( ORIGINAL PAGE; CLICK HERE )
The website also has a FAQ made especially for parents.

There are several methods one can employ to obtain a head of dreadlocks. We at DT do not endorse any one method over another, but hope to steer you clear of using those that will cause permanent damage to your hair or spending unnecessary money on products that don't necessarily expedite the dreading process. That being said, here we go!


• The natural (or patience) method
Stop brushing your hair. Yes, that's it! Many people with gorgeous locks have obtained them by simply putting down the comb. Dreadlocks are just mats of hair formed by tons of tiny knots. As your hair starts to knot up, some like to rip them apart at the roots to stop them from forming one giant lock, otherwise known as a "beaver tail." Other than that, no maintenance or work is required to dread your hair using the natural method.



• Backcombing/rip and twist
Backcombing is a process that requires using a comb (metal-toothed flea combs work great) to comb one's hair back towards the scalp. Many times, it is combined with the rip and twist method, where hair is twisted and then ripped down the middle to create a knot, then the knot is pushed up the hair towards the root to "pack" knots into the hair. Most people will "section" the hair into square segments that are backcombed/rip and twisted one at a time until the whole head is covered in fuzzy dreadlocks.



• Dread perm
A dread perm is a service that some hair salons offer, where the hair is backcombed, and then a permanent solution is applied. This solution causes the hair to swell, lose its original shape, and shrink back into whatever shape it is set in (generally on curlers). These dreads at first are quite curly and the permanent solution smells rather badly. This method is not endorsed by DT, as dread perms are expensive, take just about as long as other methods to reach maturity, and uses a chemical process to achieve a natural hairstyle. Perming can also be very bad for one's hair, especially thinner hair types, where it can lead to breakage.



• Crochet/felting
This process uses a hooked needle and a felting needle to create knots in the hair.


It is most important to know that dreadlocks do not require installation by a loctician or a hair salon. Dreads are a hairstyle that can absolutely be achieved for free on your own, or with a friend or two helping, and with no expensive products.




No, it is the firm belief of those at DT that you should not use dreadlock wax in your hair. Wax is notoriously bad for dreadlocks. It acts as a glue which holds the hairs in place, but does not allow them to freely move and lock. So while you might have the temporary illusion of having nice, neat locks, in the long run, your hair will take longer to reach maturity. Also, water, dirt, dust, lint, and various other nasty bits will get stuck to the wax in your hair and can lead to mold and general dirtiness/smelliness. Save wax for candles, keep it out of your hair.

A lot of websites will tell you that it is impossible to have dreadlocks without using wax. We ask you to consider the source. Most of the places that say dreads require wax are websites, salons, or stores that sell it and are looking for a profit. Wax is a completely unnecessary step in the locking process.




Natural dreads can be started at any length. Many people believe that the best way to start natural dreads is from a shorter length, as the hair won’t go through the “shrinking” phase as much, and your hair will just grow out knotty.

The recommended length for backcombing is at least between 5-7 inches. You will lose a little length through backcombing, and if your hair is too short, it likely won’t work.

Crocheted/felted dreads generally do not lose much length in the initial locking process, so your current hair would be approximately the length of your dreads. Decide what length you’d like to start them at, and once you’re there, go for it.




It depends on your hair type, but you will most likely lose at least a little length. Thin, straight hair will lose more length than any other hair type. In general, your hair will shrink a great deal in the first year, and after that, begin to gain its length back as your hair grows out knotty.




It is important to realize that no matter what method you employ for locking your hair, they will probably take a year to look how you thought they would. Locks are generally considered babies til age 1, teenagers at ages 1-3, and mature at year 4. It is up to you to decide how you start your journey, but each path takes you to the same place in about the same amount of time.




Yes, you absolutely can and should wash your hair with dreadlocks. Clean hair dreads best, as oils will coat the hair and make it too slippery to knot properly. The general consensus will tell you to use a residue-free shampoo or soap. You won’t be able to eradicate residue or build-up through brushing, so it is fairly important to get a soap or shampoo that will not leave a nasty residue on your scalp. Many people use Dr. Bronner’s bar or liquid soap, but you can really use anything. Some people don't endorse the use of shampoos with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is a foaming agent that is believed to cause scalp irritation. But, generally, the same things that could clean your hair pre-dreads will work post-dreads. You just need to try different things and see what works for your body.

The frequency with which you wash is entirely up to you and depends upon your hair type. Generally, you just want your hair to feel clean. As your dreads mature, you will likely find it less necessary to wash often. Some people can go a month without washing, some need to do it every day. Listen to what your body tells you and you should be fine. If your hair feels greasy and gross, wash it.

At least with immature dreads, you should avoid conditioner. Conditioner is put into the hair to remove knots and make hair easy to brush, and thusly is an enemy of dreadlocks. As your dreads get older, you may find it possible to condition them on occasion, but most find it unnecessary.




In all honesty, the best way to get dreadlocks dry is to use a bonnet hair drier like you’ll find at a hair salon. Of course, not many of us have those in our living rooms. Air drying is a totally viable way to dry dreads, though it can take many hours for a mature set of locks to dry completely depending on thickness. Using a blow-drier is a good option as well, especially on a humid day where you don’t want the wet hair feeling. It’s important to note that you should let your hair dry completely between washings, otherwise the constant moisture collected inside your dreads can lead to mold.




Not necessarily. It is definitely possible to comb out dreadlocks, depending on their level of maturity. You will have a harder time combing out older dreads, and you will certainly lose a lot of hair in the process, as hair you would normally shed now gets sucked into your dreads. With a comb, an economy size tub or two of conditioner, and a lot of patience, you can return to a head of brushable hair without shaving your head.




No. Some websites and salons will tell you to put rubber bands at either the root or the tip of your dreads to keep the roots separate and encourage knotting. Rubber bands are a bad choice for this, as if left in the hair long enough, they will melt into your hair and you will be left with a nasty, gooey spot in your dread that is darn near impossible to remove. If you feel it necessary to keep your dreads separate at the root, we recommend using a piece of string, hemp, or yarn - something that can be left in for a long time without any damage to your hair. You can use rubber bands in the sectioning for backcombing, but don't leave them in.

Not convinced? These pictures from DT Community member Jared provide some visual evidence for what happens to rubber bands that get left in hair.

Check they "Why Not Wax?" page for further information. But basically, wash your hair repeatedly with water as hot as you can stand. Scrub. A lot. Each time you wash, you should feel more and more wax come out. It will take a good amount of time to get all the wax out, especially if you used a lot. Once your hair starts feeling like its natural texture again, you’ll know you succeeded against the waxen enemy!




Relax. Dreadlocks take quite a bit of patience, and backcombing is nothing but a kick-start, a method to give the appearance of dreads before the natural method will show results. Your backcombed dreads are most likely going to loosen and then tighten back up on their own. Dreadlocks are not an instant hairstyle, they take a lot of time and patience to form. You may be freaking out that you just spent thirteen hours backcombing to result in what does not look like dreadlocks. Don’t worry. They’ll get there, you just need to wait.




Get yourself a little bottle of tea tree oil and dab it on the itchy spots. Tea tree oil can be found at most natural grocery stores. Switching to a shampoo with tea tree oil in it may also help. Aloe vera is also good for temporary relief.




No, you don’t. DT Community member moonshyne has this remedy for removing lice from hair. Click Here.
Also, just as an FYI, dreadlocks do not attract lice or bugs any more than other hair types. If you are in close proximity with someone who already has lice, chances are you can get them, regardless of whether you wear your hair in locks or not.



It is important to state that dreads do not require any maintenance, though some dreadheads choose to do some so to keep them looking neater in their developmental stages. The standard method of maintenance that most dreadheads use is ripping. Other methods of maintenance are crocheting, felting, and palm rolling.

• Ripping
Dreads seem to have a life of their own and sometimes it feels like their objective is to eat up all hair on your head to form one giant monodread! Most people with dreadlocks will rip dreads apart that are trying to “congo,” or grow together. Some people like when their dreads join up and make fatter dreads, it is all preference. If you don’t like your dreads growing together, you can simply hold the two pieces in your hands and rip them apart! It can be slightly painful.

• Crocheting
Same as installing dreads using this method (see above). Tiny crochet hooks are poked through dreads, used to hook loose hair, and pull them into the dreads. Repeat until all desired loose hair is pulled into a lock.

• Palm rolling
Hold your dread between your two palms and roll it back and forth vigorously (but not roughly). Many people find that this rounds out your dreads and can eliminate loopiness (though just as many people seem to enjoy their loops). Be careful to not over-palm roll, as it can encourage hair breakage.

• Dreadballing
Take clumps of your loose hair, work them into a small ball by rubbing between your fingers. Poke this "dread ball" into the root of the nearest dread. Do this all over your head.

• Sewing
Use a wide-mouthed needle (found at most any craft stores) to "sew" the hair back into the dread. Do not use thread! Pretend the loose hair is your thread and get it tucked away inside your dread.




No. All ethnicities can wear dreadlocks. Hair types will differ from person to person, so certain techniques and methods of going about starting them can differ as well. But everyone can have this natural, age-old hair style.




Not a problem! Join the community (it's free) and we would be happy to help you with any problems and answer any questions you may have. Plus it's always fun to simply hang out and chat =)
We strive to create a positive and comfortable atmosphere at DT, so don't be shy! We won't bite.

~Written by MoonShyne

( ORIGINAL PAGE; CLICK HERE )

Dread wax. Where do I begin? Well, I suppose I can start at the point when I was first introduced to the horrors of dread wax.

Back in 2001, my husband decided to dread his hair. This was pretty new to us, so we decided to look up dreadlocks online....the first website we came across was probably the same site many of you also first stumbled upon, though I won't be naming names here. They did offer what seemed to be a very efficient backcombing method, and that's what we did. However, I was suspicicious of the wax from the very beginning and had already read several horror stories, so we decided to omit the wax. It didn't take long for his back-combed fuzz-locks to turn into tight dreadlocks and everyone we knew was extremely jealous. Serveral folks I knew suddenly wanted dreadlocks too, and decided to purchase so called "dread kits" from the unnamed website I mentioned before. I was stuck with the unfortunate task of dreading everyone's hair, since I was apparently so good at the backcombing method. At their own insistence, I did end up using wax on all of those new baby dreads...just a tiny amount, something less than the size of a pea per dread (which were around 6-8 inches long). I must admit, the wax gave the appearance of instant dreads, whereas my husband had to wait several weeks for his own dreadlocks to mature.

But that didn't last long. Almost overnight, all of those waxy dreads started to collect dust, lint and debris, and the wax made it very difficult to wash that stuff out. I was also noticing during weekly maintenance that the waxy locks never seemed to tighten, and also never really seemed to get completely dry after washing. The wax itself was also becoming a major problem, since it seemed nearly impossible to wash away, and applying more of it weekly or even bi-weekly was causing it to cake up inside of the dreads. I didn't like touching them. Finally, after just a few months, the first set of waxy dreadlocks began to smell moldy, and the owner cut them off. It wasn't long after that when the rest followed suit, and in the end the only one left with dreadlocks was my husband, the only person who hadn't used wax.

No doubt you may have heard from others about how "dirty" dreadlocks are. Our own FAQ's tackle this rumor several times, trying to dispel this myth. There is no doubt in my mind that many, if not most of these rumors are a direct result of the use of dreadlock wax. I've known too many people who have used it and end up ruining their hair, and I've read this same story from many, many people online.

This is what wax really does. (website has larger views of the below photos) 

And if case the visual isn't enough, I'll go ahead and explain it too. While wax may make your hair LOOK like dreadlocks, it also keeps your hair from moving. Newly forming dreadlocks need friction, they need movement to encourage knotting, which leads to tightly formed, mature locks. Wax keeps that from happening, meaning that while your "dreads" may LOOK tight and awesome in the beginning, they'll never really mature. Wax also is sticky, so naturally all those little airborn particles floating around get stuck in your hair....along with various bits of lint, and if you spend anytime outdoors you'll likely end up with whatever is out there as well. This happens to all of us, but normal washing is enough to deal with it. However, water just beads right off of wax, making it very difficult to wash out all the things sticking to it.

Wax itself does not simply wash away, so the more you use, even in small amounts, the more it'll build up inside of your hair, causing the sort of problems you see above. This brings us to our next issue with wax...water. Wax creates a barrier that traps water, so every time you take a shower, or get caught in the rain, that moisture get trapped inside of the dreadlock with no way to escape. Dark, moist places create the perfect environment for mold and mildew, which not only smells bad, but may also be bad for your health. This is not to say that wax is entirely evil, it can be useful in very small amounts to help tame those occasional crazy stray hairs you might have sticking up, and many people have used it sparingly with good results. But when used as promoted and directed, wax can and does kill dreadlocks.

So at this point, you may be asking yourself, "If this is all true, then why do these websites and companies sell wax?" The answer is simple...wax=money. These websites exist entirely to sell you something, whether it's the wax, or an overpriced bottle of salt water. They spread misinformation, and they intentionally word their websites in ways to imply that anything other than "their way" is wrong. For instance, the term "neglect method" (which many of us here at Dreadlock Truth now refer to as the 'Patience Method'), referring to natural, non-waxy dreads, seems to be a term they invented in order to give the appearance that you are somehow neglecting your hair if you choose to not use a product. If you look through their websites, you'll find many such instances of this intentionally misleading information. One site's FAQ even goes as far as to say that it's normal for dreadlocks to be full of sludge and that it isn't a problem as long as it's pretty on the outside. Your dreadlocks aren't much different from your body though, meaning it's important to be healthy inside and out.

But that kind of misinformation spreads easily. I can't tell you how many times I've had complete strangers approach me or my husband just to tell us we're doing it wrong, or act shocked to find out that we do not use wax....the common question after that is, "how do you get them to stick together then?" One of the unnamed sites has even set up a FAQ to downplay the wax issues, but their FAQ fails to cover any problems, and instead simply tries to discredit non-waxers with petty name-calling and insults.

The truth is, no matter what you may have heard or read from another person or website, wax is absolutely not nessecary at any point during the locking process. It does absolutely nothing to help speed up the formation of locks, and in many cases has created nothing more than a waxy, sticky, stinking mess of hair. And it doesn't matter how they try to write these truths off, or how they try to label these facts as the rants of anti-business guys or crazy caveman "neglectors", the fact remains that the people on this website will never have to chop off their lovely locks due to their wax.




Unfortunately, many people don't find out the truth about dreadlock wax until after they've already purchased and used it. There's no need to panic though, you dreads can still be saved!

The most efficient method of removing dread wax, though probably also the most unpopular, is to simply brush out your new dreads, wash all the wax out (this may take several washings, depending on how much wax is used) and simply start over. Yeah, we're not too fond of this idea, but if your dreads are brand new, less than a week or two, they can easily be combed out and your hair can be cleaned thoroughly. Like I said, this isn't the most popular method. But it is an option, and it works, so I'm including it.

Now, another option is to melt the wax out of your hair. There is more than one way to do this. One way to melt it out is to wash and soak your dreads in very hot water, as hot as you can stand. You'll likely need to do this several times, but you should notice a definite improvement. Another method of melting is by using a blow dryer. This takes a while because you have to work with one dread at a time, but I've read about other people using this method with fantastic results. Hold your blow dryer so that it blows parallel with your dread instead of directly into it, you don't want to melt the wax deeper into the dreadlock. Using a dry towel, rub away the melted wax as much as you can. Personally, I believe that using a combination of these two steps (hot water+blow dryer) would have the fastest results.

Of course, deep cleaning is also a nessecary step in helping to remove all the dirt and debris attracted by the wax. Kyndmama's deep cleaning concoction really does work wonders for your hair. The before and after shot from one of our members really speaks for itself.