Choosing Products for Locs

With the growing trend in the naturals community more and more people are deciding to rock locs. Also with that increase there are an exorbitant amount of products marketed for locs, braids and twists. Interesting enough as I stated in an earlier blog “Exposing Deception in Natural HairProducts” some of these lines simply add a mere drop of “catch phrase”/ “Trending” natural oils or butters to lure you into purchasing their hair care product.

I know many of you do your own locs at home; either for cost reasons, trust issues, or simply a preference, its really hard to see and reach the back of your head, which leads to you not being able to tell the full extent of what you have going on with your tresses. You can always ask a friend or complete stranger (as their answer will be unbiased) to be brutally honest and tell you what they see going on with your hair. Although they may not have a trained eye and know what to look for, it may help you to get a better understanding of what’s really going on with your locs.

Understand that a little goes a long way. So when using products usually the equivalent of a nickel will cover one entire row of locs and the size of a quarter will do two and a half rows. Some of you go waaaaaay overboard and use hair care lines in excess. You should have learned in elementary school, that anything in excess is not good (or did you? Inserts wide eye blank stare SMH) Also learn ingredient scientific names this way you won’t be deceived. (Exposing The Deception in Natural Hair Products explains this in more detail)

There is this HUGE MAJOR debate going on about what products to use on locs and what products to stay away from. OMG, if I see one more person say that they use XYZ line, I’m going to scream… Aaaaaaahhhhhh  (woo I just saw another post, rolls eyes) Here’s my take on hair care lines… If you like it keep rocking with it. BUT (and that’s a HUGE BUT) if and when you decide to choose a professional loctician to care for your locs and they say you have build up and need an ACV soak for an additional charge, just fork over the duckets and don’t get in your feelings.

If your locs have an ashy or gray cast to them, then your sir or madam, definitely have build up.  Go straight to your nearest sink for an ACV soak and do not Pass Go this step, LOL, But serious. ACV soaks should not be done on a regular basis just as needed. Vinegar will strip hair of natural oils causing hair to become dry and brittle especially on color treated locs if done too often.  I would recommend doing it once every 6 months if you are not active and don’t sweat a lot. For my active loc stars, those that play sports, work out, or just sweat profusely, I recommend once a quarter or every 3 months. This will help with removing that sweaty smell from your locs.

Just be cautious of what you are putting in your hair, locs, dreadlocks & etc. Those unnatural ingredients (made in a lab and not in nature) are also being absorbed in your skin. That skin on your head is called scalp, which is really close to your brain. IJS (that might explain why some are a little… well ummmm… you know) LOL  Use whatever works for you. There are a plethora of hair textures and curl patterns, so what works for one may not work for others. Choose your products wisely, the less you do and use makes it S.imple to K.eep Y.our H.air H.ealthy!