How does dreads form

The natural oils that build up in your hair make it slippery, so it's better to start with hair that has been freshly shampooed. Brush out the hair once it is dry. Be sure your hair is completely dry before you start. Set aside hours to dread your hair. This process can take a long time to do properly. Section your hair into squares. Use a wide-toothed comb to part your hair into squares.

Hold the bottom left squares apart from each other by using small rubber bands. Each square of hair will become a dreadlock. The sections and rows in between the squares may be visible in the finished dreads.

To avoid a patterned appearance, fashion the squares in a zig-zag or alternating format so that the finished look is more natural. Backcomb the hair or wrap it around your finger in sections. If your hair is curly or textured, start your dreadlocks by wrapping it in 1 inch 2.

If your hair is straight, hold a section of hair straight up from your scalp. Starting about 1 inch 2. Repeat several times until it begins to puff and pack up at the roots. Continue backcombing the same section of hair in 1 inch 2.

This keeps it in shape and assists with the backcombing process. Continue backcombing each section of hair using the same technique until all of your hair has been backcombed. Having a friend help out speeds the process along. Use the same patience and care with each dread. If you rush through the last part of your hair, you'll end up with uneven-looking dreads. Secure the dreads with rubber bands or elastic hair bands.

Each dread should have a small rubber band securing the end. Place a second rubber band on each dread right next to the scalp. The two rubber bands will hold the dread in place as it matures This may be necessary for people with straight or wavy hair, but you may not need to do it if you have African-textured hair.

Apply a dread wax to the dreads. Use a natural dread wax, a beeswax molding paste, locking gel, or tightening gel to keep your dreads from fraying or frizzing. Apply the wax or gel to the entire length of the dread, taking care to cover the whole strand. If you choose to wax, only do it once every weeks. Use at your own discretion. Dread wax can purchased from some beauty stores, salons, or online. If you prefer a more natural method of making dread locks, skip the wax. Once you have secured the dreads, roll each dread between your palms.

Do this up and down the length of the entire dread. This will make the dread tighter and more secure. If your hair is naturally straight or wavy, it will take longer to dread your hair without wax, and you may not get tight dreads.

Method 2. Roll the dreads once a day. To maintain the smooth shape of the dreads, roll them between your hands periodically. Start at the scalp and work your way down. Make the ends look rounded by smashing them against the palm of your hand to encourage the hairs to roll up into the dread.

Rolling can help make new growth dread faster or more neatly, however. Don't overdo the rolling, as the dreads will be more likely to unravel. Moisturize the dreads daily to prevent breakage. Mix 3 parts aloe vera juice to 1 part natural oil like coconut oil or sweet almond oil. Add up to 5 drops of an essential oil, like tea tree oil or lavender oil, if you want a scent. Put the mixture in a spray bottle.

Lightly spritz your dreads every day. Wash your hair with shampoo once a week. However, there are a ton of ways that you can dreadlock your hair in a more uniform manner and that take much lesser time. While backcombing is the most popular of these methods, twisting and dread braiding are also some procedures that you can go in for.

You can remove the rubber bands from your dreadlocks about a month or so after making your dreadlocks, once your hair has really got a chance to lock and bind together.

You have successfully dreadlocked your hair! But, wait a minute… not to burst your bubble, but dreadlocks actually require a fair bit of upkeep and maintenance to keep them looking fresh and clean. Image: Instagram. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to washing and maintaining your dreadlocks.

Take a look at the tools and ask where you can purchase them. Dreads are also very popular outside of the United States. Starter Locs: Your loc journey will begin with starter locs.

Everyone will begin here regardless of the technique chosen. Important elements will take place during this stage within your locs. Knots or Buds: Knots are a very important step in your locing journey. Knots occur when your hair begins to loc and this is how it starts. Think of these knots as a seed that has been planted. On the outside, the hair is continuingly wrapping itself around neighboring strands of the starter locs.

This intertwining creates sort of a cocoon for the inter knots that will expand as your dreadlocks mature. Your locs are not really starter locs anymore but they are not mature locs, either. They are sort of caught in the middle and they are searching for their way. This is the stage where the locs show their personality. Frizz is another major element of this stage. Accept this is a part of the journey and you can use this time to experiment with head wraps.

This stage is really about letting your hair naturally do what it wants to do. Before this stage is over, your locks will lay flat and hang more — showing signs of growth. Mature: The outer cocoon that was taking shape in the knots or buds stage is formed and completely encases the internal knots that have now encouraged internal matting in the inside and bye, bye frizz! Some loc wears will not have sealed ends, but instead, they will have a coil. Just like the coil or tendril at the end of their twists.

The locs are taking shape and should no longer resemble the old starter locs. They are heavier, which makes them lay flat vs. Hair Texture and Length : Why is the texture of your hair important for dreadlocks? The texture of your hair is the best indicator for which technique you should choose and how long it can take for your hair to lock. Generally, softer textured hair takes longer, as long as a year and coarser textured hair can lock in as little as a few months.

Curly, kinky, coily hair naturally twirls and tangles around the neighboring hair strands. This natural action is the key component to creating dreadlocks. If a person with naturally curly hair chooses not to comb their hair for a period of time, nor use any type of detangling product, their hair would lock effortlessly — on its own.

Does length really matter? For shorter hair, a locking tool will be needed to coax a coil pattern that will eventually morph or transform into a lock. If the hair is at least a few inches long, the fingers can be used and no tools are required.

When the hair is long enough to grab and manipulate, the locking method is different. Starter Locks: Starter locks are just that — they are the beginning babies that will transform and morph. Think of starter locks as two-strand twists that are purposely installed with the intention of allowing them to mat and form into mature locks or dreadlocks.

Always wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo like Giovanni Triple Treat Clarifying Shampoo or Kinky Curly Knot Today to start with a clean slate and remove any product build-up or oil from your hair strands.

Do not apply thick, creamy conditioners to the hair, as this will cause build-up. Never, under any circumstance, Back Comb or use Beeswax on your delicate tresses.

Backcombing is never necessary for kinky, curly, or coily hair and Beeswax causes buildup. Think of the base, just as you think of a foundation for a house. The foundation provides strength and stability to the structure of the house. If the base is weak, eventually, it will thin and due to the weight of the lock, the lock can fall off.

So to prevent this from happening, choosing a base size that will support the weight of the locks is the best practice of preventive maintenance.

A large base does not necessarily mean better. However, choosing the size that is proportionate with your desired thickness size of locks is more ideal. Understanding the thickness of your hair before you start creating your base will prove to be an invaluable piece of knowledge as you start your starter locks.

If your base appears to be considerably bigger than the twist, where the twist looks too skinny or too thin compared to the base, make the base smaller in proportion to the thickness size of the twist.

How to part your hair for starter locks : Parting is when you use a smooth rounded tip ex. This line can be straight, curved, or designed and any length. Parting can also be done with your fingers, but using this method creates a less defined line and uneven sections of hair. The best practice technique, when creating parts for the dreadlock base, is to work in sections and in rows; regardless if you are using your fingers or a comb. Dreadlocks also have a deep affiliation with the African and Rastafarian religion and lifestyle.

Whether you are working out, sleeping or working outside, try to keep your hair wrapped to avoid getting the hair sweaty or dirty with debris, dirt and lint. You should go about a month or a little bit longer without re-twisting your hair as you want to give sensitive areas like your roots, edges and nape of your neck some time to breathe.

Constantly pulling the hair in the more sensitive areas puts you at risk for hair loss. Patience is a major requirement when dreading your hair — especially when you have fine, straight hair.

Like any process, dreading your hair, maintaining the dreads and waiting for them to grow calls for a lot of patience.