Professional Salon Services for Awesome Dreads
People decide to get dreadlocks for many different reasons, including freedom of expression, rejection of western standards of beauty, and spirituality. Although it is possible for some people to encourage the growth of natural dreads on their own, you’ll get a gorgeous, healthy head of dreads much more easily and quickly if you have the help of a salon that specializes in dreadlocks.
Types of Salon Services for Dreads
Salons which cater specifically to clients who want dreads offer a wide range of services. Here’s a breakdown of some of the more common ones:
Starting dreadlocks: If you need help kicking dread formation off, the expertise of an aesthetician can help you start your locks. A few of the methods they might use are the back-comb technique (especially popular on African American hair) and the crochet and hook technique (a successful method used to promote dreads on Caucasian hair). Both of these techniques cost upwards of $200 because they are labor intensive and can take anywhere from three to eight hours.
Dread Perm: The dread perm uses rollers and setting chemicals to create an instant head of dreadlocks. Dread perms cost, on average, $200 to $300 and the perms require monthly maintenance or the dreadlocks will start to unravel.
Dread Maintenance: If dreads are unraveling or become frizzy, dread maintenance services can help to make dreadlocks look like new again. Maintenance services include threading, crocheting, and latch hooking the hairs to help tighten the dreads, and applying scalp or moisturizing treatments to clean and renew dry and dirty dreads.
Dread Extensions: Some salons offer dread extensions made with human or synthetic hair. The extensions are a great way to temporary try out dreadlocks or to create an instant head of dreadlocks without chemical processes. Extensions generally run $200 to $400 for an entire head of locks.
Dreadlock Removal: If it’s time to say goodbye to your dreadlocks, consult with a professional on how to safely remove the locks without causing extra damage to your hair. A beautician can offer advice on how to remove the dreads, talk with you about what to expect, and remove the dreads at the salon. Dread removal generally costs less than $100.
Precautions for Professional Salon Dreads
Before you decide to take the leap and start growing your dreadlocks, make sure you find a salon that caters specifically to the care, maintenance, and creation of dreads. The processes which are used to create dreadlocks will have different types of results for different kinds of hair, and it is important to talk with an experienced professional about what type of process is best for your hair and the results you can expect. An experienced dread professional will also make sure that your dreads remain clean and healthy and that the damage to your hair during the growth process is minimized.
Useful Links
Pinterest dreadlock inspiration board: https://www.pinterest.com/earthling497/dreadlock-gallery/
Happy Nappy dreadlock gallery: http://www.knottyboy.com/dreadlocks-pictures/gypsy/2/48662/
Video that shows the salon dreadlock process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-jX2JM1XI
Basic dreadlock care: http://www.dreadhairstyles.com/d-basic%20dread%20care.htm