Choosing between a starter loc method can be confusing when first starting out.
Both methods will result in beautiful locs, but will develop differently throughout the loc journey.
Choosing the wrong starter loc method can set you back in time causing lots of unwanted mishaps, while the correct one can have you loc’d in no time.
Understanding your hair type, texture, and desired look can help guide you to the best starter loc method for you.
In today’s blog post we’re going to talk all about coils and 2 strand twists, breaking down each method to help you decide which starter loc method will fit you best!
This blog post was all about starter loc methods!
Table of Contents
Hair Type
First things first, what’s your hair type?
Hair type in a nutshell is a way to categorize your hair by curl pattern. Here’s the 4 different hair types below:
- Type #1 – straight
- Type #2 – wavy
- Type #3 – curly
- Type #4 – kinky/coily
Within these hair types there are 3 subcategories (a,b,c). To make it easy, (a) is the straightest/looses of the type, (c) is the curliest/kinkiest of the type, and (b) is a mix of both.
Ex: Type 4c, 4a, 4b, 3c , 3a, etc
Hair Type Examples:
3a Hair type
3b Hair Type
3c Hair Type
4a Hair Type
4b Hair Type
4c Hair Type
Hair Texture
Hair texture is the thickness of the hair strand.
- Fine: Very delicate
- Medium: Moderate thickness
- Coarse: Super thick
Understanding your hair texture can help you determine what products works best for you, as well as the routine you create. Take a quiz to learn more about yours.
Coils
Coils are created by twisting the hair around itself in a circular motion, creating a singular coil from root to tip. This starter loc method leaves a hollow center, allowing the hair to fuse together overtime to create a loc.
Advantages of Coil Starter Locs:
- Quick to Form: Because of its hollow center, this starter loc method will mature in as little as 3 months.
- Natural Appearance: This starter loc method is great if you want the look of matured locs early on.
Disadvantages of Coil Starter Locs:
- Confidence: Coils may take more time to get used to.
- Thick locs: Locs may become thicker than anticipated with this starter loc method.
Two Strand Twists
Two strand twists are created by twisting 2 sections of hair together, similar to braiding, creating an intricate pattern to create the foundation of a loc. This starter loc method intertwines the hair at the start to create a solid foundation to mature overtime.
Advantages of Two Strand Twists Starter Locs:
- Easy transition: Being that this method is a popular existing style in the natural hair community, it is easier to adapt to when starting locs.
- Adaptability: This starter loc method works well on a variety of hair types, and is flexible enough to work on medium to long hair lengths.
Disadvantages of Two Strand Twists Starter Locs:
- Longer to mature: It can take several months (usually 6–12 months) for two-strand twists to fully mature into locs.
- Unraveling: Although both methods will do some unraveling in the beginning stages, two strand twists takes the cake in this category.
Best Starter Loc Method Based On Hair Type
To get straight to the good stuff, here’s a cheat sheet on which starter loc method will serve you best!
Hair types 1a-2c can only choose instant locs. Neither coils or two strand twists can be done on these hair types and is recommended to be done by a professional to get the results you’re looking to achieve.
Hair types 3a, 3b, 3c would do better by choosing coils as their starter loc method. Although two strand twists can be done on 3 type hair, coils will naturally flow with this curl pattern and quickly mature this softer texture.
Hair types 4a, 4b, 4c can luckily choose any starter loc method. Being that this hair type has tighter curls than others, there are no bounds of what this hair type can achieve.
Expectations
Are you aiming for chunky locs? Quickest maturing process? Locs with lots of character? Quickest method to start with?
These are the questions you have to ask yourself when deciding between these two starter loc methods. Here are some quick facts about each method that’ll help answer some questions you may have!
- Coils are created much quicker than two strand twists because of its singular motion.
- Two strand twists can give locs character with its intertwined details.
- Coils can be created with any hair length.
- Two strand twists unraveling can prolong maturing process.
- Coils create more shrinkage than two strand twists.
- Two strand twists that are longer will take longer to fully mature.
Maintenance
Although both two strand twist and coils need the same type of maintenance, the time frames may differ depending on your hair texture.
The initial 3-4 months of your loc journey play a vital role in setting the stage for your locs to grow strong and healthy.
For those who have a looser curl pattern and fine textured hair, getting maintenance every 2 weeks in the first 3-4 would be ideal for you. Simply because, if left too long without a retwist there is a risk of thinning and potential damage. Frequent retwists help maintain the integrity of the locs and prevent excessive unraveling.
For those with tighter curls, getting maintenance every 3-4 weeks in the first 3-4 months would be ideal for you. As mentioned earlier, this hair type can withstand more than loose/fine textured hair can.
So Which Starter Loc Method Are You Choosing?
When looking to choose a starter loc method, don’t overthink it. Both starter loc methods are popular in the loc community, and will result in that vision you’ve had saved on your Pinterest board for months now. Trust me.
After reading this blog post, you should have a better understanding on your hair type, texture, and desired look so you can confidently choose which starter loc method will fit you best!
This blog post was all about starter loc methods!
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