Conditioner washing, co-washing for short, is another way to get your hair clean with out using harsh stripping shampoos. This method of cleansing hair was made popular by the book Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey.

The difference between organic methods of locking and cultivated methods of locking really comes down to parting and actively encouraging your hair to lock. Cultivated locks will give you:

The size that you decide to make your locks will depend on many things such as:

• How many locks you want.
• What method you plan to use to start and maintain your locks.
• What your desired finished look is.
• How you plan to style your hair during the locking process and once your hair is locked.
• Whether or not you plan to do it all yourself, get help with the initial parting, or get “professional” help with the whole thing.
• Whether or not you plan to maintain them at home
• How much money you are willing to spend.

Flat twists are just that a row of twist that lays flat to your head. Flat twist do not last as long as cornrows. To make them last as long as possible always tie your head up at night and before you pull anything (shirt, sweater, dress, etc.) over your head.

Free formed locks fall in between the awesome unabashedly wild naturalness of organic locks and the every- lock-in-its- place cultivated locks.

If you will finger twisting or palm rolling your hair you will need to select a holding agent. The holding agent is to help keep the locks in place as they set especially if you have soft, fine or resistant hair. It is important to choose a water-soluble holding agent that is easily washed away. Some natural examples are flax seed or aloe vera gel.

Knowing how to braid your hair will open up so many styling options for you. The key to braiding well is keeping an even tension. Once you understand how braiding works you will be able to cornrow and French braid your hair.

Cornrows and French braids use the same principles as braiding and plaiting. The only difference is braids and plaits use small sections of hair to make many individual braids/plaits. Cornrows and French braids use large sections of hair to make a continuous flat braid/plait.

In this article I will be sharing with you how to start and maintain very small locks. Some might call it the Sisterlock-Look-for-Less.  However, if you read my article on that subject, you will know that I really feel that if you want Sisterlocks TM you should save your money and get Sisterlocks TM. That way you will not go through all the trouble of starting and maintaining small locks but feel bad because they don’t look the same.

How you wash your locks (dreadlocks) and how often will really depend on how you started them. But here are some basic guidelines that will work for all lock types.

It doesn’t matter what type of hair you have there are natural gentle style options  for all types of hair types. The most import thing is to understand what styles will work with your hair’s characteristics.

All locks require some type of regular maintenance to insure that they don’t mat together into a few large locks. There are there basic types of lock maintenance: free forming/ separating the roots , twisting and rolling, interlocking/intertwining. If you want your locks to have a consistent look it is better to pick one method and stick with it.

Maybe you have heard/read things like: “Natural and locking your hair are almost the same.” “The easiest natural hair option is locked hair.”

While sometimes that seems to be the general perception. These thoughts are not necessarily true. Having tasted both worlds, I can honestly say that you will always have to do your hair. Both having locks and keeping your hair looking nice natural requires a degree of work.

Despite the progress that has been made in the acceptance of natural hair styles and choices, locks (dreadlocks) still remains a misunderstood option. People will say all sorts of things about locks. And people will tell you to do all sorts of things to start  and maintain them.

Here is the real deal.

Once you have your starter locks, if you are like most may be impatient to be completely locked. It is understandable but remember that locks are a lesson in patience. No matter what way you start your locks there will be an amount time that you will have to wait before they are completely mature. The amount of time will depend on your hair type and the method that you used to start your locks.

Using less shampoo, shampooing less frequently or diluting your shampoo are all example of low ‘pooing . You don’t have to use shampoo, but maybe you just want to for whatever reason. If you must shampoo it is best to use gentle shampoos. But if you just can’t go without, low-pooing is a way to have your cake and eat it too.

No ‘pooing is simply using something other than shampoo to wash and cleanse your hair. Why would you want to do this? Well, there are various reasons:

Locking your hair organically is as simple as washing it several times a week. The frequent washing encourages your hair to coils and mat. After shampooing, gently pat your hair dry. Don’t rub or manipulate it in anyway.

The way you part your hair will lay the foundation for the size of your locks and it will also impact maintenance later on.  There are several ways to part your hair for locks.

Ok I am about to touch on a touchy subject. But I think it is important because a lot of people are trying to figure out whether or not to get SLs or the “Look for Less.”

Braids are one of the easiest low maintenance ways of starting your dreadlocks. It really is as simple as braiding or getting your hair braided. Dreadlocks started with braids can be a wide range of sizes from the size of your finger to the size of a piece of yarn and every diameter in between.
 

Comb coil locks can be started on hair that is coily to kinky. If your hair will form a natural coil you can usually start your locks this way. You are basically using a comb to coax a section of hair to form a curl. This method is great if you have hair that is really short. However, any length of coil hair can be comb coiled.

Yarn Braid Extension

If you want locks and a.) have a perm and don’t want to cut it or b.) think you want them but are not completely sure consider starting your locks with yarn extensions. Yarn braids (a.k.a Nu Locs) are simply extension braids that are braided with acrylic yarn instead of synthetic hair. You really only need an inch or two of hair.

Wet sets have been around for a long time. They still are one of the safest ways to curl your hair.

In general locks are considered a permanent style. It is hard and tedious to try and take them down. But some day you may choose to take them down and if you do you don’t have to shave your head to do it.

The puff is one of the quickest and easiest natural hair styles that you can do. When I first went all natural in high school, this was the only way I wore my hair.

Curly/ Coily hair is delicate
Contrary to popular belief, hair that is curly/coily is much more delicate than hair that is straight. Straight hair has as much as twice the amount of cuticles than curly hair. The cuticle is important. On healthy hair the cuticle lies flat. When they lie flat you hair shines. Heat styling, using chemicals, shampoo, and improper combing or brushing all can contribute to making the cuticle rough. Which will in turn make the hair tangle and hard to manage.

All hair is made up of similar components.  Hair is composed of keratin, the same protein that makes our nails.

You have probably seen lotions and potions that promise to “grow hair over night.” Some could help to nourish the follicle but the rate that your hair grows is determined by genetics.