dreadlocks...?

Question

how do you get them? i just assumed you got it done/did it yourself like braids or something...but then someone told me they thought you just got them when you didn't wash your hair

Answer 1

That part of the 'not washing your hair' is absolutely not true. My boyfriend used to have the longest dreadlocks in my area (till 30 cm over his rear end) and he washed them a lot.

You can get them if you have curly hair, by not combing your hair. They will start to make knots and naturally form dreadlocks. You have to watch out that they don't grow too thick, so you have to splice them if they are growing to be too thick.

You can also make them yourself.
Take a bit of hair (sorry, don't know the english word) and use a comb. Comb it into a knot. Take the ends of your hair and pull them to make it more firm. That way you do the whole length of that bit of hair.
Continue with the rest.

In the beginning, don't wash them for at least some days, because then the knots will become more loose. In the beginning do definately not use something that makes your hair a lot softer, like a cream thing.

If they come to the point that they are becoming more solid, your hair wil just grow like that by itself. When that happens just treat your hair the way you normally do, by washing them a lot.

Not many people realise that growing dreadlocks is actually a lot of work. To keep it nice and in shape you need to work on it regularly. Loose bits of hair you've got to stich back in, with a thick unsharp needle. Dreadlocks that grow together you have to seperate before they get too thick.

Good luck!

Answer 2

goodness. The lack of information regarding dreadlocks frightens me.
First, and let me make this clear, dreads must be kept clean. A dread is matted hair- do you really want alot of dirt or whatever in that - once its dreaded, its really hard to get out. So as for the theory of not washing? eeeeewwww!
Second, dreadlocks are different for different types of hair. African americans have completely different hair than caucasians so they are going to have different ways to care for and create the dreads.
Okay, assuming you are caucasian, the best way to get dreads is to keep it VERY VERY clean and dont apply conditioner. You know those super cleaner shampoos that make your hair so clean it squeaks? Get one. Use it. And then just dont brush. You will start to notice a knot growing at the base of your neck in a day or two- some people take longer, some shorter- depends on the hair. Dreads are not quick and they seem to take forever to get. Many people dont get what looks like "dreads" for years. And when they do come in- expect your hair to be only a third as long as it used to be (or even less) You will find yourself having to split them after awhile if that is the look you want. Some people like big huge burly locks and some like em small. But I should warn you that the smaller and thinner they are- the weaker they will be!
Alot of people use weird waxes and stuff to make their dreads- beware of putting icky crap ion your hair- you wont be able to get it out and many people consider that cheating. Alot of people also have someone prepare the hair by separating and ratting the hair to start it out... I guess this is okay , however it creates a manicured look that has an icky "mtv fake person" vibe to it. Anyhow, good luck, igonre whatever weird advice you get about keeping it dirty and dont get them unless you REALLY want them- they last forever unless you cut them out.

Answer 3

Whoever thinks that you get dreadlocks by not washing your hair is an idiot. You get them by "knotting" your hair with a special kind of cream that makes your hair knot up. It's a spiritual thing.

Answer 4

Dreadlocks are pretty much what you get when you do not wash or even comb your hair. You just let it get all filthy and nasty and lice-ridden, and then you have your dreads.

Cornrows are when the hair is braided.

Answer 5

Both, you braid the hair tight, and then you don't take the braids apart when you wash them.

Answer 6

You can wash your hair with dreads! And you can you "retwist" with a holding cream. I've helped my son't aunt do her hair several times. To start hers she went and had it done by professional and then maintained it on her own.

Answer 7

dont get dreads.. i had a knot in the back of my head like a mini dreadlock and i couldnt get it out so i had to cut it off. but dreads are gorss to me.

Answer 8

actually from what I read on this site, it involves alot of work. you use wax and also let your hair knot up.... But you do still wash it. I didn't read all of it, but here's the link it should help

Answer 9

I heard you get molasses in your hair. After getting dreads, the guy shaved his head. They are just big nasty knotty disgusting clups of hair.

Answer 10

hell no you don't get them if you don't wash you get them by doing them your self or have someone do them for you come now who ever told you that you get them by not washing is stupid