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This is the archived New York Times Strands puzzle for March 24, 2024, game #21. Its theme clue is “Lock steps.” Try the gentle hint below before opening the answers.
Need a nudge?
Think of something used to wash hair: Shampoo. In the clue, “lock” points to a strand of hair rather than a door lock.
Spoilers: the March 24, 2024 answers
The spangram is HAIRCARE. The six theme words are:
- APPLY
- LATHER
- RINSE
- CONDITION
- TOWEL
- MOISTURIZE
Together, the words evoke steps and products associated with caring for hair. The canonical spelling listed by Try Hard Guides and UnscrambleIt is MOISTURIZE; Forbes renders that entry as “Moisturizer.”
How the clue connects to the answers
“Lock steps” can first suggest the steps of a lock, but the shampoo hint shifts “lock” to a lock of hair. LATHER and RINSE make the haircare reading clearer, while HAIRCARE names the shared theme.
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How Strands hints work
Strands is a word-search-style game: players trace theme words in a letter grid, and the spangram names the connection while spanning opposite sides of the board. Try Hard Guides explains that finding three non-theme words of at least four letters earns an in-game hint highlighting a theme word.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and archive note
The answer set is corroborated by Try Hard Guides, Forbes, and UnscrambleIt. These are third-party solution pages, not official New York Times archive citations. Current availability of this original puzzle across platforms or regions is not established here.
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