Knowing the cost and maintenance of dreads is futile without an understanding of the different dreading methods. There are several methods of creating dreads today. You can carry out some of these methods yourself from the comfort of your home, while some require you to visit a professional loctician for perfect work.
The common and most used dreading methods in today’s world include freeform, twist and rip, backcomb, crochet, dread palm, sisterlocks and brotherlocks, braids, faux locs, sisterlocks, and the two-strand twist method.
You should know the dreading method that fits your hair type. Keep reading to find all the lists of dread methods in this article. We’ve provided all the information about each method including their pros and cons.
1. Freeform
The Freeform dread method is also known as the neglect or natural method. This method of dreadlock allows you to wash your hair and leave it alone. Over the years, a lot of Americans, especially women, prefer to use the freeform dreadlocks method because it is a great style to start dreading.
The pros of the freeform dreadlock method are that it is easy to maintain and doesn’t require you to have a huge amount of money for maintenance. All you need to do is to keep them clean by washing them with shampoo and hair conditioner at least once a week.
On the other hand, the cons of freeform include the length of time for installation even when done by a professional loctician. It takes some time (at least a year) for the dread to lock. Another complaint is that the early stage always looks irritating, unprofessional, and messy.
2. Twist and Rip
Twist and Rip is also a great method of dreadlocking. In the use of a twist and rip method, a section of your hair will be twisted many times and then the loctician will separate the tips by pulling them into different directions. The loctician will also pull the end as long as he or she can so that a knot can form close to your scalp. Then the loctician will repeat the same process until the strands are all knotted.
The twist and rip method is easy to make and doesn’t require any special tools other than your hands. With this dreadlock method, you can employ the help of your friend to style.. It also allows you to have control over all the sections of your hair and doesn’t affect your natural hair.
On the other hand, the twist and rip method is unfavorable if you have short hair. Your dread may loosen up sooner because the installation won’t give a tight knot. The lesser the hair you have, the easier it is for your dread to loosen up. They like the freeform dreading method that looks messy and frizzy at the beginning. However, to tame the fizziness and messiness, you can try the use of a palm roll.
3. Backcomb
Backcombing is a dreading method where a loctician takes a strand of your natural hair and brushes the hair backward till it reaches the scalp. If you are doing it yourself or through a professional loctician, you will need to repeat the process until it reaches the end of your hair. After this, the knots will start forming. Then at the end, palm roll your dread to ensure it gives a perfect shape and also tames any traces of messiness and unprofessional work.
The pros of backcombing are that it is easy to make, but you need a friend or your spouse to do the sections in the back for you. Backcombing holds the lock well, unlike freeform locs methods and some other methods, even if you have short hair. This is what makes most people with short hair use this method. Another amazing thing about backcombing is that you will have control over the size of the dread and you can use it to either make them big or small, depending on your preferred size.
The cons of a backcomb are that it consumes time for the installation process because of repeated hair pulling. Another con is that you won’t be able to sleep comfortably with the backcombed for some days, especially if the scalp hurts. Backcomb methods can also give you the dreadlock that is itchy and also leads to initial shrinkage than other dreading methods.
4. Crochet
Crochet is a dreading method installed when your hair is sectioned and a crochet needle is used to form the knots around the hair. This method also involves pulling your natural hair with a crochet hook or needle. After which, you will wrap your hair around the dread downward depending on the length of each dreadlock. This method is most effective for anyone with straight hair and may not do well if you have a kinky hair texture.
Crochet gives you the best appearance immediately after installation. If you have your dread with this method your dreadlock will only experience a few shrinkages. In this method, you can also maintain your dread by taming the frizziness through the crochet hook. If you also want to have a blunt dread experience, you can achieve that with a crochet needle.
On the other hand, the crocheting method of dread is extremely time-consuming. The average time of crochet installation is at least 8 hours and a minimum of 5 hours for maintenance. Another con that makes some people avoid crochet is that it can damage your hair if your loctician doesn’t do it properly. The early phase of a crochet dread also causes a lot of your hair to be pulled off your scalp, resulting in messiness and irritation. Crochet dreadlocks are also very painful, so it is best to avoid them if you have a sensitive scalp.
5. Sisterlocks / Brotherlocks
Sisterlocks and brotherlocks are dread methods that are interwoven, making them be referred to as the same. But there is an obvious difference; a sisterlock is smaller than a brotherlock. Brother lock is the male version of the sisterlock method of dreadlock developed by Dr. JoAnne Cornwell. Sisterlock was developed for only women, the installation is done with a natural hair texture.
The pros of sisterlock and brotherlock are that maintenance is easy and not always done. You only need to do the maintenance at least twice a month. However, when it comes to maintaining it, ensure you go to a professional loctician because the root would have become fragile. Unlike some other methods of dreadlock, it is a method that consumes less time.
On the other hand, the cons of sisterlock and brotherlock is that you can’t do it yourself, you need the service of a professional loctician to do it for you. And also, during the growth process, you are liable to lose several locks because only a few hairs are attached to the root. This method can also cause baldness because they are too tight when styling.
6. Braids
When it comes to dreading methods, most people think dreadlocks are different from braids, but that’s not true. A dreadlock is only created through a method called braiding. This method of dreadlocks is installed by attaching extensions to the natural hair. So, therefore, if you leave the braid box without manipulating it on your hair, it will turn into dreadlocks that look like braids.
The greatest pros of braids are that it is a great way to start your dreadlock journey if you don’t want to experience messiness and frizziness at the early stage. On the other hand, the pros are that the locks may not be smooth even if done by a professional. It can also take much for complete installation. For a braiding method, your dread will have to start new growth so that any hair that grows under the braid will be cut off. And if the hair grows out, you will have to cut the braid extension off, immediately leading to a short dreadlock.
7. Faux Locs
Faux Locs is also a great dreading method, and it is commitment-free. It is the alternative to braid methods, and it is a good option if you want a low maintenance cost without affecting the look or damaging the hair. It is the ideal dread if you want a temporary dreadlock style that will look perfect without waiting for several months and years to mature.
When Faux locs are neatly installed or done by a professional, they only last for a temporary time. It is also a dread method that can be added to pre-existing dreadlocks to gain more length.
On the other hand, the cons of faux locs are that you will have to maintain them regularly even though their maintenance fee is not expensive. All you need is a residue-free shampoo and AVC conditioner. It is also a type of dreadlock that is expensive.
Conclusion
Now that you know all the common and popular dreading methods, it will be easy for you to choose from any of the methods. However, before choosing any method, ensure you visit a professional loctician for guidelines, even if you want to do it yourself. Watching videos about it doesn’t make you a professional; it only gives you an idea.
