What should I know before getting dreadlocks?

These answered FAQ will make the process 10 x smoother

New to dreadlocks?


An important part of the process that many don't know is that dreadlocks develop and mature in stages.


1. Baby stage; You enter this stage as soon as you walk out of the salon. You will notice the body of your dreadlocks flaring out and getting loose. This is the beginning if the locking / maturing process. It's also a good indication to come back for your first retwist after this has started 


2. The budding;  This happens around the 3 - 4 month mark after having them created and will last in random areas until the dreadlocks have fully matured. Sections of each dreadlock will start to thicken. This can also occur if dirt builds up within the locs, it becomes really important to wash your dreads regularly in this period.


3. The Maturing Stage; You'll notice that each loc becomes more consistent in thickness and gets firmer as it grows. The budding reduces and the dreadlocks find their shape. Some dreadlocks will sit longer than others as they develop to look inconsistent in length, creating a more natural look.


4. Adult stage; This is the 4th and final stage of the dreadlock development process. Usually at the 12 - 18 month period, you will notice the pure relaxation of your dreads and they'll sit comfortably in any direction. The locs from root to tip will be very consistent giving the dreadlocks a stylish aged look. By this point you would've already developed a washing, retwisting and/or styling routine. The new growth will get used to growing within its own section making everything you'd do to your dreads, much easier.

  • How long does it take to get dreadlocks created?

    A dreadlock creation is set to normally take a minimum of 2-3 hours and of course depending on the individuals hair structure and length, can take up to 10 hours. 


    If ever a dreadlock creation service needed more time than that, we'd book the appointment over 2 days (generally back to back) and complete it that way. 

  • What to expect when you first get dreads?

    Once your dreadloacks have been completed, it's normal to feel some itchiness on the scalp. It's also common to feel a bit sensitive and tender on the scalp.

  • What's the standard price range for dreadlock creations?

    It can vary depending on all of one's variables such as hair length, thickness, type of haircut etc; However our starting creation price is $400 - $1000 and can exceed $1000 for much longer services.


    We quote all of our clients per appointment and communicate the price and length of service.

  • Can you shower with dreadlocks?

    You can definitely shower with dreadlocks and wash as per usual. The only difference would be that (because dreadlocks don't need to be washed so often) you'd wear a shower cap to keep them dry.

  • Can I and how often should I wash my dreads?

    Washing dreadlocks is essential. Like all other hair & hairstyles, they get dirty and need to be cleaned, so the best thing would be to wash your hair no more than once a week. For those who can wait we would suggest a '2 times a month washing schedule'. 


    When washing dreadlocks, they NEED to be dried thoroughly with a towel and hair dryer if accessible. If water is left in the dreadlocks for too long, like many other surfaces and textures it can build mould, and we do not want that.

  • How often do dreads need to be retwisted?

    Once every 3 months or 4 times a year is what we'd call, "The Perfect schedule". Getting your dreadlocks retwisted depends on you and how long it would take for them to get messy or irritating. During the baby stage, getting your hair retwisted is a vital part of making sure they flourish and become the best dreadlocks possible; However once they reach their maturing or adult stage, the retwisting schedule is more your choice than the dreadlocks themselves.

  • How long does my hair have to be to get dreads done?

    Your hair should be a minimum of 4 inches long all around to get dreadlocks done properly. Any shorter than this length would result in loose dreadlocks because each loc would have less hair binding it together.

  • How do you get the hair to lock?

    There are very many ways to lock hair. The method that is known to work better than all would be the CROCHET METHOD. After sectioning the hair and teasing it by hand, we crochet all the dreadlocks from root to tip multiple times until the loc is tight, neat and consistent.

  • Will I have to continue working on my new dreads to make sure they stay locked?

    No. Leave all that work to us when you come in for your retwists. All you would need to do is wash them consistently (roughly every 2-4 weeks) and wear a bonnet / durag (silk cover).

  • What type of shampoo is best to use on my dreads?

    Dreadlock specific shampoo is always going to be better for locs as they are a lot more gentle on the hair and scalp while still deeply cleaning the dreads.  Using regular shampoo won't kill the dreads at all, though there's a large difference in quality between these types.