If you've noticed your locs thinning at the root, it's natural to assume it's something you're doing wrong — a style pulled too tight, too much twisting, the wrong product. But after 20 years of doing locs and watching this pattern play out client after client, I can tell you: root breakage is almost always something happening inside the body, not outside of it.

Here's how to actually read what your hair is telling you, and what to do about it.

The #1 cause: stress

Stress is the single biggest factor I see behind root thinning. It's involved in nearly every case, either on its own or alongside something else.

Stress-related breakage can show up anywhere on the head, but in my experience, it most often shows up at the back right side. If that's where you're seeing thinning, stress is worth ruling in first.

What causes locs thinning at the root: internal factors

Locs thrive off the strength of the hair root. When the root is weak, the loc has nothing to hold onto — and it breaks. In my experience, root thinning almost always traces back to something internal, including:

• Nutrient deficiencies — low iron or magnesium are common culprits
• Organ imbalances that show up in bloodwork
• Medication side effects — a lot of people forget their prescriptions can affect hair, but it's a real and common cause
• Pregnancy, which can trigger hair breakage on its own

This is why I always tell clients: if you're seeing loss at the root, see a doctor and get bloodwork done — ideally a doctor who practices naturopathically, or a medical doctor open to naturopathic approaches. Root breakage is your body flagging something, and it deserves an actual answer, not a guess.

Reading the location and pattern of breakage

Where and how the hair is breaking tells you a lot:

• Breakage right at the root → something is happening right now
• Breakage further down the loc → something happened a while back, or it's a color-related issue
• Front-of-head breakage → in my observation, this tends to run more hereditary
• Back-right breakage → more often stress-related

What about tight styles and tension?

Tight styles, over-twisting, and constant pulling absolutely cause damage — but here's a common mistake I see both clients and locticians make: assuming tension is the cause of root breakage. In my experience, it's not. Tension-related damage tends to show up further from the root, not at it.

That said, tension is still worth addressing:

• Overtouching or over-twisting your hair
• Nervous habits, like fondling or twisting your locs throughout the day
• The "no-clip method" — while I don't believe this causes root breakage, it can cause breakage a few inches away from the root

Pay attention to what your hands are doing with your hair throughout the day. Small, repeated habits add up.

Heavy product buildup

This one's rarer, but it happens: a product leaves buildup in the loc, and the added weight causes the loc to hang, pull, and eventually stress the root.

This is actually part of why Dr Locs formulates the way we do — the Imani Locking Spray, Jinan Moisture Mix, and Island Breeze Moisture Mix are all intentionally light. They moisturize without leaving the kind of buildup that adds unnecessary weight to your locs.

A newer cause: incorrectly installed loc extensions

If you have loc extensions and you're seeing root thinning, check the install. The mount at the root has to be proportional to the amount of natural hair supporting it. When extensions are too heavy for the hair underneath, the added weight can cause real breakage at the scalp. This comes down to finding a loctician who understands the science behind loc extensions — not just the technique.

What to actually do about it

1. See a doctor and get bloodwork. This is the most important step. Don't skip it.
2. Massage Yaya Oil into the area every few days — not daily. Yaya Oil does support hair growth, but overuse can clog the scalp and slow growth instead of helping it.
3. Alternate with Sweet Peppermint Clarifying Shampoo every other wash to keep the area free of buildup so the oil can actually absorb and do its job.
4. If a loc has already broken off, let the hair grow out a few inches first. As a loctician, I require this before repairing or bridging a loc — trying to fix it too soon just sets you up to repeat the problem.

The bottom line

Root thinning is your body's early warning system. Before you blame your styling routine, rule out what's happening internally — then support your scalp gently from the outside while you get answers.

Chimere Faulk is the founder and formulator of Dr Locs, and a licensed loctician with over 20 years of experience.