So many people love the way that I do my pipe cleaner curls on my sisterlocks. I’ve gotten a ton of questions about how I do the curls, how to get them to last long, and how to maintain them. So now I’m sharing exactly how I do my hair so that you can achieve the same look.
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I’ve been doing sisterlock pipe cleaner curls for a minute now. I started back when I was in my first year of having sisterlocks back when they were a lot shorter. I was looking for different ways to style my hair and different ways to curl it.
Pipe cleaners are my favorite way to curl my hair because it really gives you a loose natural type of look and that’s what I was really liking about it. I stick with pipe cleaner curls because they never disappoint, they last a long time, they look even better when the curls fall, and there’s so many ways that you can style them.
The Time Requirement for Pipe Cleaner Curls
I’m at year five in my sisterlock journey. My hair is a lot longer than it used to be compared to when my hair was shorter. Back then it would take me about 30 to 45 minutes to put these pipe cleaners in my hair but now that my hair is longer it takes about an hour and I have to use more pipe cleaners.
Although there is a time commitment, don’t get too turned off. These curls are so worth the amount of time it takes to do them and they last me at least three to four weeks. These pipe cleaner curls are so worth it to me.
What Do You Need to do Pipe Cleaner Curls
Watch to See What You Will Need to Do Pipe Cleaner Curls
Alright so here’s what you’re gonna need to do the pipe cleaner curls. You’re gonna need some black pipe cleaners. Don’t worry I’m going to explain how to make them because you do have to make them first. The reason why I say to use black pipe cleaners is because you don’t want colored fuzzies in your hair from the colorful pipe cleaners.
I also use the Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-in Conditioner and I actually pour some of this in my spray bottle. I use this mixture to dampen each section of my hair when I’m putting the pipe cleaners in. You also need a black microfiber towel to catch any dripping water. You also will need some clips to hold the sections of your hair.
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How to Prepare Pipe Cleaners for Curls
Watch to See How I Prepare the Pipe Cleaners
I like to use black pipe cleaners to curl my hair. To get the pipe cleaners prepared to use, first, grab one pipe cleaner and bring the ends of the pipe cleaner together. Use your fingers to smooth it out but do not smooth it out all the way through. Leave a little bit of room for there to be a loop.
Afterwards, use one of your hands to pinch the side where the loop is and use your other hand to twist and wrap the two legs together starting from the loop all the way down to the ends of the pipe cleaner. The ends become intertwined with each other and there is a loop on the other side.
Perform these same steps to all of the pipe cleaners. Once you are finished, you can store the pipe cleaners in a bag so that you don’t lose them.
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Prepare The Conditioning Water Spray
To create the conditioning water mixture for your water sprayer, first fill your water sprayer about 3/4 the way up with water. Then add a liquid water-based leave-in conditioner, such as Alikay Naturals, to your water sprayer about 1/4 the way up. Shake the water sprayer to mix the two together.
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Apply the Pipe Cleaners to Your Sisterlocks
Watch to See How I Apply the Pipe Cleaners to My Sisterlocks
Step 1. Section The Hair
Step 2. Count the Locs
Next, grab a couple locs from that section that you left out. Use about six locs for one pipe cleaner. Count the locs to make sure because sometimes if you put too many locs on one pipe cleaner the curl can come out too chunky and won’t hold the curl right.
Step 3. Spray the Locs
Once you have separated the hair for your first pipe cleaner, grab your conditioning water spray and your towel. Keep the towel on your lap so that if the water drips on your hands you can just wipe it off.
Grab your spray bottle and spray the six locs from root to end. Then take your hands and smooth the water through the locs to get the locs damp. You can spray some more if you need to.
Step 4. Add the Pipe Cleaners to the Locs
After dampening the locs, wrap the ends of the locs onto the end of the pipe cleaner. Make sure that the hair is securely wrapped onto the pipe cleaner because that is the foundation that you will build off of.
If you have one or two short locs that don’t quite reach the pipe cleaner, that’s okay. Keep rolling the pipe cleaner without the short locs on it then you can start adding those short locs onto it.
Once the pipe cleaner is fully rolled and is close to your scalp, grab the loop part and bend it down. Then go to the end of the pipe cleaner and bend that up. This will secure the pipe cleaner and prevent it from unraveling.
Tips for Applying Pipe Cleaners
- You will have to maneuver your arms into different positions as you finish the sides and back of your head in order to keep the same tension while you’re rolling up the pipe cleaners.
- Before you move on to drying your locs, double check to make sure you didn’t miss any locs. It’s okay if you miss a loc, simply grab another pipe cleaner and just curl it by itself.
Repeat Steps 1-4
This is what the hair looks like all rolled up onto the pipe cleaners. Keep following those same steps over and over again until you finish each section. I’m not gonna lie, you may experience a little bit of discomfort the next day in your back and neck from all the arm and back movement. But, pain is beauty, and you look fabulous with these curls.
Drying The Pipe Cleaners
Watch to See How I Dry the Pipe Cleaners
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Unraveling Your Locs
Watch to See How I Unravel the Pipe Cleaners
Separating the Pipe Cleaner Curls
Watch to See How I Separate the Pipe Cleaner Curls
Final Thoughts
