How to Make Double Ended Dreadlocks

Sometimes we want to spruce up our dying hairdo, sometimes we want the edge without the commitment, I just wanted something to do with my hair while it was growing out. Whatever the reason, you want a neat hairdo, and perhaps fake dreadlocks are the way to go. They spare your hair of the tearing, sometimes odd smell, and permanence of real dreadlocks, and look pretty convincing.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• kanekalon hair
• scissors
• hair straightener

1. This how to is for making double ended dreadlocks, which are dreadlocks that tie to the hair in the middle and hang down on both sides, on side braided or weaved into the hair. In my opinion, this is the easiest, safest, most convincing way to have fake dreadlocks. I'll put up more articles later on single ended and wool dreadlocks, and also how to attach each to the hair.

2. You start of course, with the hair. I would suggest kanekalon hair, which is wig hair that can be slightly burned into shape. Its pretty cheap, and the jumbo braid can make about 7 double ended dreadlocks, I've managed to make 12 from one a few times. Cheapest place I've found to buy from is amphigory.com, for about 2 dollars a bag, but if they don't have the color you're looking for, you can try doctoredlocks.com. Little more expensive, but a lot more variety.

3. If the hair you receive is too long, cut it a little longer then twice the size you want. Remember, that hair is going to be 2 dreadlocks, not one. Unfortunately the length you get is the longest it can be, but its usually a good size.

4. Anchor down the middle, either with your foot, or like I do, tying the middle to a hanger, and anchoring that.

5. Take one end, and a fine tooth comb. With it, you are going to backcomb up the hair to make it fluffier, and the dreadlock thicker. The more backcombed and knotted the hair it, the thicker the dreadlock will be. Backcombing is basically just combing upward, from the end of the hair to the middle. Take a small section towards the middle and start brushing upward in quick, short strokes. As the area in front of your hand gets more knotted, move it further back, combing continuously from back to front.

6. Once you get to the end of the hair, continue backcombing, moving the knots in it upward. Occasionally it gets so thick with knots you cant move your comb very far, in this case spread apart the hair gently with your fingers, re-lengthening it, and continue backcombing.

7. When it finally looks good and fluffy, even when spread, you can start twisting the hair. The twists should be moderately tight, and while you are twisting you smooth over the lumps, giving it a nice, even taper down. Don't worry if it looks a little ratty, most real dreadlocks aren't very smooth. In fact, the ones I get the most compliments on are the hurry jobs that don't look all that nice. Once you twist it, use a hair straightener on a high setting, and lightly run and twist it down the dreadlock, burning it into shape. don't clamp it down too tight or linger too long on one spot, or you'll singe it, giving it an unpleasant, rubbery feel. Once you get to the end, let the dread go. If any parts start to unravel, re-tighten it and go over them gently.

8. Cut off the loose, ragged part at the end, and there you go! Just do the same to the other side and you have a double ended dread, ready and waiting to be tied in.

9. How many you'll need depends heavily on how thick your hair is, and how this the dreadlocks are. I've managed to get away with about 45 due to very thin hair, but some people need 60. It all depends on you.

Tips & Warnings

• if you don't have access to a hair straightener for some reason, you can just as easily boil the dreads into shape.
• its better to backcomb too much than not enough.
• keep the kanekalon neat and tidy, or else it will knot up together so bad you can't do anything with it