Want to start washing/retwisting my own hair soon.
I got my starter locs in Jan 2025 so they are about a year and a half old, but not all the way loc'd yet. I started my journey with a loctitian who swore by two things 1)do not use oil and 2) only use clarifying shampoo - no conditioner.
2 months after i got the starters installed i moved to a new state and had to find a new person to go to. the first lady i tried was fine, she was good about keeping my grid pattern neat. she used a clarifying shampoo and tbh couldn't tell if she used a conditioner after but i never had problems with unraveling or locs not budding. i had to stop going to her after 3 or 4 appointments because of scheduling issues. the loc shop i've been going to since then (for almost a year now) uses 3 shampoos each time - detox shampoo, clarifying shampoo, then a moisturizing shampoo (so no conditioner). they keep 3 big containers by the wash bowl and refill them when they are low, so the same is used for every client, starters or not.
i haven't seen a difference in how my hair behaves between the two loctitians i've gone to. all i know is my hair seems to be growing & locs are maturing slowly but surely. but to save money i think i am ready to begin washing it on my own and practicing retwisting them, but im not sure if i should do clarifying shampoo only or also use conditioner.
i have a softer grade of hair so when i first got them, no conditioner was what i was told to keep them from unraveling or being softer. i shouldn't be so unaware about this but i've honestly seen conflicting things about using rinse out conditioner so i can't tell whose advice to take. people make it seem like its VERY important while others say its not that serious. i just don't wanna stunt my loc journey making bad choices.
[i would have added a photo but i don't know any of the image hosting sites/tools to do so]