If you’re considering getting locs, then the best way to start is to show-up for your appointment prepared. And by preparing we recommend doing a lot of research so you know exactly the style you want and what your expectations are. In this article we’ll cover the five stages of locs to help you prepare for the journey.
First stage. Baby stage.
If you're starting your locs comb coils, your hair will be comb coiled in the salon and then in four weeks you’ll go and get your hair re-twisted. Baby stage doesn't know how to communicate with you and needs to be trained. There is a right way and a wrong way to wash the hair in the baby stage. It will come undone, or appear to come undone, every time you wash. When you get your hair washed in the salon it will look like it's coming undone. During this stage, your loctician will wash the locs by running their fingers up and down the locs, being very careful as they do so. Not all locticians will wash the hair at this stage. The shampoo process is the same as usual with Dr Locs buildup free Shampoo, but they should be very careful not to untangle the hair at this stage.
Then the hair will look like a fro with coils by the tip. A loc professional knows what's going on. The ringlets keep the hair together at the tips. They should retwist and use the ends of the hair as a guide with their fingers. Don't comb the ringlets out because you'll be starting all over from square one if you do that.
This stage can take 1-3 months depending on the hair texture. Finer hair can take up go 6 months.
Teenage phase.
By the teenage phase, the hair is poofy and gathering together on its own. You're not in the adult phase quite yet, but you’ve graduated out of the baby phase. The teenage phase can look very frizzy and bulked up. Shredded hair accumulates inside the locs like with box braids, it’s the same with the locs. It happens within two to three months. This makes the loc bulk up.
Some people get excited during this stage, but you have one more stage to go. You can also get frustrated because of the frizz. We don't recommend clipping down or shaving the frizz. Some may just twist the roots, but you have to give the whole locs some love in this stage and twist from the root down to the tip.
Teenagers need guidance and so do your locs at this stage. Use clips by the root and middle of the loc and re-twist to the end. You don't want to train just the root, then the hair will still look frizzy. We also recommend you double clip teenage locs. Stay with it and you'll get to the adult phase. Your hair isn't there yet, but it will get there. Your hair is the most fun at this stage. There’s so much body in this stage so you want to learn to love it if you don't already. Many people in the adult phase look back fondly on the teenage phase because of how much you learn during this phase.
If you’re not already using buildup-free products in your hair, it’s essential you start before it creates an issue. Use the entire Dr Locs’ Product line to ensure your locs stay healthy and clean. Use the Pre Cleanse in cases where you’re worried about buildup.
Adult phase
During the adult phase your hair starts to get firm. Your hair now knows what to do because of the double clipping during the teenage phase. During this time you'll just retwist mostly near the root and less down the whole loc. You’ll notice that all stages are present in the hair. The baby stage lives by the scalp and the adult phase is further down your locs, when it's not necessary to twist the ends. If you have frizz, twist until the end.
The fourth stage.
The fourth stage is an older stage. The hair can start dropping more and lay differently. The same way your body can change after 40, your locs may drop more. Some may experience hair loss, not everyone will, but some will experience this. Your hair can be less fluffy during this stage and gets more slender. This can be around the 4th or 5th year.
And that’s it. You’re officially a pro!
