How Can I Tell If My Dreads Are Locked
Hold 1 of your dreads between your fingers so it is taut but still a little loose. Having at least a little bit of loose hair is even considered desirable by some.
Some end up denser than others.
How can i tell if my dreads are locked. Insert it about 2 inches from where the loose hair is. Locking times can vary as much as hair types can vary and as much as maintenance and lifestyle can vary. This can be 2 to 6 months or so but this estimate is only a guide.
Make sure you push the hook in until the little latch is past the other side of the dread and loose hair. If you want to make your dreadlocks lock faster the fastest way to do this is to keep them clean. Gently wash your dreadlocks and massage your scalp.
Thread the loose hair through the hook and flip the hook into the closed position. When removing dreadlocks that are 1-4 years old all that needs to be cut off is the tip of the lock. It takes time for your hair to start knotting by itself at the roots.
You will have some shedding. Having clean dry hair allows the hair strands to tangle much more easily thus making the locking process faster. Take the loose hair tool and push it into and down through the middle of the dreadlock.
At any point in the locking process its considered normal to have between 1 and 3 of loose undreaded growth at your roots. The bad news is ends dread on their own schedule often times staying frustratingly loose while the rest of your hair locks up in record time. But for the most part you can keep your hair.
Can I have temporary dreads then and wash my hair normally and dye it and everything else that I would do if it was my own hair only. They become much harder to penetrate with a pencil tip or even a paper clip. Chemically treated shampoos can damage the roots of your hair and prevent your locks from growing.
Be careful not to manipulate the hair so much that it disturbs the locking process. My hair is about 14 inches long. Use a natural shampoo without conditioner and ensure it is made with coconut or tea tree oil.
Loose ends are so pretty for some but so annoying when all you want is round blunted tips. Feel your twists with your fingers. You can go to a beauty salon and have a professional stylist unlock them for you however the fees can be expensive.
How to create blunted ends on your dreads. If you are tired of maintaining your dreadlocks and want to try another hairstyle you will have to unlock your dreads. Everyones hair locks and matures differently.
Locked hair can be unlocked. It will take patience and work. I was told it took from 6-12 months i started my dreads july212009 and have them still so i had them for 1yr and 5 months and there not locked i always had virgin hair and never had a perm my hair stayed in braids and got straightened like 10 times plus my hair is very very kinky i use to break all my combs and when i got extension braids everyone would complain how braiding my hair.
If your dreadlocks are falling out or theyre starting to feel loose its best to just cut them off and give your hair time to heal. Instead you can purchase affordable products at your local drug or beauty supply store that will break down. The twists are not dreads when they are first made and will be delicate until they have really begun to lock.
Larger dreads get tighter than thinner dreads. As you can see by the photo at above left mature dreadlocks in addition to being locked have a smooth matted appearance and typically feel dense and solid when squeezed than younger locks. Use a duckbill clip to separate the hair that you do not want to backcomb.
Digital VisionDigital VisionGetty Images. Or they arent temporary. Then comb your hair towards your scalp in the opposite direction of the hairs growth working from the root to the tip.
Even though you can grow dreads if you just leave your hair alone to tangle and knot there are disadvantages to the neglect methodSimply allowing hair to form into locks by itself can take a long time and during that formation period there could be six to 12 months of unattractive in-between stages that might not be acceptable in social and professional situations. Although thick dreads can cause more damage because of the weight of them even thin dreads can become an issue especially if theyre twisted in or kept in for too long. Is it possible for me to make longer fuller thicker dreadlocks if I add real human hair and lock it together with my own.
If there is a hard lump in the middle of the twist it may be starting to lock. In general hair that isnt fully locked should be washed about once a week or once every two weeks. However it cannot be done in one day.
Contrary to popular belief you should wash your hair regularly. The amount that they can be squeezed down flat with about 25 lbs of pressure becomes very small usually about 1-4 mm. Removal cream can salvage your hair.
