Hi everyone! Sometimes, extenuating circumstances (like the COVID-19 quarantine) can prevent us from getting our retightenings on time. Or maybe you do it yourself and just didn’t have the time recently. Here’s how to maintain locs until you get your retwist.
Watch the video or read the text below:
1. Wash like you have beginner locks
I have been banding my hair when washing it. For more detail, see my post: How to wash beginner locks. I’m trying to avoid as much frizzing as possible as to reduce the impact of missing my retightening appointment. In addition, I have kept to my winter washing routine of every 3 weeks. During this time, the less hair manipulation, the better.
2. Separate your roots after washing
This allows you to keep your parts neat, seeing as you can separate any new growth before it gets too entangled. Also, it allows you to protect the most vulnerable part of the lock and the place where it’s most likely to break if left unlocked for too long. You can also lightly twist the locks at the front and back for a neater appearance. However, be sure not to overdo it and put too much stress on your roots.
Quick story time:
When I first arrived in Canada I had an experience with a loctician that took 2 days just to retighten my locks! So I decided that next time I’d just wait until I go home (Barbados) to get them done. At the time, that meant waiting 4 months. I thought it would just mean that my hair would look rusty for awhile but it actually weakened my locks to the point where 7 of them broke off. So moral of the story: waiting too long to retighten can be dangerous and you must do everything that you can to prevent breakage.
3. Loosely plait your locs
As mentioned earlier, less manipulation is key. Keeping your locks braided will keep them neater longer and also eliminate you having to style them everyday.
4. Keep your satin cap on
I wear my night cap even when I’m not sleeping, in order to protect my locks and retain as much moisture as possible. Don’t get me wrong, there are some days where I get tired of looking like a bum and I take it off. However, for the most part I try to keep my hair tied down. Be sure to push it an inch away from your hairline when not sleeping, so that there is no pressure on your edges.
5. Lessen how often you moisturize
I’ve reduced the frequency of using my rose water spray to every 3 days. It’s important to keep your locs moisturized but constant moisturizing can also cause them to frizz, which is what we want to prevent.
6. Drink enough water
I thought that this was important to mention. Since you’re lessening the moisture applied from the outside, your hair will have to rely on moisture from the inside. Drinking water therefore becomes even more critical.
7. Consider retightening yourself
I’m currently at 8 weeks since my last retwist and I decided to retighten my locks myself for the first time ever! With sisterlocks it’s more difficult since it’s a trademarked technique and it is NOT recommended that you do them without the adequate training. However, I’m going to try to figure it out and hopefully not mess up my locks in the process! Read all about my experience in my post: Self retightening tips
There are many regimens for how to maintain locs between retightenings. How are you maintaining yours?
Related posts:
Dos and Don’ts for Locks
How to wash beginner locks
Self retightening tips
What should I moisturize with: My everyday locks moisturizer
How to do edges with locks
Until next time!
~Jay
Thank you very much Jay for your very valuable information.
No problem! 🙂
Thank you, just a month in.
Congrats on starting your locks journey!☺️
My hair is fine on the front and sides so I retighten every 6-8 weeks. The inside every 3-4 months unless I experience large amounts of shedding. Then I have to tightwn more often to avoid losing locs. I ordered a pack of large eyed darning needles from Ebay. $0.99 well spent, especially since the sisterloc tool pulls my hair out. I do monthly protein treatments using a liquid vitamin complex from Mediceuticals but wash and DC weekly. My scalp will bawl if I don’t comply. Sleeping on silk pillowcases is my only concession to frizz, moisture maintenance and this ialand heat. Because of that I spritz daily, with a combo of rosewater, aloevera gel and veggie glycerine. Thanks for sharing your routine. It’s salways fun to know what others do between retightenings.
Wow. It seems you have everything planned out to the tee. It’s always great to hear about other people’s routines. Everyone’s hair is different and requires an approach specialized just for us. I’m really glad that you have discovered what works for you. I think that’s one of the hardest parts. I’m intrigued by the liquid vitamin complex, I’ll have to check that out. Thanks so much for sharing!