How Dreadlocks Are Formed

Dreadlocks are matted chunks of hair formed when hair clumps together. Some may chose to wear dreadlocks because they associate with a certain subculture. They can either be formed as a result of not brushing or washing hair or with the use of dread wax. Creating dreadlocks without the use of dread wax takes considerably longer, as it is necessary to create the natural oils for clumping. For the fastest results, many may choose to use dread wax instead.

Why Dread Wax

Dread wax clumps hair together faster. It serves as a kind of glue for the hair. When applied to hair that has been back-combed (or combed backward using a straight-toothed comb) and twisted, it will help stick all the hairs together. After you have back-combed and twisted the hair into the width of dreadlock you desire, apply the wax, which in many cases is a combination of beeswax and natural oils. The oils combine with the hair to meld them to each other. Although pomades and styling glues may have similar effects, dread wax uses natural oils to keep hair together.

Dreadlock Upkeep With Dread Wax

Dreadlocks must be kept up after they are first created. Stray hairs need to be rolled back onto the main dread, and dread wax needs to be applied later on to keep the hair clumping until it creates its own natural oils. To do this, it is important to reapply dread wax consistently after the first few months of trying to develop dreadlocks. This way, the dreads do not fall out or come apart.