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How To Grow Sisterlocks Fast

My hairdresser introduced me to a loctician last year. She is well aware of my interest in getting sisterlocks. I’ve been learning as much as I can before I get them installed this year. I think my first question to the loctician was how to grow sisterlocks fast.

What Are Sisterlocks?

Sisterlocks utilize a technique known as interlocking.

They resemble dreadlocks but are thinner in size.

When it comes to interlocking the natural hair, there’s special equipment that you use to achieve the style.

One great advantage of sisterlocks is in how they’re done.

A specialized loctician starts forming sisterlocks at the root of your hair.

Starting at the root minimizes pulling that can damage your hair follicles easily.

how to grow sisterlocks fast

You have the option of having them appear loose and not like professionally done dreadlocks.

Once installed, you can style your sisterlocks in many different ways, hence their versatility.

 

The Difference Between Sisterlocks And Regular Locs

Sisterlocks differ from regular dreadlocks in several ways.

When you head to your loctician, know which of the two you want.

Perhaps the best way to distinguish them is by knowing what their differences are.

 

How they are done

Sisterlocks are done using an interlocking technique that relies on a gadget made for this task.

On the other hand, dreadlocks are made by twisting the hair or rolling it using your palms.

 

Size and weight

In terms of size or thickness, sisterlocks are thin.

They differ from regular locs that are thicker in size.

Being thin makes sisterlocks light, no matter how long they get.

As for regular locs, the longer they get, the heavier they become.

 

Hair texture

Regular locks require 100% natural hair.

This means that hair that is relaxed or texturized can’t make dreadlocks.

However, you can make sisterlocks not only with natural hair but also with hair that’s relaxed or texturized.

 

Hair length

Regular locs don’t require long hair to get started.

By using wax, a loctician can twist short hair into tiny locks.

As for sisterlocks, longer hair is necessary.

Hence, if you want sisterlocks, you need to wait until your hair attains a certain length.

 

Timeframe

Sisterlocks are relatively easy to attain and won’t take up much time.

All you need is a specialized loctician and a few visits to the salon.

Regular locs, on the other hand, take time to form.

The timeframe can stretch up to 18 months before you have fully formed dreadlocks.

 

Longevity

The interlocking technique that sisterlocks utilize doesn’t lock the hair.

What this means is that your hair is not twisted.

Dreadlocks, however, require twisting to accomplish the desired look.

Sisterlocks are easy to achieve style and take up less time to form.

They go through growth stages that are important to note.

 

Sisterlocks Growth Stages

Once you decide sisterlocks are the new hairstyle you want to rock, then you need to get familiar with the different growth stages.

Sisterlocks undergo four main growth stages which are:

 

Pre-locking stage

The pre-locking stage is when you have your locs freshly done by a qualified loctician.

Here, your hair partitions are clear, and the locs are neatly locked.

These locs are referred to as baby locks since they’re in their initial stages and are quite vulnerable.

Additionally, more care is necessary when washing them to prevent unlocking.

Wash them slowly and avoid scrubbing hard.

 

Budding stage

This is the stage where a bud is formed that appears like a small bulge on the sisterlocks.

It’s the stage that informs your loctician that matting is taking place.

The sisterlocks start getting loose and not as tightly formed as in the pre-locking stage.

Many refer to it as the teen stage due to the rebellious nature of the once tightly coiled locs.

 

The shooting stage

At this stage, there’s complete matting of the sisterlocks.

What you note is the increased density of your hair from the bud to the end.

It happens because the hair keeps intertwining throughout.

The only exception is at the root where new growth appears.

 

Contracting stage

At this stage, your hair keeps growing.

It becomes longer.. as long as you want it.

In case you want to maintain the locs at a certain length, you can have them trimmed.

The hair at this stage is dense and mature, which means you have well-established sisterlocks.

 

How Long Does It Take Sisterlocks To Settle?

Even though sisterlocks are reasonably easy to install than regular locs, the duration it takes for them to settle varies.

It takes some types of hair longer than others.

Also, another determining factor on this is whether your hair is natural or relaxed.

Before the sisterlocks settle, they resemble braids.

It’s at the initial installation stage, where slippage is common on the hair.

The look that slippage causes is undesirable, and it’s only after settling that slippage ends.

Sisterlocks vary in terms of settling duration depending on the type of hair.

Some take three months, while others may take up to a year.

For others, the period is even longer.

how to grow sisterlocks fast

 

How Long Does It Take For Sisterlocks To Swell?

Sisterlocks form through four stages, as mentioned above.

Another essential aspect to note when it comes to their formation is swelling.

For the best structure, they must swell.

Swelling occurs at the second stage when the sisterlocks are budding.

Budding happens after you wash the locks several times.

This causes the hair shaft to swell because each strand expands and contracts.

Washing the hair means the strands absorb and expel water; hence the expansion and contracting.

What you get after are looser locks which differ from the tight pre-locking stage.

Also, swelling can occur within 2 weeks to 1 month depending on how often you wash your hair.

The swelling of sisterlocks differs.

Some locks become fuller with each wash while others take longer.

It all depends on the texture of your hair.

Also, another determining factor is how tightly your loctician wound the locs in the pre-locking stage.

 

How To Make Sisterlocks Look Fuller

Once you get sisterlocks professionally done, it’s crucial they become fuller.

Fuller sisterlocks make any style you rock attractive.

It’s possible to make sisterlocks at home, but this is not advisable.

Consult a professional for the best results.

Another reason to seek a loctician is they know how to make your locks fuller easily.

Fuller sisterlocks depend heavily on the type of products you use.

It’s advisable to go for products that don’t result in heavy buildup.

Some products cause buildup that interferes with the stages of locking.

It’s due to the disruption of the loc matrix.

Let your loctician use the right products will help you achieve fuller sisterlocks.

Your locs will thus enter different stages faster.

Moreover, with the right products, you can help thinning hair appear fuller.

Another way to help your sisterlocks appear fuller is by stimulating the scalp and feeding your hair.

What this entails is regularly hydrating the hair and sealing it with oil.

Follow this by wearing a protective cap at night, which prevents your locks from drying out.

Daily moisturizing is one of the most beneficial techniques for fuller hair, as well as regular loc brushing.

Additionally, regular moisturizing prevents brittleness that can cause dryness which may lead to unnecessary breakage.

 

How To Grow Sisterlocks Fast

Sisterlocks can grow quite long, depending on the length you desire.

The rate at which they attain your desired length depends on how you care for them.

Yes, genetics plays a role.

If you have fast-growing hair in your family, then you can grow sisterlocks faster.

But for many people, it takes time and regular care to achieve this goal.

So, it’s essential to know what to do to get there.

 

Washing your hair

For starters, wash your hair at least once a week.

When doing so, go for a natural and stimulating shampoo.

What this does is stimulate hair growth and promote blood flow.

Also, washing the hair prevents build-up and keeps your locs healthy.

Try out shampoos with ingredients such as mint in them.

Go for natural hair shampoos with ingredients like peppermint.

The tingling sensation you experience helps in hair growth by stimulating your scalp.

 

Regular oil massage

Another way to help sisterlocks grow faster is a regular oil massage.

Get good oil such as olive or coconut oil and apply it on the locs and scalp.

Make it a habit to do it daily or every other day.

The oil serves a dual purpose that benefits your hair.

One, it moisturizes your locs.

Two, it stimulates the scalp leading to faster growth.

 

Diet matters

It helps also if you change your diet.

One of the most significant contributing factors to longer hair is what you eat.

Turn away from unhealthy eating and choose a diet rich in nutrients and vitamins.

In the same breath, you can start taking a supplement to help boost mineral and vitamin intake.

These play a crucial role in promoting hair growth and general good health.

 

Visit your loctician regularly

Finally, maintain regular visits to a qualified loctician (preferably the one who installed your sisterlocks).

Make it a point to keep all the appointments so that they can inspect your progress.

Also, you can learn about the best products to use at different growth stages.

A good loctician helps the locs not snap off, which can be a huge disappointment if you’re a length chaser.

It’s also important to avoid constant pulling and over-manipulation to prevent snapping.

 

How Much Do Sisterlocks Cost?

Sisterlocks are a highly sought-after protective hairstyle for natural hair.

The best way to have them done is by seeking the services of a qualified loctician.

When you get them done, that’s not the end of salon visits.

It’s critical to maintain a regular schedule with your technician.

Therefore, note the cost of getting and maintaining sisterlocks before you have them done.

The price varies depending on several factors.

One is the length of your hair.

The longer it is, the higher the cost.

Two is how thick or thin the hair is.

And three is the time it takes to complete the task.

With this in mind, the base price of sisterlocks is about $500 – $800 depending on the thickness and length of hair.

In some salons, every extra inch incurs an additional charge.

Some locticians charge a consultation fee of about $20 – 50 (this depends on where you’re located).

In terms of maintenance, every visit to the salon costs you $80 to $100 depending on the loctician’s rate.

 

How Long Does It Take To Do Sisterlocks?

The first time you get sisterlocks is the longest you’ll have to sit still.

The time it takes to get them done varies, and the main determining factor is the length and density of your hair.

The longer your hair, the more time it takes to get well-done sisterlocks.

Additionally, how fast your loctician is another factor to consider.

With short hair, it can take about 15 – 18 hours to get sisterlocks done.

However, longer hair takes much longer.

A friend of mine who has the same hair length, thickness, and density as me took three days.

Well, they were taking breaks but the whole exercise took three consecutive days to be completed.

Follow-up visits to the salon even with longer locs won’t take up as much time.

The specialist only re-tightens the new growth of hair.

That takes about 3 to 5 hours every 4 to 6 weeks.

 

How To Take Care Of Sisterlocks

It’s essential to take good care of your sisterlocks, which contributes to their general health.

Develop a good routine on how to care for and maintain them.

The best way to learn how to care for them is by consulting your specialist.

Also, you can make enquiries from others with locs and look online as well.

There is plenty of helpful material available today.

 

Use the right products

One point they will insist on is regular moisturization of the sisterlocks.

To help prevent dryness on your locs and scalp, use the right products.

Learn more about the best natural hair products that help to moisturize the locs.

Related Post: Best Moisturizer For Sisterlocks

Dryness can lead to itchiness and subsequent breakage.

The hair becomes weak and it’s not possible to grow the locs’ length in such a state.

 

Use oils to seal in moisture

Another way to improve hair moisturization is by regularly oiling your scalp and hair.

Use oils that help to seal in moisture such as coconut and olive oil for the best results.

Not only do they promote growth, but they also strengthen the hair by preventing brittleness.

 

Wash regularly

Regularly wash your locs to remove any build-up.

Again, it’s crucial to use products without harsh chemicals.

Instead, use products that are packed with helpful, natural ingredients that also help the hair to stay moisturized.

 

Wrap your locs

When you finally want to retire for the day, wrap your head with a silk scarf, or wear a satin bonnet.

If you don’t have a silk scarf or bonnet, you may want to sleep on a satin pillowcase instead.

This is the best way to protect your hair and keep it moisturized.

 

Avoid heat appliances

Some people opt to use heating tools like curling irons on their sisterlocks.

But this is not advisable.

Avoid using such equipment on your hair since the locs lose their tightly coiled structure.

 

Keep your appointments

Make it a habit to keep all your appointments with your loctician.

In the beginning, you can get your locs tightened after 3 to 4 weeks.

This goes on for the first 6 months.

After that, you can visit every 3 months or as often as you like.

 

How To Take Out Sisterlocks

At some point, you might want your hair back.

The excellent news about sisterlocks is it’s possible to comb them out.

It’s not a complex process and you can have your loctician do it for you.

Start by snipping the tip of your locs using a pair of scissors.

Follow this by placing the locs in hot water for a maximum of 20 minutes.

What this does is help loosen the accumulated build-up, dirt, and grime.

Then it’s time to wash the hair with a natural hair shampoo.

Ensure you scrub all parts of your scalp and locs.

After that, rinse the hair with hot water.

You can apply more shampoo to ensure all the build-up washes off.

Then get a conditioner suitable for natural hair.

Cover all the hair with it paying attention to each individual loc.

Apply plenty of conditioner to completely saturate the hair.

Wait for about 5 minutes then start using a comb preferably metallic to start combing out the locs.

Start combing at the end working towards the root.

After that, wash your hair again and condition it once more.

Comb it then leave it to rest for 1 to 2 days.

This process can take up your time if you have long locs.

An important tip for combing out locs is working on one at a time.

This makes the process long and tedious but protects your hair.

 

Conclusion

Sisterlocks are a great protective style for people with natural hair. 

If you want to try out something different from the protective styles that you’re used to, you may want to try out sisterlocks.

Just make sure you get a trained loctician to install them.

If you already have them and want to know how to grow sisterlocks fast, implement some of the tips shared in this post and let us know how it goes.

If you’ve had sisterlocks for a while and want to take them out, follow the instructions in this article but keep in mind that it can be a tedious task.

But you know what? You’d rather do the laborious but protect your hair!

5 thoughts on “How To Grow Sisterlocks Fast”

  1. Thank you for writing this post! It was very helpful. I don’t have sisterlocks but microlocs established through interlocking so the installation and maintenance is very similar!

    Reply
  2. Hi Elsie,
    Great article!! I have baby locs and have been searching around for info. Yours so far has been the most comprehensive and solid. I have fine-textured hair and am excited about if it’s going to get full/thicken. I’m also going to try the weekly washing. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Thanks, this was very helpful. I am planning to get sister locs in a few weeks. I had locs for over 20 years and got a bald spot and had them cut off. I’m 75 and my hair is gray and thinning. However, have decided for me locs are neater. Sister locs are a great way to regain my CONFIDENCE and NEATNESS about my natural hair. Thanks for taking me step by step; I’m ready.

    Reply

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