Can I swim with my dreadlocks?
How long will it take to dread my hair?
How many wool dreads should I order for my desired style?
How long will it take to install my wool/synthetic dreads?
How do I place a custom order?
What type of shampoo should I use?
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Can I wash my dreads?
You can and should most definitely wash your dreads (wool and natural ones!). Wool dreadlocks I recommend no more than once per week. Natural dreadlocks, you’ll want to find a washing schedule that suits your body and lifestyle. Many of my clients wash once per week. I recommend no more than twice per week, as it is extremely important that your dreadlocks dry completely between washes. You can use a blow-dryer on both your natural dreadlocks as well as wool/synthetic dreads. See my section on type of shampoo to use and washing below for detailed directions.
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Can I swim with my dreadlocks?
Natural dreadlocks: You can swim in chlorine pools, however, be aware that chlorine is damaging to the hair and you will want to rinse them thoroughly to get any pool water out of them afterward. Remember that getting them wet too often can lead to mildew, so if you’re swimming often (multiple times per week), you need to take the time to dry them completely afterward.
Wool dreadlocks: Chlorine causes the color to fade from wool dreadlocks so I do not recommend swimming with them in. You can always tie them up and avoid submerging your head if you want to sit in the pool or hot-tub, though!
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How long will it take to dread my hair?
The time it takes to dread your hair depends on several things. Thickness, texture, length, etc. are what will determine how long it takes me to dread your hair. On average, it may take anywhere from 4-9 hours for me to dread someone’s hair. If you would like a more precise estimate, you can contact me and send pictures of your hair and I would be happy to give you an estimate.
How many wool dreads should I order for my desired style?
Accent set of 10 double ended wool locs would be best worn as an accent to your existing locs, or paired with a full set to add color and volume.
Partial set of 15 double ended wool locs would be best worn as a peek-a-boo style, braided in at the nape with your loose hair left out on top.
Half set of 20 double ended wool locs would be best for a half head, installed at the nape with the top hair left out, or installed in a pompadour or mohawk with the sides shaved.
¾ set of 30 double ended wool locs would be best worn with loose hair left out around your face for a boho look.
Full set of 45 double ended wool locs would best be worn as a full head of dreads or full head with bangs left out.
How long will it take to install my wool/synthetic dreads?
Depending on how long your hair is, and how many dreads we are braiding in, it can take between 1-3 hours for a wool or synthetic dread install. Usually, a partial install or mohawk takes an hour, whereas a full set takes around 2 hours.
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How do I place a custom order?
If you are interested in a custom set of wool dreads, human hair or synthetic dread extenders for your natural dreads, please send me a message and we can get started on a custom set for you. There is no deposit required for custom wool dread orders that are installed at the salon. Payment in full is required when placing an order for wool dread extensions orders to be shipped. Human hair dread extender and synthetic dread extenders orders require 50% deposit at booking which is refundable if cancelled 1 month or more in advance. My usual processing time is
2-3 weeks, but this varies depending on the time of year and my workload. If you need them by a certain date just let me know and I’m sure we can make it work.
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What is traction alopecia?
Traction alopecia is hair loss due to constant tension on the hair follicles which causes them to cease producing hairs. There are a few ways that this might happen to you. If your dreadlocks are long, or you wear them pulled back tightly on a regular basis, keep an eye out for possible signs of hair loss in between the sections of your dreadlocks. Improper sectioning that causes tension on the follicles can also cause traction alopecia.
If you have longer dreadlocks, consider trimming them to decrease the weight and finding ways to tie them up that take the tension off the dreads. Over-maintaining your dreadlocks or getting them twisted too frequently can put too much tension on the hair follicles and lead to traction alopecia. If you prefer a tidier look, try using aloe to smooth any frizz down between appointments.
How do I stop the itch?
If your newly installed wool dreadlocks are causing you to itch, it is completely normal. You can use many different products to help while your scalp adjusts to your new ‘do. We sell an anti-itch spray at the salon that contains peppermint oil to help with itchy scalp. You can pick one up at your next appointment, or if you want to make your own just mix peppermint oil in water and spray or dab onto your scalp between the sections. You can also find hydrocortisone sprays at Walgreens or Walmart if you prefer not to use peppermint sprays.
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Is my hair long enough?
To dread your natural hair, I prefer that the hair be at least 4-6” long. For wool dreadlocks, you only need 2-3” of hair.
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What type of shampoo should I use?
For wool dreads, wash no more than once a week with color safe shampoo and cool water, no conditioner. Shampoo your scalp, no need to wash the length of the dread. Massage gently in between the braids and rinse really, really well.
For natural dreads, the answer is more complex. If you color your hair, and like to keep it bright, you may consider alternating between a color safe shampoo and a dread shampoo. If you have problems with dandruff, you can alternate between a dread shampoo and a medicated dandruff shampoo. I use Dr. Locs Yasin Shampoo and sell a line of their products for natural dreadlocks in the salon. It is gentle on my hair but leaves no residue, . For deeper cleanings, I like Neutrogena Clarifying Shampoo. It comes in a small rectangular clear bottle and is great for when I want to really scrub my dreads clean. Some popular brands that I would recommend staying away from are Dr. Bronner’s and DollyLocks.
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If you can’t find the answers to your questions here, please feel free to reach out!
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