How to Make Dreadlocks

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Dreadlocks even work for the professional look Dreadlocks even work for the professional look

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Dreadlocks, or dreads, are a cool hairstyle for some, and a spiritual pursuit or political statement for others. If you have the right kind of hair, these steps will put a new twist into your locks. Just remember to be patient with your new locks, it takes months for them to mature into solid dreads, sometimes even a year. It's worth the wait, though.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • 1 quart of tap water
  • Beeswax or pomade
  • Fine-tooth metal combs
  • 1 tablespoon of vinegar
  • Hairstyling software
  • Rubber bands
  • Hair accessories

Step1
Consider that dreadlocks work best on those with curly or very kinky hair. If you have thin, straight or wavy hair, you may want to give yourself a home perm with very thin rods. The perm will impart the needed texture.
Step2
Stop using conditioner a week to 10 days before you begin the process.
Step3
Mix about 1 tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 1 quart water. Rinse your hair with this vinegar-and-water solution the day you plan to start making your dreadlocks. This solution will remove any residue or buildup that may impede the process. You can also buy a residue-free shampoo and wash your hair with.
Step4
Begin with dry hair. Take a portion of hair about 1 inch square at the roots. Twist the hair tightly.
Step5
Pin the rest of your hair back with hair clips or put it in a rubber band so you can concentrate on one portion at a time. Back comb the section of twisted hair, beginning at the root and moving to the ends and then back to the scalp again. People with a great deal of texture in their hair might find that their hair stays in that tangled position after twisting and some combing, while those with less texture will have to comb quite a bit.
Step6
Add a dab of dreadlock styling wax, beeswax or pomade to each section after combing, then re-twist it. Wax will mold your dreads and help each lock stay twisted.
Step7
Secure the end of each dread with a rubber band, leaving some hair poking out. This step holds the twist and eventually gives your dreadlocks rounded ends. Complete the twisting process over your entire head.
Step8
Depending on your lifestyle or time frame, you might twist a few portions a day or your entire head in one sitting. Enlist the help of friends to create dreadlocks in the hair on the back of your head.
Step9
Twist, comb and wax on a regular basis to get your dreads to hold their shape. Remember that this hairstyle requires a lot of maintenance, so work on it while you watch TV, while you listen to music or whenever you find a free moment.

Tips & Warnings

  • Look for a fine-tooth metal comb or back comb for creating your dreadlocks. With the amount of combing you'll need to do, plastic combs may not hold up under the pressure.
  • Hair wax or beeswax helps secure your dreadlocks, but it may also dry out your hair and scalp and attract dust and dirt. Look for styling waxes or pomades specifically made for dreads.
  • Wait a few weeks after the initial process before washing your hair.
  • Avoid towels, hair bands and bandanas made out of materials that shed: terry cloth, flannel or combed cotton. They will leave little particles embedded in your dreadlocks.
  • You're shoulders will get very tired from re-twisting all the dreads, ask somebody to help you.
  • Make sure you always twist the locks the same way when you re-twist them so you don't untwist them.

Comments

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on 7/1/2008 I would suggest you do not use Beeswax, it attracts lint, dust and dirt. It is like putting candle wax in your hair, it can't breathe. I do not have locks as of this moment but I know it is in my future....please do your research before jumping into growing locks.

DREADZ111

DREADZ111 said

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on 2/18/2008 YE MANZ I JUST GOT MA NEW DREADZ BRUV AND DEY IS LOOKIN TIGHT AS SOME TIGHT DREADZ
USED ALL UR ADVICE BRUV, PINCH OF SEA SALT BRUV AND A SQUIRT OF LEMON JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOZ AND U NO DAT ALOES GEL? WELL I DIDNT EVEN NEED IT MANZ
LUV MA NEW DREADZ SO MUCH TANKS FOR ALL UR ADVICE DEY IS SICK!!!!!

YE BRUV

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on 9/11/2007 how to do my own kinky twist

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on 9/11/2007 I interested in learning how to do kinky twists hair styles

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Don't use any wax, even dreadwax, cream, gel, toothpaste, peanut butter, oil, conditioner. Use nothing. All human hair will lock naturally given patience and time, regardless of hair type. Coarser, straighter hair might take longer, but it will all lock eventually.

Backcombing may help in some cases, but I'd only recommend that if your hair is shorter than 6". If you don't need to, don't do it, because your backcombed locks will unravel a bit and then re-lock and it will have taken longer than if you just went natural.

Forget all those websites. They just want to sell you a bunch of junk that will mess up your hair, and when it's messed up, sell you some more junk to try to fix it. Also, forget perms and salons. Don't even walk by a salon.

You definitely want to wash your hair. Anywhere from once a month to every other day, but you definitely want to wash it. If you're used to washing every day, your hair will feel oily, but that will change as your scalp produces less oil. Again, avoid conditioners and shampoo that leaves behind a residue. It's good to add essential oils; such as lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, etc. as those will benefit your hair and not leave a residue. Avoid shampoo with Sodium Laurel Sulfate.

I use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. In a pinch you can use Ivory bar soap. An apple cider vinegar solution can't hurt either.

Also, that mildew problem that some folks have mentioned. Guess what...I don't have a mildew problem because I don't have wax in my hair. Clean hair will not mildew if you air dry. You do not need a blow dryer. Just let it hang for a few hours and you're good. Again, put nothing in your hair that you can't rinse out cleanly.

Trust me. After a while you will get an eye for good dreadlocks and you'll be able to tell the difference between those who got perms or put junk in their hair and those who went natural. All the best, thickest, "phattes", healthiest looking locks - all those Rastafarian guys you see at the Bob Marley fest who just have the *best* locks - those folks all went natural.

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eHow Article: How to Make Dreadlocks

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