My 1 Year Microlocs Update
Date: 03/11/25
Update time: 12 months post installation
How do you feel today: Happy
Describe your loc journey so far in one word: Beautiful
How have things been overall:
I’m not going to lie, this month things were pretty stressful. Most of that stress was due to the fact that my loctician let me know she was officially retiring and moving out of the city, just 2 weeks before my next retightening appointment. That meant I had to make a choice I didn’t think I’d be making this soon… find a new loctician or become a DIY girlie.
When I first got my microlocs installed, my plan was to have a professional maintain them for at least a year to ensure they stayed intact before transitioning to self-maintenance. But after retying my perimeter and realizing how long it took me compared to how fast my loctician worked, I started reconsidering that plan. Microlocs are an investment, and I wanted to be confident that mine were mature and in a really good place before taking on the responsibility myself. While the interlocking technique isn’t necessarily difficult, it’s a skill that requires practice to master. It’s surprisingly easy to mess up your grid, accidentally combine locs, or miss loose hairs that should be incorporated into the loc, which leads to excess frizz over time.
That plan changed because I got comfortable. Between working a full-time job and building my own business, having someone else handle my hair was a luxury I was more than willing to pay for. And beyond the convenience, I genuinely liked my loctician. We got along well, and our retightening sessions became more than just hair appointments. They were moments of connection. We’d talk about health and wellness, she’d share her decades of microlocs & Sisterlocks knowledge, and we’d uplift each other in ways I didn’t realize I needed. That time in her chair became an unexpected form of self-care. Since she was already retired when she took me on as a client, I always knew there was a chance she’d step away for good. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.
As for my locs themselves, they’re doing well! I’m still oiling my scalp every few days to combat dryness, and one thing I’ve really noticed lately is the shrinkage. My locs look so much shorter than they did six months ago, but it’s been fascinating to watch them evolve in real time.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on this journey is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to microlocs. While there are foundational principles you should follow during the early stages, the advice you receive can vary, even among professionals trained under the same program. I’ve personally had three different Sisterlocks Consultants and Trainees give me completely different guidance on my locs. Two said my ends were perfect, while another thought they weren’t locked down far enough. One insisted I use a specific brand’s shampoo, another said my current shampoo was fine, and the third recommended something entirely different. With so much conflicting information out there, the best thing you can do is find what works for you. As long as it’s not damaging your locs, that’s all that matters. This isn’t to say you should ignore professional guidance, but rather, take advice with a grain of salt and lean on a few trusted sources. Your loc journey is uniquely yours.
Reflecting back on my one year with microlocs, here’s a timeline of the most noteable changes:
Month 1-3: I experienced the most slippage around my edges and perimeter.
Month 4-5: My edges started to fill back in after a damaging set of boho knotless braids I had prior to getting microlocs.
Month 6-7: This was when I started noticing the most change in length and volume.
Month 8 - 11: I started experiencing a lot of shrinkage and an increase in density. I also started to notice my microlocs were slightly heavier and had some weight to them, though they haven’t fully dropped.
Now that I’ve officially hit the one-year mark with my microlocs, I’ve decided to start writing quarterly updates on my journey. In the first six months, my hair changed a lot month to month, but now that it’s continuing to shrink, the changes are becoming less noticeable over shorter periods. Of course, if anything major happens or shifts, I’ll be sure to keep you updated!
Here’s a video recapping my first year with microlocs.
What is your maintenance routine?
Aside from oiling my scalp a couple of times a week, I’ve been keeping my hair hydrated as needed. I try to find the right balance, making sure it doesn’t get too dry before moisturizing, while also being mindful not to over-spritz. Lately, I’ve been getting better at understanding what my hair needs and when, as well as how I like it to feel. It’s been a learning process, but I love how in tune I’m becoming with my microlocs. The best advice I can give to anyone on this journey is to break the “rules” and do what works for you… except for braiding and banding in the early stages is absolutely a must.
What has been your go-to hairstyle this month?
These days, it’s a simple low ponytail, secured with a spiral scrunchie. I couldn’t agree more with the loc community when they say to appreciate your hair at every stage. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles because you’ll be so glad you did. As your locs mature, they may not respond the same way they once did to certain styles, so embracing each phase of the journey makes it even more special.
Have their been any challenges with your locs this month?
The biggest challenge this month has been finding a loctician who meets all of my criteria. I fully empathize with those who are desperately searching for a loctician near them, because it really isn’t easy, and you never know when you will find yourself in that situation (unless you DIY of course). Despite having an app with over 3,000 microlocs loctician listings worldwide, the search was still difficult.
The app successfully helped me narrow down a few professionals near me, which made the process much more manageable. From there, it became a matter of assessing how far I was willing to travel, how much I was comfortable paying, and making a few trade-offs along the way. I attended an in-person transfer client consultation last week, but I’m still not 100% sure if this loctician is the right fit for long-term maintenance because it takes time to build that trust. After my first retightening appointment with them, I’ll share more details about my experience, things I considered, and more.
What will you do address those challenges?
This whole search has only deepened my commitment to building GetMicrolocsNearMe.com, a platform designed to help people find microlocs specialists anywhere in the world. If I, as the creator of this resource, still struggled to find the right loctician, I know just how needed this platform truly is.
Have any locs fallen out? How many?
Thankfully, no! Though I did retie a few locs around my perimeter early because they felt like they were hanging on by a thread. My new loctician reassured me that I don’t need to do this going forward—she’ll take care of them, and they’ll be just fine.
When is your next retie?
This week. Assuming I move forward with this loctician, she wants the first appointment to be a “reconstruction,” where she cleans up the grid, and establishes a few new locs along my edges, in addition to retightening my new growth. To be honest, I’m a little bit skeptical of this appointment, but I’m trying to be optimistic and give the stylist grace. As much as I don’t want to let “anyone” play in my hair, especially someone that I don’t know well, I can equally see why locticians are apprehensive about accepting new transfer clients because they also don’t know what they are inheriting from your old loctician, which may not be up to their standards. Doing what makes them comfortable to take you on as a client is part of the compromise.
How much money did you spend on hair products this month?
I lost track of the amount. At some point, I’ll come back to recap you on how much I spent during my first year of having locs. But this month I bought my usual rose water spritz, and restocked on 3 bottles of my favorite Swirly Curly Shampoo, which unfortunately the company announced they won’t be selling anymore.
Share some pictures of your hair from this month!
I didn’t do a whole lot of hairstyling or picture taking this month. I just let my locs do their thing. But, here are a few faves.
