I literally just big chopped after so much heat damage and growing out my hair to atleast a few inches to get my sisterlocks. Your hair is not only beautiful but a huge inspiration for me. I love it.
your hair looks the same length when you got your locks. You should moisturize, but only after the hair is locked. Every time you do anything to the hair in the early stages of the locking process, you are interrupting the locking process. This is one of the reasons why the ends are thick. The locks were not properly banded. This is not criticizing you. I have been observing your journey.
I swim and my hair is colored which makes it dry. And yes it can't be properly moisturized when you first start so dryness causes breakage. My hair and I are now at a happy place. I love my thick ends and wouldn't change a thing.