Added: 2 years ago
From: DynamicRunner
Views: 118,415
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (533)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • Have you been twisting your new growth? If so then switching to latching easy, but just know that there will be a noticeable difference in the size and shape of your loc. You can begin latching by inserting the tool through your new growth, and making sure to insert it in a different direction each time.

  • do i need to get my hair done before latching?

  • Do you have locs already, or, do you plan to lock your hair using the latching technique?

  • Do u always latch north, east, south & west? Are there different combinations?

  • N,E,S,W is a 4 pt. pattern. I used to latch in this direction, but now i'll just latch E,N,W,N since it's a 3 pt. pattern that creates a looser loc. There are different combinations (4pt., 3pt. and 2pt. which is just N,E,N,E).

  • Wow

  • interlocking.

  • Absolutely!

  • I wanted to find out how to do latching and your video popped up I have been wearing my hair locked for 9 years and i am tired of washing and twisting every 2 to 3 weeks everyone says latching keeps longer so Im up for trying it thx for the how to.

    P>E>A>C>E!

  • That's great! Let me know how it works out for you. :-)

  • Thank you..

  • You're welcome.

  • Where did you buy this latch?

  • A latch hook like this one can be found at any craft/sewing store. :-)

  • ouch

  • It doesn't hurt at all. It appears that way, but it actually isn't that bad.

  • you are beautiful

  • Thank you.

  • Can you tell me the difference between tightening with a latch hook and re-twisting with loc or aloe vera gel? Does it last longer?

  • A latch hook will keep your roots tight even when you swim, sweat or shower. Maintenance is once a month or more. Twisting will not keep your roots as tight if you get them wet. Maintenance is every 2-4 weeks. Aloe vera gel is great to use since it's all natural, clear, light and odorless, especially if you plan to twist your hair. In terms of keep keeping your roots tight, latching lasts longer. I hope this helps.

  • THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU WAS VERY HELPFULL

  • You're welcome!

  • hi dynamic! do my locs have to be thin like your to use the latch hook? whats the latch hook is for?

  • Not at all. You can use the latch hook with any size loc, and it's used for interlocking your new growth instead of twisting it for example.

  • Amazing isn't it? :-)

  • Wow I'm finding this method so hard! Somehow I keep trapping my loc in the latch hook and I have to untangle the mess otherwise when I pull it really hurts lol. I don't know what's wrong with me! I managed to do one okay but then I created a split right at the root of the second one. I'm going to take my time and do it today though because I'm snowed in. :)

  • I had this struggle too in the beginning, but I would encourage you to definitely take your time and maybe try a different approach. Let me know how it works out for you.

  • @DynamicRunner can you believe I actually did it? It took six hours but I was determined! There's about two or three at the back that feel slightly messy, but I plan to stick with this method now; it lasts for quite a while. Thanks again for this video :) :)

  • You did? That's great!! I commend you for your determination, and now you're on your way. Congrats! Let me know if you have any questions and you're welcome. :-)

  • Great Vid! I have two great products called "Real Jamaican Locking Gel", and "Real Jamaican Locking Beezwax". For best results, which one should I use for root growth and frizz maintenance? TY

  • Thank you. Unfortunately i'm not familiar with how these two products work, because I haven't used them before. All I know is that i've read how beeswax is something to be avoided when it comes to locking your hair. Simply becuase it will attract debris that will remain embedded in your locs and weigh them down in the long run.

  • @DynamicRunner Thank you so very much for the advice!

  • You're welcome!

  • @DynamicRunner Up-Date! The kind of hair I am working with is the same length yours but his hair is very thick and grows fast. I used your latch-hook method today and it looks beautiful with his twist dreads! It didn't take long to learn and do, the locks are tight, and the frizz evenly latches in which nicely exposes the "parts". I used the locking gel instead of the wax near and around the roots which left it looking neat and shinny. I consider your vid to be a great tutorial - Thanks!!!

  • That's great! I'm so glad that it worked out well for both of you. Thanks for updating me too!

  • im soooo tempted to lock... cus i would prefer to only have to deal with my hair about once a month.. if i did i would want them to look like urs.. really thin & style-able... IM SOO IN LOVE WIT MY CURL PATTERN THO..

  • That's exactly how I felt right before I locked my hair. The idea of just doing my hair once a month was so appealing, so I totally understand where you're coming from. I too was at a crossroads at that point, so I would suggest thinking about it some more and when you are ready then lock. Either way, your curl pattern will always be there. :-)

  • Hey girl! It's good to see you doing your thing on here!

  • Hey!!  It's so good to hear from you. Thanks!

  • You're welcome. I'm glad you have found a method that works for you.

  • Is it a certain way to use a paper clip because I have frizzies that I cannot get rid of?

  • Actually, you can use a needle and thread to remove the frizzies. I'll send you the link.

  • What’s the point of dreadlocks ?!

  • I think it's just a matter of preference in terms of how a person chooses to wear his or her hair based on its natural texture.

  • @mcb0613 you mean whats the point of hair? Well i got dreadlocks because i dont want short hair, and i dont want an afro and i dont want plats/braids...therefore...

  • Thanks for this video. I've had locs for five years and only in this past year have I started maintaining them myself. Most loctitians here (the UK) use the palm rolling method but I don't think this has been good for my hair as four of my locs are getting thin at the root. I've since stopped re-twisting them until I found an alternative. Will this method still work with lots of new-growth? (my hair grows quickly so I've got about 2 inches new-growth with some of my locs).

  • You're welcome. This method still works with lots of new growth. My hair grows quickly as well and you can go as long as you want between latches. However, it's best to latch your locks on a consistent basis to avoid bubbles from forming.

  • Thank you goddess!

  • You're welcome.

  • my latch got stuck again

  • Have you thought about using a paper clip instead? That's what I use now because my my latch hook broke. A large paper clip is easier for me to use since it doesn't snag your hair.

  • Is there a reason that you go in that order with north being first? I would personally go north last especially if I wore them, down alot. Is it just preference or is there a reason? Great vid!

  • Thanks! It's just a matter of preference. It doesn't matter what order you go in just as long as a you can complete a full rotation. Some people end on north in order to keep the lock down so that it won't stick out.

  • i used these cheap flimsy latch hooks and now its STUCK IN MY HAIR

  • That has happened to me before too and it's not fun.

  • Thanks for a nice clear video on how to do this.

    Doing your hair must take hours though with all those dreads ;)

  • You're welcome. It used to take hours, but not anymore since I had combined all my locs.

  • the tightness?

  • Your roots remain tight until your new growth comes in.

  • ALSO WILL THIS WORK WITH LARGER DREDS AND HOW LONG DO THE RESULTS LAST?

  • Latching works with any size dreads and it lasts until you cut off your locs or unravel them.

  • THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND SO MANY THINGS.....IS THIS LIKE SORT OF KNOTTING THE DREDS?

  • You're welcome. It is like making knots in the hair.

  • Best vid ever....Follow the rare red dread head @MRGBN

  • Thank you. I appreciate your tutorials, and I look forward to putting Latch-Locking into practice --except for my tiring, weakening arms from holding them up over my head. But that's OK, I love my locs. One day a Sister-lady approached me and asked, "Where did you buy your hair?" I was momentarily surprised, but immediately she realized that my hair is actually my hair, and said so.  I've had many such experiences. I hope it was an awakening for her to go natural.

  • Yes, our arms will get tired, but I encourage you to try tightening your locs in sections and to stretch our your time. For example, I tighten my front locks on one day (for 2 hours) and my back locks the next day (for 2 hours). It only takes me 4 hours total to tighten my entire head. What an encounter! I still have people ask me if my hair is my own because many times they think I have braids or extensions. They're baffled when I say I've grown my locs for 5 years now. LOL!

  • In have over "re-tightened" my locs in the past. Does "over" re-tightening cause lasting damage to your locs?

    Thanks DewDrop!

  • Over tightening is not a good thing because it can weaken your root bed/locs over time. I've read about this happening to some people, so it's better to just stop when the lock already feels tight at the root. It shouldn't cause pain either, because that's another indicator that we might have over-tightened our locs. Great question!

  • Thank you so much for your videos! You are extremely informative and have given me the confidence to become a DIYer earlier than I thought I could. I no longer have to beg my often flaky consultant for an appointment and stress about how my hair looks. I wanted to know if you had any suggestions for retightening the back. I breezed through the front once I got into a good rhythm with the latch hook, but the back was challenging and I had to recruit my cousin to help me. Thanks in advance!

  • You're welcome. I'm happy for you that you are now a DIYer and can do your own locs. The back can be a little challenging, and we need to use our fingers as our 'eyes'. When I started, I used a two-way mirror to see the back of my locs until I felt comfortable enough to tighten them without the use of one. Also, if you can envision the locking pattern or how you're tightening them, then that's helpful too. That's what i've done until it became second nature.

  • thumbs up, your hair is Gorgeous Sis, but that method seems way to complicated~

  • Thank you. That's completely understandable which is why some people prefer using a method that is much easier for them. :-)

  • Where can I get the locking tool that you're using. At JoAnn Fabrics, Walmart, Target?

  • You can purchase a locking too at any fabric/sewing or craft store.

  • I was just reminded of the HOURS I used spend at the hairdressers getting my hair relaxed, weaved or braided - so surely I can spend those hours on MYSELF, doing my OWN HAIR??? Namaste :-)

  • I think at some point we have all been reminded of our 'days' spent at the hairdresser, but the good news is now we can spend this time either on ourselves or doing other activities. :-) Freedom!

  • As with everything, there is no *one size fits all*. Palm rolling DOES NOT WORK for me. Yes, this method is time intenstive, but for me the results are better. Thanks again!

  • You're absolutely right! We have to know what works best for us and our hair in order to produce a desired result.

  • Thank you so much for the clarification! I've recently loc'd my hair and need to do the regrowth; I was trying to use a crochet needle buy it wasn't working. Now I know why! I sha;; get the proper tool tomorrow. Thanks again - Namaste!

  • You're welcome.

  • how long did it take you to do those kind of locks

  • I had a locktician start this old set for me and it took hours since they were started so small.

  • Very pretty thanks for the vid..!!

  • You're welcome.

  • Does it Hurt or is it just a lil tight like palm rolling

  • It doesn't hurt at all. If you over tighten your roots then your scalp will feel a little tender, but for the most part it stays tight like palm rolling.

  • interesting, but this is a lock of work when you can just palm roll and get it over with. but good work.

  • Thank you.  Actually it doesn't take me that long. I've tried palm rolling, but latching works better with my active lifestyle. :-)

  • Thanks for the video!

    P.s. you pretty

  • You're welcome and thank you.

  • Im exhausted...

  • LOL!

  • @DynamicRunner< But ur still beautiful :) even tho im exhausted

  • Hey! I have been thinking about interlocking and mylaylay18 sent me over here...She says, "HELLO"!! :-)...Great tutorial...

  • She's awesome! Thanks for the compliment.

  • Thank for this video!!! I could never figure out how to get the lock tight!

  • You're welcome.

  • thanks for resonding.. one more queston... How long does it take you to do your whole head of locks????

  • You're welcome. It only takes my 4 hours to tighten all my locs. :-)

  • I've been locked for almost 2 years now and since I'm active and sweat a lot, I'm thinking about interlocking every 3 to 4 months and just shampoo and maybe palm roll in between time. I was wondering if I did interlock every 3 to 4 months from now on, could my hair possibly break off?

  • As long as you have a strong root bed with medium to large sized locs then you should be fine. If you had tiny locs then I wouldn't recommend it because in that case if you're maintenance is inconsistent then this can cause your roots to become weak or it may lead to breakage.

  • that would take all damn day lols

  • That's why people break up their sessions to work on half on one day and half on another. :-)

  • I plan on getting locs , so i want to know wats better to use a crochet needle or the latch tool?

  • Congrats! Either one is fine, but the latch hook has a little clasp that holds your loc as you pull it through your new growth. However, the crochet needle (if you're referring to the one w/ an 'eye' opening) makes it easier to tighten your locks without have to re-string your lock every time you pull it through your roots.

  • I started them myself from an old set of locs and just latched my new growth. Your size is based on the thickness and density of your hair, but you can still achieve the same size as long as your locs are sectioned off with the right amount of hair.

  • yours clean i hope mindz grow like yours

  • Thanks. With time they will.

  • will they comeout thin?

  • Each head is different. Latching creates a thinner loc than twisting, but over time mine have expanded.

  • so do you think this will help my lockS aroung my hairline from sweating out at the base????

  • Oh definitely because latching keeps your roots tight even if you swim, sweat or shower.

  • This is so cool. Now all I have to do is get some locs.

  • Thanks! Let me know when you do. :-)

  • When you finish the latching is there supposed to be like a big ball knot thing at your root?

  • You root should feel knotted, but not in a big ball. If it feels like a ball then make sure that the loc is pulled all the way through, or, the lock could possibly be over tightened.

  • @McGturtle3 A small knot is okay, but the puffy ball should not be there. I used to have those when I first started latch hooking them on my own (as opposed to a loctician doing them). I had to play with my technique a bit in order to not create that ball thing. Instead of starting at the actual scalp, I started at the old new growth, then worked down to the newer growth toward my scalp until it was complete. That left no room for the ball to form.

  • that looks awesome but it would take me years to do my entire head

  • Thanks. I know what you mean and that's why I only do the front.

  • @DynamicRunner - How to you keep the new growth loc'd and tightened in the back? I do my son's whole head with the latch hook. It takes about 2-3 hours and I do it about once every three weeks (not a huge chunk of time and he sits pretty patiently so, for now, it is working). Just wondering what you do to keep yours so uniform and beautiful in the back.

  • GREAT VIDEO!!! THANKS!!! Although it seems to me that this would take too long 4 me to do...I appreciate this vid because now I know how I can relock the few locs at the front that broke off. Seeing my hair is a little soft at the front, it seems to be taking 4ever to relock! Now i have the solution! Thanks!

  • You're welcome and i'm glad you have the solution now. :-)

  • My hairdresser only goes up and from the side, she doesn't go all 4 ways, if I go all 4 ways will it mess it up ? that was what I was trying to ask lol

  • All four ways will create a tighter loc. Less than that will create a bigger loc which is good because it allows room for expansion.

  • Okay my hair dresser does it the same way, does it matter if you go up, and left or up and right.

  • Not really, just as long as you don't latch through the same opening twice in a row or else it will create a gap in your locs.

  • Where did you buy your latch hook?

  • From a craft/sewing store.

  • Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I read about using a lach hook but couldn't for the life of me picture it. How long does it take you to do your whole head? Did you start your locs yourself?

    I'm still trying to decide if I want to loc my hair. I talked to a stylist who told me she thinks my hair is too thick to make them as small as yours and that it would hurt her hands to maintain such small locs. You hair looks great and exactly what I want. Would you describe your hair as thick?

  • You're welcome. It takes me 4 hours to latch my entire head and I started this set of locs myself after I combined my old set of locs. My hair is very thick and dense and after I combined my locs twice and cut my double and triple headed dragons off, it's easier for me to maintain them. In all honestly, super small locs on thick hair (what I had before this set) isn't exactly as easy to maintain because of the thickness, number of locs and the fact that it will make your hands very sore.

  • I appreciate your comment. I share what I know with people because when I started my journey, there was very little to absolutely zero information about there, so I learned by trial and error. I share my journey with everyone because I truly want to help people with theirs and express how much freedom we experience in our natural journey. Thanks for you encouragement and positive feedback because it reinforces why we do what we do. Each one helps one. :-D

  • Yo!!!!!!!! If iCould Hug You Right Now It's Be Close To Sexual Harassment! Lol You're Awesome You Just Saved Me Years Of Wasted Time And Lots Of Money! Lol I'm Too Live Right Now....You Need To Be Compensated For This! Keep Doing Your Thing Love!!

  • I'm glad it's working out for you and I will keep doing my thing. :-)

  • that is so cool! I have trouble dealing with the front new growth and i've been using scarfs and head bands to cover the overgrowth at the front, now i know what to do! thx sistah you are too adorable and very clear demonstrations! Keep it up!

  • You're welcome! Glad to help out!

  • YOU are the BOMB thank you So Much!!!!!!!!

    Great Video :-))

  • Thank you!

  • Just wanted to say thanks, I got on youtube and found this video when I wanted to start my locks and I have been doing it this way since then...in my 8th month and it's going great!

  • I'm glad to know that you're maintaining your own locs and good for you!

  • love

    

  • thanks!

  • I love your video. I have been trying to figure what to do with my locs. I have curly hair and I need the fly away hair to be pulled into the loc. Well..thank goodness for your tutorial...I am inspired. I picked up the latch rug hook at the local fabric store for 2.69. I will try it tonight......Happy to be Nappy!!!!

  • That's great! I'm glad it's working out well for you.

  • do locks get knotted just like regular hair? 

  • When you latch/interlock it's basically making small knots in your hair. If I understand your question correctly, locks will mesh, tangle and knot up in order to fully lock. Let me know if i've misunderstood you. Great question.

  • @DynamicRunner nope you answered it, thanks very much

  • why do you wash your hair every week? and why do you spray water in it every morning?

  • Great question. I wash my hair every week because I live an active lifestyle and when I work out my scalp accumulates residue when I sweat. My weekly wash prevents buildup from forming. I spritz my locs with water to loosen them up and moisturize my scalp.

  • DON'T DO THIS. I HAVE DONE IT FOR 5 YEARS AND YOUR LOCS WILL THIN ON YOU AND YOU WILL START TO LOSE THEM.

  • Thanks for your concern and I understand that for some people this may be the case, but there are many factors involved which contribute to the thinning of our locs and not just latching alone. I encourage everyone to do what works best for them and what is healthiest for their own head of hair. Thanks for you comment.

  • Great video, thanks for posting.! Had my sister locs for about 10 years or so. And I have the same little tools that my loctician gave me. For the back/sides , I basically do it by feel. The latch hook looks soooooo much easier. How do you tighten locs in a place where you can't see them, do you just feel your way to the center of the loc? perhaps someone has already asked, of so ... sorry that I missed it! THANKS

  • Thank you! This is a great question and honestly I just need to feel my way around the loc and visualize it at the same time to make sure that i'm going in the correct direction. At times i'll use a mirror, but it can be challenging to still see what i'm doing.

  • what if I finish tightening my locs in a north direction than I forget and when I re tighten that lock next time and start it off in the north direction. Will there be a loop in my lock?

  • That's okay. Sometimes you will know where to continue from where you left off based on the feel and look of your new growth. Other times it's hard to remember and you can't tell, but just use your best judgment and if you're not sure then start in a different direction. If you insert your tool in the same direction twice then you could create a hole in your loc. I've done that with a few locs, but in the end it just meshed together and worked itself out.

  • i did it... thanks alot girl no more salon for me...

  • All right! Great job!

  • Who much are these latch hooks

  • I would say probably $2 depending on where you purchase them.

  • I been trying to do that all wrong LOOL.. take like 30 mins to latch one lock.. Thank you

  • Oh no! Well i'm glad that you've corrected the problem and it's working out for you.

  • Thank you so much, now i can tighten my locs at home

  • All right!!

  • thank you so much i was wondering about that and now i got it.....thank you that is so easy.

  • You're welcome!

  • I think I let my newgrowth grow for too long O_O The hook keeps getting caught in stray hairs on the braid over ughhh

  • That has happened to me before too, so don't worry. Just take it one loc at a time. :-)

  • thanks

    

  • You're welcome!

  • Is there any way for me to download or save ur video to my laptop??? It was very informative and I'd like to have the video on hand when I try to tighten my locs with this method. Thanx much

  • @Choclitholiday I use a program called Final Video Downloader. It says it works with different sites, but I only know it to work with YouTube vids. But it does work, and its free. Just keep it updated or it will annoy you ( >=| ). Worth the trouble, though, when you need great tips like these offline.

  • Thanks for sharing this information because I had a similar question, lol!

  • Does it contain a virus though? I looked on line for some information about it and some users complained that it did contain one.

  • @DynamicRunner Personally, neither I nor my McAfee Total Protection program have noticed virus problems with it. I've also been using it for several months now, and other than the occasional error it's given me no trouble. Sometimes I need to convert a video it creates so that my computer can play it properly, but I think that's a graphics card issue with my computer being it's only the high-res/fast movement videos (I use a netbook taylored for student use =( ). Aside from that I don't know.