I have always loved to try new things from a very young age. I remember making my sister’s hair multiple times and loosening it so that she could go to a professional because I didn’t know the technical-know-how at the time. I wanted to practice on my hair, but I couldn’t because my hands were too short. Ah ah. I however grew up to try many things because I love the art of hair making.
I moved to the boarding school and I built the skill to a level I appreciate, however, there was a problem. After making hair for my hostel mates, there was no one to make mine, so I would try to make my own hair too, but I couldn’t because my arms and back ached. However, some years ago, I tried something new.
I decided to go on dreadlocks so I wouldn’t need to do my hair every now and then, however, there was a challenge. I relocated to an environment where all the hairdressers have no idea of how to relock dreadlocks, so the search began. I searched online and offline if perhaps I could get a salon near me where I could get it done, but all my efforts proved abortive, so I decided to do it myself. The first thing I did was to search YouTube to learn how to. I turned to YouTube because there was no one else to teach me. Now, to the art of locs relocking.
The parting comb is one crucial tool I use in relocking hair especially when the undergrowth is so strong and much. There will be a need to neatly part the undergrowth to achieve a neatly relocked hair and prevent interlocking of some of the locs. I suffered this interlocking issue at one salon I later found that I had used to force them apart, and the pain was much.
Many times, though, when the locs undergrowth are not so much, I use my hands as the parting comb.
Another tool needed is the hair clip to hold the hair firmly in place. However, I struggled to find the hair clip at first, so I used rubber band to hold the hair in place so there won’t be interference.
The crotchet pin, also called the crotchet hook which is the most important tool in this case is sold for less than 1HBD in my country. It is the most basic tool needed and it does most of the work. The crotchet pin is used to pull the undergrowth together with the whole locs and to further tighten the locs firmly. The crotchet pin is inserted into the base of the locs from different angles to ensure a tightened and beautiful locs. Also, the loosening part on the body of the locs is also neatly relocked.
Hair oil is a very important part of hair relocking. If the hair is excessively dry, the pain will be too much, so, what I do is to get a spray bottle, then add a mix of oil and water in the bottle and apply on the hair in the process of relocking in case the hair dries out. However, one thing I make sure of is to ensure that the hair I’m about to relock is slightly damp.
The oil and water mix also serves the purpose of providing shine to the hair, however, in cases where the shine is not enough, I add the hair oil differently on the scalp and on the locs.
Other tools I use are precision and patience, because it is important to ensure that the hair is not too tightly locked, else, it may result in scalp irritation and hair breakage.
Thanks to the disappointment I encountered in not getting someone to relock my hair for me, because now, I relock my friends’ hair.
All images are mine.
This is my entry to #inleo prompt for June.
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