All dreads are different! For example, if you have coarse, kinky hair, it can take as little as three months to lock if you started your starter locs with two-strand twists or braids. If you have curly hair, it can take your dreads anywhere from six to twelve months to lock. On the other hand, Irregular curls and straight hair can take six months to a year to lock.
Best Sprays to Use for Starter locs
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 | Locsanity Passion Fruit Softening and Moisturizing Daily Spray for Locs |
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The Four Stages of Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks go through four stages: starter/baby locs, budding, teen/ugly, and mature.
1. Baby locs
This stage starts in two weeks and can last anywhere from three to six months. Whether you’ve done the two-strand twist, crocheting, or braiding. Your hair will frizz and your scalp will itch at some point.
2. Budding
In the second stage of dreadlocks, your hair will have twice as much frizz, especially if your hairs are straight. Also, you will observe small bumps, a rise in thickness, and some matting on your scalp hair. Fortunately, with freeform dreads, you can now split them to stop them from making big congos.
3. Teen stage
In this stage, your dreadlocks will be locked and won’t come out. Your dreadlocks will be getting longer and thicker. If you have short dreads, your hair may not grow in the same direction. That is why some people are afraid of this stage because it’s the “ugly stage” of dreadlocks.
4. Mature stage
This could occur at 18 months or 36 months if your hair is straight. At this stage, your locs will be getting bigger and taking shape.
Your hair will undergo these 4 stages until you get beautiful mature dreads.
Gels to try for Starter Dreads
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 | Lion Locs Firm Hold Hair Locking Dreadlock Gel Cream for Dreads |
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When do Starters Locs begin To Lock?
Starter locs, or “baby-locs” as they are commonly known, are the initial stage in establishing and forming your precious locs. Here, you are creating a separating or forming system and awaiting the “budding” or locking of locs. The following are characteristics of starting locs:
1. Small
Most dreadlocks start out small and get bigger and thicker as time goes on.
2. Neat
Dreads look very clean and neat because they are just starting to grow and form.
3. Clean splits
Frizzing and matting haven’t started yet, and the dreads will still look clean and split from each other.
You will be in the starter lock phase for an average of three to six months. Even though that seems like a long time, be patient because dreadlocks take time to form. Additionally, how long does it take for starter locs to really start to lock can depend on a number of different things.
4. Type of Hair
Hair that is thick and full tends to lock a lot faster than hair that is thin and smooth. Curly hair also locks much more quickly than straight hair.
5. Hair growth
The quicker your hair grows, the faster the loc will get fuller, begin to lock, and form buds. If your hair grows at a slower speed, the knotting process may be the same.
6. Original insertion
How fast your dreads lock will depend on how they were put in the first time. For example, if you take care of thick, curly hair that has dreads in it from backcombing and palm rolling, it will lock very quickly.
How do you know when they’re starting to lock?
After the first three to six months, you’ll start to see changes in your dreadlocks. They might look stronger or get thicker and more matted. This means that they are moving out of the “starter loc” phase and into the “budding” phase.
Most of the time, your dreadlocks will start to look frizzy and messy. Don’t worry, this is a good sign! This is when the locking process officially begins. At this point, it is very important to make sections and places for your dreads. This will establish the foundation for how they will lay out over time.
You could also let them settle naturally and let freeform dreads grow out of them. Once dreadlocks reach this stage, they usually continue to mat, lock, and get denser over the next 12 months.
How To Lock Dreads Faster?
Since getting dreadlocks takes a long time, you might be wondering if there’s any way to speed up the procedure. Keeping your dreads in good condition is the most important thing you can do to make them lock faster.
Some helpful tips to help your dreadlocks get tighter and stronger quickly are:
1. Sea Salt Spray
The saltwater spray is an easy technique to speed up the dread locking process since, when applied, the salt dries out the hair, making it coarser and more prone to tangling. Therefore, these sprays are popular among those with young dreadlocks and a lot of unruly hair to control.
The amount of sea salt spray required depends on the thickness of the user’s hair, and application is as easy as aiming and spraying. You can purchase sea salt spray or, for less money, make your own by combining sea salt and water in a spray bottle.
2. Backcombing
Backcomb your dreads often, especially at the root, will maintain the new growth matted and connected to the old loc. You can do this with a thin metal comb or a crochet hook. This is great for taming flyaways and taking care of the roots.
3. Palm rolling
Twisting and palm rolling keep dreads tight and matted, and if you do it often, it speeds up the knotting process. Try to make it a habit to twist or roll your dreadlocks a little bit.
4. Leave the frizzy hair
We always complain about how frizzy our hair is. In fact, frizz is a good thing, as it promotes growth. This is particularly true for dreadlocks. The process of budding occurs when hair begins to mat and expand; it is a natural precursor to locking.
Accept the frizz stage and avoid cutting or palm rolling the locs too early since this will contribute to thinning of dreads.
You can also wash your hair 2 to 3 times a week to speed up the process of locing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Does It Take For Starter Dreads To Lock?
The starter phase also known as the “baby” stage of the loc procedure can take between three and six months, depending on the hair type and rate of growth. You can start your locs in a variety of ways, including palm rolls, two-strand twists, comb coils, or braids.
How Can I Make My Starter Locs Lock Faster?
If you wash your hair every two to three days, backcomb it, and twist it together, you can make your dreads lock up faster. Or you can try sea salt spray to help your hair loc faster.
What Are The 4 Stages Of Locs?
As your hair grows, it goes through four stages of locs: the starter lock stage, the baby lock stage, the teen lock stage, and the adult lock stage.
Why Are My Starter Locs So Frizzy?
Why are my locs starting so frizzy? Frizz is a necessary component of the loc journey and process. Frizz indicates that your hair is growing and maturing normally. Frizz is required to continue forming the loc as the hair takes shape, forms, and mats together.
Now It Is Your Turn
Starter dreads will establish the tone for the beginning of your adventure, so do your homework! Your trip will go much more smoothly if you are adequately informed on how to maintain and care for your dreadlocks.
We hope this article has helped you. Do share your comments about your experience.
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