Dreadlocks are a symbol of cultural pride and a celebration of your natural beauty. It takes work to lock your hair, but once it is fully locked, you will see that the time it takes to grow your locks is worth it.

Hair that is tightly curled or kinky is best for developing dreadlocks the quickest. Your hair must be chemical-free in order to dread it. Generally speaking, relaxed or permed hair will not lock. Therefore, you should either grow the chemicals out of your hair, or you have to cut the relaxed areas. Consider wearing your hair in braids for several months until you have enough new growth to manipulate your hair into locks.

Will your hair lock?

Caucasian hair or hair that is naturally silky can also be locked with some persistence and time. Ask a friend to help you lock the back and other hard-to-reach areas in your hair. You will need a wide-toothed comb to comb-through your hair. You may also use a rattail comb, a small comb with a long, thin handle to twirl your hair. Begin your locks after washing your hair. Neatly part your wet hair into large sections if your hair is particularly thick and coarse. Plait the large sections or use combs to keep the sections separated from the area where you will begin your first locks. Now, take a large section of hair and part it into a thin section. Make sure that your parts are neat, and as straight as possible. The size of the sections will depend on the size of your desired dreadlocks. Thicker sections will result in large dreadlocks, like Bob Marley’s locks. Thinner sections will result in thinner locks. Thin locks are easier to manipulate into styles, but thicker locks may be easier to maintain, because you won’t have as many locks to touch up.