Micro locs vs sisterlocks presents one of the biggest style decisions for anyone considering smaller locs. When choosing between these popular styles, you're looking at a significant difference in investment—sisterlocks typically cost between $700 - $1,500 for installation, while microlocs start at a more accessible $500 - $1,000.
The differences go beyond just price. Microlocs and Sisterlocks also vary in installation time, with Sisterlocks taking approximately 8 to 36 hours to complete and Microlocs requiring about 6 to 24 hours. Although both styles create thin locs, sisterlocks are trademarked and can only be installed by certified consultants, while microlocs offer more flexibility in who can install them. Depending on your head size and hair length, sisterlocks typically consist of 400 to 1,000 individual locs, compared to microlocs, which can range from 100 to 1,000 locs.
Whether you're drawn to the precision of sisterlocks or the versatility of microlocs, your choice will affect your maintenance routine as well. Sisterlocks require maintenance every 4-6 weeks, while microlocs can often be self-maintained with a less rigid schedule. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to know about both styles to help you make the best decision for your hair journey.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Basics: Microlocs vs Sisterlocks
Choosing between microlocs and sisterlocks requires understanding their fundamental differences. Both styles offer smaller alternatives to traditional locs, yet each brings distinct characteristics worth considering before making your commitment.
Microlocs: Size, Flexibility, and DIY Potential
Microlocs measure approximately 6-9mm in diameter—about the width of a pencil—making them smaller than traditional locs, which typically exceed 10mm. Their installation offers remarkable flexibility since they can be created through various methods, including braiding, twisting, coiling, or interlocking. Furthermore, microlocs don't require adherence to any specific grid pattern, allowing for creative freedom in sectioning your hair. This versatility extends to their maintenance and styling options, as microlocs can be cornrowed, braided, roller set, or sculpted into numerous updos.
Notably, you don't need specialized training to install microlocs, making them a potential DIY project for those willing to research and practice the technique. Many people successfully install their own microlocs after studying online resources and tutorials.
Sisterlocks: Trademarked Method and Grid Precision
Sisterlocks, conversely, represent a proprietary system protected by US trademarks and copyrights. Developed by Dr. JoAnne Cornwell in 1993, this technique creates tiny, uniform locks through a precise parting grid and specialized interlocking tool. The grid serves as the foundation of Sisterlocks—you simply cannot have Sisterlocks without this specific parting pattern.
Essentially, installation must be performed exclusively by certified Sisterlocks consultants or trainees who have completed extensive training. Your hair density and natural curl pattern determine which of the four specific locking patterns will work best for your Sisterlocks.
Key Similarities Between the Two Styles
Despite their differences, both styles share important commonalities. Primarily, they both create small, uniform locks that offer styling versatility exceeding traditional locs. Each style progresses through four similar maturity stages: starter/baby, budding/teenage, shooting/adult, and contracting/elder. Both require regular maintenance—retightening every 4-7 weeks for microlocs and every 4-6 weeks for Sisterlocks. Above all, they provide freedom from chemical treatments and heat damage, promoting healthier hair growth over time.
Installation Process and Time Commitment
The installation process represents a critical difference when comparing micro locs vs sisterlocks, affecting everything from who can install them to how long you'll spend in the stylist's chair.
Microlocs Techniques: Twists, Braids, and Interlocking
Microlocs offer installation flexibility through multiple techniques. You can create them using braiding, twisting, coiling, palm rolling, or interlocking methods. This versatility allows you to choose what works best for your hair texture. Initially, your clean, damp hair gets sectioned into four or more parts, secured with hair ties. Subsequently, you'll create smaller partitions representing individual locs using various patterns such as diamonds, squares, or organic shapes. The installation begins from the roots and works its way down to the ends, frequently secured with wax or gel for definition. Importantly, no special training is required to install microlocs, making them a potential DIY option if you're willing to learn the technique.
Sisterlocks Method: Interlocking Tool and Certified Consultants
In contrast, sisterlocks demand professional installation by certified consultants who have completed extensive training in the trademarked method. The process starts with a consultation where the consultant installs tester locs to determine which pattern best suits your hair texture. During installation, the consultant sections your hair following a precise symmetrical grid pattern, then uses a patented interlocking tool to create the locs. Unlike microlocs, sisterlocks begin from the ends of your hair and work upward toward the root, which helps minimize tension on the scalp. The technique involves four specific locking patterns that consultants are trained to use.
Installation Time: 6–24 Hours vs 8–36 Hours
Microlocs installation typically takes 6-24 hours, depending on the length and density of your hair. For shorter hair, this generally translates to 7-12 hours; longer and thicker hair may require up to 15 hours. Consequently, many stylists break the session into multiple appointments for comfort. Sisterlocks installation typically takes between 8 and 36 hours, depending on hair length and density. Most consultants divide this time-intensive process into at least two appointments since creating 400-1000 individual locs requires significant precision.
Starter Loc Requirements: Hair Length and Texture
For virgin hair, you need approximately 2 inches of length to start microlocs. However, if your hair is relaxed or permed, you should wait until you have about 1.5 inches of virgin hair growth at the roots, as chemically treated hair doesn't lock properly. Sisterlocks work well with various natural hair textures, primarily 4A-4C, although they can also be installed in relaxed hair. Following installation, both styles require follow-up appointments—typically within one month—to check progress and perform initial maintenance.
Maintenance, Styling, and Longevity
Ongoing maintenance significantly impacts your experience with both microlocs and sisterlocks, affecting everything from your salon schedule to your daily styling routine.
Retightening Frequency: 4–7 Weeks vs 4–6 Weeks
The maintenance schedules between these styles show subtle yet significant differences. Microlocs typically require retightening every 4-7 weeks, providing slightly more flexibility for busy schedules. Sisterlocks, meanwhile, need maintenance every 4-6 weeks, with some consultants recommending the first retightening just 2-4 weeks after installation. For both styles, extending the interval between appointments beyond 8 weeks often leads to complications such as thinning, uneven matting, or excessive slippage.
Styling Options: High Buns, Ponytails, and Updos
Both styles offer remarkable versatility compared to traditional locs. With microlocs, you can create:
Top-knots and high buns
Half-up, half-down styles
Space buns and braided crowns
Sisterlocks provide even more intricate styling possibilities due to their uniformity. Additionally, the thinness of both styles allows for ponytails, updos, and braidouts without the heaviness of traditional locs. Most impressively, these styles take minimal time to create—one significant advantage over loose natural hair.
Product Use: Oils, Moisturizers, and Sisterlocks Restrictions
Product selection represents a key difference between these styles. Sisterlocks follows a strict "less-is-more" approach, specifically avoiding heavy, oil-based products that create buildup. Accordingly, only specially formulated Sisterlocks products are officially recommended.
Microlocs offer more flexibility with products, but still require caution. For both styles, lightweight moisturizers, rose water sprays, and non-residue-producing cleansers work best. Palm-rolling with lightweight styling creams helps tame stray hairs without causing buildup.
Maturity Stages: From Starter to Final Form
Both styles progress through remarkably similar maturity phases:
Starter stage (first 6 months) - Initial settling and growth
Budding stage (months 6-12) - Visible bumps and frizziness
Teenage stage (months 12-18) - Awkward growth and shape
Mature stage (15-18 months onward) - Fully formed locs in their intended shape
Throughout these stages, regular maintenance ensures uniform loc development while preventing thinning or matting issues that become harder to correct over time.
Cost, Accessibility, and Lifestyle Fit
Financial commitment and stylist availability are key deciding factors when choosing between micro locs and sisterlocks. Your location, budget, and time constraints will ultimately determine which style makes the most sense for your lifestyle.
Initial Cost: $400–$1200+ for Microlocs vs $700–$1500+ for Sisterlocks
The price difference between these styles is substantial. Microlocs typically cost between $400-$1200 for installation, making them more budget-friendly for most people. Sisterlocks command a premium price, ranging from $700-$1500+ for initial installation. In fact, some clients with longer, denser hair report paying close to $2000 for their sisterlocks installation.
What drives these price variations? Several factors influence the final cost:
Hair length (most consultants charge extra per inch beyond a base length)
Hair density and texture
Stylist experience level
Geographic location
Number of locs being installed
Ongoing maintenance costs must also be factored in. Microloc retightening sessions typically range from $100-$300, whereas sisterlocks maintenance sessions cost approximately $60-$400, depending on the time between appointments.
DIY vs Certified Consultant: Who Can Install Each?
Microlocs offer flexibility in who can install them. Primarily, these can be done by:
Any experienced loctician
DIY enthusiasts with proper research and practice
Local stylists familiar with loc creation
Sisterlocks, as a trademarked technique, require installation exclusively by certified consultants who have completed specialized training. This certification requirement naturally limits your options regarding who can perform the service.
Location and Availability of Stylists
Geographic location has a significant impact on your styling options. Rural areas typically have fewer certified sisterlocks consultants, potentially requiring lengthy travel for installation and maintenance. Alternatively, microlocs offer greater accessibility since any skilled loctician can install them without specific certification.
Some clients choose their loc style based entirely on the consultant's availability in their region. Additionally, certain areas have higher pricing due to demand and cost-of-living factors.
Which Style Fits Your Budget and Time?
Your decision ultimately depends on your specific priorities:
If budget sensitivity is your primary concern, microlocs generally represent the more economical choice. Furthermore, the DIY potential means you can potentially save on maintenance costs in the long term.
Regardless of which style you choose, remember that both require significant initial investment plus ongoing maintenance appointments every 4-7 weeks. Essentially, both styles should be viewed as long-term commitments rather than temporary styles.
For those seeking precision and uniformity who are willing to pay premium prices, sisterlocks may justify their higher cost. Conversely, those preferring flexibility and affordability might naturally gravitate toward microlocs.
Comparison Chart
| Feature | Micro Locs | Sisterlocks |
| Installation Cost | $500-$1000 | $700-$1500 |
| Installation Time | 6-24 hours | 8-36 hours |
| Number of Locs | 100-1000 | 400-1000 |
| Minimum Hair Length | 2 inches (virgin hair) | Not Given |
| Maintenance Schedule | Every 4-7 weeks | Every 4-6 weeks |
| Installation Method | Multiple methods (braiding, twisting, coiling, interlocking) | Specific trademarked interlocking method |
| Who Can Install | Any experienced loctiician or DIY | Certified Sisterlock consultants only |
| Product Restrictions | More flexible with productts | Strict "less-is-more" approach, specific Sisterlock products only |
| Installation Direction | Starts from roots to ends | Starts from ends to roots |
| Size | 6-9 mm in diameter | Not given |
| Grid Pattern | None specific given | Requires precise symmetrical grid pattern |
| Maintenance Cost | $100-$300 per session | $60-$400 per session |
Conclusion
Choosing between microlocs and sisterlocks depends on your priorities, lifestyle, and budget. Both styles offer beautiful alternatives to traditional locs, but have key differences.
Microlocs are more budget-friendly ($400-$1200) with maintenance costs of $100-$300, while sisterlocks cost $700-$1500+ with $60-$400 retightening fees. Any experienced loctician can install microlocs, but sisterlocks require certified consultants only.
Installation methods vary - microlocs offer multiple techniques while sisterlocks use a specific trademarked pattern. Both take significant time (6-24 hours for microlocs, 8-36 hours for sisterlocks).
Sisterlocks require stricter maintenance every 4-6 weeks, along with specific product restrictions. Microlocs offer more flexibility with maintenance intervals of 4-7 weeks. Both styles take 15-18 months to fully mature.
Your budget, stylist access, and styling preferences will determine the best choice for you.
