How To Get Dreads: Your Guide To Starting This Unique Look

Ova Boyle 20 Aug 2025

Thinking about changing your hair in a big way? Maybe you're curious about how to get dreds, a style that truly stands out. It's a look with a rich past, and it carries a lot of meaning for many people. You might be feeling a bit unsure about where to begin, or perhaps you have a lot of questions about the whole process. That's perfectly normal, you know.

Lots of people wonder about dreadlocks, from how they form to what it takes to keep them looking good. It’s a commitment, to be sure, and there are many paths you can take to get there. Just like finding that specific piece of information in a database, knowing the right steps helps you reach your goal, and that's what we aim to help you with here.

This guide will break down the different ways to start dreadlocks, giving you a clearer picture of what each method involves. We'll also cover how to care for your hair as it changes, and answer some common questions, so you can feel more ready for this cool hair adventure, more or less.

What Are Dreads, Really?
Getting Ready: Prepping Your Hair for Dreads
Methods for Starting Dreads
Early Dreadlock Care: The Locking Phase
Long-Term Dreadlock Upkeep
Frequently Asked Questions About Dreads

What Are Dreads, Really?

Dreadlocks are basically sections of hair that have matted and locked together over time. This happens naturally when hair is left to its own devices, or it can be helped along with different techniques. They are quite a striking look, and people wear them for many different reasons, too it's almost.

Some folks choose dreadlocks for cultural or spiritual reasons. Others just like the way they look and the freedom they offer from daily styling. There's a bit of a myth that dreads are dirty, but that's just not true. Clean dreadlocks are absolutely possible and very important for healthy hair, you know.

Dreadlocks can be thick or thin, long or short, depending on how you start them and how you care for them. They really grow with you, changing and maturing over time. It's a style that shows a lot of personality, and it can be a really fun way to express yourself, honestly.

Getting Ready: Prepping Your Hair for Dreads

Before you start your dreadlocks, getting your hair ready is a pretty important step. Clean hair that's free of product buildup will make the process easier. You'll want to wash your hair thoroughly, perhaps a few times, to remove any leftover conditioners or styling creams, basically.

Using a clarifying shampoo can be really helpful here. This kind of shampoo strips away oils and residues, leaving your hair feeling a bit rougher. That rougher texture is actually good for dreadlocks, as it helps the hair strands grip each other and begin to lock, sort of.

You should also stop using any conditioners or leave-in products. These things make your hair too soft and slippery, which works against the locking process. For the best start, aim for hair that feels clean, dry, and a little bit coarse, you know.

Consider your hair type, too. Different hair textures might take to dreading in slightly different ways. For example, very straight hair might need more help to lock than curly or coily hair. Knowing your hair's natural tendencies can help you pick the best starting method, obviously.

Methods for Starting Dreads

There are several popular ways to begin your dreadlock journey. Each method has its own steps, its own tools, and its own look in the early stages. We'll go through some of the most common ones, so you can see which one feels right for you, or.

Backcombing and Palm Rolling

This method involves using a fine-tooth comb to push sections of hair towards the scalp. It creates immediate knots and tangles. It's a very common way to start dreadlocks, and it gives you a good bit of control over the size and shape of each dread, in fact.

To do this, you'll need a dreadlock comb or a fine-tooth metal comb. You'll also want some dreadlock wax or gel, though some prefer to go without it. Small rubber bands can help hold the sections in place as you work, too it's almost.

You start by sectioning your clean, dry hair into squares. The size of these squares will determine the thickness of your finished dreads. Secure each section with a rubber band at the root, just a little.

Take one section and backcomb it. Hold the hair taut and push the comb from the tips towards the root, creating a matted ball of hair. You keep doing this until the whole section is a tangled mess, really.

Once backcombed, you palm roll the section. This means you place the matted hair between your palms and rub them together, rolling the hair into a cylindrical shape. This helps compress the knots and makes them tighter, so.

This method can be a bit tiring, especially if you have a lot of hair. It gives you instant dreads, but they will be soft and loose at first. They will need regular palm rolling to get tighter and more solid over time, pretty much.

Twist and Rip

The twist and rip method is another popular way to start dreadlocks. It's a bit more hands-on than backcombing, but many people find it creates a more natural-looking dread from the start. It's also often favored for curlier hair types, basically.

For this, you don't really need many tools, just your hands and maybe some small rubber bands. Some people use a little bit of dreadlock cream, but it's not strictly necessary. Clean, dry hair works best here, you know.

Begin by sectioning your hair into the desired dread size. Just like with backcombing, the section size matters for the final look. You can use clips or rubber bands to keep your sections separate, kind of.

Take one section of hair. Divide it into two smaller pieces, then twist these two pieces around each other. Once twisted, pull them apart from the root, causing the hair to tangle and knot. This is the "rip" part, sort of.

You repeat this twisting and ripping motion down the entire length of the hair section. As you go, you'll see the hair starting to form a dread shape. It's a bit like creating a rope, but with your hair, really.

This method can be a bit painful if you pull too hard, so be gentle with yourself. It creates fairly tight dreads right away. They will still need time to mature and become fully locked, obviously.

Freeform (Neglect)

Freeform dreadlocks are perhaps the most natural way to get dreads. This method involves doing very little to your hair and letting it lock up on its own. It's a hands-off approach that relies on your hair's natural tendencies, in a way.

For freeform dreads, you don't need any special tools or products. The main thing you need is patience, and a lot of it. You just let your hair do its thing, washing it regularly but not combing or brushing it, to be honest.

You simply stop brushing or combing your hair. Wash your hair with a residue-free shampoo, but don't use conditioner. After washing, just let your hair air dry. Over time, your hair will start to clump and mat together, forming dreads naturally, you know.

The look of freeform dreads can be quite varied. They might be different sizes and shapes, and they often have a more organic, wild appearance. This method takes the longest for dreads to fully form, potentially years, pretty much.

It's a very low-maintenance way to start, but it requires accepting whatever shape your dreads take. If you like a very uniform look, this might not be the method for you. But if you love a truly natural, unique style, it could be perfect, literally.

Braids or Two-Strand Twists

Starting dreadlocks from braids or two-strand twists is a good option, especially for hair that has a lot of texture. This method gives you a neat, organized start, and the dreads will form within the braids or twists over time. It's a pretty popular way to begin, you know.

You'll need a comb for sectioning and maybe some small rubber bands. Hair clips can also be helpful to keep sections separate. A light dreadlock gel or cream can help keep the twists neat, but it's not always needed, kind of.

First, wash your hair and make sure it's completely dry. Then, section your hair into the sizes you want your dreads to be. Each section will become one dread, more or less.

For braids, you simply braid each section of hair tightly down to the end. For two-strand twists, you divide each section into two parts and twist them around each other, from root to tip. Secure the ends with a small rubber band, if needed, you know.

The braids or twists act as a base for the dreads to form inside. Over weeks and months, the hair within the braids or twists will start to lock up. Eventually, the braid or twist pattern will disappear as the dread matures, you know.

This method offers a very neat look in the early stages. It can take a good while for the dreads to fully lock, sometimes many months. Patience is key, as with any dreadlock method, actually.

Crocheting

The crocheting method uses a small crochet hook to pull loose hairs into the core of the dreadlock. This creates instant, tight, and mature-looking dreads right from the start. It's a very precise method, and it can be quite quick, honestly.

You will need a very small crochet hook, typically 0.5mm to 0.75mm. Some people also use a comb for sectioning. This method works best on clean, dry hair, so.

First, section your hair into the desired dread size. You can use rubber bands to hold the sections. Make sure your sections are neat, as this will affect the final look of your dreads, you know.

Take one section of hair. You then use the crochet hook to pull loose hairs from the outside of the section into the center. You work your way down the entire length of the hair, pulling and compacting the hair until it forms a solid dread, sort of.

This method can be done by a professional loctician, or you can try it yourself if you are very careful. It can be a bit painful if you pull too hard, and it takes practice to do it well, pretty much.

Crocheted dreads are often very neat and uniform from day one. They are also quite solid. They still need time to fully settle and mature, but they look like established dreads much faster than other methods, obviously.

Early Dreadlock Care: The Locking Phase

Once you've started your dreads, the first few months are all about encouraging them to lock up. This phase needs a bit of care and attention to help them form properly. It's a time of change for your hair, and it might feel a little different, you know.

Washing your dreads is still important, but you'll want to use a residue-free shampoo. This kind of shampoo cleans your hair without leaving behind any buildup, which can slow down the locking process. Wash your dreads gently, and make sure they dry completely, very.

Regularly separating your dreads is a good idea, too. This stops them from merging together at the roots. Just gently pull apart any dreads that are trying to connect. This keeps your dreads individual and neat, pretty much.

Depending on your starting method, you might need to do some retwisting or palm rolling. This helps to tighten the new growth at the roots and keeps the dreads looking tidy. Don't overdo it, though, as too much manipulation can cause breakage, you know.

Patience is truly your best friend during this phase. Your dreads will go through different stages, from feeling soft and loose to becoming more solid. It's a gradual process, and every head of hair is a little bit different, you know.

It's also a good idea to protect your dreads at night. Sleeping with a silk or satin scarf or bonnet can help reduce frizz and lint buildup. This keeps your new dreads looking their best, and helps them lock more smoothly, sort of.

Long-Term Dreadlock Upkeep

Once your dreads are fully locked, their care becomes a bit simpler, but still important. You'll want to keep them clean, moisturized, and looking good. It's like any long-term commitment; regular attention helps things stay strong, you know.

Continue to wash your dreads regularly with a residue-free shampoo. How often you wash depends on your lifestyle and how oily your scalp gets. Some people wash once a week, others less often. Just make sure they dry completely each time, basically.

Moisturizing your scalp and dreads is also key. You can use a light oil or a dreadlock-specific spray. This helps prevent dryness and itching. A healthy scalp means healthy dreads, after all, you know.

Protecting your dreads while you sleep is still a good habit. A silk or satin bonnet or pillowcase will help keep them neat and reduce lint. This also helps prevent friction that can lead to frizz or breakage, you know.

You'll likely still need to do some retwisting or maintenance on your new growth. How often depends on how fast your hair grows and how neat you like your roots. Some people do it every few weeks, others every few months, pretty much.

Dealing with frizz is a common thing with dreads. A light mist of water or a very small amount of dreadlock gel can help smooth down loose hairs. Over time, your dreads will become more compact and less prone to frizz, you know.

Remember that dreadlocks are a pretty personal thing. What works for one person might be different for another. Finding a routine that suits your hair and your lifestyle is the best way to keep your dreads looking their best, you know. Learn more about on our site, and link to this page for more hair care tips. For more information on different hair types and their care, you can check out this external resource: CurlyNikki. This link provides general information about hair types, which can be helpful in understanding your own hair's needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dreads

Many people have questions when they think about getting dreadlocks. It's a big step, and knowing more helps you feel ready. Here are some common things people ask, and some plain answers for them, naturally.

How long does it take for dreads to lock?

The time it takes for dreads to fully lock up really varies a lot. It depends on your hair type, the method you use, and how well you care for them. For some, it might take six months to a year for them to feel solid. For others, it could be longer, perhaps even two years, you know.

Hair that is naturally curly or coily often locks faster than straight hair. Methods like crocheting can give you instant dreads, but they still need time to mature. Freeform dreads, on the other hand, can take the longest to fully form, possibly several years, honestly.

During this locking phase, your dreads will go through different stages. They might feel soft, then fuzzy, then eventually become more compact. Patience is a very big part of the process, and just letting your hair do its thing, basically.

Can anyone get dreads?

Yes, pretty much anyone can get dreads, no matter their hair type. While it might be easier for some hair textures to lock, all hair can eventually form dreadlocks. It just might take different methods and different amounts of time, you know.

Straight hair, for example, can be dreaded using methods like backcombing or crocheting. These methods help to create the knots and tangles needed for locking. It might require more maintenance in the early stages, but it's totally possible, sort of.

The key is finding the right method for your specific hair texture and being consistent with care. With enough patience and the right approach, you can absolutely achieve dreadlocks, regardless of your natural hair, obviously.

What's the easiest way to start dreads?

The "easiest" way to start dreads really depends on what you mean by easy. If you mean the least amount of work from you, then freeform or "neglect" is probably the easiest. You just stop combing your hair and let it do its thing, more or less.

However, freeform dreads take the longest to form and can be less uniform in appearance. If "easiest" means getting a neat look quickly, then crocheting might be considered easy because it gives instant results. But it requires skill or a professional, you know.

For many people, starting with braids or two-strand twists is a good balance. It gives a neat start and is fairly simple to do yourself. It still takes time for them to lock, but the initial process is quite manageable, pretty much.

Ultimately, the best method for you will depend on your hair type, how much time you want to put in, and the look you want to achieve. There's no single "easiest" answer for everyone, you know. It's about what works for you and your hair, truly.

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