This blog is mostly a journal of my dreadlock journey, but I’m hoping others will find this information helpful. If you are looking for care tips or tricks on how to break in your dreadlocks, you have come to the right place!
Although I used a crochet hook and some store bought wax, I would say that my dreadlocks were started organically. When I first decided that I wanted to grow out my hair and get dreads, I went online to do some research. After reading about the pros and cons of different methods, it seemed like the backcombing technique was the best option for me. Here’s why:
1.I have fine hair that tangles easily
2.My hair is naturally curly and “kinky” (but not afro-textured)
3.I wanted locks that would be at least partially mature from the beginning
4.I didn’t want to spend tons of money on wax or dreading products (although some people can start their locks with nothing more than water and time)
How to Shatter Your Dreadlocks
I’m writing this so you can get an idea of how to break in your dreads. I made a lot of mistakes when i first started my dreads, but now they’re pretty much perfect and just what i wanted. So here’s a collection of tips and tricks on how to start your dreads off right.
The first thing you need is large, thick rubber bands. These are available at most grocery stores, pharmacies, and hair salons. You can also get them from a majority of the people on the classified ads section at www.dreadlockssite.com. If you want to get the kind with ends, such as those pictured below (taken from www.dreadlockssite.com), you’ll need to buy them specifically for dreadlocks – they’re not sold in any store i know of and will have to be ordered online or purchased from another dreadhead.
, backcombing/teasing, plaiting/braiding/twisting and rolling, waxing, crochet and more.
There are many different types of dreadlocks for many different types of people. If you have straight hair, you may want to look into starting your dreads with the backcombing method. If you have curly hair or wavy hair, neglect may be a good option for you (neglect simply means doing nothing to help your hair along the way).
The best way to get started is to figure out what kind of dreadlocks will work best with your lifestyle and hair type.
In my humble opinion, dreadlocks are the most versatile form of hair on the planet. I’ve worn short, mid-back length and floor length dreads. They have been dark blonde and black, brown and bright colors-blue, red, purple, green. I’ve had them super thin to extra thick and everything in between!
I’ve had a few people ask me how I get my dreads looking so nice and as someone who has worn them for over 20 years that is a high compliment. Dreadlocks take time to grow in and mature with age so you might not see your full potential for many years but you can still maintain them well from the start.
These are some of my best tips for taking care of your dreadlocks.
The most important thing is to have a plan. You need to know exactly how much money you have coming in and what your expenses are. This will give you a better idea of how much you have left over for spending each month. It’s a good idea to break this down into categories, such as rent/mortgage, car payment, utilities, groceries and others.
A budgeting app can help with this step by showing you where your money is going and how much is left over at the end of the month. The best apps will allow you to track your income and expenses so that you can see where you can cut spending or save more money each month.
If your expenses are more than your income, then it’s time to make some changes. There are two ways to do this: cut back on spending or bring in more money. If it’s an expense that you can reduce or eliminate, then do so. If there’s an income opportunity that would help improve the situation, then pursue it.