Dreaming of beautiful locs but not sure where to begin? This article is for you! First, let's provide a quick refresher for beginners who might not be familiar with locs. This unique hairstyle is created by allowing sections of hair, of varying thickness, to naturally intertwine and mature. While originally popularized within the Rastafarian faith, which reveres Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as its messiah, the wearing of locs held deep religious significance. Over time, however, this style became more widespread, notably thanks to reggae icons like Bob Marley, eventually achieving universal appeal. Unfortunately, starting and maintaining locs isn't always straightforward. Initiating your loc journey requires a dedicated process, and ongoing care is just as crucial. That's why, in this article, I'll guide you through the top products to ensure the optimal health and longevity of your locs.
NOURISHING YOUR HAIR
What a surprise! Vegetable oils are recommended for maintaining your locs. Yes, as usual, they are ideal for twisting locs during retwisting. Be careful, however, to dilute them as much as possible for better application and to prevent dust from sticking to your hair. They work best when combined with pure shea butter. A little tip: do not apply pure shea butter alone. Indeed, this ingredient is far too heavy for locs and would tend to weigh them down. So, mix it with one or more diluted oils to get healthy locs. You can apply this mask between two retwists. Apply a small amount to your lengths to keep the locs supple. For locs formed using the crochet method, a frequency of once or twice a week is sufficient.
To avoid odors and itching, try essential oils with antiseptic properties such as peppermint oil, rosemary oil, or even silk proteins for nourishment.
PRODUCTS TO AVOID
While vegetable oils are essential for maintaining your locs, you absolutely must get rid of your generic shampoos bought in supermarkets. This type of gel is composed of a petroleum derivative that remains on the surface, clogs the locs, and makes them dull. All your synthetic products are therefore to be banned if you want to achieve beautiful locs.
HOW TO WASH MY HEAD?
A minor inconvenience when wearing locs is that dust settles very quickly on your roots. This is why you should not do no-poo. Locs need to be washed regularly, otherwise dust settles and can cause unpleasant odors. Therefore, you should adopt a natural and clarifying shampoo, once the loc is well formed, and apply a conditioner diluted with water so that the product doesn't weigh down your strands. Locs are knots, so if you use a product that is too heavy, it will remain between the knots. Elimination will be more difficult. A little tip: after shampooing, it is necessary to wring out your locs well, twisting them as if wringing out laundry. Then let them sit in a towel for 15 to 20 minutes so they absorb the water well, then let them air dry.
