Embark on a journey of transformation and embrace the fascinating attract of dreadlocks. Whether or not you search to reconnect along with your roots or specific your individuality, this information will empower you with the important data to embark on the trail of making pure dreadlocks at dwelling. The method entails endurance, care, and a deep appreciation for the distinctive magnificence that arises from untamed hair.
Earlier than embarking on the dreadlock-making course of, it’s essential to determine a stable basis of wholesome hair. Start with a radical cleaning routine, eradicating any product buildup or impurities. Permit your hair to dry naturally, avoiding the usage of warmth styling instruments that may weaken the hair shaft and hinder the formation of dreadlocks. Subsequent, part your hair into manageable elements, utilizing parting instruments or just your fingers. It will present a framework for creating uniform dreadlocks.
The approach you select for creating dreadlocks will rely in your hair sort and desired final result. The twisting technique entails dividing hair sections and twisting them firmly till they start to tangle and kind dreadlocks. Alternatively, the backcombing technique entails backcombing hair sections aggressively, creating matted areas that can ultimately turn into dreadlocks. Whichever approach you use, guarantee to work with endurance and precision, taking note of the path and alignment of your hair to realize a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing end result.
Sectioning and Preparation
1. Hair Sorts and Necessities
The kind of pure hair performs an important function within the dreadlock formation course of. Perfect hair varieties for dreadlocks embrace kinky, coily, or tightly curled hair textures, which have a pure tendency to tangle and knot. Straight or wavy hair, then again, could require further help to create and keep dreadlocks.
Earlier than beginning the dreadlocking course of, it is important to contemplate the porosity and situation of your hair. Extremely porous hair absorbs moisture simply and should require extra frequent upkeep to maintain dreadlocks wholesome and forestall dryness. Dry, broken, or chemically processed hair could also be extra inclined to breakage and require additional care in the course of the early phases of dreadlock growth.
Moreover, the size of your hair will affect the scale and variety of dreadlocks you may create. Longer hair can accommodate extra and bigger dreadlocks, whereas shorter hair could also be higher fitted to smaller, tighter dreads. Nonetheless, remember the fact that as dreadlocks mature, they have a tendency to shrink in size, so it is essential to start out with hair that’s at the least shoulder-length or longer for optimum outcomes.
Hair Size Necessities by Dreadlock Measurement:
| Dreadlock Measurement | Minimal Hair Size |
|---|---|
| Small (pencil-width) | Shoulder-length (bra-strap size) |
| Medium (marker-width) | Mid-back size (armpit size) |
| Giant (thumb-width) | Waist-length (hip size) |
4. Washing and Detangling
Getting ready your hair for dreadlocks entails totally washing and detangling it to take away any grime, product buildup, or knots. Use a clarifying shampoo to remove product residue and open up the hair cuticles. Keep away from utilizing conditioners or leave-in merchandise, as they will make hair slippery and hinder the dreadlocking course of.
As soon as your hair is clear, gently detangle it utilizing a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush. Work your means from the ends to the roots, rigorously eradicating any tangles with out breaking the hair. Should you encounter cussed knots, apply a small quantity of olive oil or coconut oil to the knot and attempt to gently work it out along with your fingers.
After detangling, don’t blow-dry or use any warmth styling instruments in your hair. Permit it to air-dry naturally to stop harm and protect its pure texture.
Twisting and Palm Rolling
Twisting and palm rolling are two of the commonest strategies for beginning dreadlocks on pure hair. Each strategies contain separating the hair into small sections after which twisting or rolling them collectively. Nonetheless, there are some key variations between the 2 strategies.
Twisting
Twisting is a comparatively easy technique that may be performed on hair of any size or texture. To twist your hair, merely separate a small part of hair and twist it tightly from the foundation to the tip. Safe the twist with a rubber band or hair clip. Repeat this course of till your whole hair is twisted.
Palm Rolling
Palm rolling is a extra time-consuming technique than twisting, however it could actually produce tighter and extra outlined dreadlocks. To palm roll your hair, separate a small part of hair and roll it between your palms. As you roll, apply strain to the hair to create a decent coil. Proceed rolling till the whole part of hair is coiled. Safe the coil with a rubber band or hair clip. Repeat this course of till your whole hair is palm rolled.
Twisting vs. Palm Rolling
The next desk compares the 2 strategies of beginning dreadlocks:
| Attribute | Twisting | Palm Rolling |
|---|---|---|
| Time required | Much less | Extra |
| Issue | Simpler | Tougher |
| Outcomes | Looser, much less outlined dreadlocks | Tighter, extra outlined dreadlocks |
Neglecting and Matting
Neglecting your hair is a vital step within the dreadlock formation course of. By permitting your hair to mat and tangle naturally, you create the muse for interlocking strands. Listed here are 5 key suggestions for neglecting your hair successfully:
- Keep away from washing and brushing: Chorus from washing or brushing your hair throughout this era. Washing can take away pure oils that assist in matting, whereas brushing separates strands and hinders knot formation.
- Encourage tangles: Sleep on a cotton pillowcase or put on a silk scarf to attenuate slippage and promote tangling. You can too gently rub your hair collectively to stimulate mats.
- Part and separate: Divide your hair into small sections utilizing rubber bands or clips. This prevents massive, tangled clumps and encourages uniform dread formation.
- Use friction: Rub sections of hair collectively vigorously utilizing your fingers or a crochet hook to create friction and assist in matting. Concentrate on the bottom of the hair close to the scalp.
- Preserve it damp: Spritz your hair with water sometimes to maintain it barely damp. Moisture helps soften the hair and facilitate tangling. Nonetheless, keep away from over-wetting, as this could weaken the strands and promote mould.
Upkeep
As soon as dreadlocks start to kind, ongoing upkeep is important. Wash and situation your dreads much less steadily, utilizing pure merchandise designed for locs. Keep away from utilizing scorching water, which might weaken the hair. Permit your dreads to dry naturally, and resist the urge to drag or twist them excessively.
Further Ideas
For sooner matting, you need to use backcombing, palm rolling, or crochet hooking strategies. These strategies assist create further friction and speed up the dreadlock formation course of. Nonetheless, it is essential to strategy these strategies with warning and solely use them as wanted, as extreme manipulation can harm the hair.
Retwisting and Upkeep
Retwisting dreadlocks is an important a part of sustaining their form and integrity. The frequency of retwisting will depend on the person’s hair sort and desired dreadlock measurement. For brand spanking new dreadlocks, it is strongly recommended to retwist them each 2-3 weeks till they’re totally mature.
To retwist dreadlocks, comply with these steps:
- Wash and situation your hair to take away any grime or product buildup.
- Separate a small part of hair and dampen it with water.
- Utilizing your fingers or a crochet hook, gently twist the hair clockwise till it types a compact dreadlock.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for all sections of your hair.
- As soon as all dreadlocks are retwisted, safe them with rubber bands or bobby pins to stop unraveling.
Upkeep
Along with retwisting, dreadlocks require common upkeep to maintain them wholesome and freed from buildup. Listed here are some suggestions for sustaining dreadlocks:
- Wash your dreadlocks with a clarifying shampoo each 2-3 weeks.
- Apply a moisturizing conditioner to the ends of your dreadlocks to stop dryness and breakage.
- Keep away from utilizing harsh chemical compounds or styling merchandise in your dreadlocks.
- Cowl your dreadlocks with a shawl or hat when sleeping to stop friction and tangling.
- Commonly test for any indicators of lint or grime buildup and take away it with a brush or choose.
| Frequency | Motion |
|---|---|
| Each 2-3 weeks | Retwist |
| Each 2-3 weeks | Wash with clarifying shampoo |
| As wanted | Apply moisturizing conditioner |
| By no means | Use harsh chemical compounds or styling merchandise |
Troubleshooting and Repairing
Brittle Hair
Dehydration and protein overload could make hair brittle and liable to breaking. Moisturize usually with a deep conditioner and keep away from over-proteinizing hair.
Unfastened Roots
Unfastened roots happen when the hair will not be correctly interlocked on the base. Re-twist the roots each 4-6 weeks to stop unraveling.
Knots Between Dreads
Use a crochet hook or dreadlock needle to softly separate knotted hair. Keep away from over-grooming, as it could actually weaken the dreadlocks.
Frizzy Ends
Use a beeswax or dreadlock wax on the ends of the dreadlocks to clean flyaways. Keep away from brushing the dreadlocks, as it could actually create frizz.
Gradual Progress
Dreadlocks take time to develop, because the hair is locked in place. Be affected person and keep away from manipulating the dreadlocks an excessive amount of.
Undesirable Cut up Ends
Use a pointy pair of scissors to trim away cut up ends. Keep away from chopping the dreadlocks themselves, as it could actually weaken them.
Thinning Dreads
Thinning dreadlocks can happen if they’re too tightly wrapped or if the hair is broken. Re-twist the dreadlocks gently and use a dreadlock thickening spray.
Nap Lifting
Nap lifting happens when the hair on the base of the dreadlocks grows out and turns into seen. Use a crochet hook or dreadlock needle to drag the unfastened hair again into the dreadlock.
Micro-Dreads
Micro-dreads are small, tight dreadlocks that may be tough to handle. Use a crochet hook to softly separate them and keep away from over-grooming.
How To Begin Dreadlocks With Pure Hair
There are just a few alternative ways to start out dreadlocks with pure hair. One fashionable technique is the neglect technique, which entails merely not brushing or combing your hair and permitting it to mat naturally. One other technique is the backcombing technique, which entails brushing your hair backwards towards the grain, creating tiny knots that can ultimately kind into dreadlocks. You can too use a crochet hook to start out dreadlocks, which is a extra managed technique that lets you create extra even and constant dreadlocks.
Irrespective of which technique you select, you will need to be affected person and constant along with your care routine. Dreadlocks can take a number of months and even years to totally mature, and so they require common upkeep to maintain them wholesome and searching their greatest.
Folks Additionally Ask About How To Begin Dreadlocks With Pure Hair
How lengthy does it take for dreadlocks to kind?
The time it takes for dreadlocks to kind will differ relying in your hair sort, the strategy you utilize, and the way properly you take care of your dreadlocks. Neglect dreadlocks can take anyplace from 6 months to 2 years to kind, whereas backcombed or crocheted dreadlocks can kind in as little as just a few weeks. As soon as your dreadlocks have fashioned, they’ll proceed to mature and tighten over time.
How do I look after my dreadlocks?
Caring to your dreadlocks is important to maintaining them wholesome and searching their greatest. You need to wash your dreadlocks usually with a gentle shampoo, and keep away from utilizing harsh soaps or detergents. You must also keep away from brushing or combing your dreadlocks, as this could trigger them to unravel. As an alternative, use your fingers to separate your dreadlocks and take away any unfastened hair. You might also wish to use a dreadlock wax or gel to assist hold your dreadlocks in place and forestall them from frizzing.
How do I begin dreadlocks on my own?
There are just a few alternative ways to start out dreadlocks by your self, together with the neglect technique, the backcombing technique, and the crochet technique. The neglect technique is the only technique, however it could actually take the longest to see outcomes. The backcombing technique is a extra managed technique, however it may be extra time-consuming and might harm your hair if you’re not cautious. The crochet technique is probably the most exact technique, however it may be costly and requires some ability to do it accurately.
