I have had my fair share of thin locks, mostly from hair loss at the edges after intense re-tighten sessions.  Once the hair starts to grow back and grow longer I am faced with a dilemma similar to Kreyola's... Should I or Shouldn't I cut them off. I have made the decision on a loc by loc basis to cut them off for aesthetic reasons. Sometimes the loc is hanging by a string and thick at the root, again ruining my overall look.  So then I cut them off as soon as it grows long enough.

In instances where the lock breaks off, my new consultant has successfully re-attached them as if nothing has happened at all! But we all face thinning or locs that break if we stay loc'd long enough, including those with traditional locs.

Photo Source