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| Credit to Creyole's for Above Image |
Now they are some individual that can't take the class, and may be considering taking down their locks. I will always suggest to try some of the option listed below for retightening/interlocking your locks. Below are list of tools available for interlocking your locks.
Latch Hook
Advantage: As close you can get to a Sisterlocks Clip tool (ton of resource).
Disadvantage: The length and base can be to thick or long for micro to small sisterlocks
How To: Dewdrop has a wonderful video demonstration here
Metal
/Plastic
Yarn Needle (Modify)Advantage: Easy to Use (ton of resource).
Disadvantage: You need tools in order to modify. Due to its size, it tend to get lost easily, as well as Longer retighen time
How To: You have to modify the metal or plastic needle first (click here for how to), and then you can interlocks your locks. You can see the video demonstration here.
Sisterlocks Clip & Hook Tool
Advantage: Made especially for Sisterlocks (Micro to Large).
Disadvantage: Have to take the class in order to get it. To get the clip tool it is going to cost you $250 (retighen class) and to get the Hook Tool it is going to cost you $1,495.00 (consultant training class)
How To: You out of luck, since they frown upon sharing that information (plus you can get sued).
NappyLoc Tool
Advantage: Very Easy to Use (Very popular among the Sisterlocks community)
Disadvantage: Cost, and due to its size, it tend to get lost easily.
How To: Nicole has a wonderful video showing how she used the Nappyloc tool for her sisterlocks. You can see the video demonstration here.
Loc-Key Tool
Advantage: Very Easy to Use. If you are in the UK, this should be a cheaper alternative to the Nappyloc tool.
Disadvantage: New to the game. Cost, and due to its size, it tend to get lost easily. Low resource/information and look very similar to the NappyLoc tool.
How To: You can see the video demonstration this here
Hand Made Paper Clip Tool
Advantage: Cheap & Easy To Use
Disadvantage: Not Durable*, Easy to lose. Longer retighen time ( *a box full of paperclip make this a none issue. right?).
How To: I did a post on how to make this here. You can view a video demonstration of this here.
Hair Pin
Advantage: Cheap & Easy to Use
Disadvantage: Easy to lose. Longer retighen time.
How To: You can check out the video demonstration of this here.
What ever tool you decided to use or have been using, please remember to NEVER excessively retighten or interlock your locks. A good rotation is every four to eight week weeks. Also note that if the tool is to big to go through your roots, then find another solution, because you locks will suffer if you constantly try to push a tool that is too big for your roots, when interlocking your locks.
As always, comments are welcome, and if you found a new tool that you have used or currently using, please go ahead and share.
Interlocking Pattern
Below are interlocking patterns I have gather from all over the web, YouTube and every other social media venue. The common pattern is "pattern 4" and that is suggested for tightly curled hair, and Pattern 3 is recommended for looser curled hair. The least used pattern is "pattern 4 reversed" which is used for locks that are prone to slippages and unraveling. To find out how to start your locks click here.
Below are an examples of what I mean.
4a/4b ( Tighly Curled) Pattern 4
For tightly curls hair go with 9, 6, 3, 12
3b/3c ( Tighly Curled) Pattern 3
For loose curls hair go with 9, 6, 9, 12
Prono to Excessive Slippage
Go with 3, 6, 9, 12
Now the above are examples of patterns. The numbers that are being referred are the rotation via the clock dial. For example, once you have created a starter lock using either the backcomb method or if you tightening up the new growth from the braidlocs, you would enter your lock in the direction of the 3`o Clock to 9` o clock (east to west). Then you will enter from 6` 0 clock to 12` 0 clock (north to south), and then again enter from 9` 0 clock to 3` o clock (west to east) and finally 12` o clock to 6` o clock (south to north). From reading my directions, you should have done Pattern 4.
Below is a step by step illustration of the pattern 4. Green arrow is your starting point, and the red arrow is your end point. If you want a example of this, check out this video.
Step 1
Enter the loc at the scalp at 3`o Clock to 9` o clock (east to west). Note: Make sure you push loop down towards the lock to eliminate gaps in your locks.
Step 2
Enter the loc at the scalp at 6` 0 clock to 12` 0 clock (north to south).
Step 3
Enter the loc 9` 0 clock to 3` o clock (west to east).
Step 4
Enter the loc at 12` o clock to 6` o clock (south to north).
Step 5
Repeat until you are at the scalp, and cannot complete another rotation. Your final "interlocked" lock should resemble a fishtail, and feel like a tight cord. NEVER insert the tool in the same direction, because that causes holes and gaps in your lock.
I got most of information from Nubianlocks Blog and a little from Nappyloc site, and I modify the information a little since I'm slow, and it took me a while to do this correctly. So I hope this post can help you as it did me. Please visit how to start your microlocks or interlocks post first.
Below are interlocking patterns I have gather from all over the web, YouTube and every other social media venue. The common pattern is "pattern 4" and that is suggested for tightly curled hair, and Pattern 3 is recommended for looser curled hair. The least used pattern is "pattern 4 reversed" which is used for locks that are prone to slippages and unraveling. To find out how to start your locks click here.
Below are an examples of what I mean.
4a/4b ( Tighly Curled) Pattern 4
For tightly curls hair go with 9, 6, 3, 12
3b/3c ( Tighly Curled) Pattern 3
For loose curls hair go with 9, 6, 9, 12
Prono to Excessive Slippage
Go with 3, 6, 9, 12
Now the above are examples of patterns. The numbers that are being referred are the rotation via the clock dial. For example, once you have created a starter lock using either the backcomb method or if you tightening up the new growth from the braidlocs, you would enter your lock in the direction of the 3`o Clock to 9` o clock (east to west). Then you will enter from 6` 0 clock to 12` 0 clock (north to south), and then again enter from 9` 0 clock to 3` o clock (west to east) and finally 12` o clock to 6` o clock (south to north). From reading my directions, you should have done Pattern 4.
Below is a step by step illustration of the pattern 4. Green arrow is your starting point, and the red arrow is your end point. If you want a example of this, check out this video.
Step 1
Enter the loc at the scalp at 3`o Clock to 9` o clock (east to west). Note: Make sure you push loop down towards the lock to eliminate gaps in your locks.
Enter the loc at the scalp at 6` 0 clock to 12` 0 clock (north to south).
Enter the loc 9` 0 clock to 3` o clock (west to east).
Enter the loc at 12` o clock to 6` o clock (south to north).
Step 5
Repeat until you are at the scalp, and cannot complete another rotation. Your final "interlocked" lock should resemble a fishtail, and feel like a tight cord. NEVER insert the tool in the same direction, because that causes holes and gaps in your lock.
I got most of information from Nubianlocks Blog and a little from Nappyloc site, and I modify the information a little since I'm slow, and it took me a while to do this correctly. So I hope this post can help you as it did me. Please visit how to start your microlocks or interlocks post first.
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| Check Out My Post About the Hamer People :) |
This method has been around for a long time, and it should be SHARED, and not kept a secret. I don't advise other to take this method, and try to past it off as something else, because you are liable to get sued for using that brand.
How To Start
How you start your locks is up to you, but if you want to start off with smaller size locks, I will go with either backcomb method or braidloc method (just braiding small plats). If you start the backcomb method, just do it a the tip of your hair (which will create nice knotting hair) and then proceed to do the interlocking pattern going all the way to your scalp.
Which Tool to Use
If you do decided to go the interlocking route, and are going for smaller locks, you can maintain your locks with either the Nappylocs tool, paperclip (with larger locks), sewing needle, crochet needle (modify) or a latch hook.
How To Size
If you going for the micro to small locks, then your parts would be 1/8" to 1/4" squares. If you want to go for medium to large locks, then your parts would be 1/4" to 3/8". The smaller parts would be your edges on the front and the back. The bigger parts will be done in the middle. If you want even larger parts, you can go past 3/8", and follow the same pattern as explain above.
How to Maintain
Avoid using conditioner until your locks are settle and use shampoos that are very striping (good ones are the ones that are marketed as clarifying shampoos
). It is recommend to braid down or twist your newbie locks when washing. Than you going to shampoo your scalp and your braids/twist. Once you have complete the cleaning of your locks, separate them so they don't crawl or merge with each other. Avoid using oils in the beginning, and when you do decide to wash your hair, do it the day before you are going to interlock your new growth.Click here for the "How to" on interlocking Pattern
1) Wash your hair before your appointments. Some may feel that I don't really need to list this here, but I really do need to list this here. Apparently, some people feel that their hair is clean enough after a month or even two weeks of prior washing. It boggles my mind that some people feel that way, and if you feel that way, you should look up on how the scalp works. Trust and believe when I say your scalp is dirty (your locks may not be) but your scalp is. I would never understand why a person would you want to have their new growth retighten without cleaning it first...yuck. When you are getting your new growth retighten, whatever you didn't clean out, gets trapped in the interlocking pattern. Imagine if you didn't clean your scalp, and that entire dead skin cell, and the sebum oil get trap in your locks...that is gross. That is why lint is such a hard thing to get rid of! Wash your hair before your appointment! I do mine the morning of my appointment, and I think that is the best solution for everyone.
2) Time management - Arrive on time for your appointment, the same thing applies for consultant/trainee. If you set a time, please make sure you arrive on time (or inform the consultant/trainee you going to be late). If your consultant is popular, trust and believe that her time is valuable, and she may even rush the retightening of your locks, which can introduce what we call holes (or the "Ys") in your locks. Nothing upset me more than someone who is always late with everything, so be a doll, and arrive on time for your appointments. Same thing with consultant/trainee, do what you need to do prior to your clients arrival. That is including eating your food, because no offense, if you eating something that is smelly, we smell it...ugh. Also chewing around someone ear is sooooo annoying (speaking from experience).
3) The condition of your Sisterlocks - If you don't have money to retighten your sisterlocks, learn how to do it (or take the class). Don't let months of new growth sneak up on you! The longer you go without a retighten, the more likely you start to introduce lock merging (which leads to the sisterlocks grid being unrecognizable). I will never understand how someone can go to their consultant with months of new growth, and think their consultant is going to be happy (maybe they think the consulant will earn more money?).
I don't know about others, but to me, a head full of regrowth with no recognizable grid is like redoing a whole head again. Who likes to redo the same thing over and over again? With all the YouTube & blogs out there, with ton of information about retightening, you should take advantage of that, and do your own retighten until you find the money to get the luxury of having someone else do the retightening for you. Note: I know most ladies (and gentlemen) are concern about messing up their locks, but I think you really are discrediting yourself; you are more likely to be slow, then to do real unimaginable damage to your locks. I also think any mess up, can always be fixed later down the road, it just hair ladies and gentlemen.
4) Your attitude - Watch your attitude while getting a retighten done. If certain thing bothers you about your consultant, voice them, but do it with tack. Yes you are paying for a service, but you don't have to be rude about it. Not all consultants/trainees are great, as many veterans will come to know, some have issues and may need to be told about it. Instead of bad mouthing them, talk to them. Yes it is uncomfortable, but before you do the option of badmouthing them or trying to find another consultant, informed them as politely as possible about the issue at hand. My consultant is known for taking a lot of breaks (I mean a lot), I saw one of her client keep sighing after each break she took, and trust me when I state my consultant was aware and made it even worst. I have talked to my consultant about it, and she has reduced it to necessary breaks (necessary doesn't involve stopping to talk/gossip on the phone though). I also found if I bring my daughter along, the breaks are down to normal as well. So solution can be found, if your attitude is right.
Do you have any other etiquette regarding sisterlocks appointment you want to add? Please comment below.
Was bored at work, and I decided to do a tutorial on how to make an interlocking tool, for both small & large size locks. I have been using the small tool on my daughter doll to practice my interlocking skill.I foresee me being a sisterlocks consultant in the future (more like retirement)
Material Needed
Paper Clip
Any Tape
Scissors(Optional)
For this “how to” tutorial, I made a small and a large interlocking tool. All this was done at work :). The pictures are provided by my iPhone, so the image may not be as crisp, but I think it fit this post theme very nicely.
| Step 1) Make sure your hands are dry, and not slippery, since you be using your hand to create the interlocking tool. |  |
| Step 2) Open the paper clip so it can be as straight as you can humanly get it. |  |
| Step 3) Bend the paper clip evenly making sure the ends meet each other nicely. |  |
| Step 4) Twist the end of the paperclip. The small version was done by hand, the big one I use a scissor, hence why I list scissor as an optional material. You can use the scissor to help with the twisting. |  |
| Step 5) Use the tape of your choice to wrap the end of your twisted end (don't be cheap, since the tape end is what protect your fingers when you interlocking). Make sure you doing it nice and firm by rolling the tape and paper clip between your fingers. |  |
| Step 6) Once the tape is around the end, you can adjust your newly made interlocking tool by making the bend area more rounder etc. |  |
Now you have a ready made interlocking tool that is perfect for an emergency touch up. This paperclip tool look similar to the nappyloc tool but because this is hand made, you will use it differently. For example, you will USE the bend paperclip area to go through your locks, not the end where the tape is.There are a lot of video on how to do interlocking, but I have listed some nicely made ones below for rotation only! If you want to learn how to use the paperclip interlocking tool click here or click here
- DewDrop has a wonderful tutorial on how to do the 4 Point Rotation for tighter locks
- Nubian Locked Princess has a good tutorial on the 3 Point Rotation for fuller locks.
I wanted to caution you by stating that when you are interlocking your dreadlocks, depending on your hair growth, wait for 4-6 week to retighten/interlock your dreadlocks again. Also, I know some people like the appearance of palm roll/twisted locks vs. interlocking locks, which is fine, but DO NOT interlock and palm roll your dreads at the same time. Pick one or another! Doing so will cause your lock to weaken over time! As always, comments are always welcome.
