Everyone’s loc journey is different. While some may opt for the style for deeply spiritual and cultural reasons, others may loc their hair simply for the convenience of not needing to maintain loose hair. No matter how you enter the journey, most loc wearers share a common goal: achieving length. Getting longer locs faster depends on overall hair health, maintenance and patience. While scalp care and avoiding tension are crucial, the style of your locs may also play a critical role in growth.
If you want to garner as much length as possible, here are five of the best dread styles to grow your locs faster.
Freeform Locs
Freeform locs are natural and tend to form on their own with minimal manipulation. The hair matures and locks in its own pattern, which can be faster if you leave it alone to grow naturally. This style calls for less manipulation, meaning less breakage and damage. It also promotes the natural locking process without interfering with the growth cycle.
Two-Strand Twists
This method involves twisting small sections of your hair into two-strand twists. Over time, these twists will naturally lock up and turn into locs. This is a great method for beginners because it provides a defined starting point, and with regular maintenance, the locs will form tightly. It’s also less stressful on your hair compared to other methods. For faster growth, make sure you don’t overly twist the roots too tightly, as it can lead to breakage.
Interlocking
Interlocking involves pulling the end of a section of hair through the root using a special tool like a latch hook. This process locks the hair and helps it grow in a tight, uniform pattern. This method is great for faster loc formation and longer-lasting locks. Be sure to get your locs interlocked by a professional at first so they don’t unravel, and avoid doing it too often, as it can put stress on the scalp.
Comb Coils
Comb coils are created by using a fine-toothed comb to coil the hair in small sections. This method gives you well-defined locs and works well for people with naturally curly or coily hair because the pattern is similar to how the hair naturally grows. With the right maintenance, comb coils can lock faster than other methods.
Braid Locs
Braiding your hair in small sections and letting it lock naturally over time is a structure that locks in place, similar to two-strand twists, but with the added strength of braids. Since the braids hold the hair in place, there’s less chance of it unraveling compared to twist methods. Braid locs can take longer to mature, but once they begin to lock, they will appear fuller and thicker.