Ah dreadlocks... a sure sign of a free spirit, world traveling, neo-hippy who grows organic food on their back patio while drinking local brews. Or a sure sign of someone who wants maintenance-free, versatile hair forever!
Whatever reason you want to have dreads, welcome to my blog. You are in luck - creating dreadlocks has always been one of my favorite creative outlets. Since I have been back to Newfoundland I have been asked a lot of questions about them at the salon. This week, I'll attempt to answer some of those questions.
Dreadlocks, much like people, come in all shapes and sizes. You can create hairstyles with them, color them any color in the rainbow, wear them up or down, long or short. No matter what type of hair you have, dreadlocks can be 'created' either naturally or artificially (by me!). A lot of people have naturally curly, coarse, or textured hair that if left to it's own devices will dread naturally. However for the rest of us, we need a little help.
For those of you whose hair needs a little coaxing into dreadlocks, I use a backcombing and knotting method. Don't worry if your hair is not naturally wild and crazy, I've dreaded together even the most fine, silky hair. Through various prepping techniques, your hair can virtually always be dreaded. The only limitation could be length, where your natural length shrinks up by about half (!) once the dreads are in (quite reminiscent of Sonic the Hedgehog in some cases).
By booking a consultation, we can figure out if you have long enough hair for dreadlocks.
Most new sets of dreads take from 4-9hrs to create. This is a permanent service, which means you never have to get haircuts again! Think of all the money you'll save on haircuts :)
After we create your dreads, it can take several months to a year before you have those perfectly formed, tight dreads reminiscent of surfers and backpacking Australians. This time is very rewarding and is great fun - think of it as a time to "care" for your dreads. You can nurture them, watch them grow and even decorate them with beads, wiring, threads, etc.
Now, to dispel any myths about how dreads are dirty and smelly - it is very important to keep your hair clean as this not only encourages friendship and dating, this also encourages your growing hair to dread naturally into the dreads you now have (and love and worship).
As for hair products, I highly recommend the brand Knotty Boy for all your dreadlock care. They make great shampoos that promote a healthy scalp. We've all seen nasty dreads - there's just no need!
Photo courtesy of Shane Kelly (of Renee Lethbridge)
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