Ah, freeforming. My method...

So now that we've seen how freeforming has truly helped me to regain strength in hair follicles that were losing gusto (see pics from last post, and my lamenting in previous posts) I can testify to what I've found is the biggest benefit of freeforming, and how for those with thinning hair, manicuring becomes an addition of insult to injury.

Now, when I had my locs manicured, I loved how they looked, except I could easily see my thinning hair, and just, iono, felt, that my hair was getting thinner due to the twisting. when you've developed traction alcopecia, why add more traction by having them manicured all the time?

Also, I knew from the outset that when my locs were developed, I would have a problem. See, because I had thinning hair up top, my loctician thought it would be best to make fewer locks. I admit fault for not telling her to make more on the top of my head, but that's what a lack of foresight gets you. Sometimes its good to put your foot in your mouth, and just say what is coming up. Believe that.

So yes, I went through the arduous process of creating new locs while at the same time treating my older locs accordingly (feeding them water and shampoo). Which of course really slowed the locking process for the noobs. Many a day spent with my bandana on when I would have preferred to rock my locs...

The clinch for me was the amount of... of versatility in influencing how these locs would start and develop (newbies) now I have a total of six locs where before I had two. had I continued to have them manicured, even if less often to combat the traction, I would have developed a very few, slowly thinning locs on top of my head.

So my message to those who have thinning hair and are considering locs... First, determine what your goals are.
If you want to cultivate locs in order to try and strengthen hair growth, then have a loctician start them, but only after you've discussed that you believe your hair can grow back, and you want the begining locs to reflect that belief. Have them wash and twist them, but don't pin them down to the root when going under the dryer. allow some breathing room (and growing room) for the hair that can't take that stress.

If on the other hand, you want locs and are unconcerned about continued alcopecia, then so be it. but if I know the human condition as far as aesthetics, then we all want a full head of hair (read: locs) so do what thou wilt.

Love, Lux, locs.