How to Make a Dreadlock Bead Sleeve

Consult your hair stylist to see if dreadlocks work with your face shape.

Dreadlocks make an aesthetic statement, but you can make yours even more eye-catching by adding a homemade bead sleeve. Create your own hair accessories with some inexpensive materials from your local craft store, while exercising your creativity. If you have a friend with dreadlocks, a hand-made bead sleeve makes a memorable personalized gift.

Things You'll Need

• 100 glass seed beads
• Sewing needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Decide how long you want your bead sleeve to be. 1 inch is a good starting length. Choose 10 seed beads of a uniform size to create the first strip in your woven dread sleeve. Lined up, these will be 1 inch tall.

2. Thread your sewing needle and tie a knot on the end to keep the beads from slipping off. Thread each of the 10 beads you have selected over the needle.

3. Select 10 beads for your second row. Slide the first bead over your needle. Thread the needle back through the second bead on your first row, skipping the first bead and pulling the thread tightly to connect the second row to the first.

4. Slide the next bead for the second row over your needle and thread the needle through the third bead in the first row. In this way, the beads in the second row are pulled alongside the first row as you weave them together.

5. Repeat this process with all of the beads intended for the second row. Continue until you weave about 13 rows together, which should leave enough space for a dread. If your dreads are especially thick or thin, add or remove a few rows.

6. Connect the ends of the sheet of woven beads you have created. Align the ends and thread your needle through every other bead, back and forth between both of the exterior rows, using the same weaving process to create a tube. Slide the sleeve over your dreadlock.

Tips & Warnings

• Decide on the colors you want to incorporate for your dread sleeve before you begin the craft, and design the way you will arrange them. Use multiple colors for the sleeve, make it all one color, or create alternating strips of different shades.

• Avoid cotton thread and instead use strong thread, such as C-Ion thread, which is thick and made from nylon, making it durable and ideal for a dread sleeve. C-Ion thread is available at craft stores.

Resources

• Nice Dreads: Hair Care Basics and Inspiration for Colored Girls Who've Considered Locking Their Hair; Lonnice Brittenum Bonner