How to Create a Dreadlock Fall
Dreadlock falls, or tie-on hairpieces that feature a bunch of synthetic dreadlocks, are a great way to temporarily add fun to your ponytail or pigtails--or to "try out" actual dreadlocks before committing to having them installed in your real hair. A wide variety of textures, lengths and colors are available in synthetic hair, and while constructing your own dreadlock falls takes a small amount of time and effort, you are limited only by your own imagination. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 2 feet of flat grosgrain ribbon, 1/2 to 1 inch wide
- Two packets of Kanekalon synthetic hair in your color choice
- Metal-toothed comb
- Large pot
- Water
- Stove
- Sink with stopper
- Clothes hanger
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Cut the ribbon into two equal lengths. Put one length of ribbon off to the side for now.
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2
Open one packet of Kanekalon synthetic hair. Divide the hair into bunches about 1 inch thick, or about the diameter of a pencil.
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3
Fold one bunch of the hair in half around the ribbon. Plait or braid the hair for about an inch to secure the hair to the ribbon.
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4
Using the metal comb, begin to dread the hair. You'll do this by backcombing, or "ratting" the length of hair, starting close to the braided top. The hair will begin to knot and fluff as you backcomb. Backcomb and rat your way down the length of the hair.
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5
Stop the backcombing periodically, and twist and roll the hair between your palms to form it into a tube shape. It should begin to resemble a fluffy dreadlock.
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6
When you have backcombed and rolled the hair as far down to the tips as possible, select another 1-inch bunch of hair, fold it over the ribbon and plait it 1 inch.
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7
Repeats steps 3 through 6 for the remainder of the hair bunches, or until you've completed as many dreadlocks as you'd like for one dreadlock fall--but remember to leave some ribbon on either side to help secure the fall for wearing.
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8
Open the second packet of hair, divide it into 1-inch bunches, and repeat steps 3 through 7 as for the first dreadlock fall.
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9
Fill the pot with water, and set to boil. Place a stopper in the sink.
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10
Tie the dread falls to the clothes hanger by their ribbons. You'll now seal the falls in place with hot water, which will melt the synthetic hair slightly and keep it in place.
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11
Pour the boiling water into the sink. The sink should be about half full of water. Carefully, without burning yourself, hold the top of the clothes hanger and submerge the dread falls into the hot water for about 10 to 15 seconds.
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12
Pull the dreadlock falls out of the water, and allow them to drip over the sink. Give them a few seconds to cool, and then work your way through each dread and twist and roll each one into the desired dreadlock shape. If they need more shaping, dip them briefly back into the hot water and then reshape.
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13
Let the water drain from the sink. Allow the dreadlock falls to fully dry. Clip off any stray or loose hairs with scissors.
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Tips & Warnings
To fix individual dreadlocks or to touch up a dreadlock fall after wearing, you can use a hair dryer on a low setting to heat up the dread before you twist and roll it into shape.
