Among other protective hairstyles, interlocking is another emerging hairstyle popular for its characteristics, including the locs installation technique, easy maintenance, and more. Interlocking, also known as latch-hooking or root-flipping hairstyle, includes pulling the ends of dreadlocks back through the same root. The interlocking technique locks the hair strands and holds them in the same position until the dreadlock is developed.
Interlocking is your go-to option if you are thinking of transforming your look with this style. However, before choosing this style, one must complete their research and analyze if interlocking fits their lifestyle or not. So, here is the guide to help you learn more about the merits and demerits of starting interlocks.
Pros of Interlocking:
In this hairstyle, the new hair growth is locked with time. Different hairstyles have different pros and cons. Likewise, this hairstyle may not suit everyone, so one must check all the expected outcomes and decide accordingly. Although the interlocking technique is best for thin hair, it is not reserved for people with fine here. Further, here are some advantages of this hairstyle that can help make a decision.
1: Easy to install
If you are interested in locking your hair most simply and easily. You must know that this is the best way to transform your look without using protective products.
Interlocking is one of the easiest methods to install professional locs in your hair. Moreover, you can easily install dreadlocks yourself without taking external aid. However, being simple and easy to process, locs take additional time compared to other traditional methods.
2: Tight holding
Unraveling is a common issue with deadlocking techniques. If you have straight and fine hair, your locs are prone to unravel easily. From this perspective, interlocking is the life savior. It holds the locs in place long without opening the locs. Additionally, the new growth of hair is locked with time.
So, go for interlocking if you want to transform your straight and silky hair. Lock your natural hair into microlocs, sisterlocks, or other thin locs without using hair-damaging chemicals and products.
3: Fewer products needed
Mostly locticians use high-end hair fixing products such as hair wax, hair gels, and locking serums. These hair-fixing products imbalance the Ph of the hair and damage the scalp. In addition, it causes many hair-damaging issues, such as hair breakage, baldness, and hair thinning.
Interlocking is the technique in which there is no need to use any hair-setting products. Instead, a special hair locking tool tightly holds the locs and keeps them in good condition for a long. Further, it adds no extra burden to your pocket. So, it is better to go with the low maintenance method with no side effects.
4: Best for fine hair
Curly and wavy hair can be easily locked with traditional locking techniques such as crochet, interlocking, backcombing, and more. On the other hand, it is difficult to hold straight hair in the form of locs because they unravel easily. Therefore, interlocking is best for fine, shiny, straight hair individuals. Furthermore, as the interlocking is performed with a specialized technique, it is easy to handle dead straight hair.
4: Compact look
Interlocking creates thin and tightened locs which look neat and compact. If the locs get unraveled, you can easily tighten them at home. This is the reason that these locks appear compact and uniform. Regardless of your hair type, hair length, and hair condition, this style holds them tightly for a long.
5: Wet hair dreadlocks
Interlocking has another advantage of water resistance., If you are someone who can’t stay calm without washing your head, it is the hair-locking technique for you. It allows you to wash your locs every year without any fear as there are no side effects of washing your locs frequently. You are good to go with organic hair care products such as aloe vera gel to keep them moisturized and hydrated.
Cons of Interlocking dreadlocks:
With so many benefits, some things can be problematic for some individuals. So first, let’s look at the possible disadvantages of getting locs by interlocking technique.
1: Frizziness
The hair locking styles potentially damage all types of hair, including frizziness. The major cause of frizzy hair is a lack of moisture. At one stage or the other, individuals face this issue. Likewise, in the interlocking locs, it is a common concern. Keeping the locs well-hydrated by using essential hair oils and organic conditioners, the frizziness can be reduced to some extent.
2: Residues
Interlocking tightly holds the hair, accumulating the hair products, dust particles, and moisture. Excessive accumulation of moisture for a long time can produce mildew and can be the potential cause of fungal infections. In addition, the locs are prone to attract lint, smoke, and sweat, which damages the hair texture. So, one must keep these disadvantages in mind while choosing this hair locking technique.
3: Potential damage
One major drawback of choosing this technique is its severe hair thinning. The natural hair loses its texture and results in thin and brittle strands. If a hair professional or a loctician does not perform the procedure, it can worsen the situation resulting in loc splitting and thinning. Sometimes it can be as worse as alopecia.
4: Slow growth
After interlocking, people think their hair is in transition form as they stop growing at some stage. However, the real reason behind their stunt growth is excessive shrinkage of the locs, which keeps them low in size. In this hairstyle, the growth is not prominent due to several reasons, and the hair shows the same length for a long-time frame.
5: Expensive
For all the good reasons, getting the interlocking done from a loctician is quite expensive. In addition, interlocking is the initial method of many other locking hairstyles, such as sisterlocks and microlocs. Further, no chemicals and a special interlocking tool make it quite a time-consuming and expensive hairstyle.
To sum up, interlocking locs look natural, lack retwisting, and are low maintenance. Additionally, the locs are expensive to install, cause potential damage, and slow down the locs growth. Hence, it is necessary to consult a hair loctician before selecting this technique. Get the analysis done and know which hair locking technique will serve right according to your hair type.
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