Maintaining sisterlocks

**nita4** · 12-06-2010, 06:03 PM

Has anyone done their own maintenance of their sisterlocs from the beginning? Like after your follow up appointment? I was wondering about any challenges you may have faced and how you dealt with them. Also how often do you retighten your roots, wash, etc. Do you condition or did you start to condition after six months. Anything you could share would be appreciated. Thanks.

I really have no desire to go back every four weeks and sit in that chair for 4 to 5 hours like my consultant is trying to talk me in to. I have seen the videos on how to tighten and know that it will take me some time initially. Looking for a simple regime to follow. I just want to know how to take care of my own hair.

**chachadiva** · 12-06-2010, 06:29 PM

It's as simple as you want it. Retighten when you want, wash when you want, etc. Some people DIY every 4 weeks. Some have gone for months between retightening. I average 8-10 wks between retightenings. I generally wash ever 1-2 wks. I don't condition.

In the beginning, you probably don't want to use conditioner. Everything else is up to you. If your locks are really tiny, you may want to retighten more often. You'll have to see what works for you.

**straightnochaser** · 12-07-2010, 08:16 PM

Nubianlocked princess got SLs installed, then did her own thing. She has a Fotki page. There's another lady who did it too, her name is "Saabira." She is on blogspot.

**dewdrop** · 12-08-2010, 12:39 AM

I had SLs installed 4 years ago and after my last follow-up I just started maintaining them on my own. (My follow-ups were 8 weeks a part and my hair grew so fast that it needed to be re-tightened sooner than expected, so I took matters into my own hands). Like you I had no desire to return every several weeks to a location far from home and sit for hours on end. Over the course of 4 years I combined my locs and as of a few months ago I combined them again (TLs) and cut off my combined locs.

You can maintain your own locs and with a little practice it will come to you easily. It probably took me the first 2-3 times before latching my locs became easier. I documented my journey so feel free to check out my blog/videos as well as those of NubianLockedPrincess and Saabira. :-)

**nita4** · 12-08-2010, 04:32 PM

Thanks for the responses ladies. This is so new to me and I feel overwhelmed, like when I first BC'd. It was also a significant investment that I do not want to mess up.

I have another question, my consultant did a reverse 4 to start my locks - I have type 4 something hair with a nice kinky texture. Should I use a reverse 4 to re-ti? Or can I just use the standard 4?

**nita4** · 12-08-2010, 05:06 PM

Ladies, thanks for the website recommendations, reading now...this is just what I was looking for!!!

**dewdrop** · 12-15-2010, 04:58 AM

Most people I know just use a standard 4 because it's the tightness pattern and keeps the lock looking cylindrical.

My locktician started a reverse 4 on my locs and since becoming a DIYer I was using a regular 4 pt. rotation, but since combining them i've been using a 3pt. rotation. Honestly, I don't see a difference in the size or shape of my locs since switching patterns.

**nita4** · 12-15-2010, 06:48 PM

Dewdrop,

First, I want to thank you for your wonderful, informative blog. You have answered just about any question someone could ask. Your videos are very helpful and I thank you for taking the time to create them. You have literally taken the uncertainity and fear out of me being able to deal with my new locks and empowered me to take control of the situation.

Second, I am going to use the standard 4 pt, because I like the idea of ending on 12 with the lock going down instead of on 9. Besides my hair is kinky and nothing is coming undone. I think she used the reverse 4 as a precautionary measure.

Question, when you use a 3pt, does that mean you just leave a rotation off?

**Denny** · 12-16-2010, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by nita4

Question, when you use a 3pt, does that mean you just leave a rotation off?

I think it means you use three directions four times? - west, north, west, south?

**dewdrop** · 12-17-2010, 07:17 AM

Denny described the 3pt pattern perfectly. I'm glad that you find my blog and videos helpful (as are the blogs and vids. of others) because I want to help people by sharing my experience with them. Btw, I meant to say the 4 pt. is the tightest pattern, not tightness. :-p