Often after weeks, months or even years of using unnecessary product and/or poor washing techniques #locs become dense, dull and dusty looking. New growth is puffy and unruly and lint and other buildup can get deeply embedded in the core of the Loc.
Over the last 5years #CleanLocs has seen everything from, dust and mold to BrownGel and Fingernails embedded in and/or coating Locs. #CleanLocs has also heard everything from 'I didn't put anything in my hair' to 'I don't know what that is' and everything in-between. Loc wearers want to know why their hair becomes dull, why no matter what product they choose no matter how natural, nothing seems to 'control' it....especially the hairline.
Here is a little insight on how your Locs might have come to be a little dustier, a little more dull and a lot more dense than before. Some info on how your Locs react to product , the effects of over-tightening and how to tell if your Locs are actually clean.
One thing Loc wearers are often misled by, is the idea that your Locs are not "done" or mature until they are rock hard. No. This is not true. Ask any of my clients with soft, plush, spongy, velvety Locs, that are not stiff, dense and can move freely. This denseness is nothing more than gunk trapped in the Locs with nowhere to go, so it sits and sits until for some, it becomes a part of the Loc itself.
One year since the last visit to #CleanLocs. This Loc was extremely dense with product and lint, it is a lot softer, fluffier and far less dense, although in tact, part way through the #LocDetailing process.
Most clients are completely unaware of what is going on inside their Locs living under the guise and illusion that their hair is healthy just because it's slick to the touch and rock hard, until they experience a free consultation by #CleanLocs. Where a simple and logical explanation is provided for each nuance and oddity pertaining to YOUR Locs instead of an generalization.
Over tightening causes hair to coil extremely tight and is a prime location for lint to get trapped. ©2015
Waxy buildup is usually a combination of sweat, sebum, product and dust . It's common for it to buildup at the point where new growth meets the loc shaft. ©2015
When hair is clean your natural curl pattern can be easily seen and a Re-twist should hold without any product! Opposed to hair that is coated with sebum, sweat, product and/or lint which has less movement, and appears puffy and quickly unravels.
There are couple of ways you can tell if your hair is actually clean. First is obvious. Smell it. I recommend having a friend or even a stranger smell it. Touch it. Does it move freely? Can you bend and fold your Locs? Does it feel like soft wool or steel wool? Next, check the roots. Generally "puffy Afro-like" roots are unclean. Yes, we are aware that there are different textures, but let me assure you, after 5years of investigation the intricacies of Locs of varying textures, I can attest that EVERYONE has a visible curl pattern! When hair is clean it's quite visible! Lastly, it feels heavy. Dirt even when not visible is still matter, and matter takes up space, if it's taking up a lot if space in your Locs, it can be taxing on the neck and front hairline, to be carrying dirt AND hair all day.
Opposed to hair that is coated with sebum, sweat, product and/or lint which has less movement, and appears puffy and quickly unravels.
Anything that shines, does so as a result of the reflection of light. This applies to everything from stars, to jewellery, and yes, even your hair. Usually products that claim to make your hair shinier, are simply coating the strands with a substance that encourages the reflection of light. This generally works best with loose hair as each individual strand is laid side by side allowing light to hit it from all angles resulting in a somewhat brilliant shine. When it comes to Locs, the individual hairs are not lid side by side, but more like a game of twister. And rightfully so, as this is essentially how Locs are formed. The issue with Locs and product, is that the I divi dual strands don't see equal reflection of light, thus the product doesn't get to do what it's supposed to. In turn, each individual hair is weighed down with product (this includes not so essential oils and natural butters) and tucked into the shadows of your formed Locs not having the opportunity to reflect light making it appear dull. Often in an attempt to correct this lack of shine, one will simply add more product, without any thought to the fact that it already has product on it.
Be sure to give you scalp a thorough wash using the flat surface of your fingernails or the pads of your fingers to remove any leftover shampoo and sebum that may still be there.
The issue with Locs and product, is that the individual strands don't see equal reflection of light, because they are overlapping and tangled into a rope-like shape, and thus the product doesn't get to do what it's supposed to because no light can be reflected. In turn, each individual hair is weighed down with product and tucked into the shadows of your formed Locs not having the opportunity to reflect light making it appear dull. This includes not so essential oils and natural butters. Often in an attempt to correct this lack of shine, one will simply add more product, without any thought to the fact that it already has product on it. Over time, this will weigh down on the Locs, and can eventually lead to breakage at weak points.
Don't be afraid to get a mirror or two and even a friend to inspect your scalp to make sure what you think is there is what's really there. Letting residue sit on the scalp, over time this was thought to be a "scab". It was really caked up reside that was suffocating the follicle at the root. No sunlight or oxygen can nourish the hair and allow it to flourish in this condition.
Shea butter is a natural albeit heavy substance that is packed with the same type of protein that hair and nails are made of. Being heavy-handed with Shea can result in a difficult wash. Cutting this with a bit of coconut oil can thin it out and make it a bit more malleable and less thick allowing you to control the amount used.
CleanLocs is a brand that has been dedicated to gunk and lint removal since 2010
Visit #CleanLocs for a #LocDetailing appointment to #GetTheGunkOut so you can fall in love with soft, lush, vibrant, velvety Locs all over again!! #Since2010