Self retightening tips: Interlocking for dummies

Watch the video or read the text below.

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:

9 Pcs Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Set Dreadlocks Tool Crochet Hooks Hair Locking Tool

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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.