Hello and welcome to my blog, Locs Talk where I talk about all things Locs and Loose Natural Hair Care. This is my very first blog EVER and the topic I am discussing this week is common in the Loc community. There is a misconception of what Locs are supposed to look and feel like. So, I would like to begin by putting an end to a myth; Locs are hair, therefore, Locs should not be hard or heavy; if your hair is hard and heavy, there is a reason for it. The main reason for hard, crunchy, and heavy Hair/Locs, is buildup and dehydration. Below I will list do's and don'ts that will help you to keep and maintain healthy, light, soft and fluffy, and well-nourished Locs.
Do's:
Find the right products to suit your Hair/Locs needs! Be sure the products you use for Locs are specifically formulated for Locs. Often times, people misconstrue products made for loose and natural hair as also being good to use on their Locs. Caring for your Locs is different and therefore the product formulation is different. I searched and searched for a product that would provide benefits for both Locs and Loose Natural hair. After searching for 5 1/2 years, I found my pot of gold; Peculiar Roots. I found out about Peculiar Roots when I came across a live on IG posted by the founder and CEO of Peculiar Roots, Tara Darnley. If you want to learn more about this treasure, simply go to www.peculiarroots.com. Use Pammielocs10 code for a discount at checkout when you shop the site.
Wash your Hair/Locs regularly, at least once every 2 to 3 weeks. Use shampoo that does not contain harsh chemicals such as sulfate for example. A clarifying shampoo would be great to use. Clarifying shampoo is great for cleaning product from your Locs (I use various shampoos from Peculiar Roots). The most effective shampoos for keeping your Locs deep clean are the ACV, Black Charcoal, and the Sweet Orange Castile shampoos. All 3 plus many more, including shampoo solid bars, which are all available on the website @ www.Peculiarroots.com.
Develop the habit of a good daily moisturizing routine. Moisturizing your Hair/Locs with a water-based moisturizer is essential to outer treatment for moisturizing your Hair/Locs, this is to maintain softness and vibrancy to your Hair/Locs, (I use rosewater-based Refresher Spray from Peculiar Roots) it comes in 7 amazing scents. It is important to seal in the moisture with a small amount of light conditioning oil (also available on the site @ peculiarroots.com).
Healthy roots and scalp are important, so internal hydration is very necessary for blood flow to the scalp and moisture to your hair. Drink plenty of water. The best way to calculate the ideal amount you should drink on a daily basis is to take your weight, divide that number by 2, the answer is the number of ounces you should drink in water on a daily basis. For healthier scalp and hair, add liquid minerals to your water once daily. This helps balances hormones and pH levels in your skin and hair.
Loc brushing, it is great for softening and polishing your Locs, also minimizing frizz, but not recommended for starter Locs. Waiting at least until the 6th month is recommended before brushing, brushing is ideal for mature Locs. Brush your Locs gently with a soft boars' hairbrush after moisturizing.
Use a gentle detox (Vegan detox bar, available on the Peculiar Roots website) to keep you Locs cleansed and buildup free. It will cleanse excess dirt and buildup from your Locs, if want to restore your Locs, instead of cutting them and starting over.
Let's talk about some causes of Hard & Heavy Locs and tips to avoid this from happening.
Don't:
DO NOT overuse products even the ones that are good for you, especially ones not formulated for your Locs. Products formulated for loose natural hair, aren't all necessarily formulated for Locs. Be sure to check labels and research the ingredients listed in Loc products as well. Agents like wax and honey are talked about a lot, but they are products I wouldn't use because they are dense, heavy and sticky; what I'd like to refer to as lint magnets. Long term usage causes massive buildup. Another ingredient to stay away from whether Loose Natural or Loc'd is any product that contains silicone. Silicone causes massive buildup, eventual dryness and breakage, because of the barrier it builds and blocks moisture from penetrating the hair.
Don't retwist your Locs after every wash, it is unnecessary and not a requirement. Using products such as twisting gel to retwist after every wash, can wear down and thin out your Locs. Take it easy, give your Locs some time to rest, grow and flourish.
Do not rush through rinsing when you wash your Hair/Locs. Take your time! Be sure there is no suds or cloudy water left when rinsing your Hair/ Locs. The most effective way to rinse is rinse and squeeze like you would do to a sponge until water runs clear.
As previously stated, I strongly recommend not using beeswax or honey on your Locs these are dirt and lint magnets. While the first couple of uses may seem amazing; the long-term effects can be catastrophic. Wax and honey burrows deep into the Loc and become almost impossible to wash out once it's in there, because over time it seals itself like cement.
Do not skimp on daily moisture routines; this does not mean saturated and dripping wet Hair/Locs. Too much moisture is bad for Locs and can cause mold (loc rot). Basing it on the porosity of your hair, applying a light mist of refresher spray is all you need, and a small amount of light conditioning oil is all you need, to seal in the moisture, that is enough. A little goes a long way.
Do not color your Locs without a solid plan for proper aftercare. Proper aftercare requires extra moisture such as conditioning with a well formulated conditioner for your hair type whether loose natural or Loc'd, (I highly recommended Rose/hibiscus shampoo and conditioner by Peculiar Roots for Locs). For Locs, coloring is recommended on fully Loc'd hair or prior to Locking. Either way, maintain proper aftercare moisture maintenance on color treated Hair/Locs.
Do not use conditioner that is formulated for loose and natural hair on your Locs because it is thick, dense and heavy. Most loose-natural formulated conditioner is NOT for your Locs. Due to its thickness in texture and density, it will burrow and get stuck in your Locs causing heavy buildup to form inside your Locs. Be careful and read the label, it may also contain silicone (any ingredient ending in 'cone'), if it does, it is not good to use on your loose natural hair either.
Do not use a Clay Mask on your Locs, it will burrow into the Loc and it's very difficult, nearly impossible to remove. The tight coils in you Locs can trap the clay and it will harden, therefore, it too, acts like a cement, once it burrows into your Locs. This can happen with one use.
Avoid Lint! Wearing a satin scarf or a satin lined bonnet when you sleep at night will suffice. If you like to wear hats, there are a lot of specially designed hats for Locs that are lined with satin to help keep moisture intact but also keeps lint transfer at an all-time low. Very important tip, wear a head covering when placing on an overhead top such as a cotton shirt, sweater or sweatshirt to avoid lint transfer. this advice is for loose natural and Loc'd hair. Loc brushing on a regular basis to remove lint from the surface of your Locs is highly recommended for those with fully Loc'd and mature Locs.
Don't use heavy oils and grease on your Hair/Locs, this causes buildup of dirt and lint. Many people misconstrue, having greasy & shiny Locs as healthy. This is not the case; over-use of oil, especially heavy and dense oils cause a lot of heaviness, dirtiness and dullness to the Hair/ Locs and the tension of its weight at the roots can cause the Loc to thin and break. It also clogs the scalp pores, stunting growth and possibly causing inflammation, abscess problems and pain to the scalp in relation to symptoms of folliculitis (a bacterial infection of the hair follicles). Using a small amount of light conditioning oil is all you need. Also, oil is not the cure to dry scalp, moisture is, (both internally and externally). Oil only seals in the dryness if you do not moisturize first.
Do not use hard water to wash your hair. Hard water causes excess dryness and throws off the pH levels of your hair and scalp as well, (using a filtered shower head or faucet helps tremendously with keeping your hair soft and scalp well hydrated).
Do not use any denatured alcohol-based products. This includes oil sheen, some brands of mousse, styling gels, some dye brands, edge control, glue spray, gorilla gel etc. Denatured alcohol-based products cause extreme dryness, leaving you Hair/Locs feeling dry and brittle, crunchy and heavy, with massive breakage as a result.
These minor practices of do's and don'ts will help you to keep your Hair/Locs light and soft. No matter how long it grows, your Hair/ Locs won't feel like the weight of the world is on your head. Remember, having Locs is low maintenance, it isn't NO maintenance. My daily routine is based on the needs of my Locs and scalp condition. If you have a loctician/stylist great! But be sure to wash your Hair/Locs at home between your appointments, don't wait for your appointment before you wash your Hair/Locs. If you are a DIY'er (do it yourselfer), wash your /Hair/Locs every 2-3 weeks.
Clean Locs equal light Locs. Many consultations I've had with clients with Locs prior to our meeting in person, either want to cut off their Locs and start over or they have restarted their Loc journey a number of times already. The main reason, when I ask them why, is, "because my hair got too hard and heavy". With proper care and education on how to take care of your Locs, you won't have to suffer the pain of hard and heavy Locs again.
Have a happy Loose Natural and Loc Journey, light and free.
Product recommendations mentioned above can be found on the website @ Peculiaroots.com and you can use the discount code Pammielocs10 to save $$$
ACV shampoo
Black Charcoal Shampoo
Sweet Orange Castile shampoo
Refresher Spray
Light Conditioning Oil
Loc Brush
Vegan Detox Bar
Bonnet
Pammie
These are really great tips. I feel like I do my best to follow them because I've seen good results. But you do something with my hair that makes it behave. Can't wait to see you 🤗