Price: Free (I had all of the ingredients in my house)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Recipe:
Large bowl/sink of warm water
1/4 cup of baking soda
2 tsp of lemon juice
1 tsp of sea salt
3/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

Stir until all is well dissolved

Review:
I tried this on my locs more as an experiment to see how much build up was in my locs after a year of having them. I got the recipe from Chescaloc's YouTube video where she recorded herself doing the cleanse in the sink. She, along with other people, did the cleanse on their locs and the mixture in the sink turned from clear to brown. I wanted to see where my hair stood when it came to product build-up.

When I did the cleanse, my water did not turn brown, but it was slightly darker and I could see residue and flakes. I chose to shampoo as well since it couldn't get much of the oil from my scalp. After washing and conditioning my hair, it was shinier and looked healthier in general.
I am relieved to know that I'm not using too much product in my locs lol

Bottom Line:

Great recipe for getting the build up out of your locs. Wouldn't recommend doing a harsh cleanse like this more than twice a year.

Eco Styler Pros
Cheap (huge 32 oz tub for about $5)
Maximum hold
No flaking (in my hair)
Nice, light smell

Eco Styler Cons
Leaves a "gel cast"
Makes my hair feel dry

There are plenty of people who use Eco Styler gel to retwist their locs. It's no surprise since you get a lot for a cheap price. Personally, I loved Eco Styler gel when my hair was loose, but for loc maintenance I don't like it all that much.

It does hold well, but I don't need maximum hold on my roots. I also found that over time my roots were starting to feel dry even though I was moisturizing my hair between washes. Not to mention that I have an oily scalp so my roots being dry is a sure sign that something isn't right.

This is because Eco Styler gel leaves what some people call a "gel cast." The gels coats your hair strands and then hardens, creating a barrier against anything else you'll try to put on your hair. If you have ever used Eco Styler to define your curls, you know this is why hair tutorials tell you to scrunch your hair so it won't be hard. You're breaking up the gel cast a bit.
Eco Styler gel has helped me achieve many sleek ponytails, but it's not ideal for retwisting my locs.

Taliah Waajid Pros
Good hold
No flaking (in my hair)
Nice, light smell
No gel cast
Doesn't leave the hair feeling dry

Taliah Waajid Cons
More expensive especially if you're heavy handed (6 oz jar for about $7)

I found out about this gel from watching Damian Walter's videos on YouTube. He uses the "tight hold" version of it in his clients' hair when retwisting their locs. He went over the pros of using it and I was sold. At the time my locs were 2 months old and still developing, but I could still tell the difference in my hair after shampooing the Eco Styler out of my hair and then using the regular Taliah Waajid Lock It Up gel. When I come from under the dryer, my hair holds well but it isn't hard at all. My roots feel moisturized and healthy which means I'm happy.

One thing to remember about the gel is that you don’t need to put a lot. For me, one jar lasts for 3-4 retwist sessions so I actually don't mind the price.

Bottom Line:

Even though Eco Styler holds better and is cheaper, I prefer Taliah Waajid Lock It Up gel for the quality and because it doesn't make my hair dry.

Price: $6-$8
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
Maintains locs, twists and naturals. This product is part of a natural anti-bacterial system. All colors/fragrances used are derived from dried fruit extracts and juices.

• Adds moisture and sheen
• Holds with no flaking
• Defines natural curl pattern
• No alcohol
• No animal testing

Ingredients:
Deionized Water (Aqua), carbomer, Yarrow Roots (Achillea Millefolium), Rosemary (Rosmarinus), DMDM Hydantion, Indian Hemp Extract (Cannibis Sativa), Brown #518, Yellow #10, Nettle (Citrus Aurantium), triethanolamine, fragrance

Review:
This is my go-to product for retwisting my roots. The hold is really good, the gel is light, and it doesn't flake or leave residue. It also smells nice (to me). You don’t need to put a whole lot for it to be effective.

After retwisting, I make sure I sit under the dryer. My hair is very dense and air-drying my locs takes forever. I also find that when I air-dry, the hold is not as good.
Because I bought this for my locs, I can't really say if it helps with curl definition but other reviews have given it 5 stars in that regard as well.

Bottom Line:

Excellent product with a good hold that won't flake or leave residue.