The dreaded products question...

Despite contrary belief, locs are work. You have to take care of them just like any other hairstyle to ensure healthiness, and uniformity. What to use on your locs to start or maintain is a personal decision. However, depending upon your hair type and stage of dreadlocks careful consideration must be used to prevent product overload.

To begin the locing process you must decide what type of locs you would like to choose:

Organic Locs-The hair is washed regularly, but not combed, allowing the hair to mat with no interference. This typically results in thick locs of different shapes and sizes - these are the locs most often associated with Rastafarians.

Freeform Locs- Freeform locs are similar to organic locs in that they aren't "tightened" or "maintained." However, freeform locs are cultivated to a degree, as the hair is separated (not parted, just pulled apart in "chunks") into fairly uniform sections after washing. There is no parting, palm rolling, twisting, or latching.

Cultivated Locs-Cultivated locs are formed using various methods. What sets them apart from organic locs and freeform locs is that they are parted into sections of about equal size and regularly maintained, using one of several methods to tighten the new growth. Cultivated locs are usually relatively neat and uniform in appearance.

Traditional locs:

• BradeLocz


• Nappy Locs
  
• Sisterlocks (tm)
  And others.

I have Cultivated Traditional Locs which I started by going to a trained loctician. After about 2 months, my loctician trained me how to do my own hair(which is rare). He started my locs with simple, AMPRO protein gel mixed with 100% African Shea Butter. This helped to train my locs, and to help with matting. After about 6 months, I switched to Carol's Daughter, Loc butter. This formula is lightweight, has a pleasant smell, and organic ingredients. My locs had already begun to matt, which afforded me the opportunity to stop using shea butter as my primary ingredient. Shea butter is great but it can cause product buildup, which makes it extremely difficult to cleanse from the hair. In the beginning I had my hair washed and retwisted every 2-3 weeks. After they started matting I only washed my hair every 4 weeks. Whenever I wanted to refresh my scalp I would use an astringent like Seabreeze with a cottonball. In the beginning you will experience itching, as your scalp is getting used to the idea of being washed less frequently. This is why its important to cleanse the scalp. I also believe in using some type of leave in conditioner. For me I used Infusium, it kept my locs somewhat soft, and I believe it helped in hair growth.

When your locs are fully mature which can take up to a full year depending on your hair type, you can stop using shea butter all together. Now that my locs are fully matured except new growth, I use aloe vera gel, or another lightweight gel. Sometimes nothing at all.

If you have any particular questions on products depending on your hairtype please email me and I will try and answer you quickly.

Happy Locing!