Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Big Fix

Ok, so I had no idea I was going to need so many pictures, to show the steps of how I fix my broken loc's. A lot of you will probably already know this tip, but I thought I would share it any way. I would also like people to remark on the fact that my hair "fix it" includes adding hair, which is often a no no, if you are natural... But, I really wanted to find a way to fix fallen, broken or weak loc's without combining loc's. And this works for me. But I am open to hearing your opinion on this process. I also apologize in advance, because this post is so long! If you read my previous post: Poor babies, you already know that I had four loc's that broke off and why.
If you want to try this process, you will need Human Kinky Hair (in a color that matches your locs), a thick thread (also in a color that matches your locs), and a needle.



Follow these steps (see pictures for each step):
1.Needle is inserted into the head of the broken loc.



2.After pulling the thread all the way through, re-insert the needle into the same area, so that the needle comes out of the head of the broken loc (please see picture).



3. Insert needle into the loc, that the broken loc came from.



4. Pull thread so that the loc and broken loc meet together. Sew the two ends together, make a loop knot to tie the thread off. Cute off the remaining thread at the bottom of the knot.




5. Take a small amount of the Human kinky hair.




6. Wrap the hair around the section of the loc where it was sewn together.



7. Use the loc as a third piece, as you braid the kinky hair in, to cover the sewn together section. Once you have finished braiding the hair in, it should completely cover the whole section that was sewn together. If there is a little bit of hair human hair left after braiding it in, just wrap the excess hair around the loc.




8. After this is done, your loc should be fully connected. But I would recommend waiting to do this process when you are not planning to wash your hair or do a major style. You want this newly fixed loc to be able to reconnect, and it needs a few days to re-adjust to its new home. Also, after finishing the repair, your loc may have a bumpy appearance. This is easy to fix.


9. Simply use the palm roll method to smooth out the loc. And you are done!


So this is how I fix my locs. With this method, I can avoid combining locs and still save each individual loc maintained, to keep fullness. Let me know what you think of this process. Would you try it? Is it worth it to you, to add hair, in order to avoid combining loc's? And thank you for reading this post. I know.. it is way to long :-).

13 comments:

  1. i would definitely try this method if i were in the same situation. great post!!

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  2. i would do this method also, because you get attached to your hair, especially if it is long, great instructions

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  3. Very interesting!
    I do not have locs but a twa and often wondered.
    Thanks for the posting.

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  4. Thank you Christy for sharing your response with me. Here is more from Christy:

    "Hi Karen,

    About reattaching your broken locs...excellent tip. The entire back row of my locs are now about six inches long due to my own hand. I hate lint and constantly picked at the back row causing the loc to thin so badly that I just had to cut off the ends. I cut the last one about seven months ago and I think I saved it. I may reattach using your method if isn't too late.

    Anyway, due to my lint picking some of my other locs have thinned. Instead of cutting them I sort of bend the loc where it has thinned and wrap it around itself then secure with a black rubber band. It seems to be holding so far (after four washes! and braids!!).

    Thanks for sharing,
    Christy"

    Christy, sorry to hear that you are having problems with lint! I also have a quick-fix tip for lint, that I will post about before the week is over. You will not need to break apart your loc's any more. So please check back for the lint-quick-fix, and also let me know if you do try the loc repair fix, and how it goes for you.

    Thank you,

    Karen

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  5. Thanks for sharing, that's a wonderful tip, I'll think about it... My problem is in fact more thining locks...

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  6. He ive done that! but kinda different situation. I cutted my previous locks, I had them from 12 to 16. But because many happened in those years i felt them not clean and pure like I needed. And because I was needing a fresh new life after a violent relation i decided to take them off. Almost a year later I re-made my hair. I decided to include still 2 elements of my past - one dread i have it in braid (even tough now its growing in dread) and i sowed an old lock to my new one. This way my past is not forgotten but the present and future are more strong.

    ****
    Natty

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  8. Natty - I am so happy to hear that you are no longer in that violent relationship, and that you have moved on. It is definitely important that we remember our past, good and negative so that we can learn from it. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  9. Thanks for sharing!!! I will definitely keep this in mind if one of my locks fall out. One is already looking like its ready to break so I have to keep my eye on that one.

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  10. I've experimented for years with ways to repair my locs!! I never found a way that worked, let alone a way that looks good! I will definitely try this. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  11. Hello Karen, I have been on a long lost quest for a clear, precise example of how to reattatch locs and I have finally found what I was searching for. I will give you an update later, but for now, I love it and you for caring and sharing, thank you, thank you, thank you!!

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    Replies
    1. Wonderful Andrew. Let me know how it works out for you.

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Thank you for your comment! Be sure to check back for my response... Also, if you have any problems with posting your comments, please email your response to naturalhairbeauty@gmail.com, and I will post the response, to the desired post, as "A readers comment, received by email." Thank you for visiting... Karen