Have you noticed how some people decide to loc their hair because they think it's low maintenance? The only thing I can confidently beat my chest about locs and ease of maintenance is low manipulation. The 7 practical steps outlined below would show you how to treat your beautiful locs.

From the beginning of your loc journey, you must have a plan to maintain it adequately, and not to scare you if you are considering starting locs, but it is not for the weak.

That being said, locs are truly beautiful, versatile, and once you get the hang of it, you would thoroughly enjoy having them for whatever length of time you desire. So if you've had your locs in for long or you are considering going on the loc path, you would find these tips useful.

1. Moisturizing

I don't know if there is an ideology behind not moisturizing locs as you would your unloced hair. But please, your locs need moisture. Because locs tend to hold water better, and don't dry out as easily, the frequency of moisturizing would differ. The weather condition of your location is also a factor that can influence moisture retention. Do you know you can also do what is called The Green House Method with your locs?

You can moisturize your locs with water, as well as a moisturizing leave in conditioner.

2. Minimal Manipulation

Admittedly, locs seem to be more sturdy than unloced hair, therefore, this makes people want to constantly manipulate it into different styles. Your hair can still break even if they have been loced, this is why you need to ease up on constant manipulation, touching, etc.

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3. Trimming

Also, with your loced hair, you can trim twice or once a year. This would help get rid of split ends and knots. You might argue; aren't knots the whole point of dreads, well, you see, the body of the hair differs from the end. You also want to keep your hair even at the bottom which gives a neat look.

4. Re-locing

In the spirit of low manipulation, your locs do need to have that fresh look occasionally especially when there is new growth. You can visit a professional loctician who would give your hair the desired re-locing that would last and minimize manipulation in between appointments.

5. Treating

Because locs are…well, loced, it tends to also loc in products which can cause build-up over time. This is unavoidable, therefore, having a regimen where you treat your hair by detoxification and steaming using ideal products would go a long way in maintaining your locs long term.

6. Deep Conditioning

This does not apply to baby locs, that is newly loced hair. If you have recently loved your hair, you can leave out deep conditioning for a while, however, if the locs are well over a year, you should definitely add deep conditioning to your routine.

7. Protecting

This wouldn't be complete if I don't mention protection. No you didn't escape it when you loced your hair. You have to still sleep with satin scarves or bonnets or pillow cases to keep those locs and avoid frizzing and breakage.

Bonus Point: Colouring

Dying your hair can set it back a bit, however it can add beauty and make it look more stylish. So, if you are daring and up for a switch up, you can colour the tips, a few strands, or just go global with a full hair dye. My advice, do not DIY your way to this, it is better to go to a professional salon.

I hope these tips were helpful to you, let me know in the comments below.

Also, these tips don't apply to artificial locs because maintenance would differ and so many different types of artificial hair used to achieve locs.

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