Loc Installs
Begin your loc journey with intention, education, and a healthy foundation.
The Loc Install Journey is designed for guests who are ready to start their locs with a clear plan, realistic expectations, and long-term support. Whether you are beginning with traditional starter locs or microlocs, your journey starts with a consultation so we can assess your hair, discuss your goals, and recommend the best starting method for your lifestyle and hair type.
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Is a Loc Install Right for You
This service may be a good fit if:
- You are ready to begin your loc journey.
- You want help choosing the best loc size and starter method for your hair.
- You want a clean, intentional foundation.
- You want to understand what to expect during the budding and locking process.
- You are ready for regular maintenance after your installation.
- You want long-term support, not just a one-time appointment.
How the Loc Install Journey Works
1
Book Your Consultation
We begin with an in-person assessment to understand your hair, your goals, and the type of loc foundation you want to create.
2
Choose Your Loc Path
During your consultation, we will discuss whether traditional starter locs or microlocs are the best fit for your hair, lifestyle, and desired look.
5
Schedule Your Install Sessions
Traditional loc installs are typically booked as one 5-hour install session. Microloc installs are booked in multiple 5-hour install sessions.
3
Receive Your Package Recommendation
After your consultation, we will recommend the best package, estimated timing, and maintenance plan for your loc install.
4
Purchase Your Package
Packages are paid before install sessions are booked. Clients may pay in full or request an Affirm financing link during their consultation.
6
Begin Maintenance
After your install, we will recommend a maintenance schedule to support your new loc foundation as it begins to mature.
Loc Install Packages
Traditional Locs vs. Microlocs
Your loc journey starts with choosing the foundation that fits you. Traditional locs and microlocs offer different looks, maintenance routines, and experiences, and the right choice depends on your hair, lifestyle, goals, and how you envision your loc journey.
Explore the differences below to see which path feels most like you.
Traditional Locs
Traditional locs offer a classic loc look with more flexibility in size and styling. At Serenity, we generally consider an installation with fewer than 100 locs to be a traditional loc installation.
Because there are fewer locs to create and maintain, traditional locs typically require less installation time and less detailed maintenance than microlocs. Depending on your chosen size, hair density, lifestyle, and goals, your locs may be maintained with retwisting or interlocking (reties).
Traditional locs can be a great fit if you want a strong foundation, a fuller loc appearance, and a maintenance routine that requires less time than a microloc system.
Microlocs
Microlocs are smaller, more intricate locs that offer versatility while creating a beautifully detailed look. At Serenity, microlocs generally fall between 100 and 400 locs. We do not install or provide ongoing maintenance for systems with more than 400 locs.
Because of their smaller size and higher loc count, microlocs require significantly more installation time, detailed parting, and ongoing maintenance than traditional locs. They are typically maintained through interlocking (reties), and retie appointments can be considerably longer and more costly depending on your loc count, density, and amount of new growth.
Consistency is especially important with microlocs. Staying on your recommended maintenance schedule helps keep your parts organized, reduces excessive new growth and marrying between locs, and makes your retie appointments more manageable.
Microlocs are not Sisterlocks®. Sisterlocks® is a specific trademarked loc system with its own grid, techniques, tools, and training requirements. At Serenity, we install and maintain microlocs using our own parting and interlocking methods rather than the Sisterlocks® system.
Microlocs can be a beautiful option, but they are also a larger commitment of time, maintenance, and budget than traditional locs. During your consultation, we’ll talk through those expectations and help determine whether microlocs or traditional locs better support your hair, lifestyle, and long-term goals.
What to Expect With New Locs
New locs change over time. The beginning stage may include frizz, shrinkage, budding, unraveling, and changes in shape as your hair begins to settle into its loc pattern.
This is normal.
Your locs will not look fully mature immediately. The first several months are about creating the foundation, allowing the hair to begin locking, and maintaining consistency with your appointment schedule and home care.
During your appointment and follow-up visits, we will guide you through what is normal, what to avoid, and how to care for your locs between appointments.
Maintenance After Your Install
Loc installs require consistent maintenance after the first appointment.
Most new loc guests return every 4 to 6 weeks in the beginning, depending on hair type, lifestyle, scalp needs, and the starter method used.
Your maintenance plan may include:
Loc washes, Retwists, Reties, Scalp care, Hydration support, At-home care education, Progress check-ins
Your stylist will recommend the best maintenance schedule during your consultation or install appointment.
Important Package Notes:
Loc Install Packages are based on scheduled service blocks, not a guaranteed completed result within a specific number of hours.
Timing may vary based on:
Hair length, Hair density, Desired loc size, Parting detail, Install method, Scalp condition, Overall hair condition
If the install is completed before all package blocks are used, any remaining unused full service blocks may be applied toward approved install aftercare or maintenance within 30 days.
Partial time remaining within a used block does not roll over, transfer, or convert to credit.
For example, if a 5-hour block is scheduled and your install is completed in 4 hours, the remaining 1 hour from that block does not carry over. However, if another full unused 5-hour block remains in your package, that full block may be used for approved aftercare or maintenance.
Unused time cannot be refunded, transferred, rolled over indefinitely, converted to cash value, or applied toward retail, unrelated services, memberships, or vault packages.
Payment Options
Packages must be paid before Loc Install sessions are booked.
Clients may pay in full or request an Affirm financing link after their consultation. If you are interested in using Affirm, please let us know during your consultation so we can send the appropriate payment link if your package is approved.
Affirm approval is handled through Affirm and is not guaranteed by Serenity Locs & Curls.
Ready to Begin?
Your Loc Install Journey starts with a consultation. During this appointment, we will assess your hair, talk through your goals, and help you choose the best starting point for your loc journey.
Button: Book Your Loc Install Consultation
Already have locs and need maintenance? Visit our Loc Maintenance page.
Book Your Consultation