Bradelocz FAQ: The Beginning Stages
August 16, 2009 by Cherie
Filed under Videos, What's New
Here I answer some common questions about Bradelocz and the beginning/infant stages…
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Cherie,
Very informative video and beautiful locs.
You’re your own product infomercial.
I am sooo happy that you have decided to make videos covering braidlocz!! I have bought your e-book, but I find the YouTube videos to be very helpful as I need visual reinforcement. I started my braidlocz in December 2008. I look forward to *hearing* more from you. Your locz are beautiful!!! I am inspired…
Hey Cherie! I purchased your Braidlocz e-book 2 years ago. I braided my hair into 300 braids and ended up taking them down because I could not keep up with the maintenance. I wished that I had just joined them to half that amount. Oh well. Love the fact that you are doing videos now! I now have 1 year old locks (on April 19th) and started them with tst lbut 150. I am subscribing for assistance with maintaining myself. peace&blessings ~robinc
Hi: Cherie
I want to know if you have use henna hair color on your locs. Or do you know someone who has use henna hair color on their locs. Did they like the product on their locs. I have started my locs on July 22, 2009. I n now going to my second month with my locs , I started with two strand twist. This is my third set of locs. I love how locs look and i know that i will not not ever go back to perm hair. I have enjoed your book so far, good info. I am gald that i got your book on locs. I wash my hair for two or three weeks. I have use the aloe vera plant that i have in my home. What i did was took out the gel from the plant and added some water and some tree oil into a bottel. and i use that every day. I also went to a all natureal store and got some alove vera shampoo for my hair and i like how it feels on my hair. I latch my hair with a blind needle that i made and i have the latch hook and i just ordered a napplu locs toll for my hair to see how that works for me. I had a friend who does locs and natural hair to start my locs for me. I will be taking care of my hair myself instead of giving some one all of my money do do it myself. This way i can be in tune to my hair and see the different phrase that it will go thought myself. Thanks for all of your help on starting and taking care of your natural hair.
Thanks You,
Daeon Cabness
Hi Daeon,
No, I’ve never used henna and have no experience with it. I’m glad you’ve found the info helpful and that you’re also finding your own way in this journey! Good job!
im 18 and im starting my locs of braids because when starting the regular way they always unraveled. i was told later that my hair texture was to soft and it would be best to start off with braids.so far its just really fuzzy and i have had them in for about a month now. Im not sure when i should wash my hair or what to actually do with it. I also have a problem with loose hair out side the braids completely, do i just twist them? answering my questions would prove to be a big help thankyou
Oh p.s. to the woman asking about henna my mother who has had locs for 4 years now uses henna as a means of dying her hair and it comes out beautiful. henna only dyes hair one color (red) and is a lot safer than regular dye because it is natural.
Hi Aliya,
The fuzziness is normal, some simple “light” styling will prove to be a temporary fix for that if you need it. In terms of when you should wash it, I advise that people can wash right away, but if your hair is VERY soft (especially if it is on the shorter side), you may need to “braid and band” them before washing. As for the loose hairs, yes you can either wrap, twist or braid into nearby, existing locs. Do you have my Bradelocz ebook ? I think that it would be a great help to you in a lot of ways!
Also, thank you for the henna feedback!
Cherie
Hi Cherie!
I have joining issues!
I Bradelocz’ed my hair two months ago. I love it! I don’t have to use gel and all that kinda stuff for my hair anymore. However, some of my braids have begun to join pretty badly. So have a really thick base. Also, I have a lot of loose hair too. I’m wondering should I take my hair down and start again in order to get rid of the joining ones and to fix the fuzziness or should I just hang in there and let everything keep going as is.
Thanks so much for any advice that you can give to me.
Sincerely,
Denice Barnes
Hi Denice!
Congrats on your new Bradelocz!
The thing you want to do is make sure…absolutely sure…that after each and every time your hair gets wet (shampooing, swimming, etc.) that you go through and separate your roots. No, I wouldn’t recommend that you start all over again but if you can separate those that have joined, try to do so – doing while the hair is wet is better (dare I say even if this means using scissors to gently and CAREFULLY snipping the hairs in between the two conjoined locs – if you’re unsure, don’t do it or have someone else do it) but if not…then just leave them be but from here on out be sure to separate your locs whenever you first notice them trying to “marry” together.
i always wantwed to brad my hair but i don’t know how,so i started looking about the subjet and i found your video wich by the way i think is very informative and your hair looks wonderful;my Q.is:how long does my hair need to be before i start brading it,i usually cut my hair short on the sides and longer on the top;it’s been for about a month since i had a haircut and i want to start doing it;i thank you for your time and i’ll be checking on your answer,thankyou once again and happy holidays.
Hi Vidal,
Thank you for the compliment on my video and hair!
When you say “braid” do you mean just as a style (cornrows, etc.) or to start locs?
Either way, I would say it depends on the braiding skills of yourself or your braider. Some people can braid hair that is really, REALLY short while others (such as myself) can’t braid worth a darn unless the hair is at least 3-4 inches or longer!
Now if you are talking about starting locs, then again, it will depend on the braiding skills AND the texture of your hair. Sometimes the hair can be too soft to braid up for locs at a very short length and should be at least 3 inches to prevent a lot of excessive unraveling.
Did I answer your question?
Cherie
Hi Cherri,
It has taken almost a year to take the journey with locking my hair with the Briadlocz method. I first started with having my hair braided professionally. It was done in September. I thought that I was going to die when I went through this process. It hurt like HELL! I knew that the next step was to start the latch hook method. It was suggessted that I come back in 30 days when I got my first growth. I did not do that thinking about that painful ordeal. After 3 months, I relunctantly went back because my hair was really looking jacked. Any way, I had it latched and that hurt like HELL! After having it done, it is still uncomfortable after 4 days. Should this process be painful? I have not read of anyone complaining about pain. If I have to go through these painful episodes, I gonna just take this down! I’m also afraid of alopecia developing. My hair is soft with a somewhat loose curl.
Is it no pain, no gain? What is your comment?
Hi Vicke,
First, I wanted to congratulate you on your new Braidlocz! Second, NO…it should not “hurt like hell”! Whomever is doing your hair is doing it too tightly. The braids did NOT have to be so tight that they caused you so much pain. Sure there might be some tenderness that should go away by the next day, but it should not have been so bad that it hurt to sleep on it or anything like that…same with the tightening. That definitely should not have still been hurting after 4 days!
So yeah, if you don’t already have it, get a copy of my ebook and learn to do it yourself or find someone else (if possible) who can do it for you but not so tight. I state in my ebook that when you tighten the roots with the latch hook, there should be a little “give” of about 1/8″. I know that just as with braids, some women will suffer pain or inflict it upon others just to have it super-tight and neat (this goes for locks and braids alike) …but in the end, it’s just not worth it.
So, suggest to the person doing your hair to ease up and not go so tightly to the scalp for the sake of making it meticulous and express the pain that you are experiencing. Have her do a couple and whenever you begin to feel it’s uncomfortable, tell her. If she does a few more and same thing…tell her you will find someone else or do it yourself and leave.
Try to hang in there and not take them down…it’s not supposed to be a “no pain, no gain” situation here.
Hope this helps,
Cherie
P.S. Now in retrospect and in all fairness to your stylist, perhaps your Loctician/Braider felt it necessary to make it tight due to the soft, loosely-curled texture of your hair and if this is the case, then perhaps s/he was “somewhat” justified HOWEVER… I’m still not totally convinced that it should have hurt THAT badly. I think all that is needed is some communication between the two of you to find out why your hair is being done so tightly and how it is affecting you, as well as your concerns about alopecia.
But I also wanted to say that once your hair locks up or at the least, settles in to where there is minimal-to-no chance of it unraveling, you definitely will not need your hair to be done as tightly as your stylists may feel is necessary in these beginning stages.
I was wondering if you both latch hooked and palm rolled your hair and also how often. I’ve been growing my braidlocs for about 4 months now and currently I’m doing both. Was wondering what would happen if I only latch hooked my hair every 2 or 3 weeks. Please help! Your hair is beautiful as well!
Hi Jon and thank you for the compliment!
No, I don’t do both. In my earlier years of locking I would, however, latch the roots and then sometimes “finger twirl” the length of the locs. Later on as years went by, I started free-forming and then if there was some reason I wanted a “neater” appearance, I’d lightly palmroll some of my locs along the front and sides. But to latch and palm together, no. You asked “what would happen if you only latch hooked your hair every 2 or 3 weeks?” How often are you currently doing it? Latching should ONLY be done like once a month anyway. Anything more than that is too much and could cause potential weakening and breakage, so if you’re currently doing it more frequently than 2-3 weeks, please stop.
Cherie
Hey Cherie!
I’m going to be locking my hair in the next few weeks, most likely using the braidlocz method. I have a question regarding the size of the braid and how it tightens. When the loc is tightened, will the size of it progressively change? I guess I’m asking if I should make the braids the exact size I want the locs, or slightly smaller or larger to allow for the tightening or loosening?
Hi Kirsten,
You will want to make your SECTIONS (don’t focus on the braids as they will NOT be the size you want your locs to ultimately be…they will be smaller) a smidge bigger than what you want your locs to ultimately be. I have a sizing chart in my Bradelocz ebook that may help you even further.
Cherie
Hello Cherie i just wanted to say thank you for the dread locks myths exposed it was informative and enlightening i took the time and unraveled those twist that needed it and braided my hair in small braids and it’s really cute but will the ends lock up by them self or is there something i should do to undo the curly ends? Thank you again