Post by dragondreads on Aug 14, 2014 5:52:21 GMT -6
I thought I'd do a photo tutorial in how to make dreads on mass (10 at a go). I should add this is an old packet of hair that I managed to make 11 dreads from. Normally with hair you will need 2 packets to make 10 dreads.
The equipment you will need are:
A metal or wooden towel rail (I brought mine from Argos)
A handheld steamer
Scissors
synthetic hair
backcombing comb (I use a metal pronged one)
Sofa and TV to watch whilst crafting
1) Place your hair onto the top rail of the towel stand.
2) Divide off your first section of hair, I like to make thin whippy dreads. Tie using a bunny ear knot onto the rail.
3) Section the rest of the hair and tie onto the rail.
4) Push the sectioned hair to one side and position the dread you want to work on in front of you.
5) Pull on one side of the hair so it is taunt but doesn't untie.
6) Back comb the hair.
7) When you have backcombed to the end of one side pull the hair apart from left to right from the middle.
8) Pull the hair apart from the middle top to bottom.
9) Backcomb hair to end and then backcomb again until the comb gets caught in the hair and won't backcomb anymore. Keep the hair taunt whilst doing this and smooth dread down. You will end up with some hair that has shredded and come away.
You should end up with this:
10) You've probably already noticed but I anchor my feet on the bottom of the rail to tip it closer to me when needed whilst backcombing. (excuse my lumpy legs)
11) Undo the hair from the rail and tie the backcombed bit so it is hanging down the back of the rail and the uncombed piece is facing you.
12) Repeat steps 5- 9 on the other side of the hair.
13) You will end up with this:
14) Retie the hair onto the rail so both sides are an equal length and backcomb both sides to the middle.
15) Repeat on the next hair section.
16) As you go keep the backcombed sections on the right and the uncombed sections on the left with the piece your working on in the middle.
17) You should end up with something like this:
18) Now it's time to steam! Take the first bit of hair and twist the top section clockwise holding it in position.
19) Steam that section and then twist the next part steaming as you go along.
20) Steam to the end of the dread on one side and then steam twice more twisting as you go. Repeat on the next piece of hair so you end up with all the hair steamed shut on one side.
21)Cut off the tips on the side you have steamed.
22) Untie the hair and tie back on with the unsteamed section facing you and steamed dread hanging down the back of the rail.
23) Repeat for all the hair sections step 22
.
24) Twist and steam the other half of the dread repeating steps 18- 20. When you have steamed to the end untie the dread and hold taunt and twist and steam the middle between your hands (you may want to tie one end to the rail). Then cut off the tip.
25) Finished dreads. (In very bad lighting)
I can normally do this process in about 2- 4 hours, but after years of dreading I have learnt to give myself a rest to avoid 'the claw'! Apologises for the lighting, I was doing these in a thunderstorm and it kept getting bright and then dark.
Hope this is helpful. Let me know what you thought.