Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Preparing to dye your dreads
• Part 2 of 4: Decolorize dreads for a lighter color
• Part 3 of 4: Dyeing your dreads
• Part 4 of 4: Taking care of colorful locks
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

A splash of color in your hair can make even the worst hair days funky. And you really don't have to go to the hairdresser to get a good result. You can get the color you want at home by prepping and moisturizing your dreads, dyeing them with care and then taking care of them. If you want to lighten darker hair, consider bleaching your hair first for best results.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Preparing to dye your dreads

1. Hydrate your hair one or two days before dyeing it. How well your hair is hydrated will affect how well your hair absorbs the dye, so wash and moisturize your hair thoroughly in the days before dyeing your dreads. Several oils are great moisturizers for dreadlocks, including jojoba oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, and hemp oil.
   • Buy the oil of your choice from a supermarket or online and use it after you shower.
2. Buy two sets of paint for plenty of color supplies. A paint set can be enough for a lighter head of hair, but depending on the thickness and length of your dreads, you may need two. There's nothing worse than the color blending halfway through the dyeing process, so if you have thick and coarse or long hair, buy two sets.
3. Protect your bathroom and body from paint stains with towels, old T-shirts and gloves. Lay a towel on the floor, put on clothes you don't mind ruining, and put plastic gloves nearby for when you start working with bleacher or paint. Get all the supplies you need ready before starting the process.
   • For the best possible results, have a hair dye kit, plastic hair cap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizing oil, and rubber bands.

Part 2 of 4: Decolorize dreads for a lighter color

1. Bleach your hair if you don't mind damaging your hair a bit. If you have dark hair and want to dye the dreads a lighter color, you may need a bleacher to "pop out" the color. However, keep in mind that a bleacher will damage your hair and therefore it will be difficult to return it to its natural color. You sometimes have to sacrifice a little for that platinum blonde or candy pink look!
   • There are natural alternatives to bleaching if you want to lighten your hair before dyeing. You can apply lemon juice to your hair and lie in the sun, pour chamomile tea over your hair and let it dry in the sun, or wash your hair with water and baking soda.
   • All of these items that you normally already have around the house have illuminating properties and can lighten your hair without damaging it with a bleacher.
2. Apply a hair mask three days before bleaching. This is probably the best way to protect your hair from the potential damage from the bleacher. Soak your dreads in coconut oil or use a deep conditioning mask the night before for extra protection.
3. Buy a bleacher specifically for hair. You can find hair bleaching agents at most drugstores, an example of which is L'oreal Blondissima 'super' strength. Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color in Lightest Platinum has very clear directions that must be followed to make the process as safe as possible for your hair.
4. Apply the bleacher with gloves on. Follow the directions for the bleacher you are using and once applied, squeeze your dreadlocks to fully soak them. Cover the bleached dreadlocks with plastic wrap to help the bleacher soak in as best as possible, and let it sit for the allotted time.
   • Do not exceed that time as it could cause additional damage.
5. Wash your dreads thoroughly and towel dry them. In the shower, put your dreads under a constant stream of warm water and wash off the bleacher completely. Squeeze each dread from top to bottom to make sure that the bleacher is removed from the inside of the strands as well. Towel dry your hair and wait a few hours for it to dry completely.
6. Apply a natural dreadlock wax or conditioner when your hair is dry. This prevents your locks from getting so dry that they crackle and feel dirty. You can also do this after you have applied the paint if you want to go straight to dyeing the strands.
   • A bleacher can actually help "lock in" dreadlocks because it dries them out further, but you don't want them to become brittle. That's why applying a conditioner before and after is important.

Part 3 of 4: Dyeing your dreads

1. Divide your hair and protect your hairline with a protective balm. Already with the dry strands you divide your hair into four parts that are held together by elastic bands. Coat your hairline and ears with protective balm (included in the kit), petroleum jelly, or lip balm to protect against any paint spills.
2. Mix the hair dye in a bowl. Put the plastic gloves on over your gloves and mix the color together according to the instructions in the package. Place a towel under the bowl to mix the paint so you don't make a mess.
3. Cover the outside of your locks with paint. You can use a paintbrush to apply the paint evenly over the strands, or you can dip your strands in the color mixture and squeeze them with your gloved hands so that they are soaked in the paint.
   • You don't have to worry about coloring the inside of the dreads, just focus on covering the outside of each strand thoroughly.
4. Leave the paint in for the set time plus a dreadlock buffer. Put the dreads in a hair cap while the paint is set to prevent dripping and smudging. Follow the instructions on the paint set carefully to make sure the color adheres, and add 10 to 15 minutes of setting time for dreads.
   • Removing the paint too early can lead to poor results, but leaving the color on too long can damage your hair.
5. Wash the dye out of your hair until the water runs clear. Usually this takes one or two washes for dyed dreadlocks. You can use a neutralizing shampoo to repair any damage caused by the paint or a regular shampoo, conditioner and further moisturize it with your favorite moisturizing oil.
   • Once the strands are clean, turn the dreads again as desired.

Part 4 of 4: Taking care of colorful locks

1. Wash your dreads less often, but keep them clean. The less you wash colored hair, the longer the color will last. Wash your hair with lukewarm water, which is gentler on the dye, and use a special color-friendly shampoo and conditioner, such as Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Hydrating-Clarifying Shampoo.
   • Having your hair clean will make the color shine more, so even if you wash your hair less, you shouldn't let it get extremely dirty.
2. Hydrate your locks daily. Now that your dreads are dyed, they need extra moisturizing maintenance. Use a moisturizing oil or a protein conditioner to condition just colored hair and prevent dryness and breakage.
   • Dr. Locs YaYa Oil or Jinan Leave in Conditioner are good moisturisers for colored hair.
3. Apply hot oil treatments or moisturizing mists for extra protection. If you find that your hair is getting dry or brittle despite normal moisturizing treatments, consider using a hot oil treatment to apply monthly to the strands.
   • To add a moisturizing blend to your routine, mix glycerin and rose water and spray it on your hair in the morning or evening for extra hydration.
   • Hydrate and treat your hair before styling your dreadlocks to get the best results.
4. Protect your dreads with a shawl when you sleep. Dyed dreads are more susceptible to damage, so it is extra important that you protect your dreads at night with a scarf or silk wrap. You can also replace regular pillowcases with silk or satin pillowcases so you don't have to use a wrap.

Tips

• If the color starts to fade, you can touch it up by following the same dyeing process.
• If you are not sure about dyeing your entire dreads, you can only dye the tips of the dreads for a different and stylish look.

Warnings

• Make sure to rinse all paint well when you are done dyeing, as any leftover dye in the hair could damage it, making it brittle and weak.

Necessities

• Towel
• Hair cap
• Gloves
• Hair color set with paint
• Moisturizing oil
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hair elastics