For some people dreadlocks are just a cool hairstyle or a political statement, while for others it is a kind of spiritual pursuit. No matter what your reason may be to flaunt the latest hairdo of dreadlocks, it is important to note that making dreads require a lot of patience and efforts. However, it is worth all the efforts and time, one of the most exhausting tasks of making dreads is sectioning hair.

Once you have washed your hair with a residue free shampoo and dried them naturally, the next step is to section the hair so that you can concentrate on each section of the hair separately. It is highly recommended to have equal volumes of hair in every section as the size of every section will determine the size of every dread. So, unequal sections would mean dreadlocks of different sizes. This variation in sizes of locks would leave a few spaces amidst locks that appear to be odd until your hair growth covers it, some time later.

You can start by parting from the middle. Now, you can initiate working on one side and clip the other, so that it doesn’t get into your way. Further, you can section the unclipped hair into square of similar sizes and put a rubber band on every section. This would help to hold every section separately from the other and will be removed as you progress towards the next step of backcombing.

You should always section your hair in a checkerboard pattern to keep the dreads from lying right on top of each other once they have settled down. There is no escape from sectioning your hair if you wish to have attractive and neat dreadlocks. Better start now because it takes awhile!

You need not shell out huge bucks to wax your dreadlocks. Yes, it’s true! Waxing dreadlocks is a do-it-yourself task that only needs assistance from your friends, dread wax and a little information. Do not look surprised! Simply keep reading to get the full details.

While waxing dreadlocks is crucial to holding your locks together until they mature; there are a few questions that people who flaunt dreadlocks are often confused about. Some people ask about the amount of wax that they should apply to their locks? This is an important question as over waxing is a problem that is often faced by people while waxing dreadlocks.

The quantity of wax that is just enough to hold your loose hair is sufficient. Usually wax that can cover your little finger is adequate for one dreadlock. After all, we are not making a candle here, are we? You can start applying the wax from roots and work it over the whole lock. Further, use a blow dryer and heat your dreads so that the wax gets easily soaked in. This would also reduce the visibility of whiteness over the locks due to wax, which is especially noticeable on dark hair.

Another query related to waxing dreadlocks that people are curious to know about is how often they should wax their locks? Generally, you should use wax after washing your hair along with the accelerator. The quantity of wax that you apply on locks should reduce with time as your dreadlocks get mature.

Wax is essential as it allows you to smooth out any loose hair and fix it without dread balling it, which is definitely a time-consuming task. Waxing dreadlocks on a regular basis also helps to impart the required nutrients to your dreads so that they do not dry up and become damaged.

Backcombing is the single most important step in making dreadlocks. But before you start it, you need to ensure that your hair is prepared for it. Before backcombing, you can start with a hair wash with a reside-free shampoo to eliminate any build-up. Let the hair dry naturally and section them thereafter. Make sure that your hair do not have any residue still left in them, else they may slip out from the knots during backcombing.

Once your hair is completely dry, you can make sections and lock them together with a rubber band. Sections can be anywhere from .5″ to 2″, depending on the size you want your dreads to be. Now, comes the turn for backcombing. It is helpful to make dreads in the initial 2-3 weeks and should be discontinued later. This is because backcombing if done during the time when your dreadlocks have started forming, it will only disentangle the dreads and nullify all your efforts.

It is advisable to use a metal comb and then start combing around an inch near the scalp. Keep on combing in this way, repeatedly. Gradually, hair would start to collect near the roots. Also, roll the hair for some time in your fingers. Now, continue with backcombing and start working from the scalp towards the end.

Finally, as you get to the ends, hold all dreadlocks one after another with rubber bands. These rubber bands allow the dreads to remain tight from their base. However, you can remove them later once your dreads become mature enough to stay intact without them.

Nonetheless, the next step of waxing also plays a crucial role in binding strands of hair into dreadlocks. But the base provided by a good backcombing and rubber bands cannot be ignored.

Dreadlocks have become a coveted hair style among the mainstream culture. It is a craze among people of different cultures, races and creeds. This has reinvigorated the interest of people in the ways they can make dreadlocks and maintain them further, without the help of a stylist. Making dreadlocks isn’t a Herculean task and anyone can do it if they follow the given steps:

1. Dreadlocks can easily be made on kinky or curly hair. However, if yours is a wavy, thin or straight hair, home perm with thin rods would be a good idea. This gives the required texture to your hair.

2. When you plan for making dreadlocks, it is imperative to stop the use of conditioner at least a week before you start the process.

3. Now, the next step is to wash your hair with a residue-free shampoo. Another alternative is to amalgamate one quart of water with one tablespoon vinegar. Rinse hair gently with this solution on the day you will make your dreadlocks. This would eliminate any buildup or residue that may hinder the process.

4. Let the hair dry and start sectioning it into squares of 1 to 1 from the roots and twist them tightly. Put the rubber bands on these sections and concentrate on one section at a time.

5. Backcomb the twisted hair sections. Begin from the root, move towards the end and then back towards the scalp.

6. Further, add beeswax or styling wax that is used for making dreadlocks to every section and re-twist them. This would help the locks to stay in the twisted form.

7. Put rubber bands at the end of every dread. This gives rounded ends to your dreads.

Complete these steps over the entire head and work upon twisting, combing and waxing your hair whenever you find time. It may be while watching TV or listening to music. Nonetheless, make sure you seek help from your friends when you try making dreadlocks for the first time.