Why do dreadlocks grow faster than natural hair? (2023)

Why do dreadlocks grow faster than natural hair?

It's worth noting that hair in dreadlocks grows just as fast as undreaded hair, it's only the speed that the dreadlocks gain length that changes compared to the speed that undreaded natural hair gains length. In other words, when your hair is in dreadlocks, it grows at the same speed, it just has further to go!

As compared to loose hair, particularly afro-textured hair, locs seem to grow far faster. It isn't really true that loc'd hair grows faster; it just maintains all of its growth. Hair that is normally shed in the growth process and hair that breaks off at the ends due to manipulation are all retained within the loc.

Even though some people might feel like they do, dreads do not grow faster than braids. Hair growth is not dependent upon the style of hair. When you first form dreads, it will take even longer to grow your hair out as the new growth will go into knotting your hair.

Locs promote great hair growth with minimal shedding.

Because your hair is in a permanent protective style—and you won't have to manipulate your hair often—there is much less wear and tear on your strands. Your hair is free to simply grow and thrive.

To grow dreads, start by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to give it a drier texture. Then, separate your hair into small sections and tie each one with a rubber band to keep them apart. Next, take a section of hair, remove the rubber band, and insert a dread comb about an inch from your scalp.

Can dreads cause damage to your hair? The short answer is no. It's quite the opposite. Dreadlocks as a hairstyle actually help protect your hair.

Major Differences

Locs are cultivated, but dreadlocks aren't. Dreadlocks also often stem from Rastafarian beliefs, which use the style to separate believers from the rest of society. As for physical differences, locs have a well-kept and tidier look to them compared to dreadlocks, which have a more natural appearance.

Throughout the stages in which dreads mature, they will get thicker AND thinner. The thickness and length will fluctuate a lot during the first year or two because the hair is becoming matted. Healthy dreads should be a little bit thicker than when you started them once they're fully mature.

It can happen but it's rare. If you keep up with your weekly maintenance (daily moisturizing spritzer and weekly washing routine) and a few other precautions, you are less likely to get bugs stuck in your hair. I should note that contrary to the stereotype, dreadlocked hair is NOT a “bug” haven. Bugs like to be free.

They'll enable you to play around with different styles and jazz things up. This stage can last anywhere from 12 to 15 months and again, you don't want to re-twist too much because it can cause damage to your hair.

Which hair locs faster?

In general, thicker and more tightly coiled hair locs faster.

Different Types of Locs

freeform locs. two strand twist dreads/locs. interlocking locs.

If you're asking yourself this question it's (almost) safe to assume that you don't have dreads yet but are considering it. The good news is that NO, no hairstyle is permanent! …

Mold can grow in your dreadlocks (i.e., dread rot) if your hair isn't properly dried after washing. It produces a mildew-like smell that's really tough to get rid of. Environmental odors. Odors out of your control, like air pollution, scents from food, and smoke, can also settle in your dreads and produce an odor.

Dreadlocks are perceived as a connection to wisdom, and many believe that the head and hair are spiritual energy conductors. According to the Rasta views, the locs are believed to be a part of the Nazarite vows of Leviticus, which cautioned against shaving the head's four corners.

Disadvantages: A very painful procedure of weaving of dreadlocks. The impossibility of unwinding. If for some reason you decide to get rid of dreadlocks, you will most likely just have to cut them off.

Locs Are Too Heavy

Heavy dreads can cause the roots to pull at the scalp, which can cause hair thinning and in turn make your hair fall out. This is often caused by locs that are long or product build-up that weighs on the scalp.

What is this? The average person gains around 6 inches of hair every year. When your hair is not dreaded you tend to wash and brush it daily. Chemical and drying treatments are also commonly used and every several months you find yourself at the hairdresser getting a trim.

The locs process is one that takes patience and maintenance as it takes time to go from the baby stage to the adult stage (approximately 21 months plus in total), but don't let this put you off.

Do dreads need to breathe?

Don't Put To Much Tension On The Roots Of Your Dreads

Therefore, you want to give your hair a moment to breathe . In any case, if you put to much stress on your hair, you will cause your roots to grow thin. And, this can lead to your dreadlocks breaking off.

As your dreads mature, you don't have to worry about lots of fluffing and re-dreading, so feel free to wash your dreads as frequently as you wish. No matter the age of your dreads, it's important not to go longer than about a week without washing.

There is also a deeper spiritual connection as dreadlocks are believed to connect wearers to Jah (God) and “earth-force”, his mystical power which is found throughout the universe. Some even believe that the knotting or locking of hair keeps this power in the body, preventing it from escaping through the head.

Are Dreadlocks Dirty? Dreadlocks aren't objectively dirty. Like any other hairstyle, their cleanliness is dependent upon the level of maintenance they're getting. Just like any other hairstyle, dreads can (and should) be washed.

Judges 16:19

Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.

When you leave your hair alone, your locs are able to flourish and thicken up because they're not constantly “made” into condensed retwisted or interlocked bundles. The ideal timeframe for a retwist is between 4-6 weeks— no earlier!

If you're waiting too long between twisting your dreads, you'll notice your locs becoming a lot thinner. Since new hair follicles need to be twisted into the deadlock, these follicles can eventually fall out if left alone. This results in thinning dreadlocks.

You will want to regularly (every two to three weeks) wash and detox hair to remove any products, oil, or debris trapped in the strands and scalp. Of course, if you workout a lot, you might want to wash more frequently than every two to three weeks.

Can People With Dreads Get Lice? Yes, any human with hair can. Read on to find out more about head lice in black dreads or white dreads; as both have the same risk, despite the common myths.

When Bob Marley died they found 19 different species of lice in his dreadlocks.

Can your dreads mold?

Dread rot occurs when your dreads aren't allowed to dry properly after washing your hair. The condensed hair within the dread cannot release the moisture as quickly as loose hair would. This trapped moisture eventually leads to the growth of mold inside each dread.

Washing dreadlocks everyday is not recommended or necessary.

Dreadlocks need sufficient time to dry otherwise it is possible for mold or mildew to develop. It is recommended to wash dreadlocks once per week.

Clean hair will always lock faster than dirty hair, and we'll tell you why. Dirty hair is coated with natural oils, which can quickly make your hair greasy — this makes it more difficult for your hair to latch onto each other and lock.

That's why many people with dreads are looking for a solution to get their hair to loc quicker. One of the best ways to speed up the locking process is to use a lemon juice and sea salt solution.

Every hair type can loc, but the kinkier the hair is the faster it will loc - in most cases that is. Finer or straighter hair can take longer to loc and might look different from someone with kinkier hair.

Ancient Egypt is the true birthplace of dreadlocks. Some ancient Egyptian mummies were found to have had dreadlock wigs from 1400 BCE. These mummies are solid evidence that dreadlocks originated in ancient Egypt based on the timeline of other historical events.

Rastafarians can often be recognised from the way they style their hair. Rastafarians grow their hair long, before coiling it into dreadlocks. The wearing of hair in dreadlocks by Rastafarians is believed to be spiritual; this is justified in the Bible: They shall not make baldness upon their head.

Traditional Locs (20 to 150 dreadlocks)

For thick traditional locs, you should aim to create 20 to 50 total locs. The fewer locs you have, the thicker your locs will be. If you want your locs to be extremely thick, closer to 20 locs will be your best bet.

Usually, with soft, curly or fine textures of hair, not retwisting your locs is damaging. One of the biggest problems you'll encounter if your texture is not able to semi-freeform is your hair growing away from your locs. As the hair grows away from the locs, you will experience thinning and sometimes breakage.

Well, I'm here to tell you, yes, dreadlocks can be combed out, especially ones that have been properly cared for during their life, including regular shampooing and conditioning. This is very important!

Can U Cut dreads?

Sure. You won't have to cut them very often because dreads gain length very slowly. The hair still grows the same speed but rather than adding directly to the length as it grows it winds around and around and knots so it takes a lot longer for the length to increase.

While dreads do not need to be washed excessively, going too long between washes can lead to a buildup of skin cells, visible dirt, and an off-putting smell. Improper washing: If your dreadlocks are dirty, it's important to wash them.

According to Tharps, “the modern understanding of dreadlocks is that the British, who were fighting Kenyan warriors (during colonialism in the late 19th century), came across the warriors' locs and found them 'dreadful,' thus coining the term 'dreadlocks.

It can take anywhere from 10 months to 2 years to grow fully mature dreadlocks, but for most people, the process takes 18 to 24 months.

Can dreads cause damage to your hair? The short answer is no. It's quite the opposite. Dreadlocks as a hairstyle actually help protect your hair.

Incorrect or harmful hair products

Over time, these can damage your hair. Oil-based products, heavy creams, waxes, and hair butter leave residue on your locs and scalp. Eventually, they block the new growth of hair follicles, causing thinning and hair loss.

To maintain a healthy scalp and odor-free dreadlocks, you should wash your dreads at least once a week using a residue-free dreadlock shampoo.

You can easily make your dreads lock faster by washing your hair every 2-3 days, backcombing them, and twisting them together. You might think washing your hair will damage your dreads, but doing so every few days will actually help them lock faster and stay in shape.

You should never let your dreads go more than a week without washing. Most people find it comfortable to wash mature dreads every other day or every 2nd day. If you are very active and sweat a lot you may find it necessary to wash your dreads every day. You can also just rinse your dreads after running or other sports.