Are you dying to get dreadlocks? Unfortunately, straight, fine hair doesn't lend itself easily to dreadlocks - which are strands of matted hair that can form naturally from tightly-curled hair. But with a little effort and a lot of patience, you can get dreadlocks, too!
Step 1
Grow your hair out. You will need at least 3 inch of hair and a lot of patience.
Step 2
Find a friend to help. Dreading your own hair yourself is difficult and the results will not be uniform. Get two friends if you have quite long hair.
Step 3
Begin with clean, dry hair. It is a myth that dirty hair helps dreads. Grease actually lubricates and prohibits real dread formation.
Step 4
Brush out the hair so no knots or tangles remain. This may seem the opposite of what you want to achieve, but it makes it much easier to separate your hair.
Step 5
Separate your hair into sections, starting with the underside of the hair and working your way forward. At this point, you'll have to decide how big you want your dreads to be--thicker dreads become compact much sooner and are easier to maintain. Dreads on average are no thinner than half an inch and no thicker than an inch, but it all depends on your hair type and how you'd like them to look. It is a good idea to place a rubber band around each section and section the hair off completely before you actually start dreading. Remove rubber band before you backcomb, though.
Step 6
Backcomb, or "tease" your hair starting at the root and working your way down the section of hair, making sure to go over it all a few times to tighten the knots. The method is similar to "teasing" (think 80's). Repeat this step as many times as needed to have the section resemble a dreadlock.
Step 7
Twist the dread and play with your dreadlocks. A dip in the ocean or rubbing fine wood fire ash through your dreads can make a big difference in the beginning.
Tips
- Use a metal lice comb for the backcombing. It will break up the hair and knot it easier and the teeth are stronger; plastic combs will break after a while.
- Love your dreads and give them plenty of care with regular tightening for at least the first two months. They will eventually lock up. It takes time. Dreadlocks are a journey, they should not just be a "fashion statement".
- Buy some good dread shampoo. Again, a quick search will turn up several good brands. Dr. Bronner's is again suggested.
- You can rub your scalp in a circular motion daily, encouraging clumps to form. Separate these clumps into smaller sections. Wear a beanie/dreadlocks tam to ensure that the matted hair does not become untangled, and in a few months, you will have thick, round dreads. If the roots are becoming loose and wild, get a friend to tie some cotton that is the same colour as your hair reasonably tightly at the base of the root. After a few weeks the cotton will break, get sucked into the dread or you can cut it out. This will give you that 'tight roots' look and feel.
- Many people think that the only way to get rid of dreads is to shave your head. That is not true! Some products on the market such as Knotty Boy Emergency Dread Removal kit can condition and remove your locks (without taking your hair with it!)
- Get creative! You can wear any number of things in your hair to adorn it. Beads and "peyote stitches" are popular. Dreadlocks tams not only help tighten, but look nice, too.
- Knotty Boy makes a great dread-friendly gel that can tame fly-aways but still let you develop real dreads. Do not use regular gels or products, especially those with petroleum. It's preferable to use a residue free shampoo, although not necessary. Shampoos like Dr. Bronners, although commonly used by dread heads, is not residue-free. It is a heavy duty detergent, and if you decide to go this route make sure to dilute the Dr. Bronners soap at least 1/12. Also, sinse Dr. Bronners needs to be diluted, it lasts a LONG time! Residue inhibits dreadlocks from forming, since it coats your hair.
Warnings
- !. *If your hair is quite thin and fine, or very soft and straight, dreads may be more difficult to put in, but in the end, all hair knots. If you'd like faster results, you might want to consider a dread perm. Give it time before deciding to perm. Many people find that not messing with the dreads as much actually helps them dread better.
- Look up the history of "dread-locks" and what they mean to specific cultures before you get them. Dreadlocks have significant religious and spiritual meaning in some areas of the world.
Things You'll Need
- Minimum 3 inches Length dry hair
- Friend(s) to help
- A metal lice comb
- Residue-free shampoo
- Aloe- you can use aloe juice to moisturize if you feel you really need it. Use a small amount.
- lots of patience
