditioning heat cap
Heat Cap

If your hair is starting to feel dry and brittle, it could be because you are not deep conditioning your dreadlocks. This is an important hair care regimen that should not be overlooked. Here are some top tips to keep your dreads moisturized all year round.

Should You Use Conditioners on Locs?

Many people who are new to locs or even those who’ve had them for years, have stayed away from deep conditioning because they heard that conditioners are bad for their hair. However, this is not necessarily true, unless you have new locs and they are not yet mature.

Starter Locs and Conditioners

If you have starter locs or locs that are not fully matured, deep conditioning can do more harm than good, which means it would soften your hair, causing your locs to unravel. This would even be worse for people who have softer, silkier hair texture. Other than that, there’s no known damage that conditioners can do to your hair.

In fact, before I knew much about locs, when I had starter locs, I used conditioners, but didn’t let it stay too long in my hair. I mostly concentrated on my scalp, then rinsed it out gently.

Deep Conditioning Locs

Apply the SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Intensive Strengthening Masque to your locs. If you don’t have this, you can use whatever conditioner you have available. Put a generous amount of conditioner, starting from roots to ends. Massage it in, then cover with a shower cap.

Why Use Heat When Deep Conditioning Locs?

Applying heat when deep conditioning your locs, is an important step you don’t want to skip. The heat will open up the cuticles of the hair, allowing the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft, which helps to retain moisture.

Best Way to Apply Heat When Deep Conditioning

You can use a deep conditioning heat cap to apply heat to your locs. This is a more convenient way to get the job done. These caps are cordless, so you don’t have to sit one place. You can walk around and multi-task. For best results, leave the deep conditioner in for 15-30 minutes.

How to Retain Moisture After Deep Conditioning

After deep conditioning your locs, closing the hair shaft is necessary in order to lock in moisture. The way you do this, is to rinse your hair with cold water. Rinsing with cold water not only closes the hair shaft, locking in the moisture, but also prevents frizzy hair