When you begin the loc journey, your hair slowly transforms into a loc. All these growth stages of dreadlocks are important in your loc journey, no step can be skipped.
It is essential to familiarize oneself with the steps in order to be able to effectively take care of the locs. The time between the dreadlocks growth stages is different for every individual. Don’t be jealous but patient
It takes 18 -24 months for locs to fully mature. This depends on the condition of your hair, the texture, the length, current health of hair, genetics (how fast or slow your hair grows), and how well you take care of your locs.
Each stage presents its own set of challenges and achievements as part of the journey.
Table of Contents
- STARTER STAGE : 3-6 MONTHS
- BUDDING STAGE : 6 -12 MONTHS
- TEEN STAGE : 12-15 MONTHS
- MATURE STAGE : 15-18 MONTHS
- ADULT STAGE : 18-21 MONTHS
- Conclusion about all the stages of dreadlocks
STARTER STAGE : 3-6 MONTHS
Also known as the baby stage. This is the stage you create a parting system, types of locs, the size of locs, and the method you want to loc your hair.
You can choose the starter locs at home or with loctician. Your locs will stay in this stage for 3 to 6 months, as it varies from person to person.
You can identify starter locs as they are usually small in size, have clean parts, minimal frizz, and hair is a thin tight form. At this stage, you are waiting for them to bud.
Never detangling at this stage and wait at least 1 month before your first shampoo. You want to leave your hair alone and let it loc.
BUDDING STAGE : 6 -12 MONTHS
Also known as the sprouting stage. The hair gets at this stage 6-12 months after you start your loc journey.
At this stage, the hair intertwines with shed hair and begins to form into a loc.
Your thin tight hair is beginning to swell up. You want to develop a consistent loc routine at this stage. Hair has reduced unraveling so you want to shampoo your hair more often.
The starting line patterns of the twist and braids begin to disappear as your locs start to form. Once the hair has budded you can begin to lightly retwist hair every 6-8 weeks to help retain the original scalp parting and the new growth. There is a lot of frizz at this stage.
Do not be tempted to over-retwist here.
TEEN STAGE : 12-15 MONTHS
Also known as the locking stage. A fantastic phase as you finally begin to see progress. Locs are plumping up and developing into dreadlocks. The locs are still short in length and are sprouting all over the head in all directions.
Enjoy this stage as your hair should feel proud as your hair is starting to look like locs. You can also start styling hair and using accessories and jazz things up.
As the hair locs it will begin to shrink as hair intertwines. The locs may look like they are not growing in length. This is the awkward stage and it is between length.
The locs are no longer thin and tight.
MATURE STAGE : 15-18 MONTHS
It can begin as early as 1 year at the beginning of the loc journey. If you have a looser texture, hair may take longer to get to this stage. At this mature stage, you get to finally see your locs as you had visualized when you started the loc journey.
The hair will remain in this stage for the longest period of 1-2 years. You know your locs are at the mature stage when they are :
- Thicker in size to support themselves.
- Long enough to lie flat and hang down lengthwise.
- Locs have a nice firm shape.
- Each loc is easily distinguishable and is closed at the ends.
- New growth does not sprout but it follows the direction of the rear loc.
- There is minimal frizz.
ADULT STAGE : 18-21 MONTHS
Locs are officially rooted when the locs are firmly in place. The locs feel much heavier and denser. The hair gets to this stage 2 years after you have started your loc journey.
At this stage, you can choose to either continue to grow your hair longer or trim them to your desired length. You want to focus on taking care of locs to keep the hair healthy and minimize any potential damage as they age.
Conclusion about all the stages of dreadlocks
During your journey, you will need to keep your dreadlocks healthy!
It will take more or less time to reach the adult stage, depending how you take care of your dreadlocks crown.
The process from starter locs to adult locks can take anywhere from months to years, depending on how fast your hair grows and whether you choose to wear them.
Each dreadlocks growth stages need different attention and maintenance.
To help you during the journey, check out our the presentation of the best maintenance kits for Dreadlocks.
