You really can't start the dreadlock revolution without understanding the dreadlock extension. Different types of extensions help create different looks with your dreadlocks.
This article is for anyone who wants long dreads but has short hair, or has to repair long dreads that have broken off.
I have had short hair for years but I often appear to have long luxurious dreadlocks. I'm forever deliberating on long dreads or short ones. Lately I have had medium length on the top and long on the bottom to create a layered look. Dreads are really quite versatile, if you know how to work with them. Creating great extensions are one way to make your locks look their best. Here is a rundown of my Dreadlock Extension Tips.
1. Jumbo Braid Extensions.
These are the first type of extension I figured out how to make. All you do is pick a color of jumbo braid you want (I always mixed and matched) dread them up with a loop at the top, dip them in boiling water (if you don't have a heat gun) to set them, and weave them into the existing short lock at the root. You can use a crochet hook to weave them through your real hair and then latch them together if you want them to be long term. I have left these in for upwards of a year at a time.
Pros
-It's very strong
-It's flame retardant.
-You can use it in conjunction with yarn at the roots to hide the yarn and to give your locks more body. For my info on how to augment your dreads with jumbo braid click here.
-It looks uniform without much work.
-It's cheap.
Cons
-You can't change the color with out pulling them out and putting in a new set or using chalk.
-They are plastic and feel plastic.
-They never really become part of your hair.
Tips
-Twist the jumbo braid while it's setting so it looks nice.
-Don't use hair glue unless you really need it, It decays after about 3 months and smells horrible.
2. Human Hair Extensions
I love real hair extensions but they are a lot more work. First off you have to get the hair, and that hair comes from someone. You can purchase it in a store or online, but I prefer to get hair from loved ones. Real hair is often shorter than jumbo braid and has to be woven in at intervals. If the hair is long enough it can still be folded in the center to create a loop. I normally dread and latch the hair and use the crochet hook to weave it into my existing lock then latch them together.
Pros
-It's free if you get it from friends and family
-It's real hair and will eventually become part of your dreadlocks
-It can be dyed any color.
Cons
-You have to collect it. AWKWARD!
-If you have to purchase it, SPENDY!
-It's usually shorter and you need a lot of it to do your whole head.
-It's just as much work as your own dreadlocks.
-It's all slightly different color and texture and reacts slightly different to the same environment or hair color.
These are the two ways I maintain and style my locks. I'm currently using a combination of the above two strategies to give my locks the style I'm looking for. Happy dreading and feel free to ask questions or add something in the comments.
Tomboys UNITE!
<3 Tiger
Different ways to start your caucasian hair dreadlocks here.
How to maintain your caucasian hair dreadlocks here
This article is for anyone who wants long dreads but has short hair, or has to repair long dreads that have broken off.
I have had short hair for years but I often appear to have long luxurious dreadlocks. I'm forever deliberating on long dreads or short ones. Lately I have had medium length on the top and long on the bottom to create a layered look. Dreads are really quite versatile, if you know how to work with them. Creating great extensions are one way to make your locks look their best. Here is a rundown of my Dreadlock Extension Tips.
1. Jumbo Braid Extensions.
These are the first type of extension I figured out how to make. All you do is pick a color of jumbo braid you want (I always mixed and matched) dread them up with a loop at the top, dip them in boiling water (if you don't have a heat gun) to set them, and weave them into the existing short lock at the root. You can use a crochet hook to weave them through your real hair and then latch them together if you want them to be long term. I have left these in for upwards of a year at a time.-It's very strong
-It's flame retardant.
-You can use it in conjunction with yarn at the roots to hide the yarn and to give your locks more body. For my info on how to augment your dreads with jumbo braid click here.
-It looks uniform without much work.
-It's cheap.
Cons
-You can't change the color with out pulling them out and putting in a new set or using chalk.
-They are plastic and feel plastic.
-They never really become part of your hair.
Tips
-Twist the jumbo braid while it's setting so it looks nice.
-Don't use hair glue unless you really need it, It decays after about 3 months and smells horrible.
2. Human Hair Extensions
I love real hair extensions but they are a lot more work. First off you have to get the hair, and that hair comes from someone. You can purchase it in a store or online, but I prefer to get hair from loved ones. Real hair is often shorter than jumbo braid and has to be woven in at intervals. If the hair is long enough it can still be folded in the center to create a loop. I normally dread and latch the hair and use the crochet hook to weave it into my existing lock then latch them together.
Latching is a little complicated to explain in writing so here is a clip where I put in a human hair extension in my existing locks using blond store bought human hair. I start explaining human hair extensions at about the 5:40 mark.
Pros
-It's free if you get it from friends and family
-It's real hair and will eventually become part of your dreadlocks
-It can be dyed any color.
Cons
-You have to collect it. AWKWARD!
-If you have to purchase it, SPENDY!
-It's usually shorter and you need a lot of it to do your whole head.
-It's just as much work as your own dreadlocks.
-It's all slightly different color and texture and reacts slightly different to the same environment or hair color.
These are the two ways I maintain and style my locks. I'm currently using a combination of the above two strategies to give my locks the style I'm looking for. Happy dreading and feel free to ask questions or add something in the comments.
Tomboys UNITE!
<3 Tiger
