Your Questions Answered

Send your questions to info@tassahai.co.uk or click on the Location/Contact button to the left to send your email. I will answer your questions here or send you a private message if appropriate.

Q.  I'm really excited, how soon can I get my locks installed?

A.  For current availlability please telephone. Please note that it is not usual for installation to take place within two weeks of your initial call!

Q.  How long does it take to put in new locs?

A.  The locking session will vary from one client to another and most people are done within a day or so, however, sessions have taken several days for very small micros or very dense and/or long hair. There are several variables which need to be taken into account in determining how long your session will be but an estimation will be given at your consultation.

Q. Will I be able to colour my hair?

A.  Yes, you can colour your locks but if you about to start new locs, it is best to colour your hair before your locking session so that you do not have the problem of slippage and fraying locs as you will need to shampoo and rinse the colour out thoroughly.

Q. Are small locs permanent?

A.  You should view small locs in the same way that you view a perm. Once the hair has been chemically altered you cannot change it in a hurry and you need to either let it grow out or give it the chop! There is a short period of time once the locks have been installed when they can be undone but this is a very long and tedious process. At Tassahai we are always happy to help someone start their journey but unfortunately we do not facilitate the undoing of hundreds of locks. This is one of the reasons why consultations are mandatory. By the time most people have reached the consultation stage they will have done as much research as they can about the process. At this visit you will be given every opportunity to ask as many questions as you wish and view a portfolio of previous work before you proceed.

Q. I am growing out a perm and I really don't want to cut the length in order to start off my small locs. Can you help me?

A.  The majority of clients who are growing out a perm can transition into locks as long as their hair is in good condition. You will need a couple of inches of new growth to start.

Q. Can I be taught how to retighten my own locs?

A. Yes, certainly!

Q. How far in advance will I need to book my appointments?

A.  Appointments for consultations are usually available within a couple of weeks or so and you will need to have had your consultation in order to book your locking session. Your next retightening is booked at the end of your session in order to secure your next appointment. The diary is often booked anything from 8 weeks upwards in advance so you should aim to get your date in as soon as possible. Short notice appointments are not always possible but there are sometimes cancellations so don't hesitate to get in touch.

Q. What do I need to bring with me to my appointments?

A.  Apart from a clean head of hair, nothing else really. If you are going to be spending several hours with us you may wish to bring a snack and a good book or use the time to catch up on that paperwork you've been meaning to do. For a locking session you will need to bring refreshments with you. If this isn't possible there are several take-away options available for evening meals and we are happy to provide a sandwich lunch if necessary.

Is there anything else I should know? We can offer our clients a quiet and comfortable environment in which to enjoy their session and leave feeling pampered. You need to experience our fantastic HD home cinema system with loads of movies you can catch up on, or if you've got a dvd at home you've been meaning to watch bring it with you. We can even provide the popcorn!
 
If you are coming for a retightening before the cockerel starts crowing really early in the morning, you probably won't have had the time or the inclination to eat. We can arrange breakfast for you or feel free to bring your own to have whilst you catch up on the morning news or go back to sleep whilst your hair is being done.
 
Attending a locking session? All that sitting can be hard work on the muscles. All locking session clients are entitled to receive a complimentary massage each day in our state of the art chair which has been described as simply divine. After lunch, imagine lying back in a candle-lit room, closing your eyes and being left alone to enjoy a 20 minute massage drifting off to calming music whilst you ease the tension literally from neck to toe. You won't want to wake up!
 
Features of the chair include an automatic body scan feature to cater to people with different build. By detecting the location of your shoulders, the massage rollers can then glide along the length of your back to effectively deliver a more personalised massage. It uses vibrating massage to stimulate vital acupressure points for effective revitalisation, while soothing heat from the backrest and the seat helps relieve muscle aches, reduce stiffness and improve circulation.

Wrap-around Foot Massage - Slip your legs into the footrest, and let the airbags firmly squeeze the sides of your feet and calves. The air massage closely simulates the trained hands of a masseur soothing and relieving muscle aches and easing tiredness from your calves, ankles and feet.

Q.  What are your appointment times?

A.  Tassahai's standard appointment times are subject to availability and are listed below. Please note, however, that sometimes we can occasionally adjust service times and days so don't be afraid to ask otherwise you could miss out. We can start your appointment from 5am which is suitable for many working people as it means there is no need to always lose half a day's precious holiday from work if you get the early bird session! It does mean getting up out of bed early, but the advantage is it also means the end of your day can finish at your usual time. Our last appointment is at 4pm Monday to Friday. All appointments are booked on a first-come basis.
 
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Locking sessions: from 8am
Retightenings: from 5am, last appointment 4pm

Saturdays
Retightenings: 5am to early afternoon

School holidays
Retightenings only,: 5am to early afternoon

Q. Why do some consultants have such long waiting lists sometimes several months in advance?

A.  There is often a waiting period as existing clients will always book their next retightening appointment at each session anywhere between 4-8 weeks in advance and new clients are accommodated around these.

Also, a well established and experienced consultant of several years standing may well have a long waiting list because much of his/her work will be by referral and very much in demand. These prospective clients have seen and admired this person's work and are therefore prepared to wait up to several months to get onto that consultant's list. Of course, there is no requirement for you to do this if you don't want to wait for an extended period of time. If you are looking for similar locs, the official Sisterlocks online database has an extensive list of consultants who may not be as busy and will be happy to help you get started within your own personal timescale.

Q. I have what I think is quite thin hair. Is my hair suitable for small locs?:

A. It is important that you get an experienced practitioner look at your hair and discuss with you the possible problems you may encounter. This is because should you have problems in the future this person should be well placed to advise and carry out remedial work if necessary. Someone new, whilst needing that experience, may not be the right person for you at this time.

Q.  My locks appear to be thinning and breaking in places. I'm not sure what to do?

A.  The viability of your locks is dependant on a number of factors such as: lock size, retightening schedule and/or technique and tension, illness, medication, stress, pregnancy, hormones, nutrition, genetics, products, dyes, styling, etc etc the list goes on... You need to think of what may have changed within the last few months which may have affected your hair or whether you have a longstanding health condition for example. If all else fails consider having a blood test to rule out any underlying issues. Work with your consultant closely to monitor your locs through this vulnerable period.

Q. I am having problems with my locs but I my consultant is not listening to my concerns. What can I do?

A. Seek out a more experienced practitioner if necessary for advice and have him/her look at your hair. Sometimes another set of eyes can help.

Q. I am confused. There are a lot of hairdressers and consultants out there who say they can do small locs such as Sisterlocks or microlocs. How do I go about finding the right person for me? Please advise.

A. As a prospective or even an existing client wishing to change, you need to find a consultant based on your own personal set of criteria and yours may be very different from someone else's. What are you looking to get from your hair experience? Here are some issues that I have come across over the years which can affect your decision:
distance (from your home or work) or whether you want your practitioner to be mobiledistraction of young children or other family members if practising from homecostconsultant work experienceavailability for initial and subsequent appointmentsreligious issuesprofessionalism additional hair services other than routineworking environment and comfortmaintaining a long-term relationship with your practitionerpet free and smoke free environment

Think carefully then decide which if any of these issues are important to you