How to Create and Maintain Dreadlocks


How to Create and Maintain Dreadlocks

old man with dreadlocksHave you ever wondered how dreadlocks are made?  In this article, I will explain how dreadlocks are made the natural way. Using these instructions you will be able to achieve the look of dreadlocks in no time depending on how fast your hair grows.

A natural looking dreadlocks that is achieved by surfers, hippies, and various types of travelers have a more instinctive look. They do not look contrived or forced. This more natural looking dreadlocks is highly sought after.

Dreadlocks are not only for Rastafarians. Though this is where the name is derived from, and is a popular hair style among Rastafarians. Dreadlocks have been worn for centuries. The Celtics, Vikings, and Ancient Egyptians are just a few of the cultures that have worn dreadlocks over the years. They are not a cultural style. They have been around longer than the comb and have been worn by many cultures.

You can achieve a natural looking dreadlock in two ways. One is completely natural, and the other requires a little help.

The completely natural approach requires that you do not brush your hair. As long as your hair has a little bit of a natural curl, it will easily dread right up. If your hair is straight it may take a while for the dreadlocks to form.

Once your hair has matted up you will need to divide it into dreadlock size portions. If you do not do this you will be left with one giant dreadlock of matted hair. The hair in the back of your head will have a tendency to stay into one large lump of matted hair. You will need to separate this hair with hair ties to keep it in the smaller dreadlocks forms. These bands will eventually fall out by themselves.

Since washing your hair during this period can cause the dreadlocks to fall out it might be required to not wash your hair during this period. If this is not an option, as it can take several months to form proper dreadlocks, you may want to opt for the second approach for straight hair.

The second method to forming dreads is less natural. You need to mess up your hair. You will be making an intentional matte.  Moving your hand in a circular motion against your scalp can help achieve this process.

Next you will want to tie knots into your hair. This is a rather long and time consuming process. So this is best done while enjoying your favorite shows or listening to music. Divide the hair into your preferred sized dreadlocks. Some hair will not want to be divided into these clumps. Let the hair naturally flow into the locks.

Once you have a section divided you can begin knotting. This is done by doing very bad braids. Passing the hair through each other until it is all knotted up. If you feel like you are making a mess of your hair, then the process is working.

Complete one section at a time until you are finished. This may take several days to complete as it will leave your hands aching after a few sections.

Some of your hair can be stubborn and not want to stay in the dreads. If this occurs just ignore them as they will soon dread up on their own.

After a few days or weeks your dreads will start looking like proper dreadlocks and once again you can leave your humble home.

Keeping your dreadlocks clean is a very important question that many people ask: To wash or not to wash? If you choose not to wash you will have to suffer through a few itchy weeks until your natural oils begin cleansing your hair. The hair will smell bad to others, but it should not bother you. If you choose to wash your dreads you may undo them as the shampoo has a tendency to make the dreads fall out. You can take the middle ground by only rinsing them with water. Avoid rubbing them to much while your dreads are still forming. Washing your dreads is a personal option. If they itch too much, then wash if not let them crust on up.

There are many products designed to clean your dreadlocks. But dreadlocks are a natural approach to hair care. It is designed to be a lazy hair style. Let those products go and stay on the natural look. You will have to trade your hats in for new ones, but you will save money on shampoos and conditioners.

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Comments

  1. Cassidy says:

    Great article about dreadlocks! Thanks for sharing your tips, I will give it a try.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  2. Ekafurds says:

    I am appaled by the failure of the article to capture the truth behind creating and sustaining locs, this ariticle is full of so many holes and misinformation. If this website is supposed to be about black hair and all of its forms then it has surely failed in the realm of dreadlocks. With all the talk of natural hairstyles on this website its a shock to see such a poorly written article on one of the most natural hairstyles on the planet. Dreadlocks do not have to be a messy, unwashed messed. Yes if you choose to go the rasta way, which is totally fine, you can go through a messy stage. But even then, it does not have to go unwashed as this article erroneously states.

    For one, there are many ways to start locs and the most popular, which is not even mentioned here, is by getting comb twists which are then maintained without a comb until the loc forms. This hairstyle as well as all the ones mentioned in the above article can be washed, even weekly, by putting a stocking cap on the hair so the twists do not fall out. No one has to go around under a cap while starting locs that is a horrible misconception, your hair can be as beatiful as you are. It is best that you wash your hair using a clarifying shampoo like “Dr. Bronners” which will clean your hair but not leave and buildup behind in your hair.

    Also the notion that locs are a lazy hairstlye is totally not true, at least if you want well maintained locs. The fact is if you have to spend just as much time as you would with processed hair, especially when the locs began to form. Locs can take hours to do after you have had them for a year or more and they, as well as, your scalp needs attention on regular basis. Going without washing and caring for your scalp can have dire consequnces for your hair follicle and root. And products that are noatural like shea butter or essential oils are best for the job.The bottom line is that you have to maintain your scalp whether you go rasta or refined.

    The baseless simplicity and misinformation in this article makes it seem as though someone who has never had locs wrote it. There is not way on this earth, not even using the rasta method your locs will form in days or weeks. It takes months up to a year to have decent locs. I suggest that if you propurt your website to be a legitimate place for blacks to come, learn, and celebrate their hair you do a litlle more research on this topic before you make a posting as such because you are misleading people.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0

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