Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Starting with the dreads
• Part 2 of 3: Shaping the dreads
• Part 3 of 3: Maintaining the dreads
• Tips
• Warnings

Getting beautiful dreadlocks is easy to do at home. You could also have them braided in a hair salon, but why pay when you can grow them naturally yourself? All you need are basic hair supplies and a lot of patience as growing dreadlocks can take months. Keep reading about how to grow, shape and maintain your dreadlocks.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Starting with the dreads

1. Wash your hair with shampoo. It is important to start your dreads with clean, dry hair. Use a degreasing shampoo to get the oils and conditioners off your hair, as they can keep it slippery and make it difficult for your hair to felt.
   • Do not use conditioner or other styling product after you wash your hair.
   • Make sure your hair is completely dry before you start making the dreads.
2. Divide your hair into equal squares. Every little tuft of your hair will become a separate dread. Making sure they are all the same size will give you a neater look when your dreads are ready; it is difficult to resize once your hair is "stuck".
   • Use a comb to divide your hair and make squares. Secure each piece with a small rubber band to keep it separate from the rest.
   • You can determine the size of the squares yourself. If you want medium thickness dreads, make 1-by-1-inch squares. 1.25 by 1.25 cm dreads are thinner and quite elegant, but take longer to make and require more maintenance.
   • You will be able to see your scalp between the individual dreads. Some people like the row pattern, but if you prefer a less rigid look, create a zigzag or brick wall pattern instead.
3. Comb back the strands of hair. Take a section of hair out of his elastic and keep it off your head. Press your comb into the section about an inch from your scalp and comb the hair towards your head so that it starts to tangles around the roots. Once the first section has been combed back, continue with your comb an inch and then repeat the combing back. Continue combing back until the entire section of hair is matted, then secure the end with a rubber band. Continue with the rest of the picking.
   • If you are combing back a section of your hair with one hand, use your other hand to twist it. This helps to keep the section of hair uniform.
   • This process can take a long time, especially if you have thick hair and are making thin dreads. Ask a friend to help you save time.
   • Take the same amount of time for each strand of hair, carefully combing and twisting back. If you chase through some of the tufts, they will not felt the same way, and you may not be happy with the result.
4. Put a second rubber band around the strands. Each strand of hair should have a rubber band to secure the end, but you should use a second elastic band to secure the beginning of the strand right against the scalp. The two rubber bands will keep the hair from fraying as the dreads mature.
5. Consider waxing your hair. Some people recommend applying some wax to the tufts while you wait for them to felt. It can protect the hair and help it stay in place. Others say that waxing in it actually works against it, and that it keeps hair from getting stuck in properly. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:
   • Dread wax can help if your hair is naturally fine and you are concerned that the strands will not stay in place. If your hair is coarse and has no problem forming dreads, you can skip it.
   • If you are going to use dread wax, use an all natural brand with no chemicals. Certain chemicals and oils will cause your hair to smell, so make sure to get it from a trusted company.
   • If you want, you can also take pure aloe vera instead of dread gel. Just make sure there are no other ingredients in it.

Part 2 of 3: Shaping the dreads

1. Wash your hair often. Use residue-free shampoo with no added conditioners or perfumes. Washing your hair often will help the strands of hair stay combed back and can begin the process of getting stuck and smooth, or pinning. The entire detention process takes at least three months.
   • You can buy a special dread soap block to use to wash your hair, or just use a shampoo without perfumes or conditioners.
   • Run the block or shampoo over your scalp, rub in gently and rinse. Don't treat your hair more than you have to.
   • Do not dry your hair with a blow dryer or vigorously with a towel or your dreads may fray.
   • Wash your hair in the morning so that it has time to dry before going to bed. You don't want mildew and mold growing in your hair.
2. Keep the dreads moistened. It is necessary to moisten your dreads every few days to keep them from drying out and fraying. Spray them with a mixture of water and a few drops of tea tree or lavender oil. Don't use too much oil, because you don't want your hair to look too greasy.
   • Avoid using vegetable oil, almond oil, or any other food-based oil. These will go rancid in your hair.
   • You can buy moisturisers for dreads online.
3. Put loose hair back into the dreads. To keep your dreads looking neat, it will be necessary to put back the hairs that come loose during the day. You can use a crochet hook or tweezers to put the hair back into the dreads so that they can get back in place.
4. Roll and dull your dreads. It's a matter of personal preference, but some people like to roll the dreads and blunt the ends into a rounded shape. Roll them between your hands for a few seconds every few days. Make round ends by bumping the tips of the dreads against your palm and rolling them. The hair will roll up in the dread.
   • Be careful when working with the dreads or you will cause them to fray.
   • Don't pull the dreads; this can cause hairs to break at the scalp.

Part 3 of 3: Maintaining the dreads

1. Remove the rubber bands. After a few months, when your dreads are riveted, you can free them from the rubber bands that held them in place. Gently remove the rubber bands from the roots and tips of the dreads. You may have to cut them off with scissors.
2. Take care of the roots. When the dreads start to grow out, the new growth will have to be absorbed from your head. Rub the new straight hair between your fingers, rolling it against the dreads.
   • You do not have to rub the dreads often, as the new growth will naturally start to cling to the dreads from about an inch.
   • Do not overwork the roots of the hair; Over-treating the roots can cause them to fall out, especially once they start to ripen and become heavy.
3. Prevent the dreads from becoming flat. Try to position your dreads so that they don't lie flat under your head against your pillow at night. Don't wear heavy hats that flatten them. If you can't avoid them flattening out, take the time to gently roll the dreads between your hands. This will help them to regain their round shape.

Tips

• Wash your hair two to three times a week for the first few months. Clean hair felts faster. To avoid a greasy scalp, you can end your wash with a cold overhead shower. If the dreads have been in it for a year, you can go back to once a week.

Warnings

• Using shampoos with perfume while trying to grow dreadlocks will kill your dreads quickly.