Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try dreadlocks for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. I’m documenting the whole messy process, so here we go!
Prepping My Hair
First, I washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo. I wanted to make sure there was no product build-up or oils, just squeaky clean hair. I skipped the conditioner, obviously. You want your hair to be as “grippy” as possible, not slick and smooth.
Sectioning and Backcombing
This part took forever! I divided my hair into small, square-ish sections. My arms got so tired! The size of the sections determines how thick the dreads will be, so I went for about 1-inch squares. I wanted medium-sized dreads, not too thin, not too thick.
Then came the backcombing. I took each section and, starting near the roots, teased the hair upwards towards my scalp. It felt weird, and my hair looked like a crazy bird’s nest. I kept backcombing until the hair started to knot up and form a kinda-sorta dreadlock shape.
Palm Rolling
After backcombing each section, I rolled it between my palms. This helps to shape the dread and make it more compact. It also helps the knots tighten up. My palms were actually getting a little sore from all the rolling!
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
I repeated the sectioning, backcombing, and palm rolling for my entire head. It was a long process, and honestly, my arms were killing me by the end. I think it took me a good few hours, spread out over a couple of days, to get it all done.
Securing the Ends (Or Not)
Some people use rubber bands or wax to secure the ends of the dreads, but I decided to go without. I’ve heard that rubber bands can damage the hair, and I wanted to keep things as natural as possible. I figured the ends would eventually lock up on their own.
The Waiting Game
Now comes the hard part: waiting. My hair looks… well, it looks like a mess right now. It’s frizzy, uneven, and definitely not the neat dreadlocks I was hoping for. But I know it’s a process. It takes time for the dreads to mature and really lock up.
Early stages care:
- Washing. Wash it much less now.
- Patience. I am doing my best.
So, that’s where I’m at! I’ll keep updating this as my dreadlock journey continues. It’s definitely been a learning experience, and I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see how it all turns out.
