Can you wash your dreads? And how?
Yes you can~ You can wash them in your head, or (and this is much easier) wash them when you take them out. You can handwash your dreads with soap & cold water, or throw them in the washing machine with detergent. You can dry them easily in the dryer but they will come out crimped, otherwise you can hang dry them. How do you wash your hair with dreads in? For me, I only wash my bangs (or whatever hair is not in the dreads) as I would usually with shampoo and conditioner. You can massage the braided parts of your dreads with shampoo and water if you like, or dry shampoo works wonders for your braids. Also, always make sure to tie up your dreads when showering. HOT WATER WILL UNSEAL YOUR DREADS if you are not holding them tight. Can you swim with dreads in? Yes you can but it is a bit uncomfortable. Not only do dreads get incredibly heavy with water in them, but they can smell really bad and if not dried right away they can start to mold. If you plan to swim or be in water often with dreads in, always tie them up and try to keep them out of water (or cover them up). What are the Pro's & Con's of Single Ended & Double Ended? Single Ended dreads have a small loop at the end. They can be braided into your hair as well as put on a hair-tie/ribbon and put around a ponytail. Single Ended is only one sided so if you braid them into your hair, most of the dread will be covered in your braid. They are not as permanent and are perfect for one-night/day events. Double Ended dreads are one long dread that is folded in half and braided into your hair. Half the dread will have the braid while the other half won't. Double Ended dreads double the amount in your hair (i.e. you have 30 dreads in but 60 ends will hang off your head since they are folded). They stay in much longer, and have more volume. |
How long can I keep dreads in?
I recommend anywhere from 2 days - 6 weeks, any longer and your hair will start to dread itself. How do you install dreads? Most dreads are braided into your hair. For instructions on Double Ended Installation check out my youtube video here. Otherwise most instructions and how-to's can be found on the internet. Single Ended dreads can also be braided into your hair but are most commonly found on hair-ties or rubberbands that you can wear temporarily. How long does it take to install dreads? To take them out? Depending on experience of installing it can take anywhere from 1-3 hours. Taking dreads out is super easy, it’s just unbraiding so probably only an hour depending on how many you have. Do Synthetic Dreads hurt your natural hair? In my experience I have found synthetic dreads to be incredibly helpful in keeping my natural hair healthy since I hardly ever dye it, put chemicals on it, straighten/curl it etc. Since the hair in the braids are very rarely touched it learns to take care of itself. Is it hard to sleep with dreads in? Like all extensions in your hair, yes it can be difficult. I recommend leaving your dreads out of any hairstyle when you sleep and throwing them above your head while sleeping. Can dreads be reused? Or do I have to buy new ones each time? Synthetic dreads can be worn and worn again, but I always recommend washing them in between wears. If you find that your dreads are starting to become loose or unravel due to wearing them a bunch, you can reseal them with this lovely tutorial from Merry's Synthetic Dreads. |