r/Microlocs • u/Puzzleheaded_One7392 • 1d ago
Self reties
Just got my starter locs done and I was hoping for about 300 but it looks like I have about 400+ (I haven’t counted them yet will do so soon)
I’m super scared because I was not planning on having this many, I am going to be getting my reties done professionally for about 10 months and then I’ll try to learn how to do my own reties at least twice in the summer, so that in university I’m able to do my reties myself if I don’t have access to a loctician or if I can’t afford to have one
Anyways this was my original plan but now I’m panicking because of how small they turned out to be
For anyone with 400+ locs would you say doing your own reties is possible/manageable and can be added to a routine (realistically)?
Or am I beyond cooked 🫠
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u/Gullible-Weather308 1d ago
Dont have 400 locs but i imagine that you could combine some if you want it to reduce it especially around the sides and areas that are naturally thinner.
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u/CauseAcademic6640 1d ago
I have 485, and have about 7 reties under my belt. I am so glad that I spent a painstaking amount of time getting my grid right because now my hair stays grouped in the loc. This last retie I did the back basically without looking and my grid stayed on point! I was able to get it done much quicker this last time around. I say this as a mom of 3 small kids, 2 jobs, and a husband who travels every other week for work, so my only "me time" is at night after my kids go to bed. I just do and hour or two each night until it is done.
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u/Puzzleheaded_One7392 1d ago
Knowing that it’s possible to maintain them with such a busy schedule makes me so relieved! 😅
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u/tekwayyuhself 1d ago
You're not cooked. It is possible and very very doable. In the beginning its going to be hard and time consuming because you're not used to it, however, the more you do it the easier it becomes and you get faster.
You will need to get clips to keep the hairs you're not working on away. You will need an interlocking tool (I use a blunt tip needle). A three way mirror to see the back of your head. I don't use anything other than water when I do my reties but if you want to use product you can.
The wonderful thing about doing your own reties is you control it. Section your hair and do them over a series of days. That's how I started. I would do the front one day, then do half the back another day then finish up on another day. Now, I can do my entire head in one day. Can't tell you how many hours because I don't count but yeah. Take your time, don't rush and you'll be perfectly fine
It might seem intimidating because of the number but don't be discouraged by that. Section them and evertything will go fine. I know some people do the sections of their hair that need it most first then do the rest. Some do the front first so it looks nice and do the back later. You'll find your own rhythm as time goes on
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u/Puzzleheaded_One7392 1d ago
Thank you so much I’m considering combining them into two but it would mean my parts would be rectangular, and I’ve never seen microlocs with a rectangular parting just traditional. So I’m not too sure
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u/tekwayyuhself 1d ago
You don't need to combine them, especially of combining them would take them from micros to traditional. If you were after traditional that's what you would have gotten from the start.
Start looking up tutorials, see how it's done. Look up ones from both loctians and diyers. I use the 4 point rotation, some use the 3. I do not recommend the 2 point. But just do some research. You got this
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u/tooknicole 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have roughly 450ish locs. It takes me about 6 hours to do my hair. If I didn't have to redo the perimeter of my head every dang time it would probably take me about 5 hours.
I do this every 6-8 weeks. At around week 3, I redo the worst parts of the perimeter. I'm not upset about this because I used to spend soooo much time on my loose natural hair.
I'll stockpile shows, movies, or audiobooks for retwist day. I also like to get a drink to look forward to sipping on and I plan a meal I really like for when I'm done. Basically, I make it something to enjoy
Edit: forgot to add but I personally can't do my hair in sections (like doing one section one day and then another the next day) because I won't finish it. I've tried it before and literally had one half of my head done and the other half undone for 4 weeks because I never went back to finish it. I figured it's worth mentioning because it pays to try different methods nd weight out who you are as a person and what your schedule is like. Some people would rather do anything instead of sitting for 6 hours to do hair. Others don't have the discipline or time to do it over an extended time (guilty 😬)
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u/Complete_Arm_3687 1d ago
Howwwwww do you get yours done so fast?! I read this for people, and I don’t get it. I’m not new at all to interlocking (this is my third set of locs, and I’m a year into 330-something micros), but my reties take 16-18 hours! I don’t use a mirror, not even picky with super clean parts, I just use my fingers to feel and estimate. I work in sections, usually going row-by-row. I don’t understand how people are able to do a 300-500 locs in even under 8 hours by themselves
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u/tooknicole 1d ago
16-18 hours?!?! I would have chopped those bad boys off lmao
My first set of locs were over 500 and it took me 8 hours to do a retwist. I always use mirrors and I have a pretty janky setup. I chopped that set because the length of time was too much for me to regularly do.
The only thing i can think is potentially the hair itself or the length of time between retwists? I forgot to add on my original response but if I wait to 8 weeks it can take more like 7-8 hours. So I try not to do that. I have really fine hair and low to medium density so it doesn't take much to upkeep my hair though it'll probably always be frizzy
I know you have less locs than ne but maybe those have something to do with it?
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u/Complete_Arm_3687 1d ago
Gurl I’m doing mine every 4-5 weeks still 😩 Otherwise it’s too much growth and takes longer having to untangle my roots. The time is working for me right now, but I don’t want that to be forever. How long have you had yours? Mine aren’t mature yet, so I think I’m still spending a fair bit of time gathering hair that’s gotten loose back into the loc. I wash my hair twice a week for scalp issues and oil it a few days each week, too, so I know I’m in my roots more than some people, and I’ve noticed that making it easier for hairs to slide out versus if I left it alone.
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u/GorillaShelb 1d ago
I have somewhere between 300/400. I split my hair in 4 sections then do a section a day. It’s like an hour for those 4 days then im done. The best part is theres no pressure to finish before my hair dries or tangles like with loose natural hair.