When perusing Loc blogs and the like, a question that is often asked when starting out is how frequently to wash your NewLocs if even at all. I'm not sure how this rumour got started that you should not clean your hair in order for Locs to form, but I would really like to ask that they stop perpetuating this myth. You MUST, I repeat MUST MUST wash your Locs!
In everyday terms, Locs are fomed by creating a bunch of random knots with a bunch of random threadlike hairs and each loc can have a few hundred hairs. If your hair is not clean there is a slick layer of oil and/or sebum on it. Now, something that is oily is usually slippery, and something that I'd slippery is generally more difficult to create knots with. Therefore the dirtier your hair, the less chance of knots forming or any tangling action, and definitely less chance, and longer time for Locs to form.
MIXED-RACE CLIENT WITH UNRAVELING LOCS
Sometimes I hear "my hair texture is different" and so this or that person feels they need to avoid washing so that the new Locs don't unravel. You might want to get a pen and paper for this next part; all new Locs unravel. LOL! Especially so for mixedrace hair, trust me I'm mixed with everything you can think of and "they" told me my hair would never Loc, because of the texture. But I tried my best to leave it alone, I washed it once a week, and in 4mos I was official.
Think of your new Locs like a plant, a mighty tree with strong roots. It is a cultivation. It requires, care, patience and a positive attitude. Your hair needs to be clean so that your scalp can get the oxygen and sunlight it needs to grow, and so that the hairs have enough "grip" to form the knots that create your Loc shaft. It takes time.
After having all kinds of gunk put into his Locs and being advised not to wash his hair for a few months, check out this client's testimonial below talking about his SteamWash'n'Loc experience after 2months of not washing.
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