
Do Sister Locs Damage Your Hair And Scalp?
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Sister locs are becoming more popular today. About 10-15 years ago, I could count the people I knew or saw online with sister locs on one hand.
Now, it’s become a go-to style for many. There are numerous influencers recording their sisterlock journey on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Locticians are now skilled in installing sister locs.
The thin neat locs are easy to maintain, versatile, and fit well with many hairstyles.
While sisterlocks are popular, there are some detractors. The belief is that sister locs damage your hair and eventually your scalp.
This is also a common concern for women looking to embark on their sisterlock journey.
So what’s the deal?
Do sisterlocks damage your hair and scalp?
Let’s address the common concerns and give you a few tips to keep your sista locks and your hair healthy and happy.
What Are Sister Locs?
Sister locs fall in the dreadlocks family and are the perfect in-between of traditional locks and micro locks. They are thin, uniform, lightweight locks that are about the width of a pencil, ranging from ⅛ to ⅜ inches.
Sisterlocks also look amazing, morphing to the natural disposition of your hair. You can end up with some beautiful, curly sister locs or straight, stylish strands that allow wearers to experiment with numerous hairstyles that are typically challenging with larger locs.
Sisterlocks also refer to the unique method of interlocking. Unlike palm rolling or twisting in traditional locs, sisterlocks use a loc tool and technique that must be learned and mastered for the best results. Created by Dr JoAnn Cornwell in 1993, each sisterlock is looped and tightened in a crochet-like process. This also encourages the hair to naturally lock over time.
Installatation and Maintenance
Installing these can be time-consuming and even painstaking with the wearer ending up with 400 or more individual sister locs. The process can take 12-24 working hours (or more) - spread over multiple days - depending on the wearer’s hair type. The hair is sectioned into tiny, uniform parts and locked using an interlocking technique that doesn’t require waxes or gel.
Additional retightening sessions every 4-6 weeks are required during the first year, depending on hair growth. You’ll also need to maintain your hair health, with products and techniques geared to cleansing, detoxing, and moisturizing your sister locs from root to tip.
Over time, your natural hair matures, creating that defined, timeless look you see on your online sister lock crush.
Common Concerns About Hair and Scalp Damage
If you’re looking to embark on a sister loc journey or maintain any long-term hairstyle for that matter, hair and scalp damage plays a major role in the long-term success of your locs.
Hair damage is classified as breakage, thinning, a brittle look or feel, or tension-related issues. If left untreated, hair damage can lead to hair loss, poor aesthetics, and reduced self-esteem.
Your scalp sets the stage for healthy hair growth, with each strand requiring a healthy environment for growth. The scalp is prone to scaling, flaking, irritation, tenderness, and clogged pores. Conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, irritation, tenderness, and traction alopecia are signs you have scalp damage.
So Do Sister Locs Damage Your Hair? Yes and No
The answer to whether sister locs damage your hair is not straightforward. Sister locs were created as a protective style with minimal manipulation of the scalp. In fact, sister locs were created by Dr. Cornwell to promote healthy hair while achieving lovely locks.
Some people believe that sister locs inherently weaken the hair or scalp because of their small size and tight structure. However, when installed correctly, the locs work with the natural growth and texture of the hair.
As the process starts from the ends and goes to the root, there are fewer chances to damage or break your hair. The gentle locking method also requires minimal hair products, exposure to chemicals, or excessive tightening.
Sister locs encourage the retention of natural hair and moisture, reducing the chances of dryness, thinning, and breakage. Best of all, you can wear fully developed sister locs naturally without applying excess tension to your hair. In short, sister locs are an excellent way to reduce damage to your hair and scalp.
Factors That Influence Hair and Scalp Health with Sister Locs
The sister locs themselves do not damage your hair. There are specific factors, however, when combined with sister locs can lead to hair and scalp damage.
- Hair Type and Texture: Your hair type can play a role in whether sister locs are right for you. Coarse hair, including 4C, is best for sister locs. Fine hair can also enjoy sister locs but the hair may appear thinner and there may be more spaces in the scalp after installation. This opens the potential for hair damage, especially if you do not maintain your sister locs.
- Installation Technique: Make sure to visit a qualified loctician to start and maintain your sister locs. Poor techniques can lead to breakage, thinning, or hair damage later.
- Maintenance Practices: Sister locs need monthly retwisting and general maintenance. If you’re inconsistent, you’re more likely to experience damage in the future.
- Existing Hair Damage: People with inflammation, scalp tenderness, or existing scalp conditions should not consider sister locs until these underlying issues are addressed. There is an increased risk of hair damage.
- Lifestyle Factors: Healthy sister locs happen internally as well as externally. Staying properly hydrated, reducing stress, a proper diet, and supplementation can prevent hair and scalp damage.
Overall, sister locs are a safe, effective way to protect your hair and reduce damage. It’s also versatile and stress-free, creating an environment for beautiful hair growth. At the same time, you must create the right conditions so sister locs do not damage your hair and scalp.
Preventing Hair and Scalp Damage
So how do you prevent hair and scalp damage with sister locs you may ask? It starts before you even decide to get your locs. Spend some time improving your hair health with the right products, washing techniques, and addressing scalp issues.
From there, comes the most important part. Choosing a qualified loctician is vital in preventing hair and scalp damage. While it can be an investment, finding an experienced technician reduces damage and improves the outcomes. That loctician ensures they are uniform, secure, and free from excessive tension.
From there, regular maintenance prevents problems such as thinning or breakage. Your first year will require frequent trips to the loctician for re-twisting and re-tightening. From there, Retightening sessions every 4-6 weeks help keep the locs intact and prevent slippage or matting, which can weaken the hair.
During these sessions, your loctician will also check for any signs of damage. You can learn to re-twist or retighten your hair with a loc tool, but you do so at your own risk and skill level. At home, a consistent routine of gentle cleansing and conditioning using residue-free products keeps your locs clean and your scalp healthy without causing buildup.
Using products designed specifically for loc care can make a significant difference in maintaining healthy sister locs. Lightweight, water-based products that moisturize without leaving residue are ideal for preventing dryness and buildup. Sister locs are prone to build-up, so using detox products like our BLCK Lux Detox Cleanser can help keep your hair healthy.
So Your Sister Locs Are Damaged. Now What?
While sister locs do not damage your hair, this does not mean you're immune from thinning, breakage, shedding locks, or other hair and scalp concerns.
Check your hair periodically for thinning locs (either at the shaft or root), and dryness, or pay attention to locs that fall out. Scalp irritation, tenderness, and flaking are other signs of potential damage.
Should these happen consider seeking advice from your loctician or a dermatologist. Your doctor in particular can help you diagnose and treat any potentially severe hair conditions.
Your Hair is Safe With Sister Locs
Your sister locs are a safe and versatile hairstyle that can promote healthy hair when installed and maintained correctly.
After all, they were made to protect your precious curls so they will be effective at doing so once you trust and follow the process.
While concerns about hair and scalp damage are understandable, these issues are largely preventable with proper care, regular maintenance, and the guidance of a skilled loctician.
Find a consistent routine for you. Use products designed for loc care and you can enjoy the beauty and freedom that sister locs offer. With their ability to protect and enhance natural hair, your locs are more than just a style—they’re a celebration of individuality and self-expression.