DIY MICROLOCS UPDATE | 3 YEAR UPDATE | UPCLOSE 360 views | 3 Questions for my audience!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this video:
- What has changed with my locs
- I ask 3 questions of YOU, that I’d love to hear your answers to!
- my DIY microlocs as of my 3 year locaversary on January 21, 2023
- what I’ve learned about microlocs over my 3 year journey
- and I GIVE 360 views and UPCLOSE videos of my individual locs!!
Please note: this video was shot on Jan 21, 2023. I’m editing and uploading this now (3 years later) because I’m finally out of PA school and have the free time to go back to TH-cam. My 4 year update is coming soon!
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VVV START YOUR OWN DIY MICROLOCS TODAY! VVV
DIY MICROLOCS EBOOK: www.queeneleem.com/product-pa...
DIY MICROLOCS Sizing Tool: www.queeneleem.com/product-pa...
MY MICROLOCS Grid Template and Worksheet: www.queeneleem.com/category/al...
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**About Me **
Born: 1993
Hair Type: 4c
Natural Since 1.23.2013
DIY Microlocs Est: 1.21.2020
Hair Length at Est: 16-20 inches
Method: Interlocking
Maintenance Method: Interlocking
Located: NYC
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** FAVORITE MICROLOC MUST-HAVES **
These are not sponsored but are affiliate links! As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo
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Dreadlocking Tool (Golden Needle)
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DON'T FORGET TO LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE + SHARE IF YOU CARE ♡
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**SOCIAL MEDIA/CONTACT **
EMAIL: queeneleem@gmail.com
INSTAGRAM: / queen.eleem
WEBSITE: QueenEleem.com
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Affiliate Disclaimer:
This TH-cam channel will occasionally contain affiliate links. Which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.
Advice and Tutorial Disclaimer:
The information and content on mywebsite [Queeneleem.com] and TH-cam Channel is from my own personal experiences and knowledge with the aid of conductive research through on the internet, through TH-cam videos, and in books. The content of my channel and blog should not be taken as professional advice. What you choose to do with the information provided is at your own risk and discretion. My solutions, instructions, and recommendations are to be followed at your own risk and discretion. The authentic content on my channel and website is written and researched to the best of my knowledge and as such cannot be guaranteed free of error or with the absence of key information.
Before using any products, solutions, or techniques which are recommended on my channel or website, you should discuss any significant changes with your hair specialist or professional. The products we use and recommend are what have been found to work for me and others, but they may not provide the same results for you. Each individual is different. Certain products or solutions may potentially cause an intolerance, allergy, or hair damage/hair loss therefore my TH-cam channel explicitly states that the use of any products, solutions, or recommendations found on this channel is at your own risk and discretion and we are not to be held liable. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
I missed you on TH-cam. Your locs are a perfect color wonderfully "you". Please show some reviews videos on your clients
What would you like to see regarding the hair I have done? Any specific questions?
Thank you for the update. It looks so beautiful.
I dont think it has dropped very much AND that is normal (i went through the same with my first set). Your hair has been growing in thickness and density and once that process is totally complete all the growth will be directed to length and I have a feeling it's going to take off! I feel you're going to see length that seems to come out of nowhere. Inches on inches!! I can feel it on the horizon. Good for you!
Awww thank you for the words of encouragement! Love your channel btw!! 💕
Your hair is very thick and beautiful!
Your hair is gorgeous, Wow!!! I’m almost 2 years in myself. I have been following since you started them. I’m here for all of it ☺️
Good to see your 3 year update. You and Naps Are the New Black are my 2 DIY Superstars. I am 2years and 1 month loc’d. I too established a beautiful crown of micro locs but my thick hair is loc’d into 212 “chunky monkey” microlocs. I’m the only person who has ever interlocked or retwisted my locs. This is the best thing I have ever done for my hair…and I love the look and freedom of them. I have a blog “Microlocs and Me: A Woman’s Journey to Hair Freedom.” I followed your advice. I use Dr. Bronner soap on my locs. I have tried 2 other shampoos but not for more than 2-3 washes. Twice in 2 years I have gone 3 weeks without washing my locs. I banded my locs at first because they were too short to braid. Somewhere around 20 months loc’d I stopped banding before washing. My locs didn’t do a lot of marrying so a little separation of each loc after shampooing is now my after wash routine. Once, I retwisted my locs after a shampoo and braided 6 locs together around the perimeter of my head and after half a day I unraveled the twists. The braid pattern stayed for a couple of days. I plan to do that again someday. My locs have dropped and my little shorties that I was happy to see hang just below my ears when I started are now sitting on my shoulders. I do not have lint. I sleep in a satin bonnet every night except 4 nights in Florida on a mini vacation. I couldn’t find a satin sleep cap in Hollywood Beach Florida. Amazing. I do not have follicles. When did they start appearing? My daughter has had sisterlocs for 7 years and she has follicles. I also have a lot of silver in my hair. Not silver loc cuffs, although I do own several bags of loc cuffs in different colors. No I stopped using henna to color my hair 3 months into my journey. I don’t think I could have let my natural color prevail had I not loc’d my hair. The grey hairs made my loose natural hair look old. Grey hair in locs adds dimension and I have been told frequently that people love the look of my locs. But the grey or silver will probably hide the appearance of follicles if they should appear. I apply about a quarter sized amount of Jamaican Black Castor oil or argan oil to my scalp and through my locs after shampooing. I massage my scalp daily to distribute my own sebum. I love this loc lifestyle so much. My question is do you have any concern about your locs thinning over time through continued interlocking? I made my locs intentionally chunky so I would not suffer any thinning or lost locs. Sisterloc wearers often lose locs. It’s a little scary. Anyway your locs have always looked luscious, long and full. Your length is noticeable. I loc’d my hair primarily for length retention. If it stayed at this length I would be satisfied. I have trimmed my bangs from the first 18 months and have just stopped trimming them this month so I will be watching how they grow around my face. Love you for sharing!❤
Yes I would love the microloc content.
Yes it dropped 😊 The color bring out your pretty skin tone. I looovveeeee it 💚
Good to know! Thank you for the feedback!
It hasn't dropped much, but since you started with very long hair, it may take mucher longer, but it's getting there. I love how thick it is. It's very beautiful ❤❤ I also hate my follicles ugh! They are very noticeable in the front. I also love the video idea about being black with locs.
Yesss Queen! Your hair has definitely loc’d and has dropped I noticed the ones you pointed out that still have the springiness in them that are still not completely loc’d. They have definitely dropped and are absolutely gorgeous!!
Today is my 3 year locaversary and you inspired my grid! Thank you and happy big 3!
Happy locaversary!
I have been following you since you started your locks. Yes they are growing and I love the fullness. Your hair is beautiful.
Thank your for sticking around!
Beautiful locs!!! I’m 4.5 years in with my microlocs & the back is loc’d, the middle is starting to & my front still has cork screw ends… My drop happened right around the beginning of my 4th year. I now miss the fullness of the before the drop look.
I like your loc content! Your ends are beautiful!! I ended up with fat ends because I hated braiding & banding & didn’t do it like I should have. I’m now slowly fixing it. I also still use a clarifying for my first wash & my diy moisturizing shampoo for the second wash.
Glad you’re back Queen Eleem!
Happy to be back! Thank you for sharing! Sounds like we’re on a similar path! How long was your hair when you had your locs installed?
Your hair is so full and gorgeous!
Thank you so much
I remember your first videos of you doing your locs and now you're three years in. The growth is truly beautiful
Thank you so much!!
I’m a little more than a year ahead of you (I’m 4.5 years in) and can tell you your hair will drop a lot more in year four👍🏽
I think that is because when you start with longer hair it takes a long time for the entirety of the length to completely loc.
Your hair is lovely and I do think you are very close fully locked now. You hair is flourishing 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Ok so I’m not delusional!! Thank you for helping me answer those questions!
How long was your hair when you started yours?
@@queeneleem my hair was about 12 inches all over. I feel like the first few years was my hair growing, then shrinking, growing and shrinking, as the locs slowly matured. My hair is now fully locked and growing like crazy because I can see the length retention.
I always heard that long hair takes longer to lock, but I never thought about what that entails (like your hair taking years to drop). Now that you mentioned the shrinking and growing back and forth for the first few years that makes sense. The hair on the sides of my head is like 2-3 inches long since I'm 6 months into growing out a Mohawk. I really want to give locs another chance since my scalp has calmed down, but there is about a 5 inch gap between the middle and the sides so I'll wait until I figure out what to do about that
@marlab5203 that's so helpful to know about the back and forth between growing and shrinking, growing and shrinking.. I'm only a year in and I thought the shrinkage was behind me, and I've been waiting to see that length.. 🙈 and looking forward to seeing that drop one day.. ha ha.. that's really encouraging.. thank you 🙏🏾
Yaaaay! Glad to see you back! Your hair has definitely dropped but there just seems to be something magical about year 4. I think that's when you'll really see the growth. I'm 6 years loc'd and the last 2 years I've visibly seen the greatest change. I was just below my shoulders around year 4 and 2 years later my hair is touching the top of my rear end....and 85 percent of my ends are still curly. I would definitely like to see more content from you with locs in the workplace and how you've fared in your career.❤
Thank your for the feedback! If I may ask are you working and if so what industry?
@@queeneleem I've been in accounting for 30 years and became a second career nurse 4 years ago. I'm so pleased to finally see locs be more commonplace than they were before in corporate America. I clearly remember working in office settings and NO ONE had locs. How has it been for you as a PA?
That’s so true Jaykay! LOC’s are all over the place now. I’m coming up on year 4 next month and work at a jail in Chicago as an Exec. Asst. I’m not the only person with them including the officers! Lots has changed.
That’s what that is!!! Follicles is the tips that come out from the scalp. I thought it was dandruff that wouldn’t come out!!! Great to know!
YES! Its follicles. Don’t pick at it just let it be or dye it.
@@queeneleem will do Queen!
Happy to see you Back! I am 2 years and a half in. My hair seems free of lint exept for the verry last two rows in the back 😫😫. Its because of the scarf i usually wear in winter or those turtle neck shirt robbing on them. There is still some elasticity in your locks, maybe thats why yo dont see them droping yet
Yep you gotta be careful with those turtlenecks and scarves. It’s such a shame bc I love sweaters!
Love your locs! they look great you were my inspo Im like 6 months behind you still the best hair decision Ive made.
That’s so great to hear! Happy to inspire always! Did you DIY?
@@queeneleem I did! I used your grid videos and they turned out great! I two strand twisted- iwas in pharm residency and no time for interloc lol
Hey Queen! I'm from Senegal (West Africa) I've been following you from day one! I'm glad to know you are coming back more regularly. By the way your skin is gorgeous! I'm almost 4 years locked (May 15th), I don't have any lint (satin pillows, microfiber towels or t-shirts for drying) and my growth has been slow, I do have some issues with breakage in the crown area so haven't done a re-tie in 8 weeks while I treat the area, but had that issue before locking even as a natural girly. As far as acceptance, I have had no issues as they look like a hairstyle that is very common here (micro braids with natural hair). Locs are more and more common here as well. I'd say 25% of the women in my office and circle are locked ;-). Your hair has definitely dropped, and it's beautiful even the color! Would love to see videos on your daily life in the medical field as well as your hair updates.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s so interesting to hear that the style of Microlocs is not that different from what’s already being worn just a different method! May I ask, do you prefer to use the metric system or do you use the USA measurement system (inches, feet, etc)
@@queeneleem thanks for answering! I use both actually and depending on whom I'm speaking to and what they use, TBH I think metric is more precise as the units are smaller. In Senegal we use metric and Celsius. Do you have a preference? I think in the medical field you use metric right?
I’m from Zimbabwe and will be 2 years locked in June. I have enjoyed following your Journey.
Thank you for repping! What’s it like having Microlocs in Zimbabwe? Is the hairstyle unique or commonplace?
i’ve been watching you from the beginning. i love your videos i’ve been sisterlocked since 2013 i started with extensions so micro locked cut them off 2018,my SL consultant was happy I tell everyone about 2 strand twist so you don’t have to get a loan to pay for SL it was close to $2000 ten years ago in Los Angeles. I want to know more about color conditioner.
Thanks cutie for your videos
Definitely make the thoughts on being a black women with locs video!!
I don’t think that it has dropped yet but it is beautiful.
Your channel is actually the first one I watched when I decided to log my hair. I followed all of your advice except for the grid.I didn't realize how important that was. I would have been a year loc'ed last month. Once I reached one year loc'ed, I didn't like how they were looking so I combed them down. I thoroughly washed my hair and blew it out and decided to get micro braids. Now my anniversary would be April 21st instead of April 11th. I have a very neat grid now. This is how I wanted my locs to look when I started. I also started on very short hair. My hair is now a little past my shoulders after one year of being loc'ed. Because I combed my locs out, I lost a lot of hair, so it isn't as full as it used to be. I am shocked at the growth.
I do see your drop as well. Your hair also looks fuller to me. Thanks so much for your videos, please keep them coming!!!
What do you feel the grid does for the way you wanted your locs to look? Why didn’t you have this type of grid at first? What type of grid did you start with initially? I’d love to share your experience with the community!
@@queeneleem My hair didn't look as neat without the grid. Since I interlock my hair on my own, I had trouble interlocking because different parts would run into each other; especially in the beginning when my hair would "marry." Maybe it's because I wasn't always focused during the interlocking process. When my hair would marry, I would think that the part was bigger than the others, so I would join sections together without knowing that's what I did. Having a grid looks neater and it makes the interlocking process easier. Because I can easily see the parts, it's very unlikely that I would mistakenly join two parts together. My hair would marry so bad that it was hard to pull apart. I think that was due to not having clear parts.
I think I didn't do the grid initially because I thought it was too much work, being that I was doing it myself. I also didn't understand the importance of it. I think my hair looks much neater now with the grid than it did before. I love it!!!! Thanks for asking! I love your channel!!!💖
@@queeneleem I initially had a grid, but it wasn't neat at all. I parted my hair, but my parts weren't even, so as my hair grew, it looked "messy" to me. It wasn't as neat as it is now, where each section or part has the same amount of hair in it. The parts are a little bigger in the back of my hair, but I think it's because I have more hair there. I also didn't want the parts to be too small because my hair cannot sustain the weight. My hair started thinning at the root previously and the loc would snap off.
I love the way your locs are progressing! Did the overtone dye/conditioner work for you? I remember you posted the video a while ago. Also do you still find slippage on the front of your hairline? Looking forward to future videos!
Im going to dye my hair again and talk about the results from the overtone conditioner. Good to know someone’s interested in seeing it!
I’ll talk about my locs in the front too! Thank you for commenting letting me know to include!
Im not locked and i have issuees with follicles, this is actually one of my concerns when i FINALLY get my locs
Love your hair! Can you talk about ponytails? Can you ponytail and if so, how? My locs are super thick and full like yours…need tips on putting hair up for workouts, etc. Thanks!
Ooh girl YES I have some tips on ponys and buns bc it can be a trial and tribulation
@@queeneleem I can’t wait! Thank you!
I think your hair is filling out rather than just growing down. But same! Everyone else has mad length at two years but mine grew maybe one 3 inches max. And my hair was also pretty long (about tail bone length) but now it just feels like it’s taking forever to grow.
How many years locd are you?
I'm not sure that seeing fallen out hair follicles is a healthy thing. It seems like a sign of follicular trauma from frequent interlocking/manipulation, and dryness.
Over time, the root/follicle will likely not regenerate, leading to traction alopecia.
Check out sister/microlocked women over time. There's a lot of hair loss and alopecia.
It's good that you maintain your own locs because you can be gentlest with your own head.
Your locs are gorgeous. You helped me establish mine but I've recently become aware of some long-term risks associated with this style and I want to potentially pay it forward.
I now maintain my locs with knotted locking method, created by Melissa Blake. I think it's the next frontier of small loc maintenance. Just food for thought
Please be aware
Another question, do the follicles appear throughout the leanght of your loc or primarily just along the roots?
There's a drop - the inches you seek are coming. You'll notice it more in a few months when you post up picture next to how you started.
Your hair is looking beautiful. Thank you for your openness and encouragement with self DIY locs. I'll be 2 years old with my current set on June 1st and your videos got me through and over the hump! I'm a lot more "militant" regarding my hair these days. There's a confidence I didn't have when younger and I have zero tolerance for any unsolicited feedback disguised as concern.
Whatever you feel like posting I'll watch. :)
Thank you for the encouragement! And thank you for your support!
your hair is dropping slowly! we love your videos!!
Yep slow as a snail 🐌😅 thank you for watching! You’re the reason I have the courage to make videos in the first place!
Love your locs. I was wondering if you retie it all in one sitting or over several days.
I wish I could retighten it all in one sitting. But there’s no way. Maybe if I can find a loctician that I trust. I usually retighten it over the course of 7-10 days for 1-3 hours a day. It probably takes me about 14 hours total. I could do it in 3 days if I binged tv, barely ate, and had no family responsibilities 😅😅 word to the wise: don’t give yourself more than 500 locs MAX… unless you’re a crazy person like me
@@queeneleem Thanks queen for answering and for keeping it real. 😄
Watching this is crazy to me. You and my daughter hair is almost identical!! She’s about to hit year 4. But we started with really really long hair. If shrunk to like her ear and I feel like it took FOREVER to get to where it is now. I was thinking it was the color, maybe some broke off cause of the blonde she has. But her ends look very much intact so I don’t know. But anyway. Your hair is beautiful
I would love to hear about your experiences with locs as a black woman, especially in professional environments in the US. I am in graduate school and have also started locs recently!
Also, I'm surprised by how many follicles you have. I can't see any in my hair, and I have black hair! Very interesting.
Thank you for suggesting topics! What professional sphere do you work in? Eg. medicine? Law? Teaching? Entrepreneur?
@@queeneleem I’m a PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology!
I definitely think your hair has dropped and there's more dropping to come 🙂
Fingers crossed! Thanks for the feedback!
If you don’t mind me asking, how long do your reties take nowadays and was that hard to manage during PA school? I’m thinking about cutting my locs because I miss the fullness of my loose hair and don’t think I am ever going to have time to retie my hair during school😮💨 (pharm is a BEAST) Also your hair is beautiful😍
My returns probably take 14 hours. I split them up over a week while I watch tv. During pa school I would Reti my hair while studying. To study I would do practice questions. Honestly one of the reasons I got through pa school was bc I locd my hair. Having it like this is SOOOOO much easier than having it loose but that’s person to person.
Yes, I think your hair has dropped. You have a lot of hair. Your locs look great. 😊
I'm on my second year with sisterlocks. I started mine with about 18-21 inches, and my hair is not fully locked as well. It is mostly locked, but I still have some curls on the ends and still stretchy. Im ready for the length 😩.
Well based on my journey and all these comments you have about 2-3 years until that happens but IT WILL HAPPEN!
You wash your hair more often than i would think...how long does it typically take to dry? Expecially with your gorgeous density!
As your locs grow you will start to notice them. When hair falls out naturally the follicle or “club hair” will naturally fall out with it.
Did you only braid and band your hair every wash day, or did you do it regularly to style and stretch the hair as it loc'd?
I would braid and band before washing until like 2 years and then after that I would wash it loose then braid and band just to let it dry. I didn’t really braid and band between to stretch
I have a question, when is your 4 year anniversary? I followed your guide on parting in 2020 and I am almost 4 years locked. I thought you were already at 4 years.
I just passed my 4 year locaversary. I recorded this a year ago, but due to PA school I didn’t get the chance to upload until now. 4 year update coming soon
My father is Carribbean and my mother is Irish and I live in London. We have very similar hair and skin tone but I am more of a red head with freckles!
I get lots of compliments all the time about my hair and I notice that people are more likely to sit behind me on a bus or something and I know they are looking at my hair!
I find I get treated more as black by white people with my hair in locs. I have been natural for 8y and loc'd for 2 for some reason my 4a/4b twists and cane rolls didn't make people so hostile and dismissive in certain scenarios.
I too am on the hunt to remove follicles. If you find a solution I would love to hear it! The best I have had so far is dry brushing my hair with a boar brush.
Did you ever say how many locs you have?? I remember wondering after your first retie.
668 when I started, but I combine around 10-20 so about 650 now
Yes, it’s dropped based on the weight in the movement, I think.
Do you still use the homemade aloe gel when you retie?
Nope not anymore
Your hair looks good!!! Jesus loves you❤
Thank you!!
@@queeneleem You're welcome!
Where I can do my hair, I want to do diy microloc, can someone tell me where I can go? I leaving in Pennsylvania but I can go to NY
I would like to see how other black people live with their locs. I work part time in a creative space. My locs have been accepted with a few positive comments and no negative ones. In a more professional office that might not have been the case.
Would like to see updos
I emailed Shetowel and they said they’ll have the towel back in stock soon.
That’s great! I have included some t-shirt towel resources below in the description box if you don’t want to wait. You’re looking for a non-pilling, non-terry cloth, non-microfiber towel made of Jersey/t-shirt towel material. The shetowel is great though bc it’s thicker than most of the ones I’ve found on Etsy or Amazon
@@queeneleemI have a couple of Aquis towels but I’m kinda scared I’ll end up with lint. I’ll check out the ones you recommended
It's not as "swollen" as it was when you first loc'd. There's a major difference in your screen grabs from your 2nd and 3rd year update.
This feels like a silly question, I've had locs before and they were heavy. Does your hair feel heavy?
Nope not heavy at all. This is actually one of my most commonly asked questions so not silly at all. There’s no added product so that’s one of the reasons my hair is relatively light
@@queeneleem Thanks for letting me know, this is a comfort to know heading into my loc journey.
I would say your hair has definitely grown, you do not see it because it is all shrunken up inside each loc, especially the 2 strand twisted parts.
Your hair color is beautiful, is it your natural hair color?
How many locs do you have?
650
is that your natural hair color?
Yes
What happened to the one dreadlock in the back?
To which are you referring?
@queeneleem8136 I thought you had a larger dreadlock in the back you were going to leave. I might be mistaken as it was about three years ago. Unfortunately TH-cam has not been alerting to your uploads until this video. I love your lock journey from deciding the pattern, to updating your installation process between classes and life happening. Vlogs or any videos of your lock journey is always a great idea! Best wishes ❤️
Yes. Your hair has dropped. It’s about 2-21/2 inches longer.
thick as hell QE. But it doesn't seem to want to lengthen out.
What about your studies?
I just finished PA school!
@@queeneleem
Congratulations to you. Deferred gratuity is very much worth it.
What did you say your friend (who trimmed her’s) TH-cam channel was? 🩷 Looking beautiful.
@napsarethenewblack
@@queeneleem Thank you!