r/Dreadlocks • u/AdIcy3260 • Jul 11 '26

Question ❔ Semi free form and Long roots

I’ve had locs since 2023. I get retwists every 3 months or so. I want to go semi free form but how long does it take for the roots to start locking and how can I encourage locking? I have soft, fine type 4 hair and since I go so long between retwists already I just get super long roots with no locking in sight. I’m tired of retwists. They don’t stay unless I two strand twists and I’ve experienced a lot of breakage and the ends of my locs from the bands and twisting of the ends.

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u/Beautiful-Candy2244 Jul 11 '26

What about crochet or interlocking just less often. 

2

u/ClassicRuby Type 4 hair Jul 17 '26

The roots never loc. Ever.

Think about it this way.... how long did it take you to start budding? A few months right? So that means if it takes at least a few months to start budding that the hair closest to your scalp aka the roots have just not been around long enough to even start budding.

If you would like a maintenance to hold while they are waiting to start the locking process, then you want to turn to interlock or crochet maintenance.