Tons of people get their locs done and maintained professionally because simply put, the more experience a person has doing them, the higher the odds that they can do them exactly as you want them done.  Frankly, I think if your hair is not prone to locking well without some help and guidance, then getting it done professionally is a great option if you want them to be neat and fairly uniform.  Bottomline:most professionals do not have the option of going about with their head looking dreadful but want locs.  All methods are valid.

 thats true. if you want them to look neat, thats an option. i just love the DIY, ununiform look that mine have.

 thats exactly how i started mine. i did 3 or4 on the side, and realized i loved them, and this is what i had to do. my hair was already starting to dread itsself because its so unkept though.

 ok, hope i'm not bringin back an evil zombie, cause this thread was pretty alive at one point, but some people asked to see updates, i feel this is the best place.

anyways, here they are. Myriah, Scruffy, i wanna see yours!

 lookin' sharp!

Andy, those are really coming along!!  They look great!

Way off topic, but you need your philtrum pierced, Andy.

 here. i got a few more, of the freshly cleaned and washed hair. got my scalp and hair feels lovely right now. feast on this hunk of eye candy.

my hair is blocking the left side of my lobe, its not a tiny string, dont worry

 whoooaaa naked! looks great andy. :D

Damn, I am pretty jealous, Andy. Those are looking great. I think I am almost to 7 months now. (mid Jan?)

So my 'camera' is out of batteries, but here are some cell pics. (yes, I can't help but make silly faces)

the underside:

The back:

detail of one side (they want to be one bigass knot on the sides):

thanks myriah! yours are lookin WAY progressed since the last photo's you posted. i love how the ones in the back are forming in. p.s. you'ze teh cutes. 

 Both of your hair is looking great! Myriah, excellent progress. I've never seen progression photos of natural locs before, very interesting. 

Myriah, I saw you in person the other day when I picked up my order, and I have to agree that you're too cute! hehe  And the back is super formed!  Love it!  Unfortunately, Crustcore, I can't see your pictures right now. :(