Locs are a deeply symbolic hairstyle in the Black community. They represent a journey of personal growth, cultural pride and spiritual connection. However, they require a lot of patience, and some may not have that kind of time. That’s where instant locs come in.
Recently, instant locs have gained significant popularity as a more accessible alternative to the traditional process of growing locs. The appeal lies in their ability to provide the same look of mature locs without the months or years of waiting. This method is a go-to for those eager to embrace locs, yet not willing to go through the time-consuming process of allowing hair to mature naturally. Here’s everything to know about instant locs.
What Are Instant Locs?
Instant locs are a method of creating mature-looking locs instantly. It takes only a fraction of the time it would for traditional locs to form. The technique involves using a combination of twisting, interlocking or crocheting hair to form individual locs that appear fully grown and established.
Instant locs can be done on both natural hair and relaxed hair, offering a shortcut to achieving the loc look. They offer the benefits of traditional locs, including being low maintenance, unique and culturally significant, while bypassing the often frustrating wait for hair to mature.
How to Do Instant Locs
With the right materials and technique, anyone can do instant locs at home.
Materials Needed
- A crochet hook: A small-sized hook (typically 0.5mm or 0.75mm) is perfect for creating the tight, interwoven texture of instant locs.
- Sectioning clips: These are essential for sectioning off your hair to ensure uniformity and precision.
- Rat tail comb: For parting your hair into small, even sections.
- Moisturizing spray or oil: To keep your hair hydrated and to avoid breakage during the process.
- Hair gel: Some people prefer to use a lightweight gel to smooth the hair before twisting or crocheting.
- Rubber bands or loc rings: These are used to secure the base of each loc, especially if you want to keep them neat during the process.
Instant Locs Tutorial
- Prepare Your Hair: Start with clean, damp hair. Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and apply a leave-in conditioner. Detangle your hair thoroughly using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to remove any knots.
- Section Your Hair: Using a rat tail comb, divide your hair into small, even sections. The size of each section will depend on how thick or thin you want your locs to be. Small sections create finer locs, while larger sections yield thicker locs. Secure each section with a clip or rubber band to keep them out of the way
- Begin the Locing Process: Take a section of hair and use your crochet hook to begin the locing process. The technique varies depending on whether you’re interlocking, twisting, or crocheting the hair.
- Crochet Method: With the crochet hook, pull small sections of hair through the base to create a tightly knotted appearance. Repeat this motion to tighten and form the loc. Keep going until the loc is formed and looks dense and compact.
- Twist Method: For those who prefer a more traditional approach, twist each section of hair tightly, making sure to interweave strands at the root to form a tight and neat base.
- Interlocking Method: This involves threading a needle or crochet hook through the base of the hair, pulling it through, and creating a locked pattern that gradually forms a loc.
- Secure the Locs: Once each section is formed into a loc, secure the base with a rubber band. This will help maintain the shape and prevent the loc from unraveling.