Dreadlocks or dreads are a popular hairstyle. Some people find it cool while others do it to express their spiritually. There are a few who even get dreads just to make a political point or statement. However, doing this type of hairstyle is not as easy as you might think it is. Depending on the kind of hair you have, it may take some time for your locks to mature into solid dreads. So, how do you get this particular hairstyle? Several methods are available for you to try. Find the one that works best for you. Below are some of these methods on how to get dreads.

How To Get Dreads – A Few Reminders

Before trying any of these methods, be sure that your hair is at least three inches long. It is impossible to dread if your hair is too short. If your hair is naturally curly, kinky, or wavy, you just need to wash it with a residue-free shampoo. Do not use conditioners. Grease actually prevents the dreads from forming fully. If your hair is fine, thin, or straight, it is best to give yourself a perm first. This will add the needed texture to make dreading an easier task.

Dreading on your own is very difficult especially if you have lengthy hair. Dreads will likely not come out uniformly if you do it by yourself. Ask some of your friends to help you. You can even help them dread their hair if they are also planning on sporting the same hairstyle.  Oh boy, dreading party!

How To Get Dreads By Backcombing

Get The DL On Backcombing Dreads

This is probably the most popular method for getting dreadlocks. Backcombing works best for people who have curly or wavy hair. It also works for people with straight, fine hair but it will definitely take a while before a satisfying result shows. So be patient.

Start by separating your hair into sections. Each portion should measure at least one inch by one inch square. The sections will be visible once you are finished so try dreading the hair in a zigzag pattern to make your dreads look as natural as possible. If you want uniform dreads, keep the size of each portion as equal as you can. If you want a messier look, just grab and dread sections randomly.

Hold each section with an elastic band and just remove it when you are ready to backcomb the hair. Start backcombing at the roots and work your way downwards. Repeat backcombing until the hairs start to form tight knots. Twist the section and hold it in place using an elastic band. Do the same with the other sections until you finish backcombing all your hair.

Leave the knots and twists in place for at least ten days. You can still wash and shampoo your hair but never use conditioner or any other greasy hair product. Remove the elastic bands one band at a time. Apply a thin coat of beeswax to each dreaded section to keep them in place.   That’s it!  That is how to get dreads using the backcombing method.

How To Do Dreads Using Dread Braiding

This also is a very well-known method because of how easy it is to do. If you consider backcombing too much work, then you should do dread braiding instead. For this method, you will need elastic bands, a comb, and dread wax. Before you start braiding, remove excess dirt and oils by washing your hair with a residue-free shampoo.

Just like backcombing, you have to separate your hair into sections. Each section should be at least one inch by one inch square. Hold each section in place with the use of elastic bands. Once you finish sectioning, take one section at a time and braid it. After braiding, secure again the section with an elastic band at the root and at the tip. Take a thin coat of dread wax on your palms and apply it to the braid in a rolling motion from root to tip. Repeat the steps until you finish all sections of your hair.

You will also have to leave the braids in place for at least 10 to 12 days. You can wash but again, refrain from applying conditioners and other greasy products on your hair. Reapply the dread wax every day following the same rolling motion from the root of each section down to the tip.

How To Get Dreads By Twisting

Your hair should at least be six inches long to be able to do this method. You will need a comb, rubber bands, dread wax, dread shampoo, and a locking accelerator. Instead of washing your hair first like the two other methods, you first have to separate your hair into sections and secure each section with a rubber band. Make sure that each section measures at least one inch by one inch square.

After sectioning, wash your hair with a shampoo specifically made for dreading. Rub the dread shampoo in circular motions for five to ten minutes. Wash after with lukewarm water and let the hair air dry. Pull apart each section and apply dread wax in a rolling motion. Leave the dread wax for one hour and then apply the locking accelerator to each section. Depending on the type of hair you have, it may take a minimum of one month for the dreads to become solid and fixed or a maximum of two to three months. You can wash your hair every day. Refrain from using conditioners and regularly apply the dread wax and the locking accelerator.

How To Do Dreads Using An Organic Or Free-From Method

This is the oldest method for making dreaded hair but it is certainly not the most popular because it is the slowest. It does not require you to use any special hair products. It does require, however, that you avoid combing, brushing, or cutting your hair. You simply have to wash it with a residue-free shampoo and apply a thin coat of dread wax every day. This method is also called “patient method” or “neglect method” because you just leave you hair and wait for it to form dreads on its own.

Dreadlocks have a long history which dates back to ancient communities like the ancient Egypt. However, dreadlocks were popularized by the rastamen from Jamaica. They used it as a sign of rebellion against oppressive issues in the community and thus is an important part of their culture. Dread braiding is one of the methods used in making dreadlocks. It is a process that involves the use of wax, shampoo and elastic bands.

If you would like to know how to braid dreads, the process of dread braiding commences with thoroughly washing the hair with dread shampoo. Washing can be done using a residue free shampoo that ensures that no other impurities are left on the hair. This is followed by the division of the hair into sections. The sections should be one inch in diameter. Elastic bands are used for holding the sections in place. Afterwards, the rubber bands are removed and a tight braid is made at the tip of the hair. The rubber bands are then attached at the tip and root of the braid. The last stage involves palm rolling. Palm rolling involves the use of dread wax or cream where the knots are rubbed clockwise. The use of wax or cream is dependent on the texture of the hair.   Dread wax is used mainly on Caucasian hair. On the other hand, dread cream is used on African hair because of its high texture. The braids are palm rolled and this helps in locking up the hair.

Pros Of Dread Braiding

Dread braiding has several advantages. One advantage is that the process is less time consuming compared to other methods, such as backcombing dreads. While this may be dependent on the type of braids used (ranging from silky dreads, industrial dreads, and loomed dreads) the average time taken is about one and half to three hours. Back combing takes approximately 3-6 hours to finish. Also, it is a faster way of fulfilling ones urge to wear dreadlocks. The process of natural locking can take a period of up to two years for the dreads to lock up properly. However, dread braiding gives the client the satisfaction of sporting dreadlocks without having to wait for such a long duration.

Dreadlocks from dread braiding are also very neat. This is important for people who may not want to undergo the whole process of making dreadlocks. This style is usually considered more ‘presentable’ and thus can be worn at most work places. Another advantage is that it can be used on both long and short hair. Although, it is highly recommended for short hair, dread braiding can be used on both short and long hair. However, this is heavily dependent on the technique of the person doing the braiding.

The Downside of Dread Braiding

One disadvantage of dread braiding is that it can be costly. This is because of the use of braids which the client is supposed to buy. Also, dreadlocks from dread braiding require regular cleaning. Away from the popular myth that only natural locking dreads require cleaning, dreadlocks from the dread braiding also require regular cleaning. Another disadvantage is that the hair may not completely lock up. This is because of the hair that may be at the root of the braid. Such hair needs to be redone so that it can integrate into the lock. This is an additional cost to the client.

Backcombing dreads is an innovative technique used to style loose hair into knots thus forming dreadlocks. This method popularly, known as ratting or teasing, is straightforward and enables you to tangle the locks in just a few hours time. Besides this, it also helps to make the dreadlocks tighten faster and appear more dense with the passage of time. This style is highly favored by both men and women alike, it suits almost all types of face shapes, be it round, square, oval, long or ‘u’ shape. Another advantage of this style is that it can be tried on highly textured, wavy, long and even straight hair types with the proper preparation.

When Backcombing Dreads, Keep This In Mind

Backcombing dreads basically involves combing the tresses in a backward direction towards the roots or teasing up the locks right into the scalp. This practice of combing helps to easily knot up the hair and establish the base for dreadlocks. Follow these guidelines and you won’t be disappointed with your finished ‘do.

First of all, it is essential to thoroughly wash your hair using any residue-free shampoo that will help to make the hair shafts not only dry but also stick to each together giving the dreads their texture. Then you should part the hair into several sections depending on the desired thickness of the dreadlocks. The size can be about 2” wide maximum for thick and bulky dreads or smaller for finer ones. Using a durable metal toothed comb, a section of the hair locks need to be combed towards the scalp allowing a few strands to drop free from the fingers on each stroke. Then, the comb needs to be pushed into the growing heap of hair and held tightly on each pass to form a new dread.

The process then needs to be continued till the end of the strand by sliding your fingers and backcombing the locks in an upward direction pushing them securely into the knot. In this way, the same procedure needs to be repeated on the other sections of the hair. On completion of the procedure, the root of each dread needs to be wrapped with a rubber band to prevent the knots from falling apart. In addition, it would be useful to apply dread wax or cream on the locks to provide moisture to both the scalp and hair.

Backcombing Dreads Vs. Other Dreading Methods

When compared to other techniques of making knots, the backcombing dreads procedure is simple to implement and facilitates the dreadlocks to reach maturity in a faster manner. It also assists in controlling the overall shape and size of the locks. Further, it gives a voluminous and smooth appearance to the hair. The other major benefit of using ratting is the dreads tightly lock-up within three months time which is comparatively less than other methods such as 2strandtwist, crocheting, interlocking etc.

Despite several benefits, the teasing technique also holds few drawbacks. It is a labor-intensive procedure which requires spending ample amount of time for the initial breeding.  Usually a partner is needed.  Besides this, the styling method also causes severe damages to the root areas and cannot be attempted on a regular basis. Backcombing does not offer effective results when combined with other techniques. Above all, it requires a lot of patience as rushing through the process will only create loose knots. It is thereby vital to be positive in your decision to have dreads before implementing the backcombing dreads method.