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Hi everyone! Sometimes due to certain circumstances, you are left with a long period of time between retightenings/retwists. That means we have to do everything we can to maintain our own locks. After almost 9 weeks of doing the routines in my post: How to maintain locks with long periods between retightenings, I decided to take the plunge and self-retighten for the first time ever! Today, I’ll share with you my experience and some of the things that I learnt along the way.
Products used:
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Our Rose water Revitalizing Spray (sold on our website here)
1. Put your hair to the top of your head and start at the back.
It keeps the area clear so you can focus on the lock you’re retightening. In addition, it’s easier to keep track of which ones you’ve done and haven’t done. You don’t want to miss any.
2. Wet your roots before interlocking
This helps to soften your new growth, making it easier to interlock. To wet my roots, I used my trusty Rose water Revitalizing Spray.
*3. Most important tip: learn to identify where you last interlocked*
The thing to remember is: if the new growth is horizontal then the last position was north/south; therefore start interlocking vertically. If the new growth is vertical then the last position was east/west; therefore start interlocking horizontally. If you start the same place that the interloc ended, this can create a hole in the lock.
4. Don’t try to force the lock through.
Typically, I got in 1.5 rotations before it became too tight, though this could vary depending on how much new growth you have. I understand wanting to retighten as close to the scalp as possible, so that it stays neater longer. However, the tension on your scalp isn’t good for your hair. It can cause scalp irritation, as well as weaken your hair follicles which causes hair thinning.
5. Take frequent breaks.
I now have a new appreciation for professional locticians. After a couple hours, my hands started to get sore. That’s why I decided to limit myself to about 3-4 hours each day. It takes a little longer but spacing it out allows you to rest and get other things done, especially if you have work or school everyday.
Have you ever self-retightened before? How long did it take you?
Related posts:
How to maintain locks with long periods between retightenings
How to start locs: Pros and cons of various locking methods
Types of dreads: Interlocs vs Sisterlocks vs Palm-rolled locks
What should I moisturize with? My daily moisturizer
How to repair a hole in your lock
Until next time!
~Jay
Disclaimer: Sisterlocks is a trademarked technique. This is a general post about interlocking and is no way a guide on how to retighten sisterlocks.
It took me 19 hours my first time! And I don’t have nearly as many locs as you.
19 hours is still a long time. By hour 10 I started to wonder how many locks could I possibly have!
How do I start To lock my hair? Tips please
Hi! That would depends on what type of locks you want. Are you interested in interlocs?
See my How to start dreads post: https://mylocksjourney.com/how-to-start-dreads/
Hi. How much time total did it take for you to retighten? Your hair looks great btw! Thanks for your blog
Hi! It took about 24 hours in total. And thank you!
I actually just had to retighten my own micro locks. I retightened on fresh washed hair but let it dry mostly. I used a different tool. Started in the front instead of the back, which I’ve learned my lesson here. It wasn’t bad. I may save my coins from here on out. Took about 8 hours over 2 days, so same 3-4 hours a day.
Wow only 8 hours? That’s amazing for your first time!
Wow only 8 hours? That’s amazing for your first time!
I have around 450 locs. Sister locs. It takes me 8-9 days on off. I use an interlocking tool I bought on Amazon. Works well.
Wow. That’s a lot of locs to retighten!