Hi everyone! I’ve noticed that a lot of people with locs have thinning hair or bald spots at their temples. Many think it’s because of locks, but for me, it was one of the reasons that I got locs in the first place. Afterwards, I did a number of things to fix my thin edges. Here’s what worked for me.
Watch the video or read the text below.
1. Avoid loc buns, updos and ponytails
Before I got locs, I used to wear my hair in one constantly because that was one of the few ways to keep my hair neat and off of my face. However, the constant stress on your roots is not good. When I got locs, I almost always wore my hair down in order to try to save my edges. If you don’t want to wear your hair down all the time, you could always have the front down with the back in a loc updo.
2. Avoid retightening (retwisting) close to the scalp
When retwisting locs, we tend to go as close to the scalp as possible so that the retwist stays fresher longer. Some people even end up with a sore scalp when they are done! However, this stress on your hair follicles can cause individual hairs to pop out and creates thinning and bald spots. In order to protect my edges, I avoided retightening the locs near my edges too close to my scalp. While it is not as fresh looking, it allowed me not to pull on my edges too much.
3. Create small twists at the front
Even when there’s not enough hair for an actual loc, I would lightly twist the tiny hairs when they appeared so that I didn’t pull them into a loc when retwisting. Often when retwisting, we pull in all the hairs in order for it to be neat; however, sometimes the delicate new growth can pop out. You’ll lose all the slow painstaking progress that you made. So it’s best to keep the new growth that appears separate. This will look a little strange but it’ll save your edges.
4. Spray with rose water
My hair has grown so much since I started using rose water a couple years ago. I sprayed my scalp everyday with our Rose water Revitalizing Spray in order to promote hair growth. Our spray contains ingredients that stimulate the hair follicles as well as work to reactivate inactive follicles, thus combatting hair thinning.
5. Massage your scalp
While there is no direct link between scalp massages and hair growth, there have been claims of increased hair thickness. Scalp massages stimulate blood circulation; the more blood to the scalp, the more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. In addition, since the blood vessels are more dilated, some research indicates that it could help hair products absorb better.
6. Avoid doing your edges
I avoided doing my edges – I still do. No slicking them back at all. The key is to avoid putting tension on your edges.
7. Manage your expectations
I thought that this was important to mention because in today’s society we tend to want instant results and when it comes to hair growth it just doesn’t work that way. It’s hard to get your hair to grow. It took me about 2 years of consistent and concentrated effort for my bald spots to disappear.
This is what it looked before vs 2 years after. I was able to add a new loc!
Related posts:
How to do edges with locs
Why I locked my hair (why locs)
Until next time!
~Jay
This is all great advice. When I was a loose natural, I had thinning happening around my temples because I always pulled my fro back tightly with a headband. I thought I would have the same problems now being locked, but my hair is growing back at the temples. I wear my hair down most of the time (which is one of the perks I was looking forward to with locs).
Thank you for sharing this! So many people think it’s the locs that give you thinning edges but locs are not the issue. I’m so glad to hear that your hair is growing back☺️
I like the advise because where I am leaving is difficult to find hairdressers that can maintain my locks and as a result, I need to do it my self every two-months. Great tips on how to prevent hair growth closer to roots..
Hi Paula. I think you may have the wrong post. The one you’re referring to is How to maintain locks in long waits between retightenings/retwists