This document provides information on dreadlocks, including how they are formed and maintained. It discusses the various methods for creating dreadlocks, such as backcombing, crocheting, and neglect. It notes that dreadlocks take a significant amount of time to mature, from 1 to 4 years, and require little ongoing maintenance once formed. The document also outlines some common issues with dreadlocks like loops and loose hairs, and provides tips for dreadlock care.

2. 
 It takes at least a year for them to progress to a point
where you will like them. Dreadlocks are generally
considered immature (babies) until about the first year, then
adolescent at ages 1 to 3 years, and fully mature at 4+ years.
 They take a very long time to dry.
 Your hair will shrink for about a year while your
dreads bulk up.
 Dreads don’t feel soft or silky and will harden over
time.
Cons
Shrinkage

3. 
 You can decorate them with beads, string, or almost
anything you can find.
 You don’t have to chop off your hair if you decide you
don’t want them anymore. You can brush them out at any
time.
 You no longer need to use conditioner or brush your hair.
 Volume volume volume! The solution for thin-haired
people.
 They require almost no maintenance.
 They will be kick ass!
Pros

4. 
 Natural/Neglect
 Backcombing
 Crocheting
 Twist & Rip
 Dreadperm
How to create dreads

5. 
 Involves simply throwing away the brush and
conditioner
 You can still shower and shampoo.
 It takes ten times longer to look like real dreadlocks
 Messiest method
 Requires lots of patience
 You have no control over sectioning and size
Natural/Neglect
method

6. 
Example

12. It took 3 years to look like dreads!

13. 4 years 4 years 8 months

14. 
 The most popular method
 Uses a ratting comb to knot hair
 Extremely painful
Backcombing

15. 
Examples
Before
2 months

16. 5 months
9 months

17. 1 year
1 year 7 months

18. 2 years
3 years

19. 4 years

20. Before
1 week

21. 3 months

22. 6 months

23. 9 months

24. 1 year

25. 1.5 years

26. 2 years 2 months

27. 2 years 8 months
3 years

28. 
 Involves using a .6mm or smaller crochet hook to
knot mildly backcombed hair
 Almost pain free
 Takes a little longer than backcombing
 Sometimes has a braided look for a while
 Knots can be very tight &
sometimes won’t loop
Crochet Method

29. 
Example
Before
Day 1

30. 1 month

31. 2 months

32. 3 months

33. 4 months

34. 6 months

35. 1 year

36. 2 years

37. 
 Involves pulling sections of hair apart to knot up
 Extremely painful
 Gives a sort of braided look for a while
 Simple
 No tools required
Twist & Rip/ Twist &
Tear

38. 
Example
Before Just finished

39. 1 month

40. 2 months

41. 6 months

42. 1 year

43. 1.5 years

44. 2 years 4 months

45. 
 A perm that eventually leads to dreadlocks with
little or no maintenance
Dreadperm

46. 
Example
Brand new 5 months

47. 7 months
1 year

48. 
 Loops
 Paddles
 Congos
 Loose hair
 Dandruff/Itchy scalp
Dreadlock weirdness

49. 
 Almost everyone gets loops
 No way to avoid them
 Cause your dreads to thicken
 Usually flatten out on their own
Loops

50. 
 Flattened dreadlocks, usually at the roots
 Usually caused by loops and will round out over
time
 You can help round them out by palmrolling or
putting beads in.
Paddles

51. 
 When two or more dreads combine into one
 Avoid this by tearing apart merging dreads
regularly.
Congo

52. 
 Every dreadhead has some loose hair.
 Some hair types have more loose hair than others.
 You can merge them with
your dreads by palmrolling
or “sewing” with a crochet
hook.
Loose hair

53. 
 A common problem for new dreadheads.
 Use Head & Shoulders, Selsun Blue, or any other
dandruff shampoo.
 Avoid dreadlock accelerator until your scalp is less
itchy.
Dandruff/Itchy Scalp

54. 
 Palm rolling (Roll your dreadlock between your
palms and press, best when wet)
 Crocheting – only when necessary (Too much makes
them look too thin)
 Dreadlock accelerator (salt
water, dries hair making it
more likely to knot)
Maintenance (all optional)

55. • Plan a day with your loctician or educated
friend
• Let them know which method you’d like
• Give yourself at least 10 hours
• Decide how thick you want your dreads to
be & how much variation you want

56. 
Dread thicknesses1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8

57. 
 Dreadlocks will progress to about the thickness of its
sections.
 Thick hair can be dreaded to any thickness, but thin hair
needs to be relatively thin or scalp will show through.
 Don’t go to a salon – beauty schools rarely teach
dreadlock classes, they put wax in your hair, and charge
$35-$50/hr. Educate yourself or a friend.
 Avoid velcro!
 After showering make sure to dry your hair completely or
they will mold, stink, rot, and fall out over time.
 Wash your hair regularly. Oily hair doesn’t knot up well.
 Residue free shampoo or “no poo” shampoo is highly
recommended. Don’t let residue build up in your hair.
Tips

58. 
 Never use wax! It leads to stickiness, trapped water,
stink, mold, rot, loss of dreadlocks, and it prohibits
knotting. (Don’t believe websites trying to sell you products.
Dreads are natural, they don’t need products)
 If your loctician puts wax in your hair, it can be
removed with vinegar.
 Don’t use rubber bands.
 Everyone’s hair progresses differently. Thin/thick,
course/fine, curly/straight, healthy/damaged,
geographic location, etc. affect how they will
progress. Expect mess for a long time!
Tips