Dreadlocks are traditional African hairstyles but are now also popular in Europe. In the 90s, many celebrities wore dreadlocks - you may remember Christina Aguilera's blonde dreadlocks or Beyonce's sublime braided hairstyles. Almost everyone has heard of them, but very few know the precise difference between dreadlocks and rasta braids. It's high time to turn the circulating half-knowledge into expertise! Are you also thinking about getting dreads or dreadlocks, but don't know exactly whether they are suitable for your hair and how to care for them? Then you'll know in just a few minutes.

Dreadlocks are an authentic statement hairstyle, but they also require more attention and care than is obvious at first glance. To the untrained eye, both hairstyles look similar, however, the difference is significant

How dreadlock styles are created

With dreadlocks, the hair is matted strand by strand, using a crochet hook to create an even result without fringes. Curly, thick hair is best suited for this. If you have very thin hair, your dreads can be thickened with human hair.

• Disadvantage: If you want to get rid of your dreadlocks at some point, you will have to use scissors.

• Advantage: You can sell your hair afterwards. Some people pay a lot of money for long dreads made of human hair because short dreadlocks can be lengthened easily.

Some former dreadheads report that they were able to detangle their mane with lots of fabric softener, a brush, and even more patience. So it is possible but be prepared for it to take several days of manual labor.

If you want to have dreadlocks made, your hair should be at least 20 cm long. Depending on how long your hair is and how thick you want your dreadlocks to be, you should also bring a lot of time with you. Good things take time, they say, and nothing is truer than dreads. There are also many beginners' short dreadlocks styles for ladies, which you can take a look at.

BTW:

Have you ever heard of natural dreadlocks? The hair is not matted manually with a comb and crochet hook but is created by itself by not combing the hair and leaving the rest to time. The result can look very beautiful and natural. However, with natural dreadlocking, it is difficult to achieve an even diameter of all strands.

Which method is the best for dreadlocks - taper with dreadlocks

Every 'dread hairdresser' has a different opinion about which method is best. Which one you choose depends on how much time you want to invest and how you want the end result to look.

Before you entrust someone with your hair, ask them to give you comprehensive advice and show you photos of their previous successes with this hairstyle. This is the best way to assess whether the result will meet your personal requirements.

1. Highlights method

The individual strands of hair are twirled and rubbed between the fingers, then divided into two parts, and pulled apart. This moves the tousled part to the roots and the whole process can be repeated until you reach the ends.

2. Teasing and crocheting

The comb and crochet hook method is more common and quicker. First, the strand is teased towards the hairline. Then pull the protruding hairs through and around the matted strand to slowly create a smooth, downward dread.

3. A rendezvous with the crochet hook

Skilled, practiced hands manage to crochet dreadlocks without having to tease the hair first. This ensures that the end result does not lose length.

4. Wrap and wax

The strands of hair are wrapped with twine and then covered with a thin layer of wax, which needs to be renewed regularly. The strands gradually become matted by themselves, but it can take months before the strands can be loosened. This method is rather time-consuming and controversial among dreadheads.

Dreadlock styles for men

It's not just women who like dreadlocks, more and more men are wearing them too. Men often opt for real dreads. Most men opt for real dreads. These kinds of dreads are permanent which is a big advantage and do not have to be taken out and put back in every 2 or 3 months. This is a reason for men to opt for Real Dreads.

There are many different dreadlock hairstyles for men too. What we've already seen more of in 2023 are men with a mohawk. Synthetic dreads are used here, creating a super cool and masculine end result! The beauty of this is that the dreads are only temporary and the man, just like the woman with a full head of hair, is not immediately tied to dreads. But dreadlock mullets are also very suitable for men who want to cause a stir.

Do you want to go for dreadlocks?

The best-known dreadlocks are the Morgan Freeman dreadlocks. But there are now many other types of dreadlocks that you should know about. Before you decide on a particular style, you should consider in advance whether you can spend enough time caring for your new hairstyle, because dreadlocks require a lot of care so that you don't have to reach for the scissors later if you want to get rid of your dreadlocks.