As a loctician with over 20 years behind the chair, I've seen what makes locs thrive — and what quietly causes them to thin, dry out, or build up over time. Most of the time, it comes down to one thing: wash day habits.
Today I'm sharing the exact wash day routine I recommend to my clients. Five steps, the right products, and no guesswork.
THE WASH DAY ROUTINE
Step 1 — Pre-Cleanse
Wet your locs, roots, and scalp with water, then spray the Dr Locs Pre-Cleanse directly onto any areas where you notice buildup, dirt, or flaking. Use your fingertips to gently work it in — this activates the product and helps lift everything to the surface. Repeat as needed until your scalp feels clear.
Wash day starts before the shampoo. I sometimes reach for the Pre-Cleanse when a client is dealing with flakage or product buildup — it breaks down what's sitting at the scalp and new growth so nothing gets locked in during the wash. It's the step most people skip, and it makes all the difference.
Step 2 — Shampoo
Less is more here. Your locs are still absorbing water at this point, so a little goes a long way. Work the Dr Locs Yasin Shampoo in sections, squeezing it down the length of each loc rather than piling everything on top of your head. Don't skip the ends — they're the oldest, most fragile part of your locs and the most overlooked. Rinse thoroughly, and plan to shampoo at least three times for a complete cleanse.
Step 3 — Condition
This is the step most people skip — usually out of fear that conditioner will cause buildup. But the Dr Locs Amla Extract Conditioner was formulated specifically for locs, so buildup is never a concern. Apply root to ends, let it sit a few minutes, then rinse with cool water. For a deeper treatment, leave it in under steam — your locs will thank you.
Step 4 — Moisturize
While your locs are still damp, spray the Jinan Moisture Mix — or the Island Breeze Moisture Mix if you prefer a lighter, fresh scent — throughout your locs and into your roots. Massage in with your fingertips to make sure your roots are getting the love too. Both are gentle enough for daily use, not just wash day.
Step 5 — Seal (optional)
Finish with a small amount of Yaya Oil to lock everything in. Blended with six nourishing oils including argan, it seals the cuticle, locks out humidity, and protects against split ends. Bonus: it doubles as a body oil too, so one bottle goes a long way.
Products I Reach for on Wash Day
These are the two products I designed specifically for this routine:
Founder's Favorites Bundle — People always ask what I actually use on my clients. This is it. The Founder's Favorites Set is the exact system I've refined over two decades as a loctician — designed to work together so your locs stay clean, moisturized, and healthy between appointments.
Pre-Cleanse — Wash day starts before the shampoo. I reach for the Pre-Cleanse first whenever there's buildup at the scalp or new growth area — it breaks everything down so nothing gets locked in during the wash.
