Katherine
Microlocs Establishment Date: May 11, 2023
Number of Locs: 290
Location: Long Island, NY
Instagram: @newgirlontheloc
TikTok: @colummmna
Hair Texture: Medium
Curl Pattern: 3a, 3b
Hair Density: High
Installation Method: I have DIY microlocs and installed them myself.
Locking Method: I started my microlocs with braids because it just felt natural for me. I had been doing my own braids for about four years and always felt my best with them. Once I learned I could start my locs that way, it was a no-brainer. After doing some research and seeing others’ journeys, I knew the process would take time, but I was okay with that. I already loved how I looked with braids, so it felt like the perfect starting point.
Installation vs. Oct 2025
Describe your hair before getting microlocs.
My hair was natural and around chin length, but a bit heat damaged from straightening it often.
What hairstyles did you used to wear the most before getting microlocs?
I mostly wore braids. After cutting my hair into a pixie in college, I started doing protective styles, and once it grew out, braids became my go-to. I felt the most confident with them, and during the pandemic, I learned to braid my own hair and never stopped.
“ There were times I missed the flexibility of loose styles or felt unsure about the budding stage, but over time, I learned to appreciate every phase and how unique my locs are. Everyone’s journey looks different, and once I stopped comparing, I started feeling so much more confident and connected to mine.”
What made you decide to install microlocs?
I decided to get microlocs because I was tired of the constant upkeep—wash days, braiding, taking styles down, and starting all over again. I never really loved managing my natural curls, and it started to feel tedious. Then I started seeing microloc content on my TikTok FYP, did some research, and realized it fit perfectly with the kind of low-maintenance, free lifestyle I wanted for my hair.
What’s your go-to-hairstyle?
My go-to hairstyle is a simple side part, when I say low-maintenance, I mean it! I don’t really experiment much with styles, even though I always want to. I’m kind of a nervous Nellie when it comes to trying new looks, but the side part always feels like me and keeps things effortless.
How do you maintain your locs and what products do you use regularly?
My maintenance routine is pretty simple. Since my hair is dyed ginger, color upkeep adds a bit more work, but overall, it’s still low-maintenance. I use Adore Semi-Permanent Dye in French Cognac to refresh my color. I wash my hair about every two weeks, depending on how my scalp feels.. if it starts getting itchy, that’s my sign. I still use some of the same products I loved as a loose natural, like Silicon Mix shampoo, and recently started using a leave-in conditioning spray instead of a mask to keep my dyed hair moisturized. Even though my hair is loc’d now, I’ve found that it still responds best to the products I used when it was loose. For reties, I usually stick to an 8-week schedule with a 4-point rotation, but sometimes I stretch it to around 10 weeks when life gets busy. I try not to let it go too long, but I give myself grace when it does.
What do you love most about your locs and why?
What I love most about my locs is the freedom and confidence they’ve given me. I feel proud knowing I started and maintained them myself, it’s a reflection of patience and care I’ve never had with my hair before. I’ve also added extensions into my journey. I started with them, cut them off a year later, and then added them back a few months after that. It might be a little controversial, but that’s what I love about having a DIY journey. I get to experiment, make changes, and create something that truly feels like me.
What has been the biggest challenge or adjustment?
The biggest challenge has definitely been patience, especially when it comes to comparison. It’s so easy to look at other people’s loc journeys online and wish mine looked more mature or fuller right away. In the beginning, I’d constantly compare my progress, wondering if I was doing something wrong. There were times I missed the flexibility of loose styles or felt unsure about the budding stage, but over time, I learned to appreciate every phase and how unique my locs are. Everyone’s journey looks different, and once I stopped comparing, I started feeling so much more confident and connected to mine.
What’s something you wish you knew before getting loc’d?
I wish I would’ve spent more time researching and understanding how important a clean, consistent grid is before starting. I didn’t realize at the time how much it affects everything. The way your locs fall, how easy reties are, and the overall look as they mature. I did the best I could when I started on my own, and even though my grid isn’t perfect, I’ve learned to love it. It reminds me that this journey is mine, flaws and all, and that I’ve grown right alongside my locs.
What advice would you give someone considering installing Sisterlocks or microlocs?
Honestly, I’d say take your time and really do your research before jumping in. Look into different methods, grids, and maintenance routines so you know what’ll work best for you and your lifestyle. Try not to compare your journey to anyone else’s, because everyone’s hair locks and matures differently. And take pictures! You’ll be so glad you did once you start seeing the progress. Most of all, just enjoy it... it’s such a rewarding journey once you let go and trust the process.
Shout out your loctician! Who does your reties today?
Shouting out myself for doing my own microlocs! 🙌 And huge shoutout to everyone out there doing their own microlocs too—you know the time, care, and dedication it takes to keep them going. We really do it all, and it’s something to be proud of!
