💈 The Loctician Center: Where Culture, Craft, and Career Come Together
At MTM Foundation’s Loctician Center, we’re doing more than teaching hair care—we’re preserving cultural heritage, empowering creative entrepreneurs, and opening doors to financial independence. This isn’t just a training program. It’s a sanctuary where natural hair is celebrated, where ancient techniques meet modern business savvy, and where young people discover they can build thriving careers by honoring who they are.
🌟 What Makes Our Program Special
A Celebration of Natural Hair & Cultural Identity
Locs aren’t just a hairstyle—they’re a statement of identity, spirituality, and cultural pride with roots stretching back thousands of years across African, Rastafarian, and other global traditions. Our center honors this legacy while teaching students to become masters of their craft.
We create a space where:
- Natural hair is respected and celebrated, not “fixed” or altered
- Students learn the deep cultural and spiritual significance of locs
- Young people see their heritage reflected in a viable, respected career path
- Textured, coily, and kinky hair is treated with the expertise it deserves
📚 Comprehensive Curriculum: From Beginner to Certified Professional
Our program is designed to take students from zero experience to certified, confident locticians ready to serve clients or launch their own businesses.
Phase 1: Foundations of Loc Care
Understanding Hair Science
- Hair anatomy and the unique characteristics of textured hair
- How locs form, mature, and evolve through stages
- Hair and scalp health—identifying issues and promoting growth
- Product knowledge: what works, what damages, and why
Starting Techniques
- Multiple loc starting methods: comb coils, two-strand twists, interlocking, freeform, and more
- How to assess hair type, texture, and density to recommend the best method
- Proper sectioning and parting for uniform, healthy locs
- Setting realistic expectations with clients about the loc journey
Phase 2: Maintenance Mastery
Retwisting & Grooming
- Palm rolling, interlocking, and other maintenance techniques
- How to retwist roots without causing thinning or breakage
- Maintaining loc integrity while encouraging healthy growth
- Dealing with buildup, lint, and common loc challenges
Styling Techniques
- Updos, braided styles, and creative loc arrangements
- Using accessories and color safely
- Protective styling that maintains loc health
- Trending styles clients are requesting
Phase 3: Advanced Skills & Problem-Solving
Repair & Restoration
- Fixing thinning locs and weak spots
- Combining or separating locs
- Addressing breakage and damaged ends
- Working with clients transitioning from other styles
Specialized Services
- Loc extensions and installation
- Sister locs and microlocs
- Coloring locs safely
- Deep conditioning treatments for loc health
🛠️ Hands-On Training in a Real Salon Environment
Theory only takes you so far. Our students learn by doing.
What Hands-On Training Includes:
- Live models and clients supervised by experienced instructors
- Work on diverse hair types, textures, and loc stages
- Practice consultations where communication skills are honed
- Building a portfolio of before-and-after work to showcase their skills
- Learning to manage appointment timing and client flow
Our Training Salon Features:
- Professional-grade salon chairs and equipment
- Full range of natural hair care products
- Sanitation stations meeting health department standards
- A welcoming atmosphere that mirrors a real business setting
💼 Business & Entrepreneurship Training
Being great with hair is only half the equation. We teach students how to turn their skills into sustainable income.
Business Curriculum Includes:
- Pricing services competitively and profitably
- Building a client base through word-of-mouth and social media
- Booking and scheduling systems
- Customer service that keeps clients coming back
- Marketing yourself on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
- Financial basics: tracking income, managing expenses, setting aside taxes
- Booth rental vs. suite ownership vs. mobile services—choosing your path
- Licensing requirements and how to meet them in your state
🎓 What Students Walk Away With
Upon completion, every graduate receives:
✅ Official Loctician Certification recognized by salons, barbershops, and clients
✅ Hands-on experience with real clients and diverse hair types
✅ A professional portfolio showcasing their best work
✅ Business knowledge to start earning immediately
✅ Ongoing mentorship and support from MTM Foundation
✅ Confidence in their ability to create beauty and build wealth