There are a lot of different ways to start dreadlocks. I have started my own 5 different ways over the lifetime of having them. I've cut them off or brushed them out many times only to put them back in again because I can't live without them. My hair has a very typical caucasian texture and you if your hair is the same there are certain things to take into consideration when giving your locks a good start.
1. Neglect
I used this one to start dreads my current set of dreads. Simply don't wash or comb your hair, it will start to section itself off and dread on it's own.
Pros:
It's literally no work at all, it's inexpensive and this method sections off hair into what would naturally be the fault lines on your head.
Cons:
Unfortunately it takes a long time for those of us with causation hair and looks like a birds nest until the dreads form.
Tips:
It works better with shorter hair (5 to 6 inches) and it's quicker if your hair is damaged via color of some sort.
2. Perm
Perm locks are great if you want your dreads in one day. I've done this for many different people and this is how I started my first set of locks. The locks start out soft and harden later.
Pros:
They look great right away and the perm process damages your hair if you aren't interested in coloring it.
Cons:
I recommend going to a salon and they are spendy. It takes about 5 hours if your hair is a medium length (6 to 10 inches), and the salons charge per hour.
Tips:
If you are interested in coloring your hair do it at least a week or so in advance otherwise you will have a lot of breakage.
3. The dread roll
This is the old fashioned way. Section off hair, back comb, roll between your palms and hope they take.
Pros:
It's cheap and you can get a great start on your locks in one day.
Cons:
They don't look great right away. Getting locks to take with this method is a little difficult for those of us with caucasian textured hair.
Tips:
This method also works best with shorter hair (5 to 6 inches) and they are more likely to take if your hair is damaged. I often do this method and then latch (more on that later) them to keep them from falling out till they take.
4. Jumbo Braid
I have done this for many a person with short hair (3 to 5 inches). Simply section off the hair, back comb and roll what you can, loop jumbo braid extension into it and either heat seal it or use hair glue. The jumbo braid and/or glue can come out later once the dreads have set at the roots. You can purchase pre-made extensions on-line or If you want to make your own jumbo braid extensions refer to my article on dread extensions here.
Pros:
If you want long dreadlocks but have short hair this is the way to go. Jumbo braid extensions look great, they are flame retardant and look very even.
Cons:
Hair glue is gross. It's messy and has a tendency to rot after about 3 months. Heat sealing with out a professorial salon gun is dangerous. Putting extensions in hurts more than getting normal dreadlocks and it takes much longer. To do your whole head it could take up to 10 hours. Jumbo braid can't be dyed. It stays it's original color.
Tips:
If you don't have a professorial heat gun, you can pre-set your jumbo braid extensions before putting them in your hair with a pot of boiling water. Back comb and dip!
5. Latched
AKA "Sister Locks". This is basically crocheting your hair into dread locks. I find that what works for my caucasian hair is to back comb sections and then "latch it".
a. Think of your lock as a box with a front, back, right and left side.
b. Put the crochet hook through the lock. (Let's say you are putting it in from the right side so that the hook comes out of the lock on the left side.)
c. Take the very end of your lock and seat it in the hook.
d. Bring the end of your lock through with the crochet hook and out the other side.
e. Pull it through the lock.
f. Do it again from the back, then the left, and finally the front. to complete the box
g. Repeat.
Pros:
This looks very even, keeps your locks in place and is inexpensive.
Cons:
It has a very specific look until it hardens up and the process of latching every lock takes quite a long time.
Tips:
I like to use a number 3 or number 5 crochet hook for general latching.Never do it from the same direction twice. This creates holes in the lock.
There you have it. Every type of system I've used to start locks. I often use a combination of the methods I've outlined to start dreads. If I missed anything or if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment!
Tomboys UNITE!
<3 Tiger
Tomboy Tip: When starting locks for other people I always recommend they take an over the counter pain killer. Your head starts to get pretty sore after the 5th hour of pulling and you might wish you had taken some aspirin as a preventative measure. For my general dreadlock tips and secrets for caucasian hair check here.
1. Neglect
I used this one to start dreads my current set of dreads. Simply don't wash or comb your hair, it will start to section itself off and dread on it's own. Pros:
It's literally no work at all, it's inexpensive and this method sections off hair into what would naturally be the fault lines on your head.
Cons:
Unfortunately it takes a long time for those of us with causation hair and looks like a birds nest until the dreads form.
Tips:
It works better with shorter hair (5 to 6 inches) and it's quicker if your hair is damaged via color of some sort.
2. Perm
Perm locks are great if you want your dreads in one day. I've done this for many different people and this is how I started my first set of locks. The locks start out soft and harden later.Pros:
They look great right away and the perm process damages your hair if you aren't interested in coloring it.
Cons:
I recommend going to a salon and they are spendy. It takes about 5 hours if your hair is a medium length (6 to 10 inches), and the salons charge per hour.
Tips:
If you are interested in coloring your hair do it at least a week or so in advance otherwise you will have a lot of breakage.
3. The dread roll
Pros:
It's cheap and you can get a great start on your locks in one day.
Cons:
They don't look great right away. Getting locks to take with this method is a little difficult for those of us with caucasian textured hair.
Tips:
This method also works best with shorter hair (5 to 6 inches) and they are more likely to take if your hair is damaged. I often do this method and then latch (more on that later) them to keep them from falling out till they take.
4. Jumbo Braid
I have done this for many a person with short hair (3 to 5 inches). Simply section off the hair, back comb and roll what you can, loop jumbo braid extension into it and either heat seal it or use hair glue. The jumbo braid and/or glue can come out later once the dreads have set at the roots. You can purchase pre-made extensions on-line or If you want to make your own jumbo braid extensions refer to my article on dread extensions here.Pros:
If you want long dreadlocks but have short hair this is the way to go. Jumbo braid extensions look great, they are flame retardant and look very even.
Cons:
Hair glue is gross. It's messy and has a tendency to rot after about 3 months. Heat sealing with out a professorial salon gun is dangerous. Putting extensions in hurts more than getting normal dreadlocks and it takes much longer. To do your whole head it could take up to 10 hours. Jumbo braid can't be dyed. It stays it's original color.
Tips:
If you don't have a professorial heat gun, you can pre-set your jumbo braid extensions before putting them in your hair with a pot of boiling water. Back comb and dip!
5. Latched
AKA "Sister Locks". This is basically crocheting your hair into dread locks. I find that what works for my caucasian hair is to back comb sections and then "latch it".a. Think of your lock as a box with a front, back, right and left side.
b. Put the crochet hook through the lock. (Let's say you are putting it in from the right side so that the hook comes out of the lock on the left side.)
c. Take the very end of your lock and seat it in the hook.
d. Bring the end of your lock through with the crochet hook and out the other side.
e. Pull it through the lock.
f. Do it again from the back, then the left, and finally the front. to complete the box
g. Repeat.
Pros:
This looks very even, keeps your locks in place and is inexpensive.
Cons:
It has a very specific look until it hardens up and the process of latching every lock takes quite a long time.
Tips:
I like to use a number 3 or number 5 crochet hook for general latching.Never do it from the same direction twice. This creates holes in the lock.
There you have it. Every type of system I've used to start locks. I often use a combination of the methods I've outlined to start dreads. If I missed anything or if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment!
Tomboys UNITE!
<3 Tiger
