Consider this before getting Sisterlocks (or Microlocs)

[@Ahhsnmdjehev]

Thanks sis 🙏🏾 you saved me a lot of research and trouble 😂😂😂

[@kahinamatata]

🤣 there’s still pros!! Take it all in lol

[@Ahhsnmdjehev]

@@kahinamatata lol right, there are some pros, I mean your hair looks amazing! 🙌🏾 but I just big chopped my hair a few months ago and I’m loving this hair freedom too much!! You’re doing a great job with the upkeep and styling, your hair looks super healthy! I like that you were honest about your experience tho, I appreciate the realness 🙏🏾

[@kahinamatata]

@HiYes1 thank you so much! And yess to the big chop! That sounds so freeing 🤎 I’ll meet you there girl 🤣

[@AligningHer]

Yes, it’s freedom. Freedom isn’t free. Everything has a cost,an opportunity cost, financial cost, a time cost, a personal cost. I’m almost 4 months in and never looking back. Right now the only thing I’d eventually add is learning the skill myself. I think we have a lot of unrealistic expectations with our hair care no matter the stage, style, processed or natural.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 Congrats on starting your journey and I’m happy you love it!! I agree with your statement about the costs. This is also the most free I have ever felt with my hair. At the same time, I’m looking forward to even more freedom in the future 😌

[@abaxter0326]

I have microlocs- 380 locs. My first wash and retie was yesterday…. 2 hours 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳. I am so excited

[@kahinamatata]

Yes!! Congrats on starting the journey! 2 hours though?? How?! Lol

[@_brittney.elizabeth_]

I love that my locs are small enough to do everything I did as a loose natural, without the weekend long detangling and wash sessions that it required. I do spend 4ish hours getting a retie every 5 weeks, but I spent far longer than that on my loose natural hair, so I’ll take it. Howevs, I completely respect that everyone is different, and I’m sure you’ll rock whatever style you choose!

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! Thank you so much 🤎 and I love those things about it too!

[@Bindi_Marc]

But to have hair at all is an obligation. (A lovely obligation to have, I might add.) Even to maintain a buzz cut (and have no hair) is an obligation. Hair of any length will require regimented maintenance if your goal is to care for it. Now does one have the coins (or the personal skills) to observe good retightening habits? That’s a great question to ask before you start. I do know a woman who didn’t consider the long term cost of maintenance (or the time and skill commitment to do it herself) so she went around asking professional loctitians for discounted retightening services because she didn’t have enough money. (obviously, they said no)… I don’t know what came of that lady’s hair but she didn’t count the cost beforehand and it hurt her in the long run.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 I agree with you and that’s exactly why I made this video. Unfortunately, I’m sure that woman is not alone. It’s so important to fully consider the pros and cons before jumping into an investment like this. You’re right; all hair requires maintenance, some more than others. I’ve learned I’m really interested in the least maintenance (time-wise) possible lol

[@Thegenesis757]

The investment of time and the trials and tribulations of keeping your hair on point is why I transitioned to natural hair. I’ve been considering micro locks but thinking about having to once again be at the mercy of a stylist and all that goes along with it has made me hesitant to actually get it done.

[@kahinamatata]

Yup, I definitely get that! I’ll say the maintenance is still SO much better than when I was loose natural, so it has been worth it in that sense. It’s just not fully the ultimate freedom either.

[@fedelynedieujuste6924]

You can also learn to do your own retightening. Once you learn it doesn’t take that long.

[@kahinamatata]

How long does it take you to do yours? I just took a class to learn but I’m really not looking forward to doing it myself, especially because I’ve seen others share that it takes them several hours or days

[@fedelynedieujuste6924]

When I first started it took me 2 days now I’m at 4 hours so I’m getting better. I just make those hours as a self care day.

[@kahinamatata]

How in the world does it only take you four hours 😭 I need the secret sauce lol I’ve never heard it being that fast before

[@beingmichelleg]

I self started microlocs because I knew that I couldn't handle the numbers required from sisterlocs. When I did first set I didn't take into full account how long it would take me to retie so I combined them. Then after a few months didn't like how big they were and took it down with intention to get it professionally done. Covid kept coviding and prices were crazy. After attending yet another event where my hair laughed at the silk press I reinstalled 350 microlocs myself and have not looked back since. I cuss every month when I do my reties but its far more manageable than my disrespectful loose hair that refused to keep a cute style at any event. No hair is maintenance free and for now this is it. I may spread reties over a few days but the style sticks unlike silk presses that my hair will sweat out before I walk out the door. I was over spending money getting braids all the time and wigs during menopause is a big fat no. Almost 2 years in and I love my microlocs.

[@jamesbennett8637]

I have DIY 300 micro loc’s that I self maintain. I totally understand and agree with your complaints. I changed from pencil size to 1/4” to 1/8” loc’s. I grew them down to my calves and cut them to my waist. The interlocking is the main problem for me; just don’t want to pay or do it myself anymore. Last week I cut off my wonderful loc’s at the new growth. I’ll now wear my hair relaxed with a keratin smoothing treatment cut in a low fade, long at the crown side parted for a while. This whole process will take less time than the maintenance and repairs required for micro loc’s. My hair grows very fast, so yes I will need a trim every week but that’s only takes me an half hour to do myself. Relaxer and keratin treatment takes 2 hours every 6 months. For me my new routine requires less time/maintenance.✨🙏🏾✨

[@kahinamatata]

A journey!! Thank you for sharing 🤎 I do worry about how I’ll feel about the look if combined; I’d really still want them to be as small as possible lol. I definitely get that too about the silk presses not lasting; omg it was the worst 🤦🏾‍♀️ that’s literally the push that made me get locs. You’re right that all hair requires maintenance and the trade off of bimonthly instead of daily maintenance is huge! I just wish that bimonthly maintenance was less maintenance 🤣 I’m happy you’re back to them and love them though!!

[@kahinamatata]

Oh wow! How long did you have your locs for? You had lengthhhh! Lol congrats on this next phase in your hair journey!! Whatever works is what’s best for you! I’ll meet you on that side in the future lol

[@beingmichelleg]

I had my first set for 8 months and I've blocked out how long it took me to take down (maybe 3 weeks). I regretted it the first time I had to go back to washing my hair. I installed my current set 6 months later ( I'll be 2 on June 1).

[@kahinamatata]

@beingmichelleg regretting the take down that soon says a lot! I honestly can’t imagine a long loose natural wash again lol Sounds like you’re really back in the best hair style for you 🤎

[@jstarzz7069]

For those who are concerned about this you can consider microlocs (doesn’t have to be minimum 400 locs like sisterlocs and they can be bigger). I contemplated between both for almost a year but chose microlocs largely for this reason

[@pamelascottAZrealtor]

Yes, same!!

[@kahinamatata]

Soo from my awareness, the 400 minimum isn’t exactly true; it really depends on the specific person’s hair. But I hear what you’re saying and this can be a workaround if the microlocs are made much bigger. If you still end up with hundreds of microlocs though, the experience I’m describing could very well be the same. How many microlocs did you end up with? And how long are your reties?

[@KmindingmybusinessH]

I started my sisterloc journey after you and the person that installed mine lived to far for me. I stayed with her for 4 months, and I HAD to find someone closer. My new loctician is super fast! 4 hours I'm in and out. Oh, and 20 minutes away.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 That’s perfect!! And exactly what I’m looking for now. So far I’ve consulted with one loctician, but she told I have a lot of hair and couldn’t give me a retie time estimate sooo we gon see 😭

[@Kallenxo]

The way I see it is as of now as a loose natural, I have to spend at least 4-6 hours a week to do my hair and I just did a big chop so my hair isn’t even long yet… I truly can’t imagine what it will be like as it gets longer. I’d rather sit for 6 hours once every 6-8 weeks than 6 hours every week.

[@gladyskatatcha7596]

You have gorgeous sister locs ❤ Thanks for the message

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful!! You’re welcome 🤎 Thank you so much for watching and for the compliment!!

[@lashaesworld777]

The good outweighs the bad and honestly I see no bad. We all knew what having Sisterlocks required before getting sisterlocked. No hair is the ultimate freedom, but in my opinion this is the MOST freedom I’ve had, if that makes sense. When you think about it, anything you really want in life you have to commit to it, this doesn’t just go for our hair. I travel to Atlanta once every 6 weeks for my reties. No complaints here because 50 days out of those 6 weeks (51 days) I’m enjoying my hair and it’s freedom. 1 day out of all those days doesn’t hurt to commit, it’s all about perception, good luck with the journey after your locks.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! That definitely makes sense and I agree; it’s the most freedom I’ve had too thus far! How long is your travel to Atlanta?

[@lashaesworld777]

@@kahinamatata I moved to NJ for a family emergency after getting my Sisterlocks. While I am here I am scared to go to another consultant since they are so tiny lol so I catch the plane. I do plan on moving back within the next 6 months so I don’t mind.

[@kahinamatata]

@lashaesworld777 ooo that’s a journey! But it’s nice that you were able to stick with the same consultant. I’m trying to find someone closer now and I’m worried lol

[@notveryrea1]

I have 590 locs. I probably will combine them in the future. But for right now I'm just enjoying the ride

[@kahinamatata]

Yes! My people! lol

[@pamelascottAZrealtor]

Great channel! You look beautiful!! I did the reverse. Had traditional locs twice, now loving microlocs.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 Thank you so much!! What has your experience been like with microlocs in comparison to traditional?

[@AShasa35]

I like the shorter look as well. I don't need to know if my hair can grow to my butt or bra strap.

[@kahinamatata]

lol right! I would want all that hair off me, no thank you 🤣

[@christinekamau3076]

This is the reason I went for tradition locs, though love the look of sisterloc. Self maintenance is just crazy

[@kahinamatata]

Right?! Idk how some are denying this lol what’s your self maintenance like with your traditional locs?

[@shionan]

I agree with everything you said. However, I have really thick, hard to manage hair so I can't imagine going back to being a loose natural. Wash day was literally a DAY. I would twist out/braid out my hair and after a couple of hours it looked like I hadn't done anything at all. LOL And I could barely get a comb through it so I asked myself what else would I even do? But my loctician is only 15 minutes away and my retie is only 2 hours so I definitely have had a different experience. Short hair is cute. The amount of maintenance depends on the texture. With your texture, the maintenance wouldn't be much.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! Thanks for sharing your experience 🤎 I could nottt imagine going back to long loose natural either lol I would instantly regret that 😭 but how are your reties two hours?! I thought mine were fast at four hours lol

[@shionan]

@@kahinamatata I just got lucky I guess. If she moves, I'm moving with her. Hahahaha

[@kahinamatata]

Well do you happen to be in Miami because 👀👀🤣

[@shionan]

@@kahinamatata In Colorado unfortunately. LOL

[@kahinamatata]

@shionan dang we tried lol thank you!

[@jro2978]

I’m a loose natural and wash and style day takes two days. My salon days take a whole day every month or two. Sister locks sound way better than my current routine Honestly anything that doesn’t require combing is better 😅

[@kahinamatata]

Oh girl yes! Lol this is definitely better than that 🤣 come on over and join us loll 🤎

[@Antoinette922]

My locs are traditional and I love it here. I wanted sisterlocs but thought about everything you said here and didnt think they'd be a good fit for me.

[@kahinamatata]

Yes!! I love that for you! 🤎 do you do your own maintenance? And how long does your retwists take?

[@sonyadenise1974]

I researched microlocs and sisterlocks for 1 year before scheduling a consultation. Everything you’re pointing out is not a surprise. My microloc installation was completed on 6/4 and it has been freedom. I have a consult w/ 2 locticians in my area. Praying for a Saturday appts. that will be 4 hours or less and I’ll think of it as a self care day!

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! Congratulations on starting the journey!! And yesss seeing it as a self care day is the way to go lol I hope you get the schedule you’re looking for too 🤎

[@sonyadenise1974]

@@kahinamatata thank you! Your hair is so beautiful and I hope it gets better for you!!

[@kahinamatata]

@sonyadenise1974 Thank you so much!! 🤗 so far, with transitioning to a new loctician, it has been! Posting more about that this month 🤎

[@stephanie4337]

After having natural hair for 14 years and growing my hair to hip length, I picked sisterlocks. Natural hair requires way more day to day maintenance. Regardless of what you pick, there will be some some type of maintenance.

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 I agree with you! Long loose natural hair is a lottt and I’d never go back to that specifically lol

[@tiffnicole5140]

Thanks for sharing this. I’m right there with you! It doesn’t feel sustainable. My issue is every 6 weeks is too often and too much tension for my fine hair. I’m going to dive into self maintaining as my hair requires not by any ”company’s” rules.😁

[@kahinamatata]

Yesss! Spread those reties out! Lol my current loctician and another one I just consulted with want me to do every 6 weeks buttt that isn’t best for my time nor my pockets lol I’m sure our locs will be just fine! (Still scared to self-maintain though 🤣)

[@tiffnicole5140]

@@kahinamatata Yes and we’re coming out of a lot of money. But my biggest concern is the health of my hair follicles. I see too many of my sisterlock sisters with alopecea. That is from getting reties too often and too tight.

[@kahinamatata]

@tiffnicole5140 right! One size doesn’t fit all so it shouldn’t be an absolute standard without flexibility. We all have to do what’s best for us 🤎

[@jonathankabasele985]

great content as usual, im sure the new style will be equally fitting

[@kahinamatata]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@taccora]

my favorite hair stage was when i chopped my hair off and had a TWA. i would run some leave in conditioner through my hair and go. If you enjoy your hair pattern you'll love it and it's truly low to no maintenance.

[@kahinamatata]

Yess! This is what I’m talking about lol when I was loose natural, I transitioned without a big chop so I’ve never got to bask in a TWA. That sounds so good; I’m ready 🤣

[@SocialSymone]

Yes to the ✂️ I feel the same way about it as a scissor happy person 😂

[@kahinamatata]

🤣 and I wasn’t scissor happy before but I am now lol

[@Ladymac43]

Thank god I opt out of sisterlocs, I have micro/ small locs my hair is fine hair so I only have 200 locs it only take me 2 1/2 hrs and I do them myself

[@kahinamatata]

2 ½ hours DIY?! What a blessing lol was it always that fast for you? And do you interlock?

[@Ladymac43]

@@kahinamatata yes I do them myself, yes I’m interlock I do the two point rotation on my hair

[@fashionwithoutlabels]

FINALLY A SISTERLOC’R TELLING THE TRUTH! Sisterlocs is NOT TRUE hair freedom. It’s still just like needing a “relaxer” every 6 weeks in my opinion. Same mentality…Gotta hide those roots growing in lol. I thank God I realized this sooner than later and took my 460 sisterlocs down right after my first retie. I have had 2 sets of traditional locs since then and it’s really what the loc journey was suppose to be..hair freedom.

[@kahinamatata]

🤎🤣 Ahh the relaxer comparison!! I hadn’t thought of it that way. And even though it’s better than a relaxer because of the in-between maintenance, the every six weeks is the same hassle (ehh worse lol) and obligation lol what size are your traditional locs and how often do you retwist?

[@tru_hart]

okay im reading the comments and im realizing that they didn’t watch the video all the way through 😅. yeah traditional locs would require a whole lot less time and effort… your sisterlocks are stunning though but i definitely understand what you mean.

[@kahinamatata]

(I was thinking the same thing! 😭) Thank you for understanding lol Yess the maintenance on traditional locs is completely different! Thankfully, my new loctician has made my sisterlocks maintenance so much faster so I’ll hold on a bit longer for now lol

[@promostk]

Here watching

[@kahinamatata]

Thanks for watching!!

[@catchyusername3083]

Umm, you didn't know all that BEFORE you got them? LOL Anyway they look beautiful and yes short hair is medium maintenance depending on how fast your hair grows. When I had short hair I bought clippers and learned to cut my own hair cause I needed a cut every 1-2 weeks to keep the shape and look I wanted. But as far as daily maintenance??? OMG the only thing easier is braids LOL I loved it!

[@kahinamatata]

LOL I did! My perspective has changed 🤣 but thank you!! Cutting every 1-2 weeks lawddd. I imagine that doesn’t take long though… let me look up some videos on here 🤣🤣 I loved braids too when I got them!! I just hated the install process lol those were longer than my sisterlocks appointments!

[@marmedello]

Yes it takes a long time to retighten, but look at the alternative. Without locs,, how often would you do your hair? How many hours weekly would you spend doing your hair without them? I’m slow at doing hair without locs so it just made sense. I’d either be spending hours on a weekly basis or a hours every month and a half. Yes the amount of hours per session increases but when compared to the amount of time your have to retouch your hair when it’s lose natural, it doesn’t end up being more time. Actually if you are going to a professional you may spend way less time in the retightening appointments than doing your hair yourself every few days without locs

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! So this would definitely apply to me if I went back to my long loose natural hair but I don’t think I could everrr do that again lol that is way too time-consuming! I talk toward the end of the video of what I’d actually do post sisterlocks and that wouldn’t require much maintenance at all. All in all, I agree with what you’re saying 🤎

[@kathrynchatman3171]

Your hair is beautiful

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! Thank you so much 🤗

[@reggierisk]

I've been researching sisterlocs/microlocs. At first I was Gung-ho. Let's do it. But the more I looked into it, the more I found the disadvantages. I don't want to cut my MBL length. But I know I will eventually do my own maintenance. Which means larger locs. Around 350. I forsee reties on the 8 week mark. Plus , I dont want my edges locked so i dont mind breaking it up into a week.. I do think of locs as my last hair style. I'm older. So this will be for me.

[@kahinamatata]

I get that! I did so much research before but I was willing to overlook the maintenance aspect because I was so excited to get them lol what do you think will get you to your final decision to get them or not?

[@reggierisk]

@kahinamatata hey girl. I have pretty much made the decision to do it. It's selecting the loctican to do the install. I'm in Brooklyn. You would think, it would be easy to find one. I really want to hold out for the sisterloc. But may have found a good microloc person.

[@kahinamatata]

@reggierisk yesss let’s goo! How exciting to have decided lol and yeah I’d definitely think it would be easy to find someone in NYC. Have you used the sisterlocks website directory?

[@juanasiac]

U can most certainly retwist sisterlocks... Of course ur loctition is gonna tell u that because she's playing the money game there's plenty of tiny locs wearers who retwist consistently as maintenance on a monthly basis as opposed to interlocking only difference with retwist is it doesn't last as long as interlocking...Sisterlocks consultants are trained to tell u certain things because that's wut they are told to do for the sisterlocks brand that's y there's more rebels in the community...Far as 6 week maintenance is concerned u can much longer once u are completely locd that only applies to the beginning stages of u stick in there longer u will find out alot of things SL consultants tell is cap treat ur hair like u did before locs it's still ur hair just in a locd state...Wut u need to do is take control of ur hair back n not let ur consultant tell u wut u can n cannot do with ur hair (because this this n that will happen) n then ur REAL HAIR FREEDOM WILL BEGIN!!! Just some of the things ur consultants tells u at face value but not as LAW!!! Good luck with rest of ur journey hun!!!

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! I really appreciate your perspective 🤎 I have definitely broken some of the rules along the way so I’m not opposed to breaking more lol I’ve seen some women switch back and forth between retightening and retwisting to give themselves a break and I’ve considered that, but I haven’t yet seen anyone retwisting their microlocs 100% so I’ll look into it more!

[@kahinamatata]

Do you happen to retwist yours?

[@camara1194]

😮

[@kahinamatata]

😅 we discussed this! Lol

[@camara1194]

@@kahinamatata We did but gasp lol

[@kahinamatata]

🤣🤣 it’s surprising for me too lol

[@Kittiebanks]

The retightenings are only once every other month or every 2 months. I’m not sure how that’s “too much” stop acting lazy about your hair and be the high maintenance Queen that you’re meant to be. There’s nothing about being a black Queen with type 4 hair that is low maintenance.

[@kahinamatata]

Ouch on the lazy lol I don’t identify with high maintenance. I know that works for some but not for me 🤗 that’s why some cut all their hair off and feel so free after; I’m not opposed to that at all 🤎

[@juanasiac]

RIGHT u would think she went every 2 weeks lol ppl with loose hair LIVE IN THE SALON n block out A WHOLE DAY FOR THAT APPT...Its not that SERIOUS when u think about it!!?

[@kahinamatata]

@juanasiac lol I get to decide what’s too much for me 🤣 and from some of these other comments, it’s clear I’m not the only one who feels this way lol to each their own 🤎

[@NevaScaredHo]

You need a new loctician. She's far away and slow. It should only take 3 hours. You also should space out the retightenings. I can go 6-8 weeks between retightenings. Instead of every 6 weeks maybe 7 or 8?

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 I really thought she was fast! I’m actually looking for a new one now but haven’t had much luck so far. I’ll keep looking and I definitely want to stay on a 8 week schedule. My loctician told me I should do 6 but no thank you 🤣

[@NevaScaredHo]

​@@kahinamatatagirl no!! I have clost to 500 locs and it takes 3-3.5 hours max. If your minimum is 4 hours homegirl is SLOW lol.

[@kahinamatata]

@candimommi oop! I’m about to count mine this weekend so I’ll get an even better comparison but hmm we’ll see how this next loctician does. She already told me I have “a lot” of hair (over the phone!) sooo I’m not feeling very confident lol

[@katianalouis9205]

First!

[@kahinamatata]

Second!

[@kahinamatata]

🤣

[@andreacharles7919]

at this point I may need to consider an afro

[@kahinamatata]

🤣 okay wait lol

[@kahinamatata]

How is your hair now??

[@LaLa910]

I find it therapeutic to sit in a chair and be pampered. I like the idea of Investing in myself on a continuous basis because it releases endorphins!! ☺️🫶🏾

[@kahinamatata]

Hi beautiful! 🤎 That’s a refreshing way to look at it and I love that for you! I think my experience has been tainted by the driving distance and scheduling compatibility so I’m definitely going to seek closer, more compatible options first!