Become a Certified Loctician: The Path From First Practice to Certified Professional

By Ann-Marie Christell, Seienstyle

From a dream to a profession

Many people tell me they have dreamed of becoming a loctician for years. Some have made dreadlocks for friends. Some have watched every video they could find. Some have never touched a crochet hook. What they all want is the same: to know that they can do this work properly, and to be able to show their clients that they can be trusted.

My name is Ann-Marie Christell, and I have been a professional loctician for over 26 years. I have trained more than a hundred locticians in many countries. In this post, I want to walk you through what it really takes to become a certified loctician, step by step, so you know exactly what lies ahead.

Step 1: Find out if this path is yours

Before you invest in anything, it is worth asking whether this work truly fits you. Becoming a loctician is creative, meaningful and deeply human. It is also physically demanding, asks for long hours of presence with each client, and takes time to master.

My free three-part online training, The Proven Path to Become a Loctician, was made for this step. It gives you an honest picture of the work, what it asks of you and what it can give back, so you can decide with clarity.

Join the free training The Proven Path to Become a Loctician

Step 2: Choose your method and your teacher

The method you learn will shape the loctician you become, possibly for your whole career. So choose carefully. Ask whether the method works on every hair texture, whether it relies on wax or other products, and whether it protects your hands and body. Look at your teacher's finished work, including dreadlocks they made years ago.

I teach the Seienstyle process, the holistic method I have developed over more than two decades. It works on every hair texture, uses no products, is gentle on your hands and your client's scalp, and helps dreadlocks begin to mature within two to three months, without the long awkward stage.

Step 3: Build your foundation

Every loctician begins on a mannequin head. This is where your hands learn the first movements, again and again, until they start to live in your muscle memory.

In The Professional Loctician Online Course, you move through the skills step by step: creating new dreadlocks, adding extensions, maintenance and more. You also learn the parts of the work that are rarely taught: how to set up your workspace, protect your posture, and care for your body through long days.

The learning will not be a straight line. You will improve, stumble and come back stronger. That is how everyone learns this craft, including me.

Step 4: Get feedback from someone who can see your work

This is the step most people skip when they try to learn alone, and it is the one that matters most. You cannot correct what you cannot see.

Every student in The Professional Loctician Online Course has one-on-one video coaching calls with me. I can see what your hands are doing, guide your technique, and help you notice small habits before they become big ones. You also share your work in The Professional Loctician community and learn alongside others on the same path.

If you learn best with a teacher right beside you, I also offer a two-day, one-on-one in-person training, which includes lifetime access to the online course.

Step 5: Make the step to real hair

Working on a mannequin head and working on a real person are two different skills. A real client has a scalp that can feel tension, a body that gets tired in the chair, and often a lot of feelings about the change they are making.

This is where many self-taught locticians get stuck. The course is designed to guide you across that bridge, so you gain confidence working with real hair and real people, and learn how to hold space for a client through a long appointment.

Step 6: Show your work and earn your certification

A certificate is only as meaningful as what you had to show to earn it. With Seienstyle, certification is not something you get simply by watching the videos. It reflects that you have learned the method properly and shown your work.

Locticians who have trained with me and work in the Seienstyle way can be found on my page of certified Seienstyle locticians, so clients around the world can find someone they can trust.

See the certified Seienstyle locticians

Step 7: Keep growing

Certification marks the beginning of your career, not the end of your learning. After certification, you keep lifetime access to the online course, so you can return to the lessons whenever you need them, and you remain part of the Seienstyle community.

For locticians who are already working, I also offer a more advanced version of the course, with one-on-one coaching focused on pain in the body, speed and confidence, marketing and business systems.

A note about licences

A loctician certificate shows where and how you trained. It is usually not a government licence. Rules for working with hair and clients differ between countries and regions, so check what applies where you live before you start working with paying clients.

Frequently asked questions

Can I become a certified loctician online? Yes. The Professional Loctician Online Course includes one-on-one coaching calls, so I can see your work and guide you throughout.

Do I need to be a hairdresser first? No. Many of my students had never worked with hair professionally before.

How long does it take to become certified? It depends on your pace and how much you practise. Some people move quickly, others take their time, and both are fine.

Can I pay in instalments? Yes, payment plans are available.

Your next step

If you are still exploring, start with the free training.

Join the free training The Proven Path to Become a Loctician

If you are ready to begin your path to certification, read more about the course and the one-on-one coaching here.

The Professional Loctician Online Course

And if you would like to talk about where you are and what you hope to build, email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

With love,

Ann-Marie