Braid-in Wool Dreadlock Tips + Tricks
When deciding:
~ If you work in a professional setting, be sure to double check that you are allowed to wear them. Nothing is worse than spending $100-$300 on a full set just to be told you can’t wear them.
~ Try to plan out how you will install them. If you have a friend or loctician that is willing to help, that will make the install go by much faster.
~ Look at all the options that are available. Do you want more of a smooth texture, or maybe a crimped texture? Do you want something super lightweight or something more natural? Maybe you’d just rather go directly to a natural set?
~ Research, Research, RESEARCH! That is by far the most important tip on this list.
Before install:
~ Start with freshly washed, dry hair. If you start with oily hair, it will cause your dreadlocks to slip.
~ Lay out all of your supplies so that they are easily accessible. Nothing is worse than having to look for an elastic hair tie when you already have the section braided in.
~ Pick a movie or T.V. show to watch while you are working on install, it will help the time pass.
During install:
~Start at the nape of your neck and utilize all of your tools. The clips and the hair ties come in handy and keep the extra sections of hair out of the way.
~ Keep a spray bottle solution with 8 oz of water and 10 drops of tea tree oil handy. Spray it at the root of the section you are working on. This will help to grip the hair to get a closer, tighter install, as well as soothe your scalp.
~Keep in mind how you would like to part your hair. Do you want a middle part or a side part? Part your hair accordingly.
~ Don’t be afraid to take breaks. Your hair will still be there in 20 minutes after you go grab a snack, or stretch your legs.
~ As mentioned before, watch a T.V show or a movie. If you have someone helping you, engage in conversation. These things will make time go by much faster.
After install:
~ Remember that Water/Tea tree solution we made before? That will come in handy over the next couple days. When sprayed on your scalp it will give you a nice cooling, soothing effect.
~ Pull out a few strands of hair above your ears. This will frame your face and flatter the look.
~ If you want a cleaner look, you can lay down your edges using some edge gel and a toothbrush.
Styling Tips:
~Don’t have a hair tie? That’s okay, you can take 2 dreadlocks, and wrap them back to front, then back again and secure them in a double knot. This will hold up the section without using a hair tie.
~ Want a simple bun? You can make one without a hair tie as well. All you need to do is grab your dreads, and twist until they start to coil up on themselves. Then you just wrap the ends tight underneath the bulk of the bun and they will hold in place. If they don’t, pull the ends tighter.
~ Add in some faux flowers, a flower crown, or even a head wrap for a quick “Style-and-go” look