At Violet Cove, I take pride in creating quality work. Ultimately it's up to my clients to take care of their locs for maxiumum use & longevity. Here are some care tips to follow:
🙅🏽♀️❌ DON'TS ❌🙅🏽♀️
- Use direct dry heat on your locs (such as curling irons or flat irons; this will burn, melt, & crispen your locs).
- Use heavy products such as waxes, gels, hairsprays, etc (these products won't be absorbed. They will sit on your locs & become gunky).
- Cut the ends off (this will cause your locs to unravel, loosen, fray & fall apart over time).
- Over or underwash your scalp. Overwashing (everyday) can strip of your natural oils & underwashing (waiting several months) can cause build up.
-Worry about frizz at the crown. Your hair will experience friction during sleeping, taking your hair in & out of an elastic, & as your hair starts to push away from the scalp. This is normal.
- Overuse your extensions. If worn straight for more than 2-3 months at a time without uninstalling it'll cause pulling, hair breakage, excessive shedding, & build up rather than promote new growth anymore.
👍🏼✅ DO'S ✅👍🏼
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase for comfort & less tugging on your locs.
- Wash your hair. Use cleansing shampoos, focusing the lather on your scalp & allowing the run off to clean your locs. Follow a 5th day wash regimine then adjust to your personal preference. You may alternatively opt to do an Apple Cider Vinegar soak for half an hour. Rinse. Follow up with a DIY spray or small amount of water diluted leave in conditioner.
- Use low heat or cool setting on a blow dryer when drying.
- Utilize headbands, headwraps, bandanas, large sunhats etc to protect your scalp when exposed to the sun for long periods of time.
- Use foam rollers with hot water to curl & style your locs. Cool completely before removing.
- Refreshen & soothen your scalp with various DIY sprays: aloe vera + water, tea tree oil / coconut oil / avacado oil + water, rosewater. Focus spray on scalp & length of the loc down where your natural hair stops. Massage in. Use sparingly ; oil can break down your elastics!
- Touch up any indivual locs that are loose or regrowing by uninstalling that individual section, gathering the fly away hairs with water, & reinstalling the loc with a new elastic.
- Take rest periods in between wears & deep condition. It's recommended to leave uninstalled 1-3 weeks between wears. It'll give your roots & scalp a moment to breathe, leave your head feeling a bit lighter, & give time to recover before installing again.
I hope this guide gives you a better understanding of how to maintain & care for your locs!