Although the Sisterlocks tool has been my retightening tool of choice, I have used a homemade paperclip tool on two locs for the past year. The point? To see if those microlocs looked differently than my others.
When I took the retightening class, I was under the impression that I had to do everything the “Sisterlocks way” or else my hair would no longer look like Sisterlocks. I was actually afraid that my locs would get weak and break off. Even though I had no sound basis for this reasoning, that’s the way that I felt. The consultant made me feel like if I made one wrong move, my locs would not survive.
I was curious to know if the two locs retightened with the paperclip tool would be larger or have a different look than the ones retightened with the Sisterlocks tool.
The verdict
My paperclip-retightened microlocs look just like all of the other ones. There is no difference in size or anything else. Those two locs look just like all of my other locs.
I picked up the Nappylocs tool again to see if it would work better on locs with thicker ends. The larger ends make it difficult to attach the Sisterlocks tool, so I thought that the wider opening on the Nappylocs tool would help. But I still found that I cannot keep the Nappylocs tool attached to my ends. I’m not sure if I’m missing something or what. I can get locs retightened with it; however, it is cumbersome because of constantly having to reattach it. If someone has any suggestions, please comment!
You can see my paperclip-retightened microlocs in the video below.
Length Updates:
I wanted to show what my microlocs looked like without any curls. So after I shampooed, these photos were taken. I am nearly at 2 1/2 years.
By Terez Howard My inspiration for this locs updo was this picture. I quickly found out that my hair was much too short to reproduce the hair style that made me drool. So, I did my own rendition of it. I used large roller pins (which can be found at Sally’s Beauty Supply for a couple bucks) and some regular bobby pins. I rolled a section of micro locs under my finger and secured the section with a roller pin. I hid my swooping bangs’ bobby pins with a homemade flower accessory. The real challenge for this updo was getting my multiple lengths tucked neatly into a roll. I think I will try this style again after I get more Read the Rest…
By Terez Howard Islande Emman is a Canadian loctician who has been working in natural hair for 22 years. To give her customers more pizzazz, she decided to create loc jewelry. Fashionbella Jewelry is the name of her Etsy shop. Her creative designs really wowed me. I would describe her jewelry as creative, artsy pieces with an African tribal touch. They range from gold and silver designs with cowry shells, beads, jewels and pendants. One of my favorites have silver lips hanging from them. Islande so graciously sent me a piece of jewelry that had a pink cowry shell and gold accents. In two week’s time, I’ve already worn it several times. I use my daughter’s hair beader I got Read the Rest…
By Terez Howard I retighten my locs once every six weeks. Depending on my schedule, sometimes it’s closer to five weeks, and other times it’s nearly seven weeks. But I tend to hold to my schedule. Retightening regularly keeps the new growth from creeping and crawling and from losing those original parts. I started retightening my hair with the Sisterlocks tool after I took the Sisterlocks retightening class in October 2011. I also experimented with the Nappylocs tool and paperclip tool. Which is best for retightening your locs? First, let me say that the tool that works best for me might not work the best for you. Not all locs are created equally. And certainly, we have our own personal Read the Rest…
By Terez Howard I didn’t think it could be done. It took me nearly an hour to accomplish, but I did it. I managed to get all of my micro locs into one giant loc roll. I thought for sure that my hair was long enough to do this hair style with ease. However, if any of you ladies out there are like me, your locs are not one beautiful even length. My hair grows in layers and was trimmed into its natural layers back in September. Those short locs at the crown of my head gave me the most problems. To remedy my issues with those short locs, I rolled until the short locs started sticking out and started Read the Rest…
I'm a writer and editor with a natural hair obsession. I'm the wife of a professional violinist stuck in the body of a teacher and mother of a 4-year-old diva. In addition to my passion for natural hair, I love Pilates, running, gardening and saving money!
View my complete About Section.
About Terez’s Sisterlocks
Date of installation: Oct. 29, 2010
Length of install: 13 hours
Number of locs: 310
Beginning length: 5 to 6 inches
Hair type: 4a and 4b
Color: my own natural color
