Loc Video

Here is a video that I made concerning my locs:

The first video is a slideshow of my first 5 months locked. 

Month 6: The Locs are on AutoPilot

Sometimes it seems as if my hair was specially created for locking.  This is the path of least resistance because my hair has never been this hassle free.  This is the way beauty should be:  effortless.

The locs are doing great this month.  I did have some scalp problems and build-up, but that's old news now.  I solved my build up problems with Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo and the dryness with Kenra moisturizing shampoo.  My first time using a moisturizing shampoo was awesome.  It didn't leave any buildup and it gave my hair the moisture it was craving.  I plan to use the moisturizing shampoo as a "conditioner" for now.  I've also started oiling my hair and scalp, which is something I didn't do in the beginning.  My hair feels awesome and so do I.

Freshly washed and retightened on May 21

The locs have entered the "swelling" phase.  There's no turning back now.  Notice how the braid pattern is completely gone.

Month 5: Scalp Issues

April makes 5 months that I have been locked.  It's going great except for my scalp issues.  I learned the hard way of the importance of using the right products for locks.  I found it's best to use water thin products that do not leave a film/build-up.  I tried a new leave-in and my scalp went crazy.  I looked at the ingredients and the leave-in contained dimethicone.  Never again. 

Luckily,  I got the flaking under control.  I now do extended rinsing (rinse for 5 minutes before and after shampoooing) in addition to my usual routine and it really made the difference.  My hair has body and my scalp is relieved.

I hit another milestone this month.  The braid pattern is disappearing.  My husband commented that my hair looks like locks instead of braids.  Very happy about that.    

Freshly washed and retightened.  The left side is on a growth spurt. 

The braid pattern is finally disappearing at the crown.  The pattern is long gone everywhere else. 

Month 4: Growing Like Crazy!

Well, it's been 4 months since I locked my hair and it is growing like crazy.  I never realized how fast my hair really grows until I locked my hair.  It seems that I'm always retightening my hair and I must do them every 3-4 weeks or else.  Any how, I gained inches of hair and lost 5 pounds.  Really happy about that! Still loving my braidlocks. Oh, and I HAD to use conditioner and oil.  My hair was so dang dry, that it started to crunch and crumble in my hands.  It was awful.  I had little broken pieces of hair covering my hands and sink.  After shampooing with my usual products, I used my homemade conditioning mist (which is as light as water) and oiled my hair with olive oil.  No more dry crunchy hair.  All that "no conditioner or oil until your hair matures" mess is not for me.

Back Shot.  I'm still in the process of retightening my hair.  I have locs starting to travel down my neck.

The hair has completely covered my ear this month.  Compare this to last month.

Milestone?

I'm so happy because it seems that I have hit a milestone with my locks.  My hair no longer unravels when I wash it.  Just a few months ago, some of my locs would unravel whenever any type of moisture hit it and I would have to re-establish the loc.  Now, just the new growth area unravels.  Very happy that I'm making progress!

Month 3

Back View. 

The crown area seems to have flattened out a bit.  The locks above my ears have grown a lot when compared to last month. 

The top has not changed one bit.  My hair in this area is very soft, so it may take years for it to lock.

Not much has changed, except my hair seems flatter. It seems to have less body than month 1 and 2.  I tried the clarifying shampoo from Tresseme, but I shall wait until my locks are mature before using it again.  It made my hair too silky and felt as though my locks would slip out.  So, I've returned to using Aura Rosemary Mint and Nizoral shampoos.  I completed retightening my hair on Feb. 10 and plan to do another towards the end of March.

Month 2

Not much has changed from month 1, maybe a little more frizz.  Still freestyling and enjoying my hair to the fullest.  I started using Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo and it works great.  It didn't dry my  hair out like I expected.  My hair is still very soft with curly ends.  I retightened my hair earlier this month and plan to do another retightening mid February.  I <3  my locks!