How to Hide Gray in Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks are most commonly seen among younger people in the United States; however, nothing says that aging Americans can't set out to make their hair lock itself into dreads. While the easiest way to cover your gray hair would be to dye it before you put it into dreadlocks, you can still go back later on and touch up your roots and cover that stubborn gray hue. You might need to practice patience, but if you were patient enough to wait for the dreads to set in the first place, covering your gray hair will seem like a breeze. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Box dye
- Tea
- Henna
- Spray bottle
- Old towels
- Old clothes
- Plastic gloves
- Petroleum jelly
Instructions
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Allow your dreadlocks to set for at least 10 to 12 weeks before you dye them. Dreadlocks need to be set with wax; the best dreads are not, in fact, made with dirty hair -- they are best when set in recently washed hair. Once your dreads have set, wash out any wax or other setting material to help ensure the dye will take.
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Prepare yourself. Get dressed in old clothes that you won't mind getting dye on, as you might not be able to remove the dye from the fabric. Line your hairline -- around your forehead and face, as well as the back of your neck -- and the tops and backs of your ears with petroleum jelly to make sure the dye doesn't stain your skin.
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Prepare your dye. Some dyes are made especially for gray-hair coverage. If you're using box dye or a henna kit, follow the instructions that comes with the product. If you want to use tea, brew a tea with a color that closely matches your own. Make sure you brew it strong enough, and then put the tea into a spray bottle.
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Put on your plastic gloves and apply your dye according to the instructions the box came with. Spray on your tea, if that's the method of dye you chose. Multiple applications of tea may be necessary to cover your gray hair. Do not wash the tea out between applications -- let it dry, then apply the next coat. Wait a day or so before washing out the tea.
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Wash out the hair dye once you have let it set for the instructed time. Do not use the conditioner that comes with box dye -- the conditioner will ruin your dreads.
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References
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
