The ManicaPost
Ann Ruthenburg
I FORSEE in the near future dreadlocks becoming the new fashion hairstyle. So many people these days are starting to lock their hair.
For those who struggle to grow their locks fast enough there are now human hair dreadlocks which can be attached to one’s own hair in the beginning stages of their locks. Whatever the reason one chooses to have dreadlocks or locks as many of us know them as, there is a specific way in which these must be cared for. Like any hairstyle that changes the hair’s natural pattern, there will be consequences. I hope to assist you in the next one or two articles to maintain your locks / dreadlocks.
Dreadlocks take time to tighten and mature, but a good maintenance routine will get them there faster. If your dreads are brand new you won’t need to wash them for around a week or even two. They are newly waxed and probably hurt a little because initially they are very tight. If you have a pair of pantyhose, pop those over your head while you sleep to help keep the frizz at bay. .
When it is time to wash them, ideally, keep the rubber bands in place at the base and tips of your dreadlocks which will help keep them intact while they are so new. It is really important to use a dreadlock shampoo or similar. Normal shampoos leave behind conditioning residues – great if you want soft, silky, knot free hair, but not so much if you have dreadlocks!
Washing your hair is pretty straight forward. Soak your dreads well with water in the shower, squirt a little dread empire shampoo and gently work them into the dreads. Be sure to rinse out the shampoo really, really well.
When drying the locks, lean over letting your dreads hang down in front of you and squeeze as much water out as you can. When there is no water coming out, spray them down with dreadlock spray and squeeze any excess off. Wrap a towel round your head to soak up any leftover moisture and after 15 minutes or so whip it off and let them air dry.
When that they are dry, clean them with dreadlock spray. This is the perfect time to dread ball loose hairs, palm roll your dreads (palm rolling is when you roll the dread back and forth between your palm like you are playing with Play-Doh), and to use the clockwise rubbing method. Your dreadlocks will knot and tighten easily now because being clean, there is a lot of friction between the hair strands. They may get a little frizzy while you work on them, but just dread ball the frizzys and work them into the nearest dread. Once you are all rubbed out, if desired treat your dreads to a small coat of dread wax. Work it in real good and smooth out any frizz as you go. You can use a hair dryer to help melt the wax in really good, although be careful not to overdo it as it can dry your dreads out.
From here on in, you are welcome to wash your dreads as frequently as you want because clean hair locks and tightens better than hair with oily build up. Just follow the steps above, the rubber bands are a good idea for the first few weeks and be sure to let them dry out thoroughly. As for waxing, after your first shampoo followed by a wax, re apply wax once or twice a fortnight – always following a shampoo and be sure to let your hair thoroughly dry before applying. When your dreadlocks reach their desired tightness you can pull right back on the wax and only apply it when you feel the dreadlocks have become a little loose or if you find them particularly dry. Wax does inject your hair follicle with necessary vitamins so it is a good way to condition mature dreadlocks.
If you ever feel like the wax needs a freshening up or you have waxy build up then de wax by heating each dread with a hair dryer. Press a paper towel into the dreadlock to mop up as much excess wax as you can and then soak them in hot water (taking care of course not to burn yourself). Then follow this with a good wash using a dread shampoo and if necessary, repeat this process. Use the clockwise rubbing method and palm rolling (rolling the dread back and forth between your palms) to help the body of the dreads and the roots tighten. Tighten the tips by tip rubbing.
Keeping them clean and free of residues helps them tighten tremendously. Of course spraying them with locking accelerator or using a light sprinkle of dread dust helps too.
The accelerator increases friction between the hair strands by separating the tiny shingles that make up each strand. This increased friction tightens them super fast. Sun helps the process too, spray the Accelerator in your hair and allow it to dry in the sun. Lightly sprinkle dread dust onto dry hair
In addition to shampooing, crocheting on occasion and palm rolling often are also great maintenance techniques.
Dreadlocks can be created from scratch using the crochet method or it can be done in conjunction with back combing when creating dreads and finally, it can be performed on mature dreadlocks. Crocheting is one of the best maintenance methods used to pull loose hairs into dreads which will lead to neater and tighter dreads. Whether you are crocheting to create or to maintain dreadlocks the method is pretty much the same.
There you go folks, hope you found this useful. Until next week, God bless.
Fashion Diva can be found at Kutz n’ Kurlz Hair Salon in Meikles Department Store or messaged (not called) on 0772933845.
Till next weekend!
