Hi everyone! As mentioned in Advice for Beginner Locks, people with starter locks shouldn’t be washing their hair too often. However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t wash it at all. You just have to be very careful when you do. Doing the wrong thing can cause them to unravel and slow down the locking process. Here is a step by step guide on how to wash starter locs.
1. Massage your scalp before washing.
This will lift all dirt and any dandruff from your scalp, which will make washing it out easier. Use the tips of your fingers and lightly scrape the scalp. If you have a hair pick with rounded edges, you can also use that.
2. Section out your locks
You can use small rubber bands or hair ties. The number of sections depend upon how thick your hair is. When I had beginner locks, I used about 15 sections; however, the model in the photo below, who has thinner hair, used around 10.
3. Dilute your shampoo
It is important to do this until it’s half shampoo and half water, as locks don’t need such a potent mixture. Be sure to use an applicator bottle. It’s essential if you want to ensure that shampoo is applied to every part of the scalp, and it also makes applying easier.
4. Wet your hair and apply the shampoo to each section
5. Wash your scalp, section by section
Gently rub the scalp of each section, then rinse your hair. Note that the first time you wash, your hair won’t suds as much due to buildup.
6. Shampoo a second time and apply some to the shaft of your locks
After shampooing your scalp for a second time, apply some shampoo along the shaft of the locks and run your fingers gently down the lock. Remember to move the rubber bands down a little so that the shampoo reaches everywhere. Then rinse. You can then remove the rubber bands while in the shower and allow the water to run through your locks one more time.
7. Dab your locks with a clean towel to soak up the excess water.
Ensure that the towel is clean and doesn’t shed. Afterwards, let your hair air dry. That’s it for how to wash starter locs. Let me know in the comments below if you’d do anything differently.
Related Posts
Dos and Donts For Locks
Advice for Beginner Locks
What should I moisturize my locs with?
Hairstyles for Short Locks
Until next time!
~Jay
This might be the “Uh Oh” question of the month……… I still use Sulfur 8 to grease my scalp. Before you give me the bizness, I need to say that Sulfur 8 twice a week somehow keeps my scalp clean of sebum build up, and prevents me fro being itchy. I’m an avid minitwist about to make the leap to a final install of minitwist that I’ve finally committed to interlocking instead of takedown and retwist.
Please give me a earful of if it’s ok to continue using my Sulfur 8 once or twice a week on my scalp only while taking on my new loc journey? Oh by the way I do plan to use Rosewater spray as my daily moisturizer followed by Paul Mitchell “The Conditioner” (a water based very light leavein conditioner) on my loose curly ends followed by an oil to seal in all that moisture.
Hi Bessita! Firstly, congrats on deciding to start your locks journey!
I am not familiar with Sulfur 8 so I can’t tell you if it’s bad for your locs. However, with starter locs you should avoid using any heavy cream based moisturizers or any oils, because these things can cause your hair to unravel and will slow down the locking process. So if Sulfur 8 falls into that category, I would recommend waiting until your locs mature before using it again. This goes for the Paul Mitchell conditioner as well. I agree with using a water-based moisturizer like our Rose water Revitalizing Spray because it won’t risk your locs unraveling, but will still keep your scalp moisturized.
I strongly recommend that you check out the following posts so you’re aware of the pitfalls to avoid when you start your loc journey:
– Dos and Dont’s for Locs (Part 1)
– Dos and Dont’s for Locs (Part 2)
– Advice for beginner locs
Good luck with everything and let me know if you have any more questions!
Mine is very straight hair type,
I lock my hair nearly 9 months,
I do watch once a month,
But it’s unravel all the time n I twist it with stick again n agian.
How can I do to unravel again n again?
I use perfume when I needa urgently go out for meetin, could it be any disadvantages for my locks?
Hi Paul! Locking straight hair can be quite difficult. I’ve heard that sea salt water spritzes can help, though I wouldn’t recommend doing that for too long since it’s very drying. You could also try dry shampoo so you can push how often you need to wash your hair. You could also try using a locking gel to help mat the hair together.
With regards to your question about perfume, a lot of perfumes contain alcohol which can dry out your hair. If you want to add a scent, try our Rose water Revitalizing Spray, which has the wonderful natural scent of roses.
May be a slow question, but would you recommend washing starter locs between retwist appointments if the appt is monthly? Or would that be considered too often?
Not a slow question at all! To be honest, I think it would depend on the individual. If you sweat a lot or you just feel like your hair is dirty then wash it in between. Every 2 weeks is fine. However, if you are comfortable with washing it every month then do so! I recommend spritzing with our Rose water Revitalizing Spray especially if you want to push it this long.
THANKS!
No problem!
How long do you recommend for the first wash after locking
In general, I’d say to try to wait 3 weeks before washing. But depending on your hair type, your locking method, and even the climate you live in, this can change. Definitely not before 2 weeks though. Try to push it as long as you can and use our Rose water Revitalizing Spray to refresh.
Do you recommend to retighten first then wash or the other way. My locks twist backward to scalp and it looks like it’s not growing
Definitely wash first. You want your hair to be clean so you don’t end up locking in any dirt/buildup. And just give it time. Everyone’s hair grows at its own pace. It may not seem like it but it’s growing.
Very informative..Any remendation for the type of shampoo?
If you have sisterlocks, I recommend using the starter shampoo until your locks have matured a bit. There’s also Castille soap that I hear works great for most locs. Otherwise, there are shampoo brands catered towards locs but first I’d look at the reviews and find people who have your hair type and see how it worked for them.