Maintaining locs is very different from maintaining other hair styles. Locs don't need to be brushed and don't require regular trimming. Like other hair styles locs to need to be kept clean. Contrary to popular belief clean locs lock up and tighten faster than dirty locs. While other hair styles require combing to put stray hairs back in place, locs need to have stray hairs tucked back into the dred so they can dred up and lock with the rest of the hair.

Using the right Shampoo
The tighter the locs are, the fewer stray hairs you will have and the smoother the locs will look. Washing locs with the proper soaps and shampoos is essential to keeping them tight. The problem with the majority of shampoos, natural or otherwise, is that they leave residue in the hair after they are rinsed out. You can easily detect this residue by smelling the hair, or your hands, after you have used the shampoo. If the shampoo has left a scent, it has left residue behind. These residues can cause itching when they build up inside your locs and they can make it hard for thicker locs to dry properly. Above all the residues act as a lubricant making it very hard for the hairs to lock and the locs to tighten. This is why it is highly recommended that you use only residue free soaps and shampoo's on your locs.

Residues also cause scalp irritations. Many of the reasons our scalps are dry and itchy is because of residues whether they come from shampoos, conditioner, or chemicals. Using a residue free shampoo will give you a healthy scalp.

Wearing a head scarf
Locs do tend to pick up lint and fuzzy's even if they are very clean. This is usually a big problem when you are sleeping. Pillow cases and sheets that don't shed a lot of fuzzy's will help. Wearing a head scarf on your head will keep fuzzy's out of your locs while allowing your locs and scalp to breathe. Head scarves also have plenty of room for longer locs to stretch out and they can be bought larger so they don't squish your locs down too much.

Washing Locs
Whenever you wash your locs get them as dry as possible afterwards. Don't leave them covered in such a way that they can't dry completely. It is good practice to squeeze as much water out of them by hand as possible before wrapping them with a dry thirsty towel for about 10 min and then finally letting them air dry or drying them with a hair dryer. This will ensure that the locs dry all the way through. Leaving them wet will cause them to smell like a wet towel. Nasty.

Healthy Scalp and moisturizing
It can take a while for your scalp to adjust to having locs. This is mostly because your washing schedule will suddenly change and your scalp will no longer be stimulated by brushing. One common problem is dryness. For this reason it is important that you keep the scalp and locs properly moisturized. Knatty Dread Cream is designed especially for your scalp and hair as they adapt to having locs. It uses protein rich Lanolin and Shea Butter to ensure that your scalp stays happy and healthy during this process.

Breakage is another concern because locs can get pretty heavy as they get longer. It is possible for them to break off at the root if they are not properly moisturized. Continued use of Knatty Dread Cream keeps locs moisturized and strong. If you know that your hair is prone to breakage it is a good idea to start out with locs that are a bit thicker. If your locs are thin you can keep them at a reasonable length to avoid breakage.

Using oils is unnecessary
If you have a healthy scalp, free of damage by chemicals and braids, your scalp should be able to oil your locs naturally to the tip. Consider not using bottled oils on your hair. It is a myth that we need to use oils. The only reason our scalp is sensitive is because of the damage from harsh chemicals that are forced on us as children. If your scalp itches, the best treatment for your scalp is to mist some water, it will keep your natural oils flowing.

Using Rubberbands
Rubberbands can be very useful when you are starting and maintaining locs. While putting rubberbands on too tight can hurt your locs, wearing them snug, to gather the hair at the roots of your locs, can help your dreads tighten faster than they normally would. Rubberbands are also handy for keeping new locs separated.

Loose hairs and Latchhooking
Latchhooking is a new method for taking care of loose hairs at the root and throughout the loc. The important thing to remember with latchhooking is that you need to twist your locs after you have used the latchhooking method. If you do not twist your locs afterwards the loose hairs will fall out of the dread.

Latchhooking hairs in the middle of the loc
1. Take the latchhook and push it through the middle of the loc where the loose hair is. Make sure you push the hook in until the little latch is post the other side of the loc and loose hair.
2. Thread the loose hair through the hook and flip the hook into the closed position.
3. Now pull the loose hair through the middle of the dread.

Latchhooking hairs at the root of the loc
1. Take the latchhook and push it through the middle of the loc at the root where the loose hair is. Make sure you push the hook in until the little latch is post the other side of the loc and loose hair.
2. Thread the loose hair through the hook and flip the hook into the closed position.
3. Now pull the loose hair through the middle of the dread.

If the loose hair is long you may need to repeat steps 1-3 again until the loose hair has disappeared. It helps a lot to insert the hook sideways the second time so there isn't a pattern to the way the loose hair is sewn into the loc.

The most important thing to remember is that you need to twist the hair once it is in the loc so it will lock up and it won't fall out.

This is a good routine:

1. Wash your locs three times a week when they are new. Once they have formed you can wash them two or three times a week.

2. Make sure your roots are separated.

3. Apply Knatty Dread Loc Cream after each washing once your locs are dry. You can apply it between washings if your locs or scalp feel dry.

4. Allow your locs and scalp to "breathe", don't keep them covered all the time. You're beautiful and you shouldn't hide your natural hair, you should be proud of it and flaunt it.

5. If you want to wear something while your out wear a 100% cotton scarf or tam when out.

6. Don't use oils!

7. Sleep in a satin cap during the locking process.

8. Be patient . . .