Dreadlocks... they're a beautiful hairstyle! Have you been admiring photos of those who've taken the plunge for months or even years? Are you hesitant to commit to this style due to various concerns like the installation process, maintenance, and more? I'm here to share 7 essential things to know before you make your decision...
1 - Starting Locs: Professional or DIY?
The choice will depend on several criteria: your budget, an Afro hairstylist near you, your hair styling skills...
If you are lucky enough to have an Afro hair expert specializing in locs near you, specifically a loctician, I advise you to go to a salon. If you're not knowledgeable, the hairstylist can better guide you in choosing the techniques to use based on your hair type and give you advice on home maintenance.
In Paris, you'll find what you're looking for a bit more easily. In the provinces... it's even worse; it's more difficult to find a hairstylist specializing in dreadlocks. You'll probably have to opt for an at-home Afro hairstylist or visit Wedreadz, a team of experts who offer high-quality services to pamper your dreadlocks. They create, maintain, and repair your beautiful locs.
If you don't have a budget and are skilled with your hands in hairstyling, do it yourself! The web is full of tutorials on starting locs: with twists, coils, backcombing with a needle... you'll undoubtedly find the method that suits you!
I've selected a few videos on this topic that might interest you below...
Pretty Locks - Starting Locs Without Spending $1
Elikiah Agnala - How to Start Locs - REAL HAIR - 2 Techniques
2 - How Do I Maintain My Locs?
Locs don't mean stopping care! You should treat your locs normally, washing them regularly.
Dreadlocks are matted hair; the thickness is created by hair that has shed over months. Products must be adapted to your new hairstyle.
Products must be water-based, meaning the first ingredient on the list is WATER.
An expert in loc hairstyles (whom I also recommend, Nahnny Natural Hair), whom I've known for several years, has always told me: no grease in the hair, as you might hear everywhere.
A small amount of oil will seal in moisture after your shampoo and other routine treatments.
Between shampoos, do not apply grease. The more grease you put in your dreadlocks, the more you risk attracting residue and dust, and your locs will become dull.
Instead of grease, use silk protein, a moisturizing active ingredient for hair.
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3 - Do I Have the Right Hair Type for Locs?
Dreadlocks can be created on all hair types. Naturally, locs will form more quickly on coily hair than on straight or curly hair.
For coily hair, locs can be started with twists, coils, braids, or the backcombing method. The latter is perfectly suited for straight hair, and dread formation will be faster.
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4 - What Size Locs Should I Get?
Before starting your locs, you'll need to carefully consider the thickness—small, medium, or large—so the parting will be important. Everything will depend on the look you want for your locs. If you want your locs to be uniform, the parting must be precise and the same size for all locs.
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5 - Can Locs Be Undone?
Everything will depend on the quality of your locs and the technique used to create them. Depending on the length, it will take a lot of time to undo them, but it is possible. See below...
If you're tired of your locs but don't want to lose your length, that's an option. Otherwise, you can opt for a transition: let your hair grow for a few months, and once the desired regrowth length is reached, cut off the locs.
And the last, most radical solution...shave your head! Quick and effective!
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6 - Can I Style My Dreadlocks in Other Ways?
Of course! Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself a bit... With medium or small locs (like Sisterlocks), you can create multiple hairstyles. With freeform dreadlocks (like Bob Marley's), the choice of Afro hairstyles will be more limited; you need to be aware of that.
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7 - How Long Will It Take for My Locs to Form?
The formation time varies depending on hair type. The first year is the most difficult; clearly, the hair doesn't look like much, and very often between 3 and 6 months, there's a strong desire to remove the baby locs. Resist the temptation! This very important stage indicates that the matting process is underway. Between 6 and 8 months, your locs will be mature and will visually approach your dream result. PATIENCE! Be strong!
The decision is now yours!
Feel free to share your experiences in the comments!
