You know you've reached the mature stage (about 15 to 18 months) when your locs are finally long enough to lie flat or hang down. Faulk asserts that "maturing occurs when your locs are firm and there's no more reforming," so you won't have to re-twist your new growth as often during this period.
In the locs process, the Starter Stage (also known as the Baby Stage) lasts roughly for three to six months. But how long this stage lasts depends on a couple things, such as your hair type and how fast your hair grows.
When to expect your locs to start budding? Typically, within the first 3-6 months you will notice the first signs of budding in your locs. Depending on your hair texture, product usage and initial method for starting locs the onset of this process can vary.
Give Your Locs a Break
They shampoo and groom their locs, including palm rolling or interlocking far too often, resulting in tighter, slimmer locs. If you want to grow thicker locs, you'll have to groom them far less frequently. Your locs don't need to be retwisted any more often than every six weeks (at least).
However, when dreads mature throughout the stages, they will get thinner and thicker at different points. In addition, the length and thickness will fluctuate during the first couple of years as your hair becomes matted. Healthy dreadlocks are typically a little thicker when they mature than when you started them.
Say no to deep conditioning
Moisture is important to healthy hair but skipping this step will avoid locs from unravelling. So, say no to deep conditioners in the starter loc stage and you'll be on your way to healthy and defined locs in the future. Consider deep conditioning only when your hair begins to lock up.
You know you've reached the mature stage (about 15 to 18 months) when your locs are finally long enough to lie flat or hang down. Faulk asserts that "maturing occurs when your locs are firm and there's no more reforming," so you won't have to re-twist your new growth as often during this period.
3. They Sometimes Get Thicker Over Time. No matter what your locs look like when you install them, they'll most likely look radically different in a couple years time. A lot of the time, the locs will thicken up as they mature.
Locs can unravel at any time. They may unravel at day one, week 1 or even a month in. Regardless of the reason, do not be dismayed. Once you identified the reason for the unravelling, you are able to figure out a solution or realize that this may continue to happen until your hair decides to loc.
In order to maintain the formation of your starter locs, you must refrain from constantly touching them and allowing them to grow freely. By letting your starter locs be, new growth will interlock and interweave within itself to form a mature loc. 2.
Protect Your Locs While You Sleep
Movement while you sleep and friction against your pillow can cause your locs to unravel. So, protect your locs while you sleep. You can wear a satin cap or scarf. These will also help with moisture retention and prevent hair breakage.
There are five stages of locs, namely the starter stage, budding stage, teen stage, maturity stage, and rooted stage. The entire stages can take 18-24 months upwards, after which you will be able to have the long, thick, and shiny locs you desire.
A lack of maintenance
If you're waiting too long between twisting your dreads, you'll notice your locs becoming a lot thinner. Since new hair follicles need to be twisted into the deadlock, these follicles can eventually fall out if left alone. This results in thinning dreadlocks.
Contrary to popular belief, keeping your scalp and dreads clean actually helps them lock faster and stay locked. Use a gentle residue-free shampoo so your hair doesn't get dry.
In the early months of the locking process, it is important to cultivate or retwist the hair once a month, regardless of the sizing you want the locs to ultimately be. For me, even though I'm aiming for thick locs, I still have been retwisting my locs about every 4-5 weeks.
Contrary to “horror stories” you may hear about thinning locs— locs do not cause your hair to thin. In fact, well maintained locs actually promote hair growth and length retention.
As compared to loose hair, particularly afro-textured hair, locs seem to grow far faster. It isn't really true that loc'd hair grows faster; it just maintains all of its growth. Hair that is normally shed in the growth process and hair that breaks off at the ends due to manipulation are all retained within the loc.
Traditional Locs (20 to 150 dreadlocks)
For thick traditional locs, you should aim to create 20 to 50 total locs. The fewer locs you have, the thicker your locs will be. If you want your locs to be extremely thick, closer to 20 locs will be your best bet.