When Your Grid Disappears: Thinning Crowns, Painful Retightenings & Choosing a Healthier Path (with Angela Curry)
Today we’re getting real about something many of you write me about: losing your grid, crown thinning, and the pain cycle of frequent, tight retightenings—and the heartbreak as you consider what to do to protect your follicles, identity, and peace.
Why this matters
For many of us, Sisterlocks/Microlocks aren’t “just hair.” They’re identity. So when the grid fades, you start to notice thinning edges, and the crown gets sparse, it can feel like that identity is being diminished. That’s the moment to pause, listen to your scalp, and consider a safer path forward.
Angela’s story (15+ years locked)
After years of loving her look, Angela noticed progressive thinning “through the top,” worse on the right.
Retightenings hurt so much she pre-medicated before appointments.
The grid vanished; she learned to disguise loss with a top band and curls for fullness.
She didn’t see locks “falling,” but the crown kept thinning—pointing to hidden follicle stress.
The emotional load was real: she considered cutting to a bob, then a small fro.
Discovery: a gentler maintenance approach (no pain, no tools, no mirror, listen to your hair) offered hope to preserve length and let baby hairs return.
Result: visible relief—and a reminder that life is change; your lock journey can evolve, too.
Hard truths we discussed
Pain is a signal. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right.
Frequent, tight retightenings + tension styling = cumulative follicle trauma, especially at the crown/part lines.
By the time you see loss, micro-tears and energetic stress have often been happening for a while.
New growth is not the enemy. Your hair (and nervous system) need rest.
What helps (simple first steps)
Stretch your interval (where safe for your pattern) so hair/scalp can recover.
Ease the tension—no painful rotations, no “tractor-trailer” detangling.
Moisture + slip: light, penetrating oils on scalp (not heavy coatings on strands).
Daily misting and scalp massage for circulation.
Document problem areas (photos, mark a lock) and talk about them before maintenance starts.
Assess what you think is going on with your hair and start paying closer attention to problem areas as well as your entire head.
Stay open—your journey can shift without losing you.
Consider interventions like cutting some length, taking a break from locs altogther, or taking over the problems areas yourself. If you consider other methods, do your research first, and be thorough. It can take 1-2 years to see the impact of a new method, especially something like knotted locs. From experience, I’ve learned that it is better to experiment on a few locs first, prior to diving in and changing your entire method. This method is not for everyone.
Identity still intact
Locks are antennas—part of our spiritual, cultural, and personal story. Evolving your maintenance to honor your body is not “giving up.” It’s version 2.0.
—Tunisia Ali, I AM MELANIN MAGIC
Support Your Scalp, Protect Your Journey
Light, consistent care + lower tension = happier follicles.
