Loctician Certification Classes: Online or In Person, and How to Choose the Right One

By Ann-Marie Christell, Seienstyle

Two ways to the same certificate

People often write to me with the same question, in different words. I want to become a certified loctician. Should I learn online or in person?

It is a good question, and there is no single right answer. Some people learn best at home, at their own pace, returning to the lessons as often as they need. Others need a teacher right beside them, guiding their hands. Both can lead to the same place.

My name is Ann-Marie Christell, and I have been a professional loctician for over 26 years. I teach the Seienstyle process both online and in person, and I have trained more than a hundred locticians in many countries. In this post, I want to help you choose the certification class that fits you.

Why I care so much about certification

I learned this work with no teacher at all. In 1996, as a teenager in a small town in Sweden, I made my first dreadlocks with the help of a library book. For years I learned by trial and error, and I picked up habits that hurt my hands and took a long time to undo.

Later, as more people began offering dreadlocks, I met many clients who had been let down by someone who had not learned the craft properly. Dreadlocks made with wax that never washed out. Roots pulled so tight the scalp ached for weeks. People told their hair was not right for dreadlocks at all.

That is why I want a Seienstyle certification to mean something real. Not that you watched some videos, but that you learned a gentle, inclusive method properly, showed your work, and know how to care for the person in your chair.

Option 1: The Professional Loctician Online Course

The online certification class lets you learn the Seienstyle process from anywhere in the world, at your own pace.

How it works: you move step by step through the lessons, from your first practice on a mannequin head, through dreadlocks with extensions and maintenance, to working with real clients. You share your work as you go, and every student has one-on-one video coaching calls with me. In our calls, I see what your hands are doing, guide your technique, and help you keep moving toward certification.

It suits you if:

• You want to learn around a job, family or other commitments
• You like to revisit lessons as many times as you need
• You live far from where I teach in person
• You want personal guidance without travelling

The Professional Loctician Online Course

Option 2: The Professional Loctician In-Person Training

The in-person certification class is a two-day, one-on-one training. It is just you and me, working side by side on live hair models.

How it works: we start with a video call to see whether we are a good match. Before we meet, you get access to the online course so you can learn the foundations and practise first. Then, over two full days, I guide your hands in the moment: your angle, your tension, your sectioning, your posture. Afterwards, you continue with video coaching calls and keep lifetime access to the online course.

You can come to me in Stockholm, or I can travel to you in cities across Europe. I am also open to teaching in the USA and Australia.

It suits you if:

• You learn best by doing, with a teacher beside you
• You want correction in the moment, not feedback afterwards
• You want to fix habits that are causing pain in your hands or body
• You want the deepest possible start to your career

Students who complete the in-person training are also welcome to a yearly shadow day with me, where you can join me while I work and keep learning by watching.

The Professional Loctician In-Person Training

What both classes have in common

Whichever you choose, you learn the same method and work toward the same certification:

• The Seienstyle process, which 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
• Your body, with the tools, furniture and posture that let you work without pain for decades
• Your client, including how to stay present and hold space through a long appointment. As a breathwork and meditation teacher, I weave this into everything I teach
• Your practice, from setting up your space to attracting the clients you want and charging fairly
• Personal feedback from me, so certification reflects work I have actually seen

What happens after certification

Certification is the beginning, not the end. I keep supporting my students after they are certified, for as long as they need it, and you remain part of the Seienstyle community of locticians around the world.

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

See the certified Seienstyle locticians

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 differ between countries and regions, so check what applies where you live before working with paying clients.

Frequently asked questions

Is an online certification worth as much as an in-person one? With Seienstyle, both lead to the same certification, and both include personal feedback from me. The difference is how you learn, not what you earn.

Can I combine the two? Yes. The in-person training includes lifetime access to the online course, so many students get the best of both.

Do I need experience? No. Both classes start where you are.

Can I pay in instalments? Payment plans are available. For in-person training, they are possible for students in Sweden, Scandinavia and some European countries.

Not sure yet?

If you are still wondering whether becoming a loctician is right for you, start with my free three-part online training.

Join the free training The Proven Path to Become a Loctician

And if you would like help choosing between online and in person, email me at [email protected]. Tell me a little about yourself, how you like to learn and where you are, and we can find the right path together.

With love,

Ann-Marie