Tools and Techniques

Why do you spend so much time on the dreads you do when some salons do them in half the time?

    I take pride in my work. Dreads are something I genuinely enjoy creating for people. While I independently book all of my appointments, someone doing dreads at a salon may attempt to see 2-4 people per day to maximize the profit for the salon. To make the dreading process quicker, most salons use wax. This allows them to stick some hair together, get the dreads done in half the time, and frequently charge twice what I do. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best method to do dreads and salons often suggest coming back every two weeks for expensive maintenance appointments. Meanwhile, I stick to my principles and try to give every client the best dreads I can create and let him/her benefit from the wealth of knowledge I have amassed in my free time. Dreading without wax takes more time because I create the knots myself and give every client the best experience I can possibly aim for.

I read that crocheting/backcombing can damage hair and dreads. 

    This is a hotly debated topic on dread communities and forums throughout the internet. One camp of people asserts that since it is true that hair dreads naturally, one should just stop brushing his or her hair, keep washing it, let the hair dread, and separate into sections. This is called the neglect method. There’s nothing wrong with this method. It can take years for dreads to form this way. People who advocate neglect often propose that backcombing and crocheting can damage hair and therefore, the dreads that are created this way are not as strong. 
    I am in the other camp. While, the neglect method does eventually, after many years, result in dreads, a kickstart does not hurt. Many people continue to start their dreads with either backcombing or a combination of backcombing/crocheting to no ill effect. Hair follicles must be rough in order to knot up. However, if backcombing or crocheting is performed too vigorously or by those who might be inexperienced, it can break the hair.     
    This is why research is important when either you or someone else creates your dreads. The damage that is perceived by some to be done by crocheting or backcombing results in re-backcombing or re-crocheting the roots, thereby weakening the already strained hair that is there. Remember, the roots of your dreads have a lot of weight on them. After the initial backcombing/crocheting is done to begin the dreads, it is not beneficial to repeat this process on the roots that grow in. Instead, they should be allowed to grow in on their own. Any loose hairs should be gently weaved in with a tapestry needle.  Remember that is is perfectly normal to have 1-2 inches of loose hair at the root of your dreads!