If you have locs, retwisting is a core part of your maintenance routine. Here's what it is, why it matters, and how to figure out the right schedule for your locs.

What retwisting does

As your hair grows, new hair grows out of the scalp in its natural coil pattern. Without intervention, that new growth sits loose at the root between your scalp and the body of the loc. Retwisting coils that new growth into the base of the loc, keeping the root neat and helping the loc maintain its shape.

Without regular retwisting, the new growth can start to combine neighbouring locs together at the root — a process called budding or linking, which you might want or might not, depending on your preference.

How often depends on your hair

The standard is every 4–6 weeks. Clients with faster-growing hair may need to come in closer to the 4-week mark. Clients whose locs are more established and mature may be able to stretch to 6–8 weeks without things looking untidy.

If you're in the early stages of your loc journey — the first year or so — more regular retwisting helps your locs form properly and keeps things looking intentional rather than neglected. As locs mature, the retwisting schedule can be more flexible.

What to avoid between appointments

• Retwisting too frequently — this causes thinning at the root over time
• Using heavy waxes or butters that build up inside the loc
• Retwisting wet locs and then covering them — they need to dry fully
• Twisting too tightly, especially around the edges

If you're doing home maintenance between salon appointments, a light loc gel and a light hand is the guideline. Less is more.