How to Tell if Your Locs are Budding (2023)

FAQs

How do I know if my locs are budding? ›

The Budding Stage (also known as the Sprouting Stage), occurs roughly six to twelve months into your locs journey. This is when you'll start to notice that your hair isn't unravelling when you wash it and notice your new growth, which will look a bit fuzzy and fluffy.

6 to 12 months: Budding phase of the Loc Journey

This is the time you need to consistently and thoroughly shampoo your hair or clean them to avoid buildups, bumps, and weak spots.

The Budding Phase

In all likelihood, the new growth will look frizzy or puffy, but don't panic, because it's a great sign. It means you're well on your way to having the locs of your dreams.

But it is true— loc shrinkage, or dread shrinkage, is normal and to be expected during the beginning stages of the hair locking process. Your starter locs shrinkage will make it look like your locs are not growing.

That being said, a typical retwist should/could last anywhere from 4-6 weeks. But again, it will depend on how you take care of your locs. Your retwist can last longer, it can even last for months, if you make all the right moves to make your retwist last longer.

When your locs start budding that means your hair is beginning to tangle inside the loc and form its own internal loc matrix. The internal Loc matrix is essentially a net within the locs that catches all of your naturally shed hair.

You will want to regularly (every two to three weeks) wash and detox hair to remove any products, oil, or debris trapped in the strands and scalp. Of course, if you workout a lot, you might want to wash more frequently than every two to three weeks.

In general, thicker and more tightly coiled hair locs faster.

They Sometimes Get Thicker Over Time

No matter what your locs look like when you install them, they'll most likely look radically different in a couple years time. A lot of the time, the locs will thicken up as they mature.

Yes! The budding stage is a good sign that your locs are progressing. If they never budded, they would never lock, and you would never have a head full of dreadlocks! So if you notice your locs getting a little frizzy and dull, don't worry — it's all part of the process.

What's after the budding stage of locs? ›

The five stages of locs are: starter, budding, teen, mature, and rooted.

Contrary to popular belief, keeping your scalp and dreads clean actually helps them lock faster and stay locked. Use a gentle residue-free shampoo so your hair doesn't get dry. Dirty, unmaintained dreads usually start looking fuzzy or uneven.

But, with that being said, let's explore when each stage of locs may be ready for a good washing. If you're just getting started with the baby stage, you should wait around 4-6 weeks before carefully washing your hair. You can go even longer than that if you feel you need to, but don't go longer than 3 months.

Bunching can sometimes be confused for budding. With bunching, it looks almost like a bud but you can tell the difference because the hair pulls upwards on itself requiring you to pull it back down into place. Bunching usually affects people who start with longer hair.

Once your locs are mature (roughly 1 year after beginning your journey depending on the texture of your hair), deep conditioner your hair every 1-2 weeks to keep your locs healthy, strong, and moisturized. This deep conditioner is a great pick.

Your hair follicles constantly need to be hydrated in order to promote healthy growing locs. Water makes up one fourth of the hair strand, without water, your body won't be able to reproduce strong and healthy cells for strong and healthy locs.

However, when dreads mature throughout the stages, they will get thinner and thicker at different points. In addition, the length and thickness will fluctuate during the first couple of years as your hair becomes matted. Healthy dreadlocks are typically a little thicker when they mature than when you started them.

Frizz is an inevitable part of the loc journey and process. Frizz is a sign that your hair is growing and maturing in a healthy manner. Your frizz is needed to continue to form the loc as the hair begins to take the shape, form and mat itself together.

When you retwist or palm roll the whole loc, you create tension at the roots and make the rest of your loc tighter. They may look neater, but they will become thinner.

Retwisting your locs too tightly or often are the main causes of damage and may have a delayed effect. If it hurts on day one you can for sure expect problems in the future. Choose a loctician who is gentle on your hair.

How can I make my locs thicker? ›

If you're waiting too long between twisting your dreads, you'll notice your locs becoming a lot thinner. Since new hair follicles need to be twisted into the deadlock, these follicles can eventually fall out if left alone. This results in thinning dreadlocks.

There is no need to introduce moisture to your locs every single day, especially if your hair doesn't need it. You should only do it on a need-to basis, meaning when they start to feel dry or brittle. You also need to use the right product.

Avoid getting your hair wet or washing it with any products in the first two to four weeks, as you may loosen some hairs and negatively affect the neat appearance of your dreads. Once about a month has passed, you are free to wash your dreads as needed.

Hair that is normally shed in the growth process and hair that breaks off at the ends due to manipulation are all retained within the loc. Your locs get to hold that whole ½ inch every month! With care and an avoidance of harmful practices, your locs could potentially grow up to six inches in one year.

Saltwater will strip every ounce of water and minerals out of your hair. Saltwater may make your hair follicles brittle, discolored, and easily split. And the longer that salt water stays in your dreadlocks, the more damage will be inflicted.

Well, I'm here to tell you, yes, dreadlocks can be combed out, especially ones that have been properly cared for during their life, including regular shampooing and conditioning. This is very important! If you decide to comb out your 'locks, it's critical that you approach the process with much patience.

Rosewater is great for those who are dealing with harsh water that is drying out their locs. The rosewater will add moisture to the locs while adding more luster and softness to the overall hair shaft. Vitamin A, C, D, E, and B3 are all present in rose water, which naturally nourish the hair and helps add that sheen.

You should oil your locs once a week until you learn more about your hair's individual needs. Over time you'll develop a customized hair care regimen that will be focused on oiling your locs as needed.

One of the drawbacks of getting the interlocks is that it results in a bit thinner dreads than other types of dreadlocks. The reason is that this process uses a specific tool for creating the locks, which results in thin locks.

How many locs is a good amount? ›

If you need a full head kit, 50 to 70 individual dreadlocks will look natural (if you like more lush dreadlocks, go for a larger quantity). In the case of mohawks, I usually advise 30 to 40 pieces, it all depends on how high the sides of your hairstyle are.

In some cases, they can even cause receding hairlines, hair loss and even baldness. If your braids and dreads start to recede, appear thin, or shed in large amounts, you may be suffering from what's known as Traction Alopecia.

A daily or regular brushing session will help keep it free from surface dust and lint and to give your locs a nice healthy appearance. I love the tingling feeling my scalp has after a good brushing session – I always include my scalp in the process…

Say no to deep conditioning

Moisture is important to healthy hair but skipping this step will avoid locs from unravelling. So, say no to deep conditioners in the starter loc stage and you'll be on your way to healthy and defined locs in the future. Consider deep conditioning only when your hair begins to lock up.

Yes — sea salt will help tighten loose dreads and tame frizz, creating a cleaner look.

You'll know your locks have left the budding stage once they begin to swell, and maintain their shape on their own while looking more cohesive in texture. Teenage locs may seem to stand on end all over your head and go in whatever direction they want as the matted hair thickens and becomes taught at the root.

The budding can appear anywhere along the shaft of the locs, but normally budding appears in the middle of the locs or closer to the roots first. Once your locs have completely budded, from the roots to the ends, they will have matured into the teenage loc stage.

Give Your Locs a Break

They shampoo and groom their locs, including palm rolling or interlocking far too often, resulting in tighter, slimmer locs. If you want to grow thicker locs, you'll have to groom them far less frequently. Your locs don't need to be retwisted any more often than every six weeks (at least).

However, when dreads mature throughout the stages, they will get thinner and thicker at different points. In addition, the length and thickness will fluctuate during the first couple of years as your hair becomes matted. Healthy dreadlocks are typically a little thicker when they mature than when you started them.

Do dreads grow faster when they lock? ›

As compared to loose hair, particularly afro-textured hair, locs seem to grow far faster. It isn't really true that loc'd hair grows faster; it just maintains all of its growth. Hair that is normally shed in the growth process and hair that breaks off at the ends due to manipulation are all retained within the loc.

Teen Phase

This phase can be frustrating but it should be fully embraced as a part of the overall loc experience. The teen phase of the loc journey is usually around 12-16 months in. Since your locs begin to swell in size you want to be mindful of the products that you're using to prevent build-up in the locs.