Things you should know...
if you’re considering loc extensions:
1. They’re expensive! That is, if you aren’t installing them yourself. There are plenty of video tutorials on Youtube that make it amazingly easy to do them yourself. The only issue is your look and the quality of your loc extensions are in your hands. So if something goes wrong or if you don’t like the end result…well…it’s on you. lol! Plus, it’ll probably take you a 2-3 days to do your entire head.
I’ll just say that if you do opt to go to a profession loctician like I did, expect to pay between $300-$1,200 depending on the thickness and length of the locs you want.
2. You won’t be able to wash your hair for 6-8 weeks! Now, wait, before you leave this page, not being able to ‘wash’ your hair for that period of time DOESN’T mean that your hair has to be dirty for 2 months. You are able to clean your scalp!
If you run a wash cloth under hot water and rub your scalp just to loosen up any build up and then, using that same wash cloth after giving it another hot rinse, pour an astringent like SeaBreeze on it and go back through your hair to cleanse your scalp and remove any build up that was left behind.
If you do this often, every 2-3 days, you keep any dandruff issues completely at bay.
*The reason you should refrain from washing your hair is to allow your locs to well…lock! Putting water on them too soon will cause them to swell, unravel, and/or slip.
3. For the first 6-8 weeks, it’s best to not attempt any styling (e.g. braidouts, curling rods, intricate updos, etc). Any style that requires you to wet your locs before they’ve locked is a no-no.
4. You should oil your scalp (and ONLY your scalp) at least once a week. No oil or any product except for the water, lemon juice, and sea salt mixture should touch your actual locs. And the water in the above mixture won’t hurt your locs or cause them to unravel as long as your misting them and not dousing them—so pick your spray bottle wisely!
5. Patience is a virtue! There will be days when you’ll be extremely frustrated and wish you could do more with your locs. But don’t worry. Once you stop obsessing over your hair, it’ll loc and grow like weeds. ^_^.
