The dreads will generally phatten up a bit as they mature so you'll gain some thickness/fullness in the first 3/4 months. During tightening the tips draw up towards the roots making the dreads shorter and wider.
They Sometimes Get Thicker Over Time
No matter what your locs look like when you install them, they'll most likely look radically different in a couple years time. A lot of the time, the locs will thicken up as they mature.
When you leave your hair alone, your locs are able to flourish and thicken up because they're not constantly “made” into condensed retwisted or interlocked bundles. The ideal timeframe for a retwist is between 4-6 weeks— no earlier!
After you decide to have locs, the next big decision is what size you'll choose. However you section your hair, your locs will grow a little smaller than that. Over time, you may find that your locs compress even further.
As compared to loose hair, particularly afro-textured hair, locs seem to grow far faster. It isn't really true that loc'd hair grows faster; it just maintains all of its growth. Hair that is normally shed in the growth process and hair that breaks off at the ends due to manipulation are all retained within the loc.
Generally speaking, it could take anywhere from 10 months to two years to get to the maturest stage of locs." The process of hair "locking" and the process of these locs maturing are different.
If you're waiting too long between twisting your dreads, you'll notice your locs becoming a lot thinner. Since new hair follicles need to be twisted into the deadlock, these follicles can eventually fall out if left alone. This results in thinning dreadlocks.
If you need a full head kit, 50 to 70 individual dreadlocks will look natural (if you like more lush dreadlocks, go for a larger quantity). In the case of mohawks, I usually advise 30 to 40 pieces, it all depends on how high the sides of your hairstyle are.
The Budding Stage (also known as the Sprouting Stage), occurs roughly six to twelve months into your locs journey. This is when you'll start to notice that your hair isn't unravelling when you wash it and notice your new growth, which will look a bit fuzzy and fluffy.
6 to 12 months: Budding phase of the Loc Journey
Also known as sprouting, the budding phase is the miraculous moment when the magic starts becoming obvious as you might notice your new growth is puffy.
Throughout the stages in which dreads mature, they will get thicker AND thinner. The thickness and length will fluctuate a lot during the first year or two because the hair is becoming matted. Healthy dreads should be a little bit thicker than when you started them once they're fully mature.
Thinning dreads can be a result of many different factors such as health challenges, medications, hormonal changes, stress, excessive hair products, tension, chemical hair coloring, dryness/dehydration, over manipulation or neglect.
If you're constantly pulling your locs into the same style or using hair accessories that are too tight these are quick ways to damage your hair follicles and cause thinning. Also, excessive tension at the roots, especially with interlocking maintenance that's performed too frequently, will also cause thinning locs.
"In the final stage, your locs will hang differently. They feel heavier and at the same time more slender." This will be around 18 to 21 months. At this point, you'll be able to wear your locs well past your waist or trim them if you want a more manageable style.
That being said, a typical retwist should/could last anywhere from 4-6 weeks. But again, it will depend on how you take care of your locs. Your retwist can last longer, it can even last for months, if you make all the right moves to make your retwist last longer.
You'll know your locks have left the budding stage once they begin to swell, and maintain their shape on their own while looking more cohesive in texture. Teenage locs may seem to stand on end all over your head and go in whatever direction they want as the matted hair thickens and becomes taught at the root.
Give Your Locs a Break
They shampoo and groom their locs, including palm rolling or interlocking far too often, resulting in tighter, slimmer locs. If you want to grow thicker locs, you'll have to groom them far less frequently. Your locs don't need to be retwisted any more often than every six weeks (at least).
Your Parts and Size Matters
Before starting your Locs, you want to choose your parting pattern and the size you want. This will be the last time parting your hair, therefore, it's important to choose a pattern that looks best for your texture.
Starting at $100 - $150 (price varies due to length of time between retwist), includes shampoo. Starting at $180, price varies, includes shampoo. Interlocks are started and maintained with a tool.
In some cases, they can even cause receding hairlines, hair loss and even baldness. If your braids and dreads start to recede, appear thin, or shed in large amounts, you may be suffering from what's known as Traction Alopecia.
But it is true— loc shrinkage, or dread shrinkage, is normal and to be expected during the beginning stages of the hair locking process. Your starter locs shrinkage will make it look like your locs are not growing.
One of the drawbacks of getting the interlocks is that it results in a bit thinner dreads than other types of dreadlocks. The reason is that this process uses a specific tool for creating the locks, which results in thin locks. But, you can change your locks type at any stage of your loc journey.
Apply a small amount of wax once a month to help set your locs. While dread wax can help to smooth out and set your dreads, it can also make them greasy and loose. Only use wax once a month before you palm roll (or after you backcomb) to speed up the interlocking process.
To maintain a healthy scalp and odor-free dreadlocks, you should wash your dreads at least once a week using a residue-free dreadlock shampoo.