Bornu Locs

Bornu Locs is a loc and dreadlock studio in Atlanta's West End area, at 1235 Almont Drive Southwest, run by owner and loctician Bornu. The studio is also listed under the name Bornu Inc. Its blog describes it as the number one natural hairlocking resource, which is the studio's own claim. Most of the work centers on starting locs, maintenance and extensions, with barbering, chair rental and wellness treatments alongside.

Guidance on starting length depends on hair texture: at least one to two inches for tight, kinky hair, three to five inches for loose or curly hair, and around six inches for straight or wavy hair. For ongoing care, the studio suggests shampooing and retwisting about every one to two weeks as a starting point.

Appointments are booked online only, through the Square calendar, which is open at all hours. Consultations run 30 minutes by phone or video for $45, or in person for $50. Starting locs begin with a deposit from $200 and take about an hour and a half or more, and the final cost is set and itemized at the end of the appointment. Shampoo and retwist starts at $110 and takes about an hour or more. Loc extensions are made from 100% afro kinky human hair, installed by palm rolling and micro crochet, and can be colored, highlighted or bleached, with custom tips on request. They are sold individually at $4 each, or clients can bring their own. A full head typically uses 70 to 120 extensions, with micro sizes needing 90 to 250 or more and large sizes 40 to 80. Four thicknesses are offered, from 0.2 cm to 0.8 cm in diameter. Installation booked with a deposit from $250 takes about six to nine hours, and clients are advised not to pull new extensions into a bun or braid for at least three months.

Studio chairs can be rented for the day, starting at $50 for two hours or more. The rental is open to hobbyists, with licensed stylists preferred, and is intended for natural hair stylists, braiders and locticians. Chemical processes are not allowed, renters bring their own products, and they bring credentials and ID. Wellness services are listed under the name 3rd Sun of Atom: ear candling for $55 for a 30-minute session, colon hydrotherapy for $75 for a 30-minute booking (the site describes sessions as 45 to 60 minutes in a private room), and Reiki-infused bodywork for $90 for an hour.

The studio sells loc sprays from $20 to $25, Bornu Butter loc and scalp balm for $20, Bornu Blends hot oil treatment for $20, a 16 oz black soap loc detergent shampoo for $23, a 16 oz black soap clarifying loc spray for $22, 100% black soap from $8 to $30, and afro locking human hair in 10 or 16 inch lengths for $35 to $45. Products are ordered online first, including for in-store pickup. Orders ship by USPS the next business day and arrive in one to two business days locally or two to three elsewhere in the U.S.; international shipping takes about three to five days and is charged on top of the order. Product and service purchases are final, with no refunds or exchanges. Questions sent through Ask Bornu are answered within a day or two, and a tip jar is available.

Locs are built by coil twisting, backcombing and crocheting, with herbal infusions and essential oils, and without two-strand twists or interlocking.