Live Your Best Loc Life With These Pro Styling Tips

Dreadlocks Were My Act of Defiance
Share this post:

So you’ve started your locs, now what? This was a question I asked myself on July 15, 2015. I left the salon beaming and so excited about this new journey. A few weeks later, as the new growth began to sprout, I realize I had no clue what to do to keep up the look. I had so many questions.

Can I wash my baby locs?
Will they unravel if I do?
How long before they actually start to loc up?

All the years I desired to loc my hair, I never actually took the time to research what to do afterward. I reached out to a good friend and she referred me to her loctician. A few weeks later me and my mane were blessed by the hands of Raushanah Rolle of the Locs On Lock V.I.P shop in Waxhaw, NC.

Upon my initial visit, I learned she was the loctician for a few other friends and college classmates of mine. Since that day, she has been an integral part of my loc journey. My first retwist, style, and color were all done by her. The most important thing I strongly suggest is that newbies find a good loctician. Not just someone who can retwist your hair when needed, but someone who will actually care for your hair and help keep it healthy. Over the last three years, Rau has helped my hair grow and always makes it look amazing.


Raushanah Rolle is CEO and master loctician of Locs on Lock V.I.P Loc shop in NC She specializes in locs and natural hair. Maintenance, repair,coloring and creative styling are some of her specialties. You can find her on Instagram @raudreadz.


Some things I have learned in these last 3 years are:

1. Patience is a virtue

Everyone’s hair is different, therefore everyone’s loc journey will be different. There will be times you don’t think your hair is growing at all and then it will seem to sprout overnight.

2. Find out what works best for your hair

As someone who has extremely dry hair, I had to find something that helped me. My stylist suggested Eden Bodyworks Peppermint Tea Tree Oil ($9.25). Since I began using it the itching and dryness of my scalp has decreased significantly. It may take some time to find what works best for your hair, but if you do use any products, read the ingredients so you’ll know what you’re putting in your hair.

Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Natural Hair Oil

Products with chemicals can be extremely unhealthy and strip your hair of its natural oils. One set of products I have found to do well with my hair is the Dr. Locs line. Each product is made with all natural ingredients and they were created by a loctician. From the pre-cleanse to the locking spray, they are all light and don’t weigh your hair down or cause buildup.

Dr Locs Line

3. Dirty hair does not grow faster

Somehow people have the misconception that not washing your hair makes it grow faster. All that does is have you walking around with dirty locs. Please keep your locs clean. That is an important part of keeping them healthy. Just make sure you thoroughly rinse any product you use out as to not cause buildup.

4. Don’t retwist too much

Taliah Waajid Tight Hold Rosemary and Nettle For Natural Hair - 6 fl ozSome people love to have their locs as neat as possible and some love them with the new growth out and proud. The tension of retwisting can eventually cause your locs to weaken at the root. My suggestion is to hold off as long as possible. I’ve gotten to the point where I will go 3 or 4 months before I go get a retwist. One product that works well is Taliah Waajid Tight Hold because it holds my locs without causing flakes or drying out my hair. On another note, you don’t have to retwist every time to wash your hair.

5. Love your journey

It may not always be pretty or easy, but embrace it all. I was never someone who knew what to do with my hair that’s why I got help.  In 3 years my locs have made their way past my shoulders come to the middle of my chest. The only thing I would change about my loc journey is possible starting it sooner.

Stay in touch! Subscribe to our newsletter or like us on Facebook

Share this post:

What do you think of this?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.