WELCOME HOME


Nappturality has been online since 2002. Dedicated to all the women in the diaspora who proudly wear their highly textured hair naturally. Nappturality.com is the place to find photographs,, forums, information and links about the care, maintenance and politics of natural hair. Natural napptural hair. Here you will find photos of all natural styles, comb coils, two-strand twists, afro puffs, afros dredlocks (dreadlocks), locs and many other natural styles. Styled by natural napptural haired women on their own hair.

5 minutes reading time (914 words)

Getting Rid of Loc Build-up and Keeping it Out

Dealing With Buildup Juices & Berries

Build-up in locs is something all loc wearers will have to deal with eventually. Did you know that the products you use to remove build-up may make the problem worse? In this article we deal with breaking down the dos and don'ts of loc maintenance and build-up. It's information you need to know to get it out and keep it out.

3 Signs you have build-up in your locs:
Grey appearance.
White streaks that won't wash out.
Hair balls full of 'stuff'

I can tell you what NOT to do about it:
Don't put powder ANYTHING on your locks.

Don't do a clay mask (it will dissolve into your locks and leave a sandbox inside for years)
Don't 'clarify' with baking soda (dissolving issue again)
Don't use henna (poor quality or improperly rinsed henna can lodge in the locks,sit there and the deposits break away cuticle of hair over time, causing weak spots along the lock)

I know that YT is FULL of these 'helpful' tips but after 6 yrs locked and attempts to use these products and build-up I'm still cleaning out of my locks from their residue, I implore you-leave the powders alone! I have found the stuff sitting inside my locks years later and I'm p'd off. I don't think people are giving back info on purpose, I just think they don't know yet the impact. When you see white stripes through your locks that 'look' like link but upon inspection are white stripes, it's build-up inside and you gotta up your game.

Build-up: Get it out.

For greasy product build-up-you have to cut that grease.

8oz aloe vera juice
Cap of ETOH (gasp, yeh, I said it) - Ethyl Alcohol
Tbsp of African Black Soap, mix and dissolve

For dirt build-up

Apple Cider Vinegar (1/4 cp)
3/4 cup warm water
Dash of lemon juice

For extra cut the grease impact

Spray scalp and locks with BEP Cleanser.
Let it sit with a shower cap for at least 30 minutes.
Soak locks for at least 30 minutes in warm basin of water with Dawn dish detergent (enough to make bubbles).
Around 20 min, begin spraying locks and washing with the cut the grease formula, brush with a gentle boar head bristle brush still in the water (if your locs are > 2yrs old and mature). This helps to loosen up the grit and grime in the locks.
Empty basin and begin washing hair like regular.

Conduct the ACV rinse to get all remaining residue off the locks, again use the brush! (if locks are mature >2years).
Rinse with cold water, condition with a clear nourishing rinse like a herbal tea.

Squeeze out water with a sham wow (or similar) towel -- be careful to pick and prune every lock free of link and debris.

Build-up: Keep it out.

Deep cleansing should be around every 4th wash. I try to do it 1x/month now. With each month, more and more gets dislodged and comes out the lock-however, I have loose, curry ends, I noticed my locks that were sealed had the most crap in them, there was no way for it to exit, so I have sense opened up all on my locks on the ends since I made the mishap of doing the clay mask this passed summer(never, ever, ever AGAIN!)

The same clarifying technique will NOT work for different products.

ACV (acidic, can close the cuticles and make the hair brittle if not balanced with water) works by getting rid of soapy residue and product build-up. It can detangle the hair folicles, seals the cuticle, and balances the hair's pH balance.

Baking Soda is very alkaline (basic, can increase the hair porosity making it more easily tangled with open cuticles). It's gentle, it's the weakest alkaline, and it very gently clarifies hair from chemical buildup. Many in the natural community use the combination to cleanse-however it is BEST used by those with loose hair! Anything that is powdery in consistency can reconstitute (separate into liquid and solid which is why i don't like the use of coconut oil on locks at various temps it will solidify. it's only oily above room temp) in the hair if the slightest thing is off, or the hair is not rinsed thoroughly. And, those of us with locks KNOW that knowing if your hair is cleansed thoroughly is a guessing game. We HOPE it is, always...but KNOW it is? hmph. So, it's important to think about WHAT kind of build-up and use solvents that will cut that particular build-up down.

Lint build-up is combated best by leaving products alone. I now only spritz my scalp with aloe vera juice and an EO maybe once/ week for my mature locks. Anything branded product with a smell, will leave build-up 99% of the time. So, I just stay away now-the castors and other oils? They served their purpose when my locks were younger; but, now, I leave it alone. With my locks on my clothes, it's so much easier to control and get lint out with oil-free locks. And dryness? I just don't have that problem with taking in 60 oz of water a day, eating almonds and green-leafy veggies and aloe vera juice.

Let the loose heads stick with the baking soda. Clear is always best for locks.

This advice is given by Nappturality Member KnottyAuthor and you can visit the original advice thread here in the vault for lots more information and tips. 

Gathering EPIC Posts
Hello Everyone

Related Posts

 

By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://nappturality.com/

Nappturality Shoe 300 faded

Your Natural Hair is NOT a Fad

Wearing natural hair is not a fad. It is not a fashion trend. It's the natural hair you were born with. So why can't you wear it?
Don't believe the negative hype..

LaJoia Hamilton Jagged Edge2 Monique Colon Monique Colon Leslie Blakely8 Gema Ebanks Diamond Mull LaCharla Figgs Brandi Murphy Chelsea Patterson Sanders Cheryl Freemon Watts2 Raven Nacole Madison Star Bullard Kayla Bush Heila Da She Serumula 2 Raticka Scruggs Sheila Da She Serumula Solange Campos Jariel Deanna1 Angie Knight2 Jay Roge4 Alnita Reaves Vaught Gilly Dee Adrienne Lifeisgolden Skinner Nadia Newton Emmanuelle Key Dickerson Andrea Cantrell 3 Hairbyjuanibless3 Monique Colon2 Nyree' Allen Adaleia Coultman4 Jariel Deanna Jagged Edge Heeyy Jessie Leah Prater Mary Wells Tonyelle Bennett Kathy Terrell 4 Tammy Mariano Divinity Starr Richeau Breland Betty Alexander McGriff Cynthiakim2 Melody Dark Jazmine J. Boss Kaynisha Renee Martin Melinda IzsoDivine Jewel Grant Nikki Poole Kathy Terrell 2 Talishia Robins2 Raticka Scruggs Gloria Obruche 2 KaRen KaTina Smith Walker Notm Pressed Msincognito Shades Selena So Blessed Mckibben Shannon Bell KaTina Smith Walker3 Frankie Monroe 2 Hairbyjuanibless5 Yasmeen Cookngd Ali Brown Maya Mj James Urecha Dunn Courtney Davis Toma Thornhill Emmanuelle Key Dickerson2 KaRen JackSon Shekera Combs Maya Mj James2 Jennifer Bass Michelle Hudson J LaKayle Jones KaRen JackSon2 Sarah Moore 2 Juanita Simmons Kenita Mitchell Adaleia Coultman Shadi Shukuma Maepa Sheila Da She Serumula3 Gilly Dee Hairbyjuanibless2 Bryanna Knight Angela Watkins3 Jillijoy Holloway Antoinette Jeaninne Monique Wilson Andrea Cantrell Jagged Edge3 Natanya Jones Denise Billings Urecha Dunn2 Troya Sowell Frankie Monroe Tammie Braggs Leslie Blakely7 Adaleia Coultman2 Jariel Deanna3 Sarah Moore Tammie Elkerson Mcgill Queena Beenblessed Williams Marilyn E Lowe Jariel Deanna2 Saundrea Arila Mendez Jay Roge Kennedra Tucker MrsNohaterallowed Taylor Kaleta Battle Notm Pressed3 Chasity Williams Mysteek NaturalHair Bella Zambezie Debra Chatman Lysa Davis Monica Evans Ayesha La Vonia Boyd Sonjia Murphy Leslie Blakely2 HairbyJuanibless Kimberly Montague Tracy Gary Heeyy Jessie2 Sasha Stoute Jillijoy Holloway3 Destiny Hawkins Trina Smith EJ Thompson Michele Washington Andrea Cantrell 2 Kim Lewis KaTina Smith Walker2 Monica Evans2 Daniella Cardoza2 Chenay N. Bryant Candace Montgomery Sonya Makeba Gloria Obruche 1 Ashley Erica Holmes Hale Sheila Da She Serumula2 Sophonie Bien Aime Angela Watkins2 Naiesha Howell Adaleia Coultman3 Samantha Jordan Katrina Stallworth Adrienne Lifeisgolden Skinner3 Sasha Stoute2 Nikki Poole Solange Campos 1 Monica Evans3 Nikki Poole 2 Sylvia Randi Carroll Leslie Blakely4 Lakishia Brown Eiimariiee Rosee Lynn Jacqueline Parker Angela Watkins Trina Smith 3 Hairbyjuanibless4 Kathy Terrell 3 Bokua Adwoa Bray Cynthiakim1 Dominique Truthfairy Williams Watt Irena Shipley Keia Parker Adey's Natural Hair Tips Leslie Blakely5 Karmen B. Jones MrsNohaterallowed Taylor2 Akeisha Amanda Flowers Peterson Nicki Wade Lekeytha Dukes Shaw KaRen JackSon Frankie Monroe 1 Tiara Shinae Iman Whitmore 2 Curley N Cynthia Simpson Daniella Cardoza Daphanie Brooks Khady Didi Sow Vicky Hightower Jaunene Jones Lisa Amos Wilson Tiffany Smith Raticka Scruggs2 Angie Knight Shalari Drakes Princess First'Lady Briggs3 Jillijoy Holloway2 Queena Beenblessed Williams2 Lorraine Gray Latanya Coverson Sheila Da She Serumula Sharea Twymon Summers Iman Whitmore J LaKayle Jones2 Jay Roge6 Rhonda Littles Jay Roge3 Ann Brown J LaKayle Jones3 Regina Ellis Livingston Leslie Blakely Trina Smith 2 Chara Harris Kathy Terrell ShaRon Hicks2 Linda Brown Campbell Da OC Adrienne Lifeisgolden Skinner2 Lauren Foster Walls Princess First'Lady Briggs4 Bokua Adwoa Bray 2 Miz Jones Tamara Hinkle Moore Ednasia Green Marenda Eison Mary Wells Cheryl Freemon Watts Leslie Blakely6 Monica Evans4 Mysteek NaturalHair2 Leslie Blakely9 Bella Negra1 Leslie Blakely3 Abigail Boyce Talishia Robins LaShawn Princess First'Lady Briggs2 Carolyn Parker Natanya Jones2 Natanya Jones3 Princess First'Lady Briggs Essie Dodson Vanessa Agee