WARNING: before coloring your locs in 2024

[@andycalimara]

So….I just colored my hair. With developer and the actual dye. The Clairol Soy4Plex Hi-Lift Blonde (smells like death), with two other blonde shades and a brown base. Here are my thoughts. I’ve always been a hair person, so before I did my hair color the first time, I did my research. I knew about maintaineance, and it is possible to have healthy colored locs. It’s just a matter of having a plan that is sustainable for you in the long run. (1) Invest in quality hair care products for colored hair. And understand that quality products in this category may not be Black-owned. Yes, y’all. Science is a thing. You need products with good chemistry behind those formulas. Most modern Black-owned brands don’t have it. The old-school Black salon brands like Mizani, Keracare, Dudley, etc. had this chemistry, but they’ve gotten rid of a lot of these products. (2) Less is really more. One well-formulated product is worth ten mediocre ones. I use a pea-sized amount of Aveda leave-in cream on my damp dyed locs when I feel like it. My hair has never felt better. (3) Keep your hair up and covered when you can. The less manipulation you do overall, the more of your dyed locs you will keep attached to your head. (4) Oil and water alone won’t cut it. If your hair is virgin, have at it. If you’ve lifted your hair beyond four levels, it won’t work. You need formula.

[@FISH-TAILS-q1t]

I have been back and forth about coloring my locs again but you are so right. Once you color your locs you have to commit all the way with treatments and color and treatments and color and I just don’t feel like doing that anymore. I’m starting getting gray hairs right at the top front of my forehead. I’m getting enough color right now 😂

[@JaneiMae]

My locs were dyed red for a while it’s a lot of maintenance. My hair survived and is doing fine but I’ll never get the ends to match my roots again. I also hated how my roots would look when the color grew out. I never used bleach to dye my hair which is probably why it’s still on my head 😂

[@MissJeriB]

It would have been helpful if you listed examples of the alternatives, like a list of actual products.

[@roguenerdd]

I’ve been bleaching my hair and dying it orange for 15 years. I’ve had my locs for 6 years.

[@beebi072011]

Your topic today is really great. I have been considering coloring my locs, the only thing stopping me is all the reasons you gave today. Interestingly, I came across someone one KZbin today that used hair gloss on her locs. Hair gloss seems to have some tint to it, which allows her hair to be more vibrant and healthy looking. What do you think about hair gloss? Thank you in advance for your answer❤

[@LOVElove-ih6hi]

Learned the hard way. My Locs looked beautiful with their blond highlights professionally done. as my Locs grew, despite proper maintenance, care etc it started to thin ONLY where my hair was colored. I have no issues cutting off dead pieces so i did that for a few, some pieces popped off where it thinned. Some were able to be saved but if i could back i would not color it was not worth it

[@KumateiDragonX]

Same happened to me and my pre-teen son. His locs took a bigger hit from the bleaching than mine did. Unfortunately, each of his locs broke off at the exact point where the bleached portion began. It gave him a lot of anxiety. Fortunately, his locs have grown a lot and we’ve trimmed them over time. There’s virtually no bleached portion left and they look much healthier.

[@joannferguson3292]

Is henna coloring better? Also what color (name/brand) do you have now(the burgundy shade not the turquoise😊)

[@ilitacollins4860]

Ive been using Naturtint on my locs for a few years.. i love it... hair grows nicely....

[@thelordisgood62]

What’s that

[@MSB122968]

What about touching up my naturally grey new growth to brownish black? I am not ready to show my grey locs; I still have a young face and prefer my brownish-black hair. Will that damage your locs? Any suggestions?

[@jessicamuila-milie1387]

Hi, how about henna? Thats all natural right?

[@MedMom993]

After combing out 7 years of locs last year 🥹💔 , I've started my new set 2 months ago. I dont plan to comor it at all this time. Its growing quickly already!

[@Tree-thingz]

Wow, you were rocking the colours!

[@karynwilliams7038]

Erm... I've had loc's for near 20 years 5 different sets... Should have my own channel 🤭 I've always coloured my hair whether loose or loc's but now I'm greying... so we have to colour Only experienced breaking when I used bleach, never again had to cut that set ... Box dyes are OK if washed out well... Oil treatments must follow tho... If like me you have had loc's b4, you could colour the cut loc's an add em back to the mane u know We versitile like that 😏

[@mywraptribe8802]

I bleached my ends. Twice. I knew it was going to be damaged and break off eventually, so I didn't mind. Seeing the damage as it got worse, I would have cried if I did it from root to tip. I trim them off as they thin out. I don't regret it because it's only about 4 inches, and they will be trimmed regularly once i reach my goal length. Very tempting to bleach again as the processed ends get closer to not existing. I haven't bought any bleach and hopefully I can continue to resist the urge to bleach again😅

[@nanaflyy]

Wow so much good information

[@Leep-v9u]

Yup. In other words it cost to look cool AF. I did the same thing too. Every color of the rainbow. My hair fell out and everything . I’m never doing it again

[@Lo.jo98]

Have any of your clients tried L’Oréal HiColor for their locs? I’ve been trying to do my research and it looks like that product can lift dark hair to more vibrant colors without bleach. Do you think it’s a safe option?

[@thedigitalloctician]

Yeah I’ve had one woman use it and it did give her a pretty red… but her locs ended up hard as a rock 🙃

[@LoveLifeAllWays]

My loctician used this brand in my hair. I've had it twice and yes I too experienced the hardness of my locs before. I recently put a reddish semi permanent color and my ends started to thin out days later. Not sure of the why, but some were thinning prior to the reddish color, and some were not. Definitely no more color for me!

[@thembijessicachiloane9608]

I used it on my hair 2 months ago. Got a beautiful red, but now it's not as radiant anymore. I still love it.

[@somethinelse0930]

What’s the best way to cover graying roots

[@ataleofjoy]

Thank you for this! I want to color my hair, just for the lint! What would you suggest?

[@Yajirobeboo]

I want to dye my locs (22months) black or blue black, what is the safest method for my hair?

[@mechanarnold4924]

Live in Dallas. Interlocked my hair with extensions. My hair was already 8 to 10 inches. Bleached my ends. Don’t like. Want to go back black, but also cover my gray. My hair is naturally very black. I have very fine curly hair. Wished I’d never bleached. Even though they extensions, it change the texture because they are human hair. Don’t plan on keeping the extensions plan on cutting as my hair grows. I’ve had it now for over a month and my hair already has grown. It seems to be growing pretty fast.

[@sobombeh]

What do u have in ur hair rn?

[@TheDrummagurl]

Hello I'm sorry to disturb you. I really wanted to know what colour and products did you use months ago to get that beautiful Teal/Greeny type hair colour? That's my favourite colour... your tips have really Thickened my hair. SENDING LOVE FROM THE UK/LONDON

[@SageOracle]

Adore brand semi permanent color has a teal color. You’d have to lighten your hair first if it’s a darker color.

[@AJ-pc2gl]

Please help. I'm having a time removing all of the hair color SPRAY from my hair. I feel the build up despite after scrubbing my hair during four 20 minute soaks containing a combination of hot water, vinegar and degreasing dish washing detergent. From the naked eye, it looks like it's all washed out. But, I can still feel the residue and worried about mold from not being able to get it all out. At this point, I don't feel comfortable with a hot oil treatment because my locks still feel gooey from not removing all of the hair SPRAY color. I took great care in my locks. I've been locked for four years and did my first lock detox shortly before applying the hair color SPRAY. My locks felt so soft and healthy after my first detox, shortly before the hair color SPRAY. I feel like I ruined the locks with this hair color SPRAY. Again, please help. I only did the front for a money piece. Thank goodness that I didn't do my entire head.

[@BoswelliaLuna8]

Maybe visit an experienced loctician, having a consultation first to see if they can help you. What product/brand did you use?

[@sarahbelle988]

Would you recommend "safer" coloring products like Naturtint?

[@melissag4876]

Is a rinse less stressful on locs than permanent color?

[@chinamason6294]

Yes definitely. A rinse is like a coating on the hair. There are harsh chemicals in permanent color that can change the texture of your hair

[@KatrinaTheArtist]

What dyes can I use that don’t have bleach that aren’t spray or powder?Adore?

[@deedean1453]

Try looking into the demi-permanent hair dye from Sally's beauty supply

[@KatrinaTheArtist]

@@deedean1453 thank you

[@consciousgoddess_]

coloring your locs makes them THIN. you’ll end up cutting them.

[@VirgosGroove3]

I learned this the hard way. I combed out my locs a year ago and all the colored parts fell out. #dead 🥲 couldn’t save that hair. Went from bra strap locs to shoulder length hair 😅. The only healthy part was the non colored locs

[@fashionwithoutlabels]

Yes, very true. I cut my golden/blonde bleached to death 3 year locs off last August. Just started a new set 2 weeks ago. Hope I don’t get that itch to bleach again..but we shall see lol. I may only do a few locs instead of my entire head if I do bleach it.

[@mjjjermaine]

Have you heard of people lightening their hair with lemon juice, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide?