Q&A for How to Grow Dreads

The initial appointment is usually 4-8 hours depending on the length and density of your hair. After that appointment, it will take about 3 months of maintenance to have well-formed smooth dreads.

It usually takes 3-6 months for dreads to be completely settled. You can help this process by palm rolling them frequently.

Yes, but they may be skinnier than the dreads of someone with coarser hair. All types of hair can be dreaded.

Yes, dreads can be done with short hair since that’s the way that they are usually started. Most people start their dread journey when their hair is about an inch long.

As your hair grows, you will have new growth at the roots of your scalp. To keep the dreads tight, you would need to retwist them at the roots. Use a product such as dread wax or gel, put about a dime sized amount on the roots of each dread, and twist your hair in whatever direction you originally started the locks in. This method is known as retwisting, and it will keep your dreads tight and neat.

Eat healthy food and wash your hair on a regular basis. Avoid conditioner or anything that detangles your hair.

Six inches of hair is typically recommended for starting dreads, but it can depend on your hair type. 'Microdreads' can be started in shorter hair, but is more successful in African hair.

No, sea water helps your dreads lock up faster. Also, I suggest spraying sea salt spray on your hair because it helps it lock up. Make sure not to spray too much because it will dry your hair out.

Wear a tight fitting headband or hat that helps to flatten out dreads against the scalp and make them lay in your preferred direction.

Use some unscented hair cream, but don't put too much in your hair or your dreads may get undone.

If you're just starting them or wash them too soon, they can become loose and feel like they aren't staying.

Dread butter can achieve this. You can find this online or at most alternate hairdressers.

An African American starting from a low cut should wait about 2 1/2-3 months before twisting it. After it's twisted it should take no less than 6 months for it to be all the way locked.

Eat healthily, massage your scalp, and take good care of your hair. If you really need longer dreads in a hurry, you can get dread extensions.

Yes, you would want to use the method that is called twist and rip.

It will look shorter, but your hair isn't actually shorter because you haven't cut it.

It will be possible, you might just need to tease it a little bit more.

You can dye your dreadlocks the same way you would dye regular hair.

It depends. If you want thinner and tighter locks, you can comb them at the roots. This also makes the twists stay longer. The issue with combing your roots is, you do it while wet, then it dries and puts stress on your roots, which can lead to traction alopecia.

They are probably too tight on your scalp, and if you haven't taken out the rubber bands, you should have about 3 months ago.

No, I would not use any food-based products on your dreads as they can leave an unpleasant, lingering smell.

Yes, anyone can have dreads no matter what race they are.

Consider joining more dreads into one. Give them some time, they will shrink.

Don't grease your scalp, oil your entire head and massage your scalp. Once your hair is locked, you can wet your entire head to dampness with water or a leave in conditioner. Then use an oil to seal in moisture. I am using argon oil, but you could also use jojoba.

Don't. Just combine it with another one and be sure to use a light cream for locks or gel/wax.

Yes. Treat each lock as a "box" and add the synthetic braid hair as you would any box braid style. You may wrap one section of the 3 part section to create the braid around the lock. Lastly, take the 3 sections and braid as usual. Be sure to make braids longer than locks to avoid cutting the lock when removing the braids.

If you have Afro or curly hair twist, the dreads. If not, latch them or crochet the roots. Wrap the loose hair on the crochet needle and then put the needle through the dread.

It depends on whether your dreads are clean or not. If they are clean, it can take about two months.

If you are white and trying to have dreads, a good first step is to not brush it. Backcomb it, and wait until it starts getting a little nasty. Avoid getting it really wet, because it will straighten. After a few weeks, it should be so stuck to itself that the dreads will start to form.

Wear more than one hair cap. Also, tie them back into a pony tail or a bun to keep them up and out of the way.