The Roots of Dreadlocks
The roots of dreadlocks can be trailed to the Rastafarians of Jamaica, and further, to Indian sages and yogis, but they have never been more popular or widespread than they are today. It is said that dreadlocks originated with these eastern holy men. Possessing nothing, renouncing the world and possessions (not even a comb) they eschewed even personal grooming, hence the inevitable dreadlocks. Dreadlocks get their name from Jamaican tradition. Those with ‘natty’ locks in their hair were to be dreaded, or feared. When slavery was abolished in the US, it was no longer legal to enslave African Americans. But good ol’ America found a loop hole, no one said anything about not enslaving native peoples of India.
Slavery
So, over they went and began capturing and enslaving people from India and the surrounding areas. (Find that in a history text book!) Hindu yogis and holy men, along with their dreadlocks, escaped to the Caribbean Islands, and began appearing in places like Jamaica, where their knotty hairstyle and religious piety were noted and followed by the burgeoning Rastafarians and holy men of the islands. Dreadlocks have their roots (again, no pun intended) in spiritual circles. The Hindu holy men of the east, Rastafarians, which are essentially Judeo-Christians of the Caribbean Islands wore dreads as part of their religious lifestyle. Dreads themselves for the eastern yogis were nothing special, but the Rastas almost deified their locks, considering the hair to be holy and powerful. Dreadlocks became a religious priority. Fast forward a couple decades, and things have changed, but dreadlocks remain prevalent. You have people like Mike Borden, drummer for killer awesome rawk band Faith No More, with phat knotty dreads all the way down to his drum stool. Bands like Korn, Bad Brains, Incubus (Brandon used to have locks), Finger Eleven, POD and many more do, or used to, sport dreadlocks, which come in very handy while rocking out. Nowadays, it is about as standard to have a dreadlocked member of the band as it is to have a DJ in the group.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Maintaining Dreadlocks
Maintaining Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks do not require as much work as normal hair but there are a few things you should do to keep your dreads looking, and smelling nice.
Dreadlocks should be washed every 2 to 3 days. If you do not want to wash them this often that's fine, just make sure you wash them at least once a week. Dreadlocks should be washed in a shampoo that leaves nothing behind in the hair and removes all residue that is in the hair. The best shampoo I've found is the residue free shampoo on the DreadHead site.
You should get on a wash wax routine the best I've seen is from Jonny Clean on the DreadHead HQ site.
"In the first three weeks your dreadlocks be will very delicate and you'll want to wash them about every 6-7 days. After they have had a chance to establish themselves a bit you can begin washing them every 2-3 days.
After you wash them, squeeze the extra water out, then put them in a dry towel (one that doesn't shed) for about 10 minutes. Then let them air dry or dry them with a hair dryer. They also have these nifty hair dryers that have a plastic bag which fills with hot air and dries your dreads faster. These will leave your dreads tight and fluffy. I found one at Sally's Beauty Supply.
Only wax your dreads when they're dry. Dry and warm them with a blow dryer while you wax them if possible. This will help the wax settle into the dreads where it does the most good. More wax does not make them dread faster. Only use enough wax to hold loose hairs down. During the first 3 weeks you'll want to keep some wax on the dreads all the time. A little goes a long way, add small amounts at a time and work it in completely before moving on the next dread. Only reapply wax after it has been washed away, you won't need to re-wax every day. After your dreadlocks mature a bit and feel tighter they will need less and less wax. When your dreads start to feel dry work some wax in to moisturize them and prevent breakage.
One routine that works really well is to alternate your maintenance weekly.
Week A you wash, use the accelerator, then palmroll and clockwise rub for a few hours before adding wax.
Week B you wash, use the accelerator, then palmroll and clockwise rub as often as possible, but don't add wax. During the B week your dreads will be a bit frizzy, but frizzy is good for starting new knots. During week B the new knots form, and during week A they work on turning from knots to dreads.
Dreadlocks do not require as much work as normal hair but there are a few things you should do to keep your dreads looking, and smelling nice.
Dreadlocks should be washed every 2 to 3 days. If you do not want to wash them this often that's fine, just make sure you wash them at least once a week. Dreadlocks should be washed in a shampoo that leaves nothing behind in the hair and removes all residue that is in the hair. The best shampoo I've found is the residue free shampoo on the DreadHead site.
You should get on a wash wax routine the best I've seen is from Jonny Clean on the DreadHead HQ site.
"In the first three weeks your dreadlocks be will very delicate and you'll want to wash them about every 6-7 days. After they have had a chance to establish themselves a bit you can begin washing them every 2-3 days.
After you wash them, squeeze the extra water out, then put them in a dry towel (one that doesn't shed) for about 10 minutes. Then let them air dry or dry them with a hair dryer. They also have these nifty hair dryers that have a plastic bag which fills with hot air and dries your dreads faster. These will leave your dreads tight and fluffy. I found one at Sally's Beauty Supply.
Only wax your dreads when they're dry. Dry and warm them with a blow dryer while you wax them if possible. This will help the wax settle into the dreads where it does the most good. More wax does not make them dread faster. Only use enough wax to hold loose hairs down. During the first 3 weeks you'll want to keep some wax on the dreads all the time. A little goes a long way, add small amounts at a time and work it in completely before moving on the next dread. Only reapply wax after it has been washed away, you won't need to re-wax every day. After your dreadlocks mature a bit and feel tighter they will need less and less wax. When your dreads start to feel dry work some wax in to moisturize them and prevent breakage.
One routine that works really well is to alternate your maintenance weekly.
Week A you wash, use the accelerator, then palmroll and clockwise rub for a few hours before adding wax.
Week B you wash, use the accelerator, then palmroll and clockwise rub as often as possible, but don't add wax. During the B week your dreads will be a bit frizzy, but frizzy is good for starting new knots. During week B the new knots form, and during week A they work on turning from knots to dreads.
Dreadlock Myths
Dreadlocks Myths
All dreadlocks are dirty.
Dreadlocks are only dirty if you don't take care of them and wash them. Not washing dreadlocks is the best way to ruin dreadlocks. You should wash your dreadlocks at least once a week.
You can't wash dreadlocks.
Not washing dreadlocks is the best way to ruin dreadlocks. You should wash your dreadlocks at least once a week.
Anyone with dreadlocks is dirty.
Not true!! Dreadlocks need to be washed at least once a week.
Not combing your hair is the only way/best way to make dreadlocks.
This is called the Neglect method, this is how cavemen made dreadlocks, by just not doing anything to their hair. Thank the Lord we have found new ways to make them because this method take at least a year and the hair doesn't even look like dreads during the time, and many people who have made dreads this way have ended up with such severe dandruff cases they had to cut their dreadlocks off and start over, usually with the backcombing method.
Wax is not a natural dreadlocking product.
Wax is probably the most natural product you can use on dreadlocks. It comes from bees that are from nature.
Backcombing is not natural.
Backcombing is just about the most natural way to make dreadlocks. Anyone who tells you this doesn't know much about dreadlocks.
Only black people can have dreadlocks.
Obviously the person who told you this has never see anyone who is Asian, Indian, or Caucasian with dreadlocks. Dreadlocks actually look very nice on Asian, Indian, and Caucasian. Many people believe that dreadlocks actually were first wore by the Asian Indians that crossed over from Asia and Europe to Alaska and Canada. Dreadlocks were also wore during Biblical times by John the Baptist and Samson. Dreadlocks were also worn in the 1400-1500's by Asian Emperor's.
Nice dreadlocks are high maintenance.
Most dreadlocks are not high maintenance. The only kinds of dreadlocks that are high maintenance are dreadlocks made from dread perms. Dreadlocks made with the backcombing, twist and rip, twist and pin, neglect, and brush rubbing methods are not high maintenance at all.
The neglect method is the only way to make natural dreadlocks.
Not true at all. There are many other methods that are natural, such as Backcombing, Twist and Rip, Twist and Pin, Twisting, Dread Braiding, and Brush Rubbing.
Rubberbands break the hair.
False. Rubberbands hold the hair together while the dreadlocks are forming to keep the dreadlocks from falling out. So many people and so many sites wouldn't recommend them if they didn't do such a great job.
Dreadlocks damage your scalp.
Dreadlocks do not damage your scalp. In fact your scalp never even knows you have dreadlocks, because the hair starts to dread about an inch away from the scalp.
You have to shave your head when you don't want dreadlocks anymore.
False statement. You don't even have to cut your hair when you want to take the dreadlocks out. Here are the ways to take dreadlocks out:
1. You can cut or shave your head if you don't care about your hair, this is the
fastest way to remove the dreadlocks.
2. Cut the deadlocks until they are about 3 inches long and then soak the rest of
the dreadlocks in VO5 conditioner and comb them out. This will leave you
with about 4 or 5 inches of hair.
3. You love your hair and want to keep it. Just soak the dreadlocks in VO5
conditioner and comb them out, it may take a couple hours but you will get to
keep your hair. Don't worry if you lose a lot of hair while you are combing
the dreadlocks out, this is hair that would have fallen out in the day-to-day hair
removal cycle. The only reason you still have it is because you had dreadlocks
and dreadlocks keep the hair all knotted together.
Mayonnaise, Honey, Toothpaste, Glue, Rubber Cement, Mud, Chewing Gum, Peanut Butter, Shea Butter, Candle Wax and Hair Gel all work great for starting dreadlocks.
Yea, if you want your dreadlocks to fall out, and want to suffer from nasty bacteria and mold growing in your hair. These products are not used or recommended for one reason, they don't work. They were not made for dreadlocks, and there is no reason to try to make them work, if your going to make dreadlocks do it right, get some DreadHead wax and shampoo follow the instructions and you will have great dreads.
Any products that mention or say for dreadlocks will work on dreadlocks.
False. Most products that say for dreadlocks usually aren't they are suposed to be used to condition African hair. If the product contains any petroleum then it is your dreadlocks worst enemy.
Dreadlocks are for rastas only.
It is a common misconseption that dreadlocks were started by Rastas and only Rastas should wear them. It is common knowledge that cavemen wore dreadlocks, not for spiritual reasons, not for fashion, just for the fact that the comb wasn't invented yet. It is ok for you to wear dreadlocks if you are wearing them for fashion, and it is ok for you to wear dreadlocks if you are doing it for spiritual reasons, hey, whatever works for you.
All dreadlocks are dirty.
Dreadlocks are only dirty if you don't take care of them and wash them. Not washing dreadlocks is the best way to ruin dreadlocks. You should wash your dreadlocks at least once a week.
You can't wash dreadlocks.
Not washing dreadlocks is the best way to ruin dreadlocks. You should wash your dreadlocks at least once a week.
Anyone with dreadlocks is dirty.
Not true!! Dreadlocks need to be washed at least once a week.
Not combing your hair is the only way/best way to make dreadlocks.
This is called the Neglect method, this is how cavemen made dreadlocks, by just not doing anything to their hair. Thank the Lord we have found new ways to make them because this method take at least a year and the hair doesn't even look like dreads during the time, and many people who have made dreads this way have ended up with such severe dandruff cases they had to cut their dreadlocks off and start over, usually with the backcombing method.
Wax is not a natural dreadlocking product.
Wax is probably the most natural product you can use on dreadlocks. It comes from bees that are from nature.
Backcombing is not natural.
Backcombing is just about the most natural way to make dreadlocks. Anyone who tells you this doesn't know much about dreadlocks.
Only black people can have dreadlocks.
Obviously the person who told you this has never see anyone who is Asian, Indian, or Caucasian with dreadlocks. Dreadlocks actually look very nice on Asian, Indian, and Caucasian. Many people believe that dreadlocks actually were first wore by the Asian Indians that crossed over from Asia and Europe to Alaska and Canada. Dreadlocks were also wore during Biblical times by John the Baptist and Samson. Dreadlocks were also worn in the 1400-1500's by Asian Emperor's.
Nice dreadlocks are high maintenance.
Most dreadlocks are not high maintenance. The only kinds of dreadlocks that are high maintenance are dreadlocks made from dread perms. Dreadlocks made with the backcombing, twist and rip, twist and pin, neglect, and brush rubbing methods are not high maintenance at all.
The neglect method is the only way to make natural dreadlocks.
Not true at all. There are many other methods that are natural, such as Backcombing, Twist and Rip, Twist and Pin, Twisting, Dread Braiding, and Brush Rubbing.
Rubberbands break the hair.
False. Rubberbands hold the hair together while the dreadlocks are forming to keep the dreadlocks from falling out. So many people and so many sites wouldn't recommend them if they didn't do such a great job.
Dreadlocks damage your scalp.
Dreadlocks do not damage your scalp. In fact your scalp never even knows you have dreadlocks, because the hair starts to dread about an inch away from the scalp.
You have to shave your head when you don't want dreadlocks anymore.
False statement. You don't even have to cut your hair when you want to take the dreadlocks out. Here are the ways to take dreadlocks out:
1. You can cut or shave your head if you don't care about your hair, this is the
fastest way to remove the dreadlocks.
2. Cut the deadlocks until they are about 3 inches long and then soak the rest of
the dreadlocks in VO5 conditioner and comb them out. This will leave you
with about 4 or 5 inches of hair.
3. You love your hair and want to keep it. Just soak the dreadlocks in VO5
conditioner and comb them out, it may take a couple hours but you will get to
keep your hair. Don't worry if you lose a lot of hair while you are combing
the dreadlocks out, this is hair that would have fallen out in the day-to-day hair
removal cycle. The only reason you still have it is because you had dreadlocks
and dreadlocks keep the hair all knotted together.
Mayonnaise, Honey, Toothpaste, Glue, Rubber Cement, Mud, Chewing Gum, Peanut Butter, Shea Butter, Candle Wax and Hair Gel all work great for starting dreadlocks.
Yea, if you want your dreadlocks to fall out, and want to suffer from nasty bacteria and mold growing in your hair. These products are not used or recommended for one reason, they don't work. They were not made for dreadlocks, and there is no reason to try to make them work, if your going to make dreadlocks do it right, get some DreadHead wax and shampoo follow the instructions and you will have great dreads.
Any products that mention or say for dreadlocks will work on dreadlocks.
False. Most products that say for dreadlocks usually aren't they are suposed to be used to condition African hair. If the product contains any petroleum then it is your dreadlocks worst enemy.
Dreadlocks are for rastas only.
It is a common misconseption that dreadlocks were started by Rastas and only Rastas should wear them. It is common knowledge that cavemen wore dreadlocks, not for spiritual reasons, not for fashion, just for the fact that the comb wasn't invented yet. It is ok for you to wear dreadlocks if you are wearing them for fashion, and it is ok for you to wear dreadlocks if you are doing it for spiritual reasons, hey, whatever works for you.
Methods of Gettind DreadLocks ( Natural and Artificials )
There are several methods that can be used to start dreadlocks. We will attempt to give you as much information as possible about using each method to start dreads as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each one so you can decide which method is right for you.
Backcombing
Advantages: Hair looks like dreads the same day and reaches maturity faster than other methods. You can control the size and shape of the dreads, anywhere from thick and smooth to thin and sexy. It is an all natural method. Backcombing will work on all hair lengths 3" and longer.
Disadvantages: The initial dreading takes a few hours and is pretty labor intensive, nothing a good friend or two can't handle. The best way to back comb is to take your time and make the dreads as smooth and tight as possible.
Instructions:
First section the hair into squares. Square sections make round dreads. Between 1" and 2" squares works well for most people. Smaller sections make thinner dreads. The sections can be secured temporarily with rubberbands. After the hair is sectioned use a dread comb to comb the hair backwards. Start close to the scalp, not more than an inch away. Comb repeatedly towards the scalp. Eventually hair will start to pack up at the roots. It is not necessary to twist the hair. It is helpful however to roll the hair you are holding between your fingers a little while you are backcombing. Continue backcombing, slowly working towards the ends of the hair, making the dread as tight as possible as you go. When you reach the ends you can secure the dread with a rubberband. Another rubberband on the roots will help the dread stay tight at its base. The rubberbands can be removed after the dread has a chance to mature. After the rubberbands are applied to each dread the dreads should be waxed with a dread wax that does not contain petroleum. A good dread wax will tame loose hairs and help the hair dread much faster.
Dreads formed by backcombing look very much like dreads right after you do them, however they will tighten and smooth out a great deal as they mature. Using a good soap and wax is key to the development of the dreads. Well maintained dreads can reach maturity in as little as 3 to 4 months! The hair continues to dread as it grows in some cases by itself but in most cases it will need a little help. You can wear a rubberband on the root of stubborn dreads to help them lock up. Rubbing the root of the dread clockwise against the scalp also helps.
Tips: Starting with clean, residue free hair makes the process go much faster. Any residue in the hair tends to help the hair slip out of knots as you backcomb. Also be sure that the hair is completely dry when you back comb it.
If you do not have any friends that feel comfortable doing this for you most salons have at least one adventurous stylist who will be willing to help you for about $20-$30 per hour, which isn't that bad considering you won't ever have to pay for another hair cut! It is a very good idea to bring with you the products you want to use and the instructions for backcombing. Many unfortunate white children have had dreads started with the twist method and were more than a little disappointed.
Wool Sweater or Wool Hat rubbing
Advantages: The main advantage to the rubbing method is that if you happen to own something wool you can get started right away. It is an all natural method. You can do it yourself.
Disadvantages: It hurts like hell and the dreads that it makes vary greatly in size and do not look very good. Hair will usually need to be cut after trying this method so you will have to grow out your hair again before trying another method.
Instructions: Take a wool sweater or hat and rub it in circles on your head. After about 15 min, if your hair is long enough, knots will start to form. As the hair knots together you rip it apart and try to separate it into dreads. After you rip it apart you resume rubbing for another 15 min. or so. Repeat this process over and over and over until all your hair is knotted. Lots of loose hair is common with this method and the neglect method, just try to stick them into the nearest dread.
Neglect
Advantages: You can do it without assistance. It is the easiest method. No special tools or products are needed, just time.
Disadvantages: It takes at least 3 years to start looking like dreads in most hair types. You need to have about 10" of hair for the knots to start forming. The dreads form unevenly, some dreads will be huge and flat, others skinny. People usually get sick of having nasty hair and cut it off long before they get dreads.
Instructions: The neglect method is pretty much just that. You do nothing but keep the hair clean. (Some people don't even do that but not washing your hair is unsanitary and it slows down the dreading process) Just let it grow and in a year or so it may start to knot up or it may take 3 years Hair texture and hair length has a lot to do with how long it takes. You can rip it into dreads and try to combine dreads that are too small with rubberbands if you like, but in the spirit of true neglect most people don't. I don't really think that people that use this method are really after dreads, I think they are just pissed off at their hair and decided to let it do what it wants. When I meet someone that has dreads obviously formed by neglect I always complement their dreads anyway and I don't usually offer advice, because they do not really want it.
Dread perming
Advantages: It's like instant dreads.
Disadvantages: It is a chemical process. Dreads formed by perming often require professional maintenance. Cost, $200-$400!
Instructions: Save your money. Find a salon that does dread perms.
Twisting
Advantages: It is all natural. You have control over the size of the dreads and how they form. Many salons are familiar with this method and the cost is usually much lower than a dread perm.
Disadvantages: It only works in African textured hair but that doesn't mean salons won't try it on Caucasian hair!
Instructions: Hair should be sectioned into squares. Square sections make round dreads. Between 1" and 2" squares works well for most people. Smaller sections make thinner dreads. As you section the hair you can secure each section with a rubberband. When the whole head is sectioned twist each section clockwise using a comb to snag the hair at the ends and twist. As each section is twisted dread wax should be worked in to hold the twists. Thick waxes without petroleum hold the hair much better when starting the dreads. After the dreads mature thinner waxes can be used to add fragrance and sheen. Rubberbands can also be used at the roots and tips to hold the hair for the first couple of weeks. Be sure not to attach the rubberbands too tightly, nice and snug will do the job just as well and should not break any hairs. Hair should be twisted by hand regularly to help it lock up.
Dreads can also be started in short black hair without sectioning by hand. The hair can actually section itself. To do this you need short curly African textured hair about 1/2" thick. Take a soft bristled brush and rub it gently in clockwise circles on the surface of the hair. As you rub the hair will magically form little nubs or balls of hair. These little nubs can be twisted by hand into dreads. Twisting and working in a little bit of thick dread wax will help them hold together and mature much faster. The nice thing about these sections is that they are chosen naturally by the hair and for this reason they dread nicely by themselves as they continue to grow..
You do not wash dreadlocks. Hair must be dirty to dread.
If you do not wash your hair it will stink. Dreadlocked hair needs to be washed regularly just like un-dreaded hair. You can wash dreads just as you would wash a sponge, by working the soap in and then squeezing and rinsing repeatedly to get all the soap out. Clean hair will actually lock up faster than dirty or oily hair. Because nearly every soap and shampoo on the market contains residues it was thought that clean hair does not dread quickly, when in fact it is the residues (conditioners, moisterizers, builders and fragrance holders) in the soaps that prevent hair from locking up. This is why we reccommend washing you dreads only in residue free soaps and shampoos
Simply not combing your hair is the only way to get nice dreads.
This is called the neglect method. Under some circumstances simply not combing hair will make it dread. The best example of this is African-textured hair. Left alone, African hair will eventually dread. Unfortunately the results, although technically called dreads, are usually less than pleasing to the eye. The hair forms giant matts at random all over the head. Some caucasion hair, if it is curly enough, will also dread by neglect but the same problem exists. It takes several years for the hair to lock fully and when it does it generally looks un kept, kind of like you might expect hair to look after not combing it for a few years. We do have tips in the methods section for caring for you dreads as you neglect them, but please note that the neglect method is not the only way to go about getting dreads and that the dreads you will get are rarely "nice" looking.
Natural dreads are those that are made by neglect.
There are two types of natural dreadlocks. Those that are required by religion to be natural, and natural for you or I, which means non-chemically processed dreads.
If you are rastafarian or in some sects of middle eastern religions you are required to not interfere with the growth of your dreads. You have probably not seen many truly natural dreads as most of these religions also require that no one, not even your spouse in some cases, see your dreads. These truly natural dreads can be washed but they can not be cut trimmed or ripped in any way and no combing or products can be used to maintain them.
If you are rastafarian or in some sects of middle eastern religions you are required to not interfere with the growth of your dreads. You have probably not seen many truly natural dreads as most of these religions also require that no one, not even your spouse in some cases, see your dreads. These truly natural dreads can be washed but they can not be cut trimmed or ripped in any way and no combing or products can be used to maintain them.
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