We have twisted. We have braided. Naturally the next step for many of us is just locing this stuff up!! ( At least that how it went for me lol). This article seeks to inform the average person on how the locking process works. There are so many ways to loc one's hair that I could literally write a book on this topic, but for the purpose of this article i will keep it simple . The most commonly used methods to loc natural hair is free form, palm roll, and starting locs from braids or twists. Now this is only a taste of the many ways we loc. Advanced topics on all of my hair series ( braiding , locking , twisting, and protective styling) All coming soon:)
Free Form
Free form locs are exactly that ....free! All one needs to know for this method is how to keep the hair clean as mentioned in our previous hair article "Tool kit for healthy hair success" . You simply let the hair mat on its on with out parting or combing and your free form locs will do just that....Form. Some people may opt to gently separate their hair with their fingers to give their forming locs more definition. Others may opt out of that option and simply allow their hair to form however it freely does.
Palm Rolling
Tools you will need for palm rolling are usually a rat tailed comb, alot of hair clamps( to keep hair separated) and your favorite locing gel ( preferably natural of course). Part the hair with your desired method ( most people use the box parting method). The size of the part part determines the size of the loc so please keep this in mind when forming your locs. Most people need at least an inch of hair to start this process. Saturate the portion of hair that you have parted with your natural locing gel. Proceed the take the rat tailed comb and use the teeth of the comb to twirl the hair in a circular motion to create a "cylinder cone" in the client's head. Repeat this process throughout the entire head and you are done. If hair is longer than an inch when re tightening you can literally take the hair (after u applied the gel to the entire loc) in your palm and roll both palms in a twisting motion. Another option may be to tighten the hair by only apply the gel to the root of the loc and literally twisting the roots with your fingers.
Creating Locks From Twists or Braids
Free Form
Free form locs are exactly that ....free! All one needs to know for this method is how to keep the hair clean as mentioned in our previous hair article "Tool kit for healthy hair success" . You simply let the hair mat on its on with out parting or combing and your free form locs will do just that....Form. Some people may opt to gently separate their hair with their fingers to give their forming locs more definition. Others may opt out of that option and simply allow their hair to form however it freely does.
Palm Rolling
Tools you will need for palm rolling are usually a rat tailed comb, alot of hair clamps( to keep hair separated) and your favorite locing gel ( preferably natural of course). Part the hair with your desired method ( most people use the box parting method). The size of the part part determines the size of the loc so please keep this in mind when forming your locs. Most people need at least an inch of hair to start this process. Saturate the portion of hair that you have parted with your natural locing gel. Proceed the take the rat tailed comb and use the teeth of the comb to twirl the hair in a circular motion to create a "cylinder cone" in the client's head. Repeat this process throughout the entire head and you are done. If hair is longer than an inch when re tightening you can literally take the hair (after u applied the gel to the entire loc) in your palm and roll both palms in a twisting motion. Another option may be to tighten the hair by only apply the gel to the root of the loc and literally twisting the roots with your fingers.
To create locks from twists or braid simply part in desired method and braid or twist hair as explained in my previous articles Basic Braiding Methods and Twisting Methods Part 2 .
Wash and maintain hair as you normally would but in a more careful manner being sure not to unravel the twists or braids. You can proceed after getting some new growth to palm roll or twists the roots as explained previously. Many people opt for this method of starting locks because it is a bit more secure than the palm rolling or comb coil method alone.
NOTE: With ALL Methods mentioned above hair takes about 6 months on average to look loced.
Stayed tuned for our PART 2 of our locing series adding on the add on and special locing methods. Hope you have enjoyed:) I know I did:)
By M Kyles of Kyles Natural
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