How to Prepare for Starter Locs

It's Time!

Welcome to your Loc Journey

Congratulations on your decision to begin your loc journey. This is a big deal.

You may have spent countless hours—months, maybe even years—thinking about what this process could look and feel like. And now, you’ve decided to take the leap. We applaud you. We celebrate you.
And we honor your individuality and your beauty.

To support you in this moment, here’s how to best prepare for your starter lock appointment at The Loc Shop.

PREPARING YOUR HAIR:

Come with your hair in its natural, loose state.

Your hair should be:

Completely free of braids, twists, cornrows, previous locs, or any styled state
Fully detangled

Detangled hair creates a clean, workable canvas and allows us to care for your hair more efficiently from the very beginning.

Detangle: yes. Shampoo: no.

There’s no need to wash your hair before your appointment. Every service at The Loc Shop (except consultations) includes a shampoo. You take care of the detangling—we’ll take care of the rest.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When you arrive, we’ll welcome you in and show you where to place your belongings so you can settle in comfortably.

From there:

You’ll be guided to the shampoo bowl
Your stylist will carefully separate, cleanse, and condition your hair
Then, we begin your starter loc process

Every product needed for your journey is provided as part of your service.

APPOINTMENT DURATION:

Starter loc appointments typically last 2 to 4 hours. The exact timing can vary depending on:

The method used to start your locs
The size and parting of your locs
The density of your hair as well as the length

We share this range so you can plan your day with ease.

WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO BRING

While we’ve created a comfortable experience for you, you’re welcome to bring anything that helps you settle in:

A snack or light meal
A beverage or water bottle
A laptop, book, or reading material

We also offer:

Tea
Coffee
Wine
Hot Apple cider
Hot chocolate

A refrigerator and microwave are available if needed.

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED TO BRING

We’ve got you covered. There’s no need to bring:

Hair products (unless you require a medicated shampoo or have specific sensitivities/allergies)
Extra guests (friends, family, or children)

Our space is intentional, intimate, and cannot accommodate additional visitors during your appointment.

PAYMENT POLICY:

The Loc Shop is a cashless, credit-only establishment.

We accept:

All major credit cards
Tap-to-pay options

We do not accept:

Cash
Zelle
Cash App
PayPal

PARKING & ARRIVAL

Parking is available throughout the neighborhood and is typically easy to find near the salon.

The city of Mount Rainier uses the ParkMobile app for metered parking:

$0.50 per 30 minutes

We recommend downloading the app before your appointment to make your arrival smooth and stress-free.

RUNNING LATE:

If you anticipate being more than 10–15 minutes late, please reach out:

📞 Call: 301-853-7323
📱 Text: 301-781-6843

This allows us to properly adjust and continue to honor everyone’s time.

AND FINALLY:

There’s nothing else you need to do.

Just show up.

And be beautiful.

We’ll take care of the rest.