Lazy Loctician Red Flags

With almost seven years in the loc industry servicing hundreds of clients, I have seen and heard my share of horror stories from those who found me later in their loc journeys. Everything from poor customer service and communication, to improper technique and missguided information is all out there with little to no one checking these problems.

I can not encourage people enough to really research the person who will be maintaining your crown. Consitency with one or two hairstylist/ locticians will be so beneficial to your overall journey if your goal is long strong healthy locs! So here is my list of red flags to look out for and some questions I would ask if I was considering a loctician:

1. Do they have an overall pleasant and positive attitude/enthusiasm for what they do?

I talk about this ALOT because with locs becoming more popularized anyone can become an overnight loctician simply by taking a class or watching Youtube University. As the community grows there are those who are looking to capitalize on the market. Attitude and energy is transferrable. You should always be mindful about who is touching and what is going into your crown.

2. Do they have experience? How much?

As mentioned above, anyone can become a loctican overnight. YOU do NOT want to be the one they are experimenting on so it's good to ask about experince or to lurk their work down to the first post to see their overall growth.

3. Can they provide refrences or referrals? Do they have client intraction ?

This is a RED FLAG for me if none of their clients are interacting on ANY posts ever. It could mean that they aren't providing a quality service and have a high turnover. Asking for referrals will let them know how serious you are about your investment especially if you plan to be loyal.

4. Is your investment in loc extensions guaranteed if you have slippage?

A stylist who makes you feel like you're doing something wrong can just be gaslighting you and not wanting to take accountability. I have had to correct so many loc extensions due to this. Stylist getting attitudes and becoming deffensive with clients who truly did nothing wrong. Slippage can happen in the early stage of the extension journey, knowing that they'll fix/ correct it will bring a peace of mind.

5. What does their work environment look like and will you be comfortable in it for several hours?

This is a BIG one because some services can be long, and if you aren't comfortable you'll be counting down the minitues vs enjoying the experince. As a paying client the bare minimum should be a clean sanitized space, a cape to protect your clothes, and their full attention.

6. What type of products do they use/recommend and why?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret as to why loc detoxes started to be a trend..... because locticians realized that using heavy greasy products for palm roll was not as beneficial long term for growth. Truly anyone can do the palm roll technique and use gel or similiar products to mold and hold locs. Having someone who ops for natural products and oils will give longterm benefits to you and your journey.

7. Can they explain the process and the stages that your locs will go through?

This helps you understand how knowledgeable they are.

Regardless of whether this loctician has a big following or not, I would consider her a “Lazy Loctician” and sadly that doesn’t translate through pictures. Personally in this line of work I feel like consultations can be done virtually or even via text. Secondly, I can’t speak for everyone but when setting my pricing I started with a base labor fee, cost of the hair based on length, and size / number of locs. Sadly from my research salons often charge more because of the time it takes limiting the loctician to only 1 person when you can typically do 6-10 heads a day.

If you’re having doubts now about your future loctician, you will almost always have issues or problems down the road. Then you will be in a desperate situation having to find an experienced loctician who is willing to take you on as a client and repair any possible issues that the previous loctician caused.

Remember, this will be a long-term relationship between you and your locktician as well as an investment in your time and your money. Choose wisely.