Locking Glue: Rejecting a Regimen of Filth

I've been working on this site for years and what's beyond frustrating is that even people who come to naani.com regularly, still have misgivings on the subject of shampooing new locks.  No matter how much I say, "Wash your damn hair," new and seasoned visitors come along to tell me that their loctician, their friend or someone they met on the street told them that dreadlocks can't be shampooed.

Back in August I reluctantly did a brotha's locks.  I say reluctantly because he'd previously told me that 8 months prior to our conversation, he'd begun the locking process and that he hadn't washed his hair since. 

Yes, bruh had not let water touch his hair for EIGHT MONTHS!  When I asked him why, he said that he didn't want them to unravel.  Like most of you, someone, somewhere told him that in order to grow locks, he couldn't wash them until they reached full maturity.

Needless to say, I didn't want to touch them and asked did he really think about what he was saying?  I wondered why anyone would want a hair style that would require them to walk around with nasty hair and scalp for months at a time? He of course tried to tell me that his hair wasn't dirty and that it didn't stink.

I believe this statement deserves a moment of slience.  Seriously, reread the above paragraph and think on it for a moment.

He hasn't washed his hair for EIGHT MONTHS!...but it doesn't stink?  Riiiiiiiiiiight!

Do you know why someone would encourage you to not shampoo your locks for months?  Well most often people (locticians) suggest that you refrain from shampooing for one of three reasons:  Your hair is "too soft," they've chosen a method that unravels easily (i.e. comb-coils, palm-rolls or finger-twists) or they don't know what the hell they're talking about.  Let's tackle the "too soft" reasoning first...

YOUR HAIRS' TOO SOFT
Get over yourself.  Not every Black person has ultra-kinky, ultra-nappy hair.  If I had a nickel for everytime someone wanted to convince me that their hair is different, special, soft or a unique "grade,"  I'd be able to retire today.

If White folks can lock, you can too.  Most Black folks have varying textures and many of us have in-between hair types.  The "softness" to which many of us speak is evident in our new-growth.  The shorter your hair, the curlier it appears and the better your "grade."  As you can tell, I don't like using terminology that's negative and "grading" hair textures amongst Black folks ranks high on my list of crap that needs to stop.

The reality is that some of us do have "softer" hair than others but just because you happen to fall in this category doesn't mean you're incapable of locking.  At the end of the day, anyone can lock so there's no need to force the process by refraining from shampooing.  You'll get there with or without water and I believe, it's better to get there with it.

RasQueen has very "soft" textured hair.  Although she encourages her clients to refrain from shampooing for the first 3-4 weeks, she takes the time to get to know her clients before giving such advice.  The reality is, sure, you can safely go several weeks without shampooing but do you need to or better yet, can/should you?

If you work out regularly, if you like to swim, if you sweat a lot, if you work in an environment that's filled with dust and odors, then going 3-4 weeks may not be practical.  A good loctician will consider who you are as an individual before locking your hair.  She will learn your daily routine so that your new locks work with you rather than against you.

CHOOSING THE PROPER METHOD
If you have what is termed "soft" textured hair, it's best to let it grow out a bit so that you have a little more length to work with.  You should then choose a method that's resistant to unraveling like two-strands, braids or interlocks.

This is why I encourage people to stay natural as long as possible.  Doing so allows you to better know your natural hair which is the basis of locks and in turn will help you understand the logic behind choosing a method that doesn't unravel easily.

Wearing two-strands and braids from time to time will give you the expertise that's needed to get through the early stages of locking because although we term the first 3 months of the process "baby locks," what you're really dealing with is the original style.  Meaning, if you began with two-strands, the first three months or so you'll be caring for two-strands, not "locks."

Anyone who has worn braids or two-strands for extended periods of time (a few weeks with two-strands, 2-3 months with quality braids and braid extensions), knows that shampooing periodically doesn't "destroy" the style.  In the case of two-strands, shampooing and rinsing with water can actually make your hair look better.  Instead of having flattened two-strands, the water plumps them up and makes them look fuller.

If you embrace the idea that your baby locks are not locks but are instead natural hair styled a certain way, then caring for them won't seem so mysterious.  I began with two-strands and because I'd worn this style from time to time when I was natural, I didn't fear water.  I knew that no matter how much water or shampoo I put on my two-strands that they'd stay the course and eventually lock.

YOUR LOCTICIAN IS IGNORANT
First let's define "ignorance."  Webster defines ignorance as "the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness."  Anyone who suggests that you must refrain from shampooing your hair in order to obtain locks is ignorant.

I, and most of the naaniMODELS on this site are proof positive that you can shampoo your hair as often as you like during the lock process.  The reason why I encouraged the naaniMODELS to share their journeys was to demonstrate the rule in action rather than the exception to it.