Things you may want to know...
Who can have dreads? Truth is every one with at least 4 inches of hair can have dreads, even less with extensions. And I have a whole range of clients, young to old; travellers to professionals.
What hair type is best? Ultimately the thicker the hair the better as you have more options of dread size and amount of dreads. However don't be put off if you were not blessed with the lion fro from birth as you can still have a full head of awesome dreads with thin hair. If you do want extra volume we can make dread add-ins which are synthetic dreads you can add in at the root and move up each time you have a tidy.
What size of dreads should I go for? If you have thin hair you are pretty much stuck to the skinnier end of dreads. Thick hair has more options. Thin dreads are very popular, people seem to think that they are tidier though this is not necessarily true. All the dreads I make have the potential to be tidy. Things to take into consideration with thin dreads, you will have more of them which means more maintenance (if you have a very sensitive scalp this could be hard work). They also have more risk of breakage later on down the line if they are not maintained well as there is less hair in each dread. Medium dreads, can still be tidy but can have a bit more character and less dreads can be cooler, less maintenance and easier to tie up etc. Larger dreads can take longer to dry also. Want to go very big? why not, just remember that it will take more hair and create a large section on your head. If you are still not sure, thinner dreads can be made fatter later on by dreading them together and it is possible to split large dreads too but not as simple.
Are dreads smelly? The only time I come across smelly dreads is when wax has been used or if the person never washes them. They normally just smell like hair :)
Can I wash them? Yes you can, once a week or once month is fine depending on job and environment etc.
What should I wash them with? A non commercial or residue free shampoo is perfect, normal shampoos leave residue on your hair which cause build up and will get stuck in your dreads. Shampoo bars are quite effective and useful for getting into the scalp and cause less fluffiness after washing. If you can find a hand-made natural soap bar with tea tree or aloe vera from the local market it would be perfect. It is not necessary to spend big bucks on "specialised" dread shampoo, but they will do the job required and are normally full of all the yummy stuff, just check the ingredients.
Should I wax my dreads? There's a lot of opinions on this one but my advice is NO do not wax your dreads. a) there is no need to, the crochet hook eliminates fluff and fuzz much more effectively and naturally, b) wax is sticky and greasy and stays in your dreads for a long time if not forever and with it it holds dirt which you will not be able to wash out c) wax is a sealant which means it will suffocate your hair and effectively ruin it
How long will they take to look like dreads? With the crochet hook method your dreadlocks will look like dreads instantly, although they will look a little awkward for the first few days until your hair gets used to being in dreads. After 6 months the length of your dreads should be fully dreaded.
What happens when I want to get rid of them? Don't stress you dont have to take a razor to your head unless you really want to! Dedreading is possible though it is pricey and takes a long time. It is possible to comb them out yourself but I would advise cutting them to a few inches first. Or you can grow them out and comb out an inch or so and you can have a decent amount of hair.
Will it ruin my hair? Your hair will not be ruined by dreadlocks only by how you treat them and what you put in them.
How do I look after them? The beauty of dreadlocks is that they need very little looking after. The most important thing is to keep them separated have a feel around and if it seems like they are joining up then give them a good tug to split them.
Will they stick up? Often short dreads will stick up until they gain some length or some weight. A hat or a head band will help you tame them. And don't worry, you are not alone, most people have gone through this stage. Sometimes it is just a patience game, embrace it!
What hair type is best? Ultimately the thicker the hair the better as you have more options of dread size and amount of dreads. However don't be put off if you were not blessed with the lion fro from birth as you can still have a full head of awesome dreads with thin hair. If you do want extra volume we can make dread add-ins which are synthetic dreads you can add in at the root and move up each time you have a tidy.
What size of dreads should I go for? If you have thin hair you are pretty much stuck to the skinnier end of dreads. Thick hair has more options. Thin dreads are very popular, people seem to think that they are tidier though this is not necessarily true. All the dreads I make have the potential to be tidy. Things to take into consideration with thin dreads, you will have more of them which means more maintenance (if you have a very sensitive scalp this could be hard work). They also have more risk of breakage later on down the line if they are not maintained well as there is less hair in each dread. Medium dreads, can still be tidy but can have a bit more character and less dreads can be cooler, less maintenance and easier to tie up etc. Larger dreads can take longer to dry also. Want to go very big? why not, just remember that it will take more hair and create a large section on your head. If you are still not sure, thinner dreads can be made fatter later on by dreading them together and it is possible to split large dreads too but not as simple.
Are dreads smelly? The only time I come across smelly dreads is when wax has been used or if the person never washes them. They normally just smell like hair :)
Can I wash them? Yes you can, once a week or once month is fine depending on job and environment etc.
What should I wash them with? A non commercial or residue free shampoo is perfect, normal shampoos leave residue on your hair which cause build up and will get stuck in your dreads. Shampoo bars are quite effective and useful for getting into the scalp and cause less fluffiness after washing. If you can find a hand-made natural soap bar with tea tree or aloe vera from the local market it would be perfect. It is not necessary to spend big bucks on "specialised" dread shampoo, but they will do the job required and are normally full of all the yummy stuff, just check the ingredients.
Should I wax my dreads? There's a lot of opinions on this one but my advice is NO do not wax your dreads. a) there is no need to, the crochet hook eliminates fluff and fuzz much more effectively and naturally, b) wax is sticky and greasy and stays in your dreads for a long time if not forever and with it it holds dirt which you will not be able to wash out c) wax is a sealant which means it will suffocate your hair and effectively ruin it
How long will they take to look like dreads? With the crochet hook method your dreadlocks will look like dreads instantly, although they will look a little awkward for the first few days until your hair gets used to being in dreads. After 6 months the length of your dreads should be fully dreaded.
What happens when I want to get rid of them? Don't stress you dont have to take a razor to your head unless you really want to! Dedreading is possible though it is pricey and takes a long time. It is possible to comb them out yourself but I would advise cutting them to a few inches first. Or you can grow them out and comb out an inch or so and you can have a decent amount of hair.
Will it ruin my hair? Your hair will not be ruined by dreadlocks only by how you treat them and what you put in them.
How do I look after them? The beauty of dreadlocks is that they need very little looking after. The most important thing is to keep them separated have a feel around and if it seems like they are joining up then give them a good tug to split them.
Will they stick up? Often short dreads will stick up until they gain some length or some weight. A hat or a head band will help you tame them. And don't worry, you are not alone, most people have gone through this stage. Sometimes it is just a patience game, embrace it!
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