How to Attach Dreadlock Extensions to Hair

Dreadlocks can be a fun hair style, but maintaining a nice set of dreads takes a lot of work. If you want to get your dreads looking long or if you want to attach different colored synthetic dreads to your natural locks, dreadlock extensions are an easy way to change your style. Dreadlock extensions may be made of yarn, fiber, synthetic or real hair and they can be attached to the bottom of your dreads. If you don't want to commit to dreads but are interested in attaching them to your hair for a costume or special event, braid your hair in tiny braids and attach dreadlock extensions. Dreadlock extensions come as single- or double-end locks.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet hook (optional)
• Rubber bands (optional)

Instructions

Single-Ended Dreadlock Extensions

1. Inspect the end of your natural dreadlock in a mirror, looking for a loose point near the bottom of the dread where you'll easily be able to attach the extension.

2. Hold the dreadlock extension in front of you so that the loop is between your fingers and the dreadlock tail points down. Poke a finger through the loose point in your dread and pull the loop on your extension through this loose point. If you can't do this with your fingers, use a crochet hook to open up the loose point in your dread and pull the loop through using the notch on the crochet hook. When you've finished this step, the dreadlock extension tail will be pointing vertically down and will be in line with the rest of your hair.

3. Take the tail of the dreadlock extension and pull it up through the loop on the dreadlock extension. Thread it through the loop and then back down. You are tying the dreadlock extension in place. When you've finished this step, it should hang in the same position as before but will be locked in place.

4. Repeat this technique until all extensions have been added.

Double-Ended Dreadlock Extensions

1. Section your hair in pieces that are as wide as the dreadlocks. Tie the sections using rubber bands to create miniature ponytails. Continue until all of your natural hair has been sectioned. If you want the dreadlock extensions at the top of your head, make the sections close to your scalp. If you need extensions to fit the end of your hair, where your current dreadlock ends, tie the rubber band toward the end of your hair. Use a small rubber band for the sectioning and to attach the dreadlock extensions.

2. Pick up a double-ended dreadlock extension by the center and place it alongside one of the sections. One-half of the dreadlock should fall on either side of the section of natural hair.

3. Attach the dreadlock extension to the rubber band that sections your hair. Pick up one loop of the rubber band and fit it over the dreadlock extension, so that the dreadlock extension is attached to your hair. If the rubber band is loose enough to loop one more time around the dreadlock, loop it a second time. This secures the dreadlock to your hair. Add one dreadlock extension per segment of hair.

4. Tighten the hinge of each double-ended dreadlock by tying another rubber band around the point where it bends. You can remove this band in a couple of days once the locks get used to being folded in half.

Tips & Warnings

• For longer hair, dreadlock extensions can be braided in with the natural hair, then secured with a rubber band at the bottom of the hair. This looks like a braid that turned into dreadlocks. To camouflage the natural hair, wrap a synthetic dreadlock around the outside of the braid so the braid is hidden, and secure at the bottom with a rubber band.

References

• Beautifully Chaotic: How to Install Dreads
• Quinnster: Synthetic Dreads
• Doctored Locks: Attaching Extensions