How to Get Maori-Style Dreadlocks

Maori-style dreadlocks are a type of free-form locks based on the indigenous New Zealand Maori culture and are similar in some ways to Rasta dreadlocks and other free-form locks. Unlike cultivated methods for locking your hair, the Maori dreadlocks style involves a lot of palm-rolling and backcombing to lock the hair.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Residue-free shampoo
• Blow dryer
• Dread comb
• Hair clips
• Non-slip hair elastics
• Dread cream or wax

1. Start with hair that is at least 6 inches long or more to create Maori style dreadlocks. Hair that is very curly and thick is the best candidate for this style of dreadlock.

2. Clean the hair with a residue free or dreadlock-friendly shampoo or soap before you begin. Blow dry or thoroughly air dry your hair until it is completely bone dry before you begin locking your hair.

3. Section the hair into small squared sections. Keep in mind that how you section your hair determines the size of your dreadlocks and how they fall. Start in the lowest section in the back and work your way up.

4. Use a dread comb or any one-inch straight, metal-bristled comb to select a section and begin backcombing the hair. Backcomb each section until it packs tight to the root. Do this a few times per section until the hair locks up.

5. Put a small rubber band in place at the root and tip of each new dreadlock to help it stay in place and then add some dread cream or dread wax to each section, depending on the texture of your natural hair and how much help it needs to form the Maori style dreadlocks.

6. Palm-roll each new section to help create the right shape for each dreadlock and tighten the lock. Pay special attention to the roots and the ends. Try to keep the dreadlocks on the thin side with a more organic pattern on the scalp to get the Maori style.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain your new dreadlocks daily by palm-rolling each lock for the first few months. Add a little bit more dread cream or wax in areas that need it once a week or so for the first few months to help your dreads tighten up and form correctly.
• When in doubt, make an appointment with a professional loctician to have your dreadlocks done. This is the best way to make sure that they will hold up well and come out exactly the way you want them.
• Avoid washing newly locked hair for about a week or more if you can stand it. Use only residue-free shampoos for your dreadlocks and make sure that the locks are always kept completely dry and dirt free to prevent mold growth.