Sister locks are a trademarked method of locking hair. The individuals who install Sisterlocks have to take training courses to receive the title “trainee” or “consultant.” As the Almond Avocado blog notes, graduates of the comprehensive Sisterlocks training program are named trainees, while trainees certified from the Sisterlocks home office become consultants.
Although trainees oftentimes have less experience and a smaller portfolio, their prices will most likely be lower than a consultant. You can expect an official Sisterlocks consultant to have a large portfolio and a lot experience to justify higher pricing.
I appreciate that Sisterlocks trainees and consultants have completed specialized training to install this type of locs. Two consultants, Chasrah Gomer and Roxanne Ray, worked in my head at installation time, and they explained that they learned various types of grids (for parting hair) and how to determine which grid is best for a particular head type. They also said that they install Sisterlocks according to hair type, and the Sisterlocks method cannot be duplicated without official training. Personally, I love that Sisterlocks follow an organized way to install locs. I felt like I would get what was best for my head, and I did!
Some don’t like it.
Some determine that they can install Sisterlocks without completing the training program. They don’t like that Sisterlocks costs hundreds of dollars initially. They think they can look over the shoulder of an experienced consultant and do what she does at a very reduced price.
Roxanne told me that these methods are called step-Sisterlocks because a stylist uses some of the steps that consultants and trainees use without the knowledge consultants and trainees have received. Some don’t mind if a stylist has that training under her belt or not. She just wants micro locs installed with an interlocking tool. If she gets this type of locs, they might look like Sisterlocks. But, they are not.
There’s really no reason to say they are. They can be beautiful. They can also be installed incorrectly and cause locs to break off. They cannot lawfully be the trademarked brand. It’s like insisting your knock-off handbag is a genuine Coach. It can be a cute handbag, but it can never be the real thing.
Respect the system
Dr. Joanne Cornwell developed this interlocking system and specialized training, and anyone with Sisterlocks will link it with her name. I’m certain she does not want her name linked with knock-off Sisterlocks that may or may not be installed properly. If you didn’t get your Sisterlocks installed by an official trainee or consultant, please respect the system. Don’t insist you have something that you do not.
If you want to follow my Sisterlocks journey, please visit my Sisterlocks blog.
