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trying to dread short hair for permanent dreads?

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:23 am
by PepperDreads
I hope this is the right section! So sorry if it's not. :i10: This may be a strange question but, I have really short hair, like about an inch long. I was wondering if there was a way to start growing real dreads from what little hair I have. (I have an undercut that I'm intending on keeping, but growing out the top) Like possibly doing a full install and using wax at the base where they are installed? Has anyone ever attempted this or even heard of this being done before? Btw my hair is about half an inch long.. Any advise would help out a lot :i2:

Re: trying to dread short hair for permanent dreads?

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:30 pm
by Mkatsi
Hi Honey!
Hopefully someone else will answer as I'm not an expert in real dreads, however I believe the process shortens your hair by half, so it might be that your hair is currently too short. I am sure you go could go to your local salon that does dreads and ask their advice.

I think putting an install in and leaving your hair to dread could be bad for it as the dread weight will pull on the scalp and dreads and can potentially break them. I'm not sure how many people do it but you could look into the neglect method of dreading. Most people prefer crochet these days I believe. There are some lovely ladies on this bored who specialise in real dreads.

Sorry that was a bit vague :S

Re: trying to dread short hair for permanent dreads?

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 7:05 pm
by trippytroll
First off, stay away from wax in any shape or form!!!
if you use the backcommb method it will shorten your hair. You can use the rip and twist method and keep most of the length. You could also dread the base then add hh extenders.
i wouldnt recomend keeping an install in though.

Re: trying to dread short hair for permanent dreads?

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:59 pm
by NirvanaMarie
You may want to wait just a bit, we typically can start with 3 inches of hair, but as previously mentioned, it shrinks the hair length.