As you may already know, getting dreadlocks is quite a huge decision. It is, after all, permanent, so you have to really think long and hard about your decision before having them done. First of all, let’s go through a few things that you should know before finally deciding.

Patience is Key

They are going to go to the directions they want to go to, and you are not going to have a say in that. Sure, you can style them up a bit, but it is going to be a challenge, and it takes a lot of practice.

They are also not going to be perfect right after you get them done. They are going to be pretty messy at first, as it takes over a year’s time for your locs to behave and knot together on their own. To tide over it, wear hats or scarves, or tie them back.

They have a mind of their own

Dreadlocks are not all the same. You may look up pictures of dreadlocks on the internet thinking that is exactly how your locs are going to be, but you can’t tell that for sure. Every person’s mane turns out very different in the same cut, and this is also the case with getting dreads. It all depends on your hair’s unique texture and thickness.

Contrary to popular belief, you can and have to wash your dreadlocks. That’s basic hygiene, folks. And dreadlocks take a long time to dry after washing. Dreads are like sponges that soak up lots of water, so they require a lot of time and effort to squeeze dry.

And you have to squeeze them one by one. Exactly how long it takes for them to dry will depend on how long and how thick your dreads are.

It may be a hassle and time consuming to dry your locs, yes, but on the bright side, they don’t need much tending to. You don’t have to brush or straighten them like you do to regular hair. You can just get out of bed and out of your door. Once they mature, you can just pretty much leave them alone.

Are you ready for dreadlocks? Consider the things we mentioned above, and the following:

• Your hair’s texture. Fine hair with a loose texture usually does not do well with dreadlocks.
• Are you going to be fine with having them re-twisted every 2-8 weeks? Dreadlocks take time and money to maintain.
• Your employer. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of employers out there who, sad to say, consider dreadlocks as unprofessional, so it is important to think about your employer’s dress codes before getting locs.
• A stylist in your area. It’s easier to have your stylist accessible, as re-twisting, interlocking or palm-rolling locs may take hours and hours, depending on your method.