Getting Microlocs Today… Is it Safe?
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- If you’ve been trying to decide between Sisterlocks and Microlocs, you’re not alone. Many black women with natural hair face the same challenges with getting microlocs. In this video, we explore the potential problems with Microlocs and Sisterlocks.
For more information on the different types of microlocs, check out this article: digitalloctici...
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I have maintained my own microlocs from the beginning. I have had my locs for over 3 years. they are full, healthy and strong. My hairline is full. I think that's primarily because I don't do tension hairstyles and I don't retie often. I also don't strive for perfection with my locs. I let them do whatever they want.
How often do you retie?
@@me70111 in the beginning, I did every 4-5 weeks. Right now, I honestly don't keep track. if I were to guess, I'd say between 10-12 weeks.
Same girl. 6 years In and zero breakage around the edges. But i also keep my edges as "bangs" and don't allow them to grow past my neck
@@me70111 probably every two months. I don’t keep track. I like it to look lion-y.
Do you do a 2 or 3 point retie?
I have had sisterlocks for 3.5yrs. My first loctition abandoned me, and the 2nd went on vacation for a month when I was due for my retie. So I jumped online and thanks to our lovely community of women who share, I learned how to do it. I've been maintaining them myself now for over a year. 455 locs. I'm still in love with them, and I'm able to pay special attention and manage any concerns I have. But being in this position was not what I expected when I decided to take the journey.
That's just way too much to maintain 😮
This is a great question! I originally wanted sisterlocs. I found a sisterloc consultant and she talked me out of getting sisterlocs because the grids and things like that are so specific. She told me that if I did microlocs she could cater to my problems areas a little more. I ended up going with microlocs she did an amazing job starting them. I thought she would be in this with me for the long run, but unfortunately that isn’t what happen. She does celebrities as well so I noticed if a celebrity needed her she would move my appointments and I couldn’t do that. I was so upset because not a-lot of people around my way specialize in microlocs. I ended up going through like 5 people until I found someone who I felt comfortable with. Four years later I’m noticing that every time I go to get retightening (interlocking) my lady seems to increase my price which is so annoying and frustrating. I’m on the fence about it being a safe space. I more so feel like it is an unstable space in my experience.
Ive had sisterlocs installed in 2006. I have had no issues. My stylist was against the micro parting that so many early sisterlock clients wanted. She used the medium parting for me and it's been perfect in terms of maintaining the integrity my roots and reducing breakage over the years. I've moved since then and found a great stylist to maintain my hair in my area. I think the "danger" comes from not "interviewing" the stylist to see the work ethic and work style. Other issue is small/micro parting on thinning hair. People choose what they want but over time it can lead to loc breakage. The other "danger" is not keeping a maintenance schedule that is manageable. For past 10 years, I go every 6 to 7 weeks for retightening. I also have a backup stylist, when my stylist is out of town. Last note the big danger i do see is stylist who are tightening too much especially on fragile hair.
Too much of anything is not good. Twisting too frequently can be just has damaging as interlocking or relaxing too frequently.
I believe interlocking is safe. As someone who has started and maintained my microlocs I consider this a blessing; I have so much time to do other things, lol. The first 6-9 months I interlocked 6-8 weeks. After that I interlock every 16 weeks. I have about 210 locks and I treat my hair as if it were when I was loose natural, minus the super thick conditioners. I leave my hair be; no styles, no color, no styling products, no daily oiling. My hair has flourished. I’m so happy I decided to do this.
May I ask why not the daily oiling? I’m on the fence about that. Sometimes I oil daily for a few days and then other days I just spray my locks with water and go. Seems now my hair feels different. Not as bouncy and is thinning in the crown area. I use the oils mostly in the crown to help with the thinning. So wondering what your reasoning is for not oiling. I need insight because there are a few you tube channels that push oiling.
@@plumercrs1386I don’t use oil at all and my hair is completely fine. I don’t want buildup and my scalp makes its own oil. I’m considering using only on days before I go to the pool to protect from chlorine
@@vanesal3435 thanks for the insight!
I have neglected oiling my hair for the last year and I have crotchet braids for 8-10 weeks before I do a takedown full wash day. I have done it this for a year due to being very busy and same for choosing the braids because they are low maintenance. However, I have never seen my hair so healthy and retain so much length. I have always struggled with thinning hair, when I was relaxed I would always end with crown bald patches and when natural I would have so many knots. But now, you have confirmed it for me. I hardly ever remember to oil my hair in braids and I never wear them in a ponytail or bun. So the lack of oiling has led to length retention for me and my hair so much thicker.
Babe you absolutely right too much of anything isn’t good yeppp
@ExposedRoot Agreed. Forgive my long-windedness, but I can totally relate to the minimal salon visits in my teenage and young adult life. For context, my mom taught me how to take care of my hair, so I never understood the dependency on 'someone other than me', taking care of it. I wanted locs after about 8 years of loose hair, and after tons of research, I decided on smedium, interlocked traditional locs, maintained by me. I couldn't be happier. When sisters ask me about my hair, I make it plain and inform them out of the gate...going to a salon for retightening/retwisting is all well and good, but you need to learn how to diy. I think micro and sister locs are beautiful, but the staunch sisterlock business model still leaves much to be desired IMO. I've read and heard with my own eyes and ears, straight up horror stories about being dropped as a client, being blamed for doing something 'wrong' to their own head of hair, being charged crazy prices for additional maintenance, the snobby attitudes re: the brand, etc. Nope, not for me. As far as a safe space, I think we're getting there, but we have a ways to go. The more people educate themselves about what they want, they'll be happy with the decision they make. Locs have given me more hair freedom than I could've ever imagined. Again, I diy, so that makes it even better.
I'm just seeing this 2 months later. You go girl???🤜🏾🤛🏾
My experience with Sisterlocks was also over 10 years ago; 2004-2005. I agree that it was not a safe space, as I committed to the loc lifestyle, and it didn't feel like the network was stable. After I had experienced two Sisterlock consultants, I tried other locticians who openly resented the time it took to interlock my hair. Finally, I agreed to combine my locs to lessen the time for retightening. I wanted to be in love with my loc experience then, as I am now!
My microlocs were started with coils 3 years ago. In 2020 I saw ruined heads due to phase 1 so I taught myself how to do my own reties if needed. Prices for reties were anywhere from $270-$350 in my area no matter the length. I was not expecting that as Google said $90-$120 when I was researching microlocs. Now I do my own reties. I don't do it too tight, I don't make holes in mylocs, and I make sure loose hair is incorporated into the loc during reties. Don't necessarily like doing them myself, but I am saving money and I care enough to do it right. If you can't or don't want to do your own reties you are at the mercy of others and circumstances.
I will be approaching my second year of DIY locs in January of 2024. I really didn't learn about sisterlocks and micro locs until after I started my own traditional locs and much research. I'm a 57-year-old black woman who has been to a hair salon two times in my entire life. I did my own home perms for which I probably wind up with ovarian cancer 🫤, have never ever worn extensions, have never ever worn a wig.. I did the TWA thing about 6 years ago and started locs January of 2022. I would never ever ever commit to a hairstyle that required someone else to manage it. Ever. The idea of having to go to someone and pay them is a ridiculous thought to me.. I do my own retwists wash my hair every 8 to 10 days and do what I call a loose retwist. I don't use any oils at all in my hair and believe me I was loading it with oils for the first 6 months until I realized it was causing seborrheic dermatitis which I didn't have prior to locs. I spritz my hair with distilled water and tea tree essential oil daily.. My hair is thriving super soft and hydrated. I use a shampoo bar. I am not into updos and fancy styles. I cover my hair at night, brush my locs, and probably shake them out two times a day just to get rid of the micro dust that settles in our hair. I am terrified of lint..In my opinion that sisterlock community from what I see on RUclips is toxic. So many unhappy people so many dependent people. Either start your locs or have a Pro start them and go traditional. JMO.
I just started my microlocs in July and maintain them myself thus far. I think they're "safer" now because there's such a plethora of information available for someone to do A LOT of research on how other people's experiences have been and how they maintain their own hair. There's comprehensive guide books and with Sisterlocks in particular being over 30 years old, there's so much more sufficient information for best practices than there was in the 90s and early 2000s.
Once i made up my mind that i was going to do them myself, i spent over a month just taking in as much information as i could to make an informed approach and it seems to be working out for me so far. 😅 i started with 213 and my edges are actually growing in so beautifully now that I'm at 215 in the 4.5 months since i started them. Time will tell all but for now, I'm loving here.
Same here! I started with 210 and my edges grew so I was able to start new ones. I have 212 microlocs now. I call them fatties compared to my daughters’ sisterlocs.
I have my microlocs which I installed. I love this 2nd loc journey because the retie method has really helped my hair. I do not have a large loc count, about 96, nor do I use a lot of product. Palm rolling always takes so much longer to lock due to hair texture....my belief is if you have locs, you need to know how to maintain your own hair...locs are so personal...
Love my microlocs and my loctician , I have been locked since 2017 . When she is booked I go to her daughter that does my great niece's locs. They are wonderful and very knowledgeable.
What do you mean by safe? I don’t get it
I considered sisterlocks but I am too cheap and too impatient to sit that long. I considered microlocs but having someone maintain them for me would be too expensive. I could do it myself but I am sure I would lose my mind with that many locs. I got medium sized braidlocs....less than one hundred and I maintain them myself.
Hindsight for myself, your way sounds like a great idea, but because my crown is thin I probably should have started my locks with the two strand twist method.
In just a few weeks I'll be 2 full Years locd. I have 4b/4c high density hair. I started with 2 strand twists and maintain my 250 microlocs with absolutely no issues because during the first few months I sat down and took in as much information as possible of the do's and don't of having these locs. My hairline is thick and full because I avoid tension always...even when styled. I honestly created a safe space for myself by not comparing & contrasting to others...but instead i focused on the overall health of my hair and just watched it flourish. I keep my products simple and natural. I prefer a holistic approach to everything so there has been zero issues thus far❤❤❤
I know the loc space/community has become unnecessarily negative for no reason. But you my dear have created a safe space for us. God bless you 🙏🏾
Learning to do my own microloc retie has saved me so much time and money. I love my microlocs and it the best thing I have done for hair beyond going natural.
I started and maintain my own hair and have had them for 4 years now. I only uses my fingers to interlock, it's very gentle. I know the ins and outs of my hair. Likes and dislikes. I am familiar with every loc on my head as though they are their own individuals. My hair and I have a connection. I will allow no one other than my mother or daughter to do my locs if it's truly needed.
Any style can be damaging without proper maintenance and care on a day-to-day basis. My sisterlocks are healthy because I opted to go longer without reties (8-9 weeks). I also treat my hair with herbal rinses. But to answer your question, I don't think it is a safe space. I'm lucky to have found a good person who started and maintains my locs. I know she is 1 in a million.
I will be 2 yrs loc’d with micro locs in April and mine were started and are currently being maintained by a loctician thru interlocking. This is also my first set of locs so I don’t have any prior experience or knowledge of being in this community. This was an interesting discussion for ME because I had no idea that there were issues with micro or sisterlocs and them being maintained thru interlocking. I have had a great experience with my loctician and definitely feel as though my hair and scalp are being thoroughly cared for. When I came to her, I had a fairly large area of hair loss around the crown (still unsure what caused it) and very thin sides/edges. NOW my hair has started growing slowly around the crown and my sides have grown in to where she’s started to loc those too. So for ME, I’ve had a great microloc experience with my loctician. If she were to move or stop offering services, based on this experience I’m very confident I’d find another. 😊
I have had my locs for 3 yrs. The whole purpose of getting them was to have a break, something easy, and to save money. So after my initial install ( I had the professional done) I took a online class offered my you AND a in person one on one 9 hr training session to learn to care for my locs and how to properly install them. I use the interlocking method on my hair and on the individuals locs that I install. My hair is still THICK, I have my edges & my locs are healthy. I think the main thing is not interlocking no more than every 6 /7 weeks. Not doing all these different styles, not putting a lot of tension on the hair etc.
I’m late to the party but I have 212 microlocs and I have had them for 2 years and 3months. I established these locs after looking for a loctitian and being told they were not taking new clients. One didn’t respond from January 2022 until November 2022 but by then I had started my own. Background: I had done a big chop 10 years earlier and cared for my loose natural hair because I was tired of stylists blaming me for permed hair breakage after I had carefully followed their instructions. I was tired of spending 4 plus hours every 2/3 weeks in the hair salon. It used to be the place for pampering and me time when my 3 kids were small but it was just a time suck…a costly time suck. I love the way my microlocs resemble straight loose natural hair with 10% of the effort and 1% of the cost. Last week in Istanbul in vacation I let the woman washing my body in a Turkish ham am wash my locs. First time anyone but me has done any thing to my locs. This past week I washed my hair and used conditioner and rinsed about 10 minutes. I might add conditioner to my maintenance routine. It made my loc drying time a little longer. My locs are on my shoulders and they typically dry in under 2 hours. I don’t wet my locs at night. I sleep with a made by me poly satin bonnet or a bonnet I made from a poly silk scarf. I massage my scalp daily. I just love the way my locs feel. I groom my locs when I think about it in the morning. I separate my locs daily- yes, it’s called hand in hair syndrome but I focus on gently tugging the strands out of neighboring locs. I started a blog over a year ago to encourage people to microlocs their hair but my blog is not widely read at all. Microlocs and Me: A Woman’s Journey to Hair Freedom.
I believe microlocs are safe. However, I cannot speak to those with 400, 500, 600, or 700 locs. I don’t know how you can maintain that many locs without combining them with neighboring locs. With my 212 locs, I interlock and have learned to go slowly so that I only work on one at a time. I used to make sure my last interlock pass was to lay the loc in the direction I wanted. This often resulted in too much tightening so now I leave a little new growth at the root and let the loc lie whichever direction its going. When it’s time for the next retie session I can usually tell which direction I need to start. I didn’t want to cause holes. I have had holes and been able to interlock through them. I do not interlock on wash day. I will wait until the next day and spray the section of locs I’m working on. I stop retightening when I get tired or start making mistakes so it takes 2-4 days to interlock all of my roots. This works for me. I encourage anyone to try microlocs but I guess there are caveats and requirements. Love your channel Jocelyn Renee.❤
Hello Jocelyn, I will be reading your blog. I love finding out other people's experiences with their micro
locks
I learned the sisterlocks system 15 years ago when I had them. I ended up doing my own hair for 2 yrs then cut them out due to damage. 6 years later I did DIY micro locs but learned the areas that were more prone to thinning and take a TLC approach. I trust my hands.
I had traditional locs for 10 years and decided I wanted a change. I did a lot of research and decided to get sisterlocks, with the intention of to maintaining it myself which I do. I had a great consultant who installed my sisterlocks and provided a lot of information. She maintained it for the first year then I took over. This is my eight year with sisterlocks and I recently visited my consultant and she said I have been doing a great job maintaining my hair. So in my experience it was a safe space for me.
It's funny you said that. I am getting my brotherlocks ( I'm a guy) today. It seems that within the loc community, that sister locks seems to have a very interesting like perspective. It seems that the people that love them, LOVE THEM. but if you don't like sister locks, you really hate them.
I have had microblogs and Sisterlocks. I believe either can be safe IF you know how to do your own hair and/or if you have a great loc consultant. I will say that I have only had one consultant that I trust and thankfully she’s doing my hair. She’s older and talks about retirement and that does make me nervous as I have had other consultants that were not trustworthy. I think the best thing to do is to do your research and talk to other women that have interlocks to find a good consultant.
When I was going to install Sisterlocs, Covid happened. I realised then that it wasn’t for me. Instead, I self installed microlocs and have had few regrets. Self installing and self-maintaining made it safe because I don’t have to depend on anyone.
I do microlocs in Tampa, Fl. I run into all kinds of mindsets concerning them in the salon where I work, mostly not incouraging. I think that's mainly due to ignorance of the style's true benefits. However I'm a proponent of microlocs featuring the interlocking method, specifically for athletes, young people and anyone who wants versatility and easy maintenance when it comes to their hair. I especially recommend them for this new breed of tenderheaded children as I see them screaming and crying trying to take the pain of getting their hair done from week to week at work. My daughter was like that so she's had microlocs for over a year now and it's been great for both of us 😄. I just put mine back in at the beginning of October and look forward to it being my forever style, most likely. 😊
What's your IG and salon you work out of?
I'm tenderheaded and I did my own microlocks. This is the only hair maintenance style I can do and my hair loves it 😍
I've seen beautiful healthy long, 4c high density, mini locs be maintained on a friend so I thought it would work for me on my 4b low density hair. I had to cut mine off recently for various reasons, mostly pain. Im living the curly pixie life now. ❤
I have microlocks. DIY from 6/21/2019 to present. Almost 5 years. My hair grows more density every month. I retie every week, not making them tight, just interlocking rapid new growth. I haven't had any problems except a few tangles during reties😱🤣. I've learned to leave them alone and come back in 5 minutes or so. I don't recommend microlocks if you are not planning to do your own reties 💯
I wanted sisterlocks. But, i can’t be worried about the person not being able or there when it’s time for a retie. So i got traditional locs instead.
I had sisterlocks. And it was definitely not safe for me. The lady retightened once, and then went away. I had hair down my to my shoulder blades. Couldn’t find anyone else and ended up cutting them off. After going back to my twists for a few years, I ended up cutting it off because health made it difficult to maintain my routine.
I was having a good time with my short hair, but then a bf asked if I’d consider growing it. Thus began my DIY loc journey. And I love them! They’re kinda medium sized. And so pretty and so much easier to maintain.
What’s funny is after spending all that money on sisterlocks, I didn’t even really like the way they looked. Especially after a retightening. I’d always wanted them because I had some internalized antiblackness around regular locs. Like, I had it in my head sisterlocks were more acceptable. But I’m boho to the soul, so some medium locs, I retwist a few times a year are just my speed.
I'm happy you found what worked for you. I can't wait for my new set of micro locks.
I had sister locs for 8 years and my location moved away in year 3. I couldn't find another one in AZ in 2006. I had to go to CA which got to be too much so I started doing my own interlocking. The front of my hair started thinning then a lot of my locs on my sides broke off. I cut off my locs and wore crochet braids until I could get traditional locs. I am currently on year 5 of my 3rd set of locs. They are medium size traditional locs located mostly in the back of my head. This is because most my hair on the sides of my head never grew back. I would never get sister locks again.
I began a sisterlocks install with a person who hurt my scalp so terribly that I didnt go back. Four hours and 80 sisterlocks later, it was so tight and it hurt so bad that my head ached. I am not tenderheaded and never have been. I had to wait a day bc my scalp hurt so much but I removed her set and started to research so I could do my own install. My head hurt for over a week, pain even after I removed her set. PLUS her energy was awful and negative. I felt it about an hour after she started but I let her do the 4 hours. I called my daughter to make sure I wasn't over reacting, on my way home from that day. Thankfully my daughter was like "Youre right! Don't go back to her!" Lost my deposit but lesson learned. I completed my own DIY microlocs install 7 months ago (took me 4 days but I took a lot of breaks) after reading a lot and watching a lot of DIY microlocs youtubers and for me it was the best hair decision ever. I do my own washing, interlocking, and maintening. The shrinkage is real but the fullness is fabulous!! 😊 my hair is about half as long as it was when I completed my install, now. I'm getting faster at it all the time. Typically I interlock once every 6 weeks and I do it over 2 days. My hair is healthy. I spritz with sea salt water sometimes and sometimes with oil and water or rose water bc I like the scent. I never interlock tight to my scalp so I don't have any scalp pain or tension bumps. Since it's my own DIY journey I don't have all the imposed sisterlocks rules on me and I wash once per week. I braid and band bc my looser natural texture has slippage if I don't. I'm loving my microlocs. Even though I regret the negative energy of that sisterlocks installer and having that on my hair and in my space for the four hours, I received the blessings of a lesson about maintaining my own hair. I may some day find a person who can interlock for me once in a while but that will be some heavy research on the person before I do that again. ✌🏾💜
I'm sorry you went through that. My consult had a bad attitude too and it definitely makes the experience worse. How many locs do you have?
WOW! This is a great conversation. When I started my Sisterlock my consultant moved out of state before I could get a retighten. From there I went from several consultants trying to find a good fit. I’ve been with the same consultant since the pandemic but I don’t think she take care of my hair I have holes in my Sisterlocks which causes thinning and breakage but I honestly don’t think I want to go to anyone else because I don’t think I’ll get better results. I love my natural hair it has been one of my best decisions. Because of it I have been considering traditional Locs. That’s what lead me to your video. I’m trying to see how can I transition my Sisterlock to traditional Locs
I would think you would just combine your locks to make them bigger to the size you want to wear as traditional. I’m considering it as well.
I had traditional locs and now have micro locs which are not the super tiny ones. One of the main reasons for NOT getting sister locs was due to the flaky loc specialists. Like if you can’t be available for an install, then what’s up for my retie? Lol I took it as a sign to save my money and frustration. Also, I’m planning on moving from coast to coast, I feel I will have a better chance finding a loc stylist that does interlocking vs a certified sister loc professional.
I have had my microlocs for 2yrs and currently in the mist of taking them down. I have a family of 6 with a new addition on the way. Sooo it’s a bit much to keep up with almost 460 microlocs. Now, I do plan to reloc after these are down. I love my microlocs! Yes they are safe to get, but I believe it’s for people that have the time on their hands; if they do not want to invest in others being in their hair.
I have had Sisterlocks for over 10 years. I love my locs, although it is difficult to find a consultant. I recently moved out of the US and that made it 100 times harder to find someone qualified. I have had crazy experiences and a lot of conflicting advice between locticians, so I think I understand what you mean by safe spaces. It can get expensive but ultimately I think it was the best decision for my hair since no gel, beeswax or locking agents were used. I love the fullness!
So far so good I haven’t had any major issues with my Sisterlocks. I do believe in spreading out my reties. I don’t necessarily go every 6 weeks. I push to 7-8 weeks. I’ve had mine just over 5 years. Because I love locks, if this happens to not work out I pray that my hair would be healthy enough to transition to traditional locks. In the Meantime, I’m not worried about not having someone interlocking my locks because there a host of other places to go. I’m considering learning how to retie my own locks because I do believe they are getting more expensive to retie them. My loc person is going up again on prices starting in January to $140 a retie.
As a white woman in this industry, it is NOT a safe place for me. Alas, my daughter is Haitian so it WAS my duty to learm professionally how to do her hair. I chose NOT to train under SL. Why?? The community was nasty to me. They do not train on how to REPAIR. And lastly, legally SL is renowned to be a bully and theres room for other methods
Wow. Sorry that has been your experience.
I love you content been here from the start of your first loc journey you did different sizes thanks for sharing
Can you explain more about your interlocking/Sisterlock Journey? Why isn’t it a safe place down the road? I’m curious since I’m fairly new. Just over 5 years Sisterlocked and I have very healthy locks. And I love your lock color and the new length. Absolutely Beautiful!😊💖
I think you can say the same for any task that is left solely up to another individual that is unable to make you feel safe. A physician, someone who does color or straight hair. I think it’s unfair to say just mico/sisterlocs. I have a great loctician who does all sorts of locs and to be honest in a few years I may try something else because she makes me feel safe to do so.
As a person looking to get microlocs, I stopped by your channel and saw this video title. But I am really confused as to what you are saying is “unsafe” about micro rocks? I’m really curious because I’m thinking of starting the journey. Are you referring to the time it takes? The lack of professionals who are able to help with maintenance? Are you talking about the locks themselves being unsafe for your hair? I’m really curious…
There’s a lot of talk now about loctitians charging a lot for microlocs installs when they are just doing a two strand twist and charging a lot for retightening. Then some people give retightening a bad name by retightening so tightly or so roughly they cause hair breakage and leave your locs looking like islands on your head. (bald spots or lines to make a “grid”)
So I'm not a fan of sister locs for various reasons. Generally they aren't for all hair types or lifestyles and are less forgiving. I have "micro locs".... I tried getting retwists and the breakage was CRAZY so I went back to interlocking. I do my own interlocking. I think the damage comes from the obsession to have perfect parts and not wanting to live with the new growth. That's any size locs.
I'm currently combing out my small traditional locs so I can start a new set of micro locs. I've decided not to go with the interlocking method 🙏🏽
Same❤
I am starting my first set of locs as microlocs and have no intention of doing anything but twisting them. I feel that interlocking will take up too much of my time and patience and that’s not why I’m getting locs in the first place.
To be honest I have no idea what it is but I do know that you have to take care of your scalp and natural hair.
I’ve had sisterlocs, medium locs and thick locs and now I have DIY micro locs and I absolutely love them and I retwist and have no issues. In my opinion I believe the interlocking is the problem and people having their hands in their locs too much and coloring too much and putting too many chemicals in their hair. I shampoo and retwist with water only so I don’t have any products weighing my locs down. More women just need to stop depending on stylists and do their on locs. Unfortunately you only have a few stylists that are actually into loc care everyone else just wants the money. I pretty much do everything myself, hair, nails, feet. This way I never have any issues and I can only blame myself for any mistakes that I make.
I wanted micro locs when I first thought about getting them after I started doing research I settled with medium size locs I don’t believe I could find a decent stylist I don’t think I could maintain them myself if they were micro
I have microlocs they were started by a very dear friend in the form of plaits. When I started I originally wanted sisterlocks and I wanted between 400 to 500 locs. However where I live there still are not that many certified sisterlock technicians the price of getting them started and maintaining them is astronomical in my opinion not to mention I like to also be hands on with my hair. So that meant taking the sisterlocks training again for me a bit costly.
So I researched and researched till I stumbled upon Braidlocs. I told my friend I wanted them small and wanted no less than 200 locs. I have 275 but after time I have combined some here and there having around 220 now.
I do not feel as though I would be able to quickly readily find a consultant if something happened to the one have. Long story short my friend who started my locs does not maintain or maintenance locs. I’ve had two loctitions in the last 4 year come 2-15-2024. One who was very unprofessional and the other one I love but sometimes our schedules don’t mesh well and I can’t get to her. I thought omg what the heck am I going to do. I was able to learn how to interlock with her help and I am my own backup loctition.
I feel like Microloc are safe if interlock correctly I don’t feel like they’re any less safe than traditional locs. What makes any locs unsafe to me is overs styling , over palm rolling, over interlocking just improve care of locs period.
Will you be doing more podcasts? Because I love listening to it while I can do other things around my house
I’m 4 years diy loc’d next week I have 187 & chose a smaller amount as I maintain my own hair. Where I live not a lot of black hair salons especially natural hair ones. Since then I started my 2 sisters & mom with interlocks & my 2 sons with traditional locs. I maintain 3 4 if you include myself our hair is thriving & healthy & scalp issues for sister & my sons have gone as we only use oils & rosewater or plain water. Because of the money that can be made some stylist put that above the service care & attention they should be providing hence making interlocking harmful by doing poor jobs on clients. But so too can retwisting as the obsession of having “crispy clean” parts has become some peoples main goal. 🤦🏾♀️🇬🇧
I started my own microLocs by 2 string twist . I have been Loc for 3 years(beginning). I Retwist my own hair and I don’t interlock my hair. I don’t feel I’m in an unsafe space with my LOC’s at this moment. I love how my Locs look and feel. At the beginning when I want Locs, I begin researching about Sisterlocs. The more I researched about Sister Loc I begin to believe that my hair will start to come out and if the person that started them will move then how will I maintain them. So I decided it would be be best to take care of my own hair. My daughter is the only other person that may Retwist my hair.
Same, I DIY'ed my microlocs last yr. I have about 268 locs that I get professionally retwisted every 7 wks or so. My hair is thick and strong. In the near future I'll probably start retesting myself.
How you to Locked your locks what is better to do???
Did you see what Joanne Cornell just did on the microlocks panel? I was appalled and disappointed.
what did she say?
I think the title ia somewhat over the top, although pethaps that's what you need to attract views. I've had Susterlocks for a little over 4 years, and it has been, overall a good ride. Is my hair perfect? No. Have there been issues? Yes., but I have done the research so that I can do some self-help based on what my particular head of hair seems to need on a particular day. I never did a lot of styling, as I don't feel the need, and I've decided to give myself a break from coloring, at least for a few more years. My hair health and integrity of my locs is more important than color right now. I've been fortunate to have the same person as my consultant since day 1, and she's made suggestions which have helped.
So far as I'm concerned, microlocks in any form are "safe", but come with theie own posdible pitfalls, like anythibg else in life. Overall, the journey continues to amaze me.
I don't think the issue is interlocking but more of not being listened to by loctitians. If the client is concerned don't just tell them its just a few locs and its not a big deal. Have a conversation with the client and explain to them what you can do resolve their concerns.
For ne. Sisterlocks cost in money and time was just too much for me. I combined my locs. Struggling to self maintain, but I'm trying.
Professionally I do not believe it is a safe space. I have microlocs and it’s taken me 3 locticians to feel comfortable in under a year. The one who did my install had a convo during an appt about pricing and went up by my next. I felt it was unprofessional since she just said she didn’t do many reties on microlocs, she should have reached out with her changes.
My second loctician wasn’t maintaining my grid and reties didn’t last as long as they do now or addressing my concerns of bunching and put more oils than I wanted on my scalp. Which caused me to be super itchy before a week. Misguided instructions for maintenance, telling me I could wait until my next appt to wash my hair. 😬Which I already knew to be incorrect. This scalp can only handle 10 days and that’s pushing it.
If my current loctician leaves the industry, I do know that her mentor teaches a self retightening class and all about maintenance if I had any questions. So as long as she is still in the game and you’re on this platform, I’ll be ok.
I do not feel confident that micro locs and sister locs is safe. With that said I have them and will only maintain them myself. I did not feel comfortable with traditional size. I debated for years as to how I would do this. Finally I just had my microlocks installed and never went back.
Why, there is lack of consistency. I heard different things from each loctician and it rarely sounded cohesive so imagine having to transfer. I move states or countries every 3 or so years so automatically this was a no idea for me. Stylest rarely like taking on new clients so k can imagine how locs would go. Plus my hair is blonde and you would not believe the hate I get from stylist behind that idea. The list goes on too long yet I would do this again and only maintain myself. I get compliments regularly too
I personally and professionally feel like the Microlock Sisterlock movement does not have enough resources for its wearer's. I would love to discuss this with you professional to professional. I think I have a solution. I sat down from the industry for 2 years. I decided to come back this month, but I'm coming with problem solving services. Let's talk. ❤
Yes! Let’s have a convo! Can you DM on IG @crownelements
No. In my area few people will do smaller locs.
I've been sisterlocked since 2008, and I have very thin, fine hair. My hairline still comes loose...
Any issues I've had have been due to lazy care and not speaking up. I had a wonderful stylist for years that retired and trying to find a decent stylist to maintain them was a challenge.
I had one that could do my reti in 1.5 hours...😮😮 and that's when I started thinning. While I appreciated the speed, I knew something was wrong when my scalp hurt for two days and I had headaches after retis...
I moved away and it had such a hard time finding someone PROFESSIONAL in my new city. That's a LONG story. I settled for a while on a stylist that had a certificate displayed but didn't use the tool. Needless to say, my latch hooked locs ended up with holes and started breaking off.
Fast forward to now where i drive over an hour for retis... and I had to challenge the stylist on reti frequency. I refused to pay extra for going past 6 weeks.
TLDR: YOU know your hair. Speak up! Stop paying money for people to take or your hair.
I'm considering finally taking the reti class to try to get my hairline to finally loc.
I wouldn't say it's the hairstyle. Own your investment... remember how much you paid for the style and react accordingly. Rant over😂.
I've not had microlocs but I'm a fellow cosmetologist starting my second set of traditional locs. I also have a fellow cosmetologist and SL consultant in the family.
I'm not particularly tuned into the SL/ML community, so I can't speak to the grievances you addressed, so I can only really speak on my observations from the outside looking in.
I've always felt an underlying current of attachment to a certain aesthetic among people who favor microlocs. But these girlies KNOW that they are high maintenance and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as your wallet and leisure time aligns with that.
However, I feel like today's increasingly toxic beauty industry culture is starting to come to a head: professionals have become resentful of influencers and RUclips University empowering people to do a lot on their own, and it feels like many are trying to force clients to pay more for less.
Hell, now you have to jump through hoops for the chance to be jerked around by someone you're paying. I imagine the stakes (and anxiety) are much higher when dealing with someone with a specialized skill who has money at top of mind vs serving and retaining a regular client base over the long term.
Then when you consider all the people who try to devalue the time and education you've invested in developing your skills, I can definitely see how the tension builds.
She look like savanna james
Hello, I had sister locks. Got them installed when I was about 8 months pregnant by an unprofessional loctician hat I only went to because she lived ten mins away. It was during COVID so the experience was uncomfortable in itself. Anyways, I reached out to my consultant, no answer. Called, texted for an appointment for a retie and nothing. I was overwhelmed, and just had a traumatic birthing experience. I went to another consultant who informed me that my grid was messed up and I didn't seem to have Sisterlocks but more like micro locks. I was crushed. I knew something was off because my hair didn't look like the women I stalked on RUclips. She said to me she would do my re installation for free. I was skeptical and with a bit of push from my sister, I decided to undo my Sisterlocks. THE PROCESS WAS DREADFUL. I cried, screamed, and was already going through post partum depression. I was ANGRY, and bewildered that someone would ghost me like that, and not do a good job. My husband helped with undoing the locks and it was a huge relief, but still a painful process. Anyways weeks later I am still going through these intense waves of emotions and decided to perm my hair, and then chop everything off. I was over everything. I reached out to the new consultant and she tells me that she no longer wants to do my hair because I seem undecided. I was MORTIFIED. If I knew this I would have kept my locks in. I explained to her that I was going through a lot and that's why I did what I did and I What the heck is wrong with these people. I then started seeing the horror stories surround Sisterlocks and the fact that there isn't reliable consultants. I decided to get micro locks and will be maintaining everything myself. I'm excited about the journey but the sister lock journey did teach me important lessons that I also apply to life as well. 1. Learn to do your own hair. 2. Trust no-one with your hair, you have to understand your hair. What works and what doesn't. 3. You have to understand you. One of the reasons that the Sisterlocks didn't work well with my personality is because I felt it smothered my freedom, which ironically is the reason I got Sisterlocks in the first place. The rules, and attitudes, and secrecy were too much for me. Some might disagree and that's ok, but I didn't agree as a grown woman being told my hair needed to be a certain way or I was breaking the rules. Or that I couldn't do my own reties, or that I had to be sworn to secrecy or stay on their schedule. Microlocks have a bit more flexibility. So to answer your question, no, I didn't feel like the sister lock community was a safe place. It contributed to my post partum depression, and anxiety.
🤎🤎🤎I've DIY Interlocks, and admittedly messed up a section where interlocking every 4 weeks. IMO, Microlocks, and Sisterlocks™️ are beautiful when maintained in healthy ways. To answer the question, Yes, it’s unsafe when locs are maintained improperly, being overcharged, and not having a good experience with a Loctician. I had one Sisterlock consultation, and while she was nice & professional, she wouldn't install test locks with a firm deposit on the price quoted for installation at the time of the paid consultation. It was there and then I decided it wasn't for me. Besides, my interest is in semi-free-forming with small to medium-sized locs.