Experimenting with latching

Before I started my loc journey, I did some extensive research on how to take care of my locs and specifically how I would retighten my new growth. I decided that I would palmroll my locs, because latching seemed too complicated and I thought that I needed a tool to do it. Little did I know that palmrolling was not ideal for my lifestyle, i.e. regular exercising, itchy scalp within a week and the non-belief in the idea that my hair had to steer clear of water for 2-4 weeks at a time.

I attempted to palmroll my hair twice. The first time was a semi-failure since only a few of my locs actually looked like they had been retightened while the rest of my head was loose within a day. (see pics below) Note: I curled them at the same time.

And here's what my hair looked like after I rinsed a week later. It looked like I hadn't done anything to it!

I gave my babies a couple of weeks of rest before attempting another palmrolling session and researched the topic once again. The second time around I found a few helpful videos on YouTube such as the following:

-A video by Nubian Kinks. (I do not use their products so I can tell whether they would help in my loc journey or not) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgAbjVOyEMk

-A quick video by one of my favorite YouTube gurus, MsButterfli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Oe_hy7lm0

These videos were very helpful and the second time around I managed to twist my hair nicely. What did I change this time? I dried my hair longer (about an hour), I used a comb to help in certain areas, I gave my hair a "break" from water for two weeks and I did it during the day, instead of the middle of the night. Here are the results from the second palmroll.

Despite my efforts, when I washed my hair two weeks later, the roots unraveled once more. Some told me that I needed to see a professional loctician but I was and still am determined to enjoy this DIY journey to the end and refuse to pay for what I could do on my own. I realized then, that palmrolling was not the solution for ME. So...I did some more research again (lol) and went back to a thread I had never viewed on the Nappturality board entitled "The Thread to Maintain Latched Locks, DIY Latchers Thread" http://www.nappturality.com/forum/index.php?s=28c3f16f1c3cc2968f6ca99ed274599f&showtopic=128256

This thread is a bit long, but you are sure to find all the answers to questions you might have about latching your locs AND visual aids (a necessity for visual learners like me!). So about three weeks ago I tried to latch my locs with a hair pin and I was amazed at the flexibility it gave me. I have spritzed or rinsed my hair daily, washed my hair once week with no ensuing unraveling! I am so glad I made the switch! So far I have been using a 3pt rotation (S, W, N) or if you are confused about the direction, I still go in a clockwise direction ending with my loc going in a downward direction. Confusing, I know, but the best thing is to figure out your own method. I haven't latched my temple area too tightly for fear of damaging my already weak sides. I will add a few snapshots of my locs since I started latching them in the next post because all of that editing is annoying!