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Those fond of the nappy, natty hairstyle known as dreadlocks will be the first to tell you dreads are not braids. Dreadlocks are essentially matted hair -- a state some claim is the natural form of human hair. Braids, on the other hand, are neatly formed ropes created by plaiting three (or more) strands of hair in a careful pattern. Twisting will help form and maintain dreads, but there's more to it than that. Reggae superstar Bob Marley probably just let his hair grow into dreads naturally, as many followers of the Rastafarian
faith do. To the Rasta and many others, dreadlocks are a symbol of African heritage and religion. Rastas simply allow knots and mats to form in their hair over time. They may wash their hair, but they don't brush or comb it, and devout Rastas don't cut it either. Many people who want dreads aren't Rastas and don't have the patience to wait months or years for a new hairstyle. One common method for quick dread-creation involves adding a hair-styling product that contains beeswax. Plain beeswax can be used, but it may take longer to dry in the hair. You start by backcombing sections of your hair (a
friend can help or you can pay a stylist to do the process). Backcombing is just what it sounds like -- you comb your hair backwards, from the tip to the root, using a fine-toothed comb. This forms mats and knots that will be the base for the dreadlocks. Next comes the beeswax product, which has to be thoroughly worked into the matted hair. You can twist sections of hair or roll them between your hands if you want a specific shape for your dreads, and doing this regularly will help maintain the locks. Another way to get dreads is to start with a dreadperm. This has been called "the world's worst perm with the best result." A stylist backcombs
your hair tightly, then puts it in curlers, and treats it to a permanent curl process. The result is almost instant dreads that will become more dreaded over time. Quick dreadlocks can also be achieved with hair extensions. Synthetic hair (often in bright colors) is attached to your own hair, and it can either be dreaded before attaching or after. Often, the fake hair is attached to the real hair by braiding it in, but the braid may be covered or disguised by the dreadlocks. Sometimes heat or glue are used to help attach the fake hair, and synthetic dreads can even be put onto hairpieces that are tied into your real hair temporarily. The dreaded part of the extension is made by backcombing then twisting the section of
hair. Because fake hair is made of plastic, these types of dreads can be set to hold their shape by applying heat. If you are ready to make a serious hairstyle commitment, dreadlocks may be the 'do for you. Once they're in, the only way to get them out is by cutting.
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