This is a deeply personal question and one to take into careful consideration. For those who are just beginning to think about locking their hair we can’t stress enough that you need to research, research and research some more before you make the decision to lock your hair. Take your time with this... for most it takes months if not years to decide to commit to this process.

The transformation that occurs when someone locks their hair is a significant one, but dreadlocks don’t always deliver that instant gratification like a new haircut and haircolor does. When you leave the studio after having new natural dreadlocks installed they will look nice and tight, but will look nothing like what they will eventually mature to be. Locks typically take approximately 1-2 years to fully mature and will change significantly throughout that time. They require a ton of patience and a good amount of TLC from you at home especially if you want them to be on the neater side of things. Just like any other natural process, things take time. Natural Dreadlocks are most certainly a commitment and not what we would consider a temporary hairstyle.

We don't recommend natural dreadlocks to clients who love to change their hair color a lot (especially bright fantasy colors). Repetitive chemical services can be extraordinarily damaging to locks. We can however give you your color fix with synthetic and/or human dreadlock extensions and decor without unnecessary damage to your hair.

We can’t stress enough the importance that you check to see if dreadlocks are an acceptable hairstyle with your employer or school. We know, we know, “IT'S JUST HAIR!”, but unfortunately some employers and schools have strict rules about certain hairstyles and it can be very upsetting, time consuming, painful and expensive to remove locks once they are installed. We here at Rebel Rebel Salon are constantly “dreaducating” as many people as possible on the misconceptions and stereotypes that unfortunately come along with dreadlocks. Until we reach every person on Earth, check with your employer or school to confirm their hairstyle policies.

There are many ways to start and maintain natural dreadlocks... neglect, free forming, twisting, backcomb only, interlocking, twist & rip, and the most modern of them all crocheting. We are confident that the crochet method is the safest and most effective way to get our clients their desired results. We are professionally trained and have years of experience with our 100% all natural, WAX FREE, back comb and crochet method for natural dreadlock installation and maintenance. Just our hands, a comb, an itty bitty crochet hook and a whole lotta love! There is no twisting, root flipping, ripping or chemical used and def NO WAX. This method will work on ANY texture hair, no matter how straight, curly, thick, thin, coarse or soft it is. It's pretty darn close to magic! We never judge anyone on any way they choose to start their journey. Crochet method can be used for any age dreadlocks regardless of the method you used to begin your locks. There are few places in the country that do what we do and our clients can tell you that our methods are the best they’ve found over the years.

You can absolutely start and maintain your own dreadlocks yourself or with a friend's help. I applaud those who do, regardless of the results. I believe it's important to get our hands in our hair and be a part of the process... that is encouraged always. However, sometimes people often find that working on their own hair is harder than they initially thought or the results they achieved fell short of their expectations. Dreadlox Studio holds high standards customizing each client’s experience to them individually when they sit down for some lock love. We have clients that hesitated at first to even step foot into a salon, because they have had negative and sometimes traumatic experiences in salons before or bc they wanted their locks to free form without any help, but have run into some issues along the way or are just plain tired of doing all the work themselves. We have clients that love their little imperfections in their dreadlocks and only want specific things worked on and others left alone. We have clients that want their locs as neat and tidy as much as possible and we have clients that just don’t have as much time to dedicate to their locs as they would like and need a bit of extra help. We have an extensive amount of education and knowledge about hair, dreadlocks, the health of the scalp and design. We are equipped with the tools and experience needed when working with all hair types to achieve each client’s personal desired look. We don’t create “cookie cutter” dreadlocks. Our client’s locs are as individualistic as their own fingerprints and as meaningful as their own soul.

Click Here to hear another opinion on this matter from LazyDreads.

You will be “DREADUCATED” to the fullest! This professional craft is truly something that has taken years to master. So while we cannot teach you how to create dreadlocks at home, we will absolutely talk to you throughout your appointment with us and equip you with the how's & the why's of the best habits and safest methods for home care between salon maintenance appointments. We pinky promise!

For most textures it is required that every hair that you want locked should be AT LEAST 6 inches long, this includes the hairs at the nape of your neck. Your dreadlocks are going to loosen up significantly in their first month or so, if we start them any shorter you will most likely need to come in for maintenance often to ensure they don't loosen too much and come out. If your hair is currently not quite long enough, let it grow and let it be the first lesson your journey teaches you... patience. If you have the patience to wait for your hair to grow long enought, then that's a pretty good sign that you will have the patience that you'll need the first year of having your locks. The old chiché "good things come to those who wait." rings true with this.

PLEASE NOTE: starting locs at shorter lengths will cause your new locs to stick straight up off of your head inititially until they begin to get some length and weight to them, this is to be expected. You can embrace it and make it fun... or you can allow your hair to grow longer before locking up... or you can speed things up a few years with some extensions.

This is truly a personal choice and how often someone comes in for maintenance is going to be based on how messy or neat someone wants their hair to be, how their hair responds to the locking process and what each person is doing at home to care for them (you will be taught you all that while your're in the chair). There are no rules to this but it isn't recommended coming in any sooner than 2 months at a time. A good average is usually between every 3-4 months. Sometimes it's 5-6 months for some, sometimes once a year and sometimes just when they need a little bit of extra help or for a special occasion! If you are new to dreadlocks you may find you need less maintenance as your locs mature and you will eventually get into a routine where you feel comfortable!

Yes, we are skilled in synthetic hair and human hair dreadlock extensions. Extensions can last 1-3 years depending on the type of hair used and if they are cared for properly. Synthetic extensions can be removed completely from the natural locks when desired. Human hair extensions are a more "permanent" extension as they are crocheted securely into your natural dreadlocks. Both can be trimmed as your hair grows.

Length

Human hair: max addditional length achievable is 14 inches (with blunted ends) & 18 inches (with wispy ends) Synthetic hair: max length achievable is 12 inches (with blunted ends) - 16 inches (with wispy ends)

Human Hair Extensions, Color & Lifespan

Human hair extensions can be professionally colored darker or stained with semi-permanent hair color (rainbow colors) but they CANNOT be lightened/bleached ever. If you attempt to lighten them they can disintegrate because the hair has already been chemically processed prior to packaging to ensure it is hygienic. Also, blonde human hair extensions may not have as long of a life span as darker colors due the amount of processing the hair has gone through prior to packaging. Average lifespan of human hair extensions is 2 years. Lifespan is not guaranteed.

Synethic Hair Extensions & Color

Synthetic hair extensions CANNOT be colored or lightened at all as they are a plastic fiber. However the synthetic hair comes in a wide variety of colors that can be blended together in infinite ways. The synthetic hair that we use is a high quality synthetic that will never fade and looks incredibly real in the hair. They can also take high heat (up to 300 degrees). So they can be blown dry and heat styled if so desired without any damage to the hair. Please note that because synthetic hair never fades, it is possible for your natural hair to lighten from normal sun exposure and your natural locks may end up being lighter then your synthetic ends over time. For this reason we don't recommend this to anyone who's hair gets natural highlights from the sun as it can create a strange reverse ombre effect over time. Average life span of synthetic extensions is 1-3 years.

The cost of human is aprox $150 per bundle/color

The cost of synthetic hair is aprox $25 per bag/color

YESSSS!!! & YESSSS!!! Dreadlocks can be a "wake up with awesome hair" style, but they require a good amount of TLC and not any regular shampoo or styling product will do. All dreadlock products must be residue free in order to make sure they don't build up inside your locks. This will help your locks grow in a healthy and happy way! We carry various dreadlock products in our studio for your convenience and we know you will love them as much as we do. We “dreaducate” all of our clients on the best products that will benefit each individual based on their desired look, scalp and hair type and lifestyle. If you're feeling a little creative, some products can be made at home!

Of course! Love adding more color, texture & fun to everyone's locs! There are a variety of beads, hemp, sari silk, chording and handmade accent dreadlock extensions in stock for our clients to decorate their locks with. There are questions on our consultation forms that will give you your options or feel free to bring any decor that you may have made or purchased elsewhere if you need help installing it.

If you are interested in having wraps or other decor put into in your locs, please specify this during the consultation or booking process process so we can properly account for the extra time and supplies if necessary.

There are many factors to consider when determining the length of time and cost for a new client's appointment. We require a consultation for every single new dreadlock client booking a dreadlock maintenance, installation or extension appointment. Consultations are completed online and will give us a chance to get to know you and your hair, discuss your desired look and expectations, answer all questions and give you all possible options and our honest opinions. Once your consultation is complete, we will review it and give you an estimated length of time and the cost of your appointment.

Base Pricing can be found on our Offerings page.

All new dreadlock clients are required to complete the consultation process and leave a non-refundable deposit before any new installation/maintenance appointment can be made. Consultations forms can be found here.

At times consultation forms may be temporarily disabled for a week or two to allow us to catch up with existing forms waiting for a response and to keep wait times lower. If forms are currently disabled please check back here to see when they open up again.

We also reserve the right to refuse service or an appointment to anyone at any time due to our intuition, experiences, lack of comfortability or for any reason that does not resonate with us. You will be notified if this occurs.

Most dreadlock services require multiple hours to complete. The wait time for open appointments can vary from a week to 2-3 months depending current schedules and what type of service(s) you are booking. Some services require an entire day to be open in order to schedule you. Saturday and evening appointments typically book up first. It is always recommended that your make your appointment requests as early as possible. You can alos be put on the waiting list for an earlier appointment time if someone cancels, but it rarely happens due to our deposit policy.

Our intimate size, plus the length of time that we block off for most of our dreadlock clients, requires making deposits mandatory for everyone. It's our way to make sure that you show up and our time is well spent. It keeps us in business and that's a good thing for everyone!

Deposits are 50% of your estimated total cost of your service

(+the total cost of hair if extensions are being added)

Your deposit is applied to your total bill of sale after your service is complete.

Deposits are non refundable for any reason!

You can find our complete Deposit Policy HERE

and on every invoice for a deposit sent to you.

We thank you in advance for respecting and valuing our time. And we promise to do the same for you!

Washing Your Dreadlocks

• It is important that you choose a RESIDUE FREE shampoo made specifically for dreadlocks. We encourage you to use shampoos that are made best for your scalp and hair type.
  

• When we wash our dreadlocks we are concentrating mostly on cleansing the roots and the scalp. Our dreadlock bodies act like sponges and will self clean once we rinse the shampoo from our head. If using a shampoo BAR, wet the bar in the bag and rub it directly onto your roots and scalp all over, put it down and scrub well and in between each lock and under the roots.... really get int there. And then rinse well. If you are using a liquid shampoo it is highly recommended that you dilute it with water in a color applicator bottle (50/50). Shake it up and squeeze it directly onto your roots and scalp all over your head. Scrub well and rinse. You may apply a bit of shampoo to the bodies of your locks if you feel it's necessary, just be sure to NOT squish anything inside of them.... it's very easy for things to get inside of them, but much more difficult to remove. So instead, lightly rub the outside of the bodies in a downward motion and rinse well. After that first wash and rinse, Repeat the process! Two shampoos are typically very beneficial for most who are going 1 week or longer in between shampoos.

• Rinse your scalp and locks well. Rinse in between dreadlocks at the root and all over your head and squeeze the roots out as you do to make sure you purge any shampoo that may still be inside. Our locs are just like sponges... so if you got soap in a sponge at your kitchen sink, how would you get the soap out? Run it under warm water and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze until all of the soap purges out. So rinse, rinse and rinse again! Your roots, scalp and dreadlocks should feel noticeably clean when you are done your wash routine.

Drying Your Dreadlocks

• It is important that your dreadlocks dry within a reasonable amount of time (5-6 hours) otherwise you run the risk of mold growing inside of your locks. Mold can not only be stinky but can also cause severe irreversible problems in your dreadlocks in time (aka: dreadrot).

• When you are all done your shower/bath and ready to dry off. You may gently wring your dreadlocks out as if you would a washcloth or towel. Then hold each lock by it's root with one hand and with the other "stretch" out the entire lock from roots to end. Like you are massaging it and stretching it downward. Not only will this allow you to get out excess water from each lock it will also help excessive shrinkage and lumps and bumps from occurring. If you are allowing your hair to air dry completely do this sporadically throughout the drying process. You may wrap them in a towel or turban towel for no longer than 60 mins until you begin the drying process. A micro fiber towel/turban towel work best for soaking up excess water.
  

• You can air dry your locks. The sun works best so go take a walk or bike ride, do some gardening, have a catch, play with the dog or just bask in the sun ( just don't forget your sunscreen).

• Your dreadlocks can also be blown dry. We blow dry our locks in a downward motion, from roots to ends. Finger comb from roots to ends pulling in a downward motion as you blow-dry. Remember, locks dry from the outside in, so they may feel dry at first but soon the moisture that is still trapped inside will eventually be soaked up on the outside. Drying may take a bit of time so have some patience and make sure you have enough time to dry completely.

• We never put our dreadlocks in a hat, ponytail, braid or headband until they are 100% dry.

• Do not go to sleep with wet dreadlocks.

• When not washing your hair, protect your locks from getting wet in the shower/bath with an extra large shower cap or turban towel.

Daily & Weekly Home Maintenance

• Separate your roots daily. Dreadlocks love to make friends with their buddies next door, but don't let them! Pull your dreadlocks away from each other in all directions. If you feel a hair or two attached to the wrong lock, RIP it apart. Don't be scared to! If your dreadlocks are not coming apart at the root asking a friend or lover to help you may be necessary. If that still doesn't work and you feel the only answer is a pair of scissors, put the scissors down and pick up your phone and call us for a maintenance appointment! Separating is best done when your hair is still damp from washing and after swimming but can be done at any time really. If you have a partial, it is imperative that you separate your brushable hair from your first row of dreadlocks EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

• Stretching Holding your loc's root and stretching down the body of the loc is in my opinion the best way to eliminate bumps, loops, zig zags and shrunken ends when done on a consistent basis. This can be done during the drying process (as described above in the washing and drying section) as our hair is more pliable when it is damp. However you can also do this while your hair is dry. This should not be done on hair extensions.

• Palm rolling. Palm rolling has a cumulative effect and it's results will not be seen for some time especially with new dreadlocks. We promise you though, it is very helpful in keeping the bodies in a cylinder shape and to help them tighten. Palm rolling will not get rid of the fly aways/frizzies! In fact it can make it worse (temporarily). It is recommended to palm roll your dreadlocks when your hair is dry.

• Root rubbing. Collect any loose hair and combine it with your root of the dreadlock it belongs to. Holding your loose roots and loose hairs in between two fingers, with your palm facing up and the back of your hand directly against your scalp , and then place your other hand on top (palm facing down, with the loc root in between the same fingers on that hand). Begin to rub your top hand in a circular motion in one direction against your bottom hand. You will feel the loc "twisting" in between your fingers. Do this for about 10-15 seconds. This will be a temporary way to clean up the fuzz while also help encourage new growth to begin tangling up a bit.

Fuzzy/Frizzy Dreadlocks

• Tightening/Sea Salt spray. Tightening spray can be used from roots to ends on damp or dry hair, 2 times a week, no more. This product is meant for the dreadlock bodies, not the scalp so spray it directly onto your hands and smooth down the loose hair on the loc bodies or palmroll.

• Refreshing/Moisturizing spray. Refreshing spray is applied directly to the scalp/root area and along the lock bodie. It is the best for an itchy scalp and for refreshing the scalp and attacking oils in between washes. It is also a lovely light moisturizer for the lock bodies. You can apply Dollylocks refreshening spray to dry roots and locks to help eliminate your fuzzies temporarily.

• Dreadlock Gels/Serums. Smooth the gel/serum down damp dreadlocks to smooth loose frizzie hairs down and allow to dry. You can also twist loose hairs at the root and allow to dry.
  

Dry Dreadlocks

Over time your mature dreadlocks may feel a bit dry and brittle. You can give them a little life again with various types of conditioning oils. Rub a bit into the palms of your hand and apply from mid loc to ends, damp or dry. (We do not recommend using oils or creams directly on the scalp or roots unless directed to for specific reasons)

Swimming With Dreadlocks

• The ocean is your new dreadlocks best friend. Salt water is so helpful in the tightening process of new dreadlocks. Just make sure you are allowing them to dry in a reasonable amount of time and you are "stretching" them out as they dry to prevent excessive shrinkage. (see above in the drying section for more detailed information).

• Chlorine is a chemical we really don't want to remain inside our locks. It's definitely ok to swim in a pool with dreadlocks. Just be sure to wash your hair with a residue free shampoo afterwards and dry completely. If your locks are going to air dry before you have a chance to wash them, be sure to "stretch" them out during that drying time to prevent excessive shrinkage (see above in the drying section for more detailed information).

• Swim caps that are specifically made for dreadlocks are available to purchase on various sites online. Google "dreadlock swim caps". They are fun and work well in keeping locks dry.

• If you have dreadlock extensions be sure to braid your locks in one single braid or two side braids for added protection while swimming.

Sleeping With Dreadlocks

It's not necessary to do anything specific with your locks while you sleep. In fact they may affect your partner more than they bother you. If you feel that your locks are messier/fuzzier/frizzier when you wake up in the morning you can try a satin/silk pillowcase, bonnet or a dreadlock sock.