First-Timer · Guide
Your first loc install — what to expect, what to bring, what it actually costs.
Six to eight hours. Sometimes ten. The first install sets up the next decade of your hair. Here's the honest breakdown.
The night before
Your loctician will tell you to come with hair that's clean and dry. They mean it. Come with hair that was washed within the last 24 hours, completely air-dried, and product-free. No leave-in conditioner, no oils, no edge control. Anything on the strand interferes with the install.
If you have very curly or kinky hair (4b-4c), some stylists will ask you to come with hair blow-dried straight. Confirm with yours.
What to bring
- Food. You'll be in the chair 6-10 hours. Pack real food, not snacks. The locticians worth booking will let you eat in the chair.
- A bottle of water. A big one.
- Headphones. The stylist works in silence sometimes. Don't expect to make conversation the whole time.
- A device + charger. Phone, tablet, whatever. You're going to be entertained by yourself.
- A blanket or hoodie. Salons run cold. Sitting still gets colder.
- Your final payment. The 50% deposit you paid online; bring the other half in your preferred payment method. Most master locticians take Apple Pay, Zelle, or card via Stripe.
What happens in the chair
- Wash + clarify (30-45 min). Even if you came with clean hair, your loctician will do a clarifying wash to remove anything you missed. Some skip this if you really came clean.
- Sectioning + parting (45-90 min). This is the slowest part and the most important. The parting pattern your loctician chooses will define your hairstyle for the next 5-10 years. Don't rush them.
- The install method (4-7 hours). Two-strand twist, comb coil, interlock, or braid method. Each takes different time. Ask your loctician what method they're using and why — a good one will explain.
- Drying + finishing (45-60 min). Sit under the hooded dryer until completely dry. Wet locs unravel. Then your loctician finishes the edges, applies a light oil to the scalp, and you're done.
What it actually costs in 2026
This depends on your hair length, density, and the method chosen. Real Houston master prices:
- Short hair (chin length or shorter): $250-350
- Medium hair (shoulder length): $350-475
- Long hair (past shoulders): $475-650+
- Faux locs / goddess locs install (with extensions): $325-500
Tip 15-25% on top. Master locticians who spent 8 hours on your head earned every dollar. A $400 install with a 20% tip = $80 tip, total $480.
The first 30 days after
This is where most people mess up. Your locs are new and they will look frizzy, fluffy, and slightly unraveled within a week. That's normal. Don't try to "fix" them at home. You'll only damage them.
- Don't wash for the first 2-3 weeks. Your stylist will tell you exactly when.
- Don't retwist for the first 4-6 weeks. You need to let the locs settle.
- Sleep on satin from night one.
- Don't touch them constantly. The "I love them so much I can't stop touching them" phase is real and it's bad for fresh installs.
The first retwist
Book it before you leave the install chair. 4-6 weeks out. This is when your locs start to mature, and skipping this appointment is the #1 cause of locs that go bad in year one.
One last thing
Locs are a 5-10 year commitment, not a haircut. The first install isn't the end — it's the start. Pick a loctician you can build a relationship with. Master locticians who've been at this for 8+ years will still be there when your locs reach maturity. They'll know your hair better than you do.