However, when dreads mature throughout the stages, they will get thinner and thicker at different points. In addition, the length and thickness will fluctuate during the first couple of years as your hair becomes matted. Healthy dreadlocks are typically a little thicker when they mature than when you started them.
3. 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.
If your locs are thinning towards the middle, or end of the loc and you absolutely do not want to trim those beautiful locs, we suggest tying a tight knot over the thinning end. Then palm roll the knot carefully and gently until the loc appears homogeneous enough to your taste.
Contrary to “horror stories” you may hear about thinning locs— locs do not cause your hair to thin. In fact, well maintained locs actually promote hair growth and length retention.
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.
Your hair will also get thicker and heavier as the dreads mature. There are some cases where people's dreads get so thick that their thin roots could no longer hold the added weight, leading to breaking off.
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).
Classic dreadlocks are usually 1,2 - 1.5 cm thick.
The two make a huge difference in appearance, maintenance, and hairstyles. Thick locs are easy to retwist and take less time than thin locks, which take hours. Likewise, thick dreadlocks take long drying after a head wash. Both locks require enough hair care routine while sleeping, washing, and styling.
Well, not retwisting your locs can actually cause thinning if your hair texture and hair health cannot withstand the process. In fact, it is a common misconception—one that I've subjected myself to in the past— that not retwisting creates thicker locs.
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.
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.
The locs process is one that takes patience and maintenance as it takes time to go from the baby stage to the adult stage (approximately 21 months plus in total), but don't let this put you off. Locs are beautiful and worthwhile!
Depending on your hair texture, locs can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to fully mature.
Some refer to this phase as the locking stage, while others see it as the ugly phase, but it all depends on how you look at it. It is the exciting time when the buds and sprouts truly begin to look like locs as they have swelled up to almost twice their original size.
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.
Once your locs are mature, we recommend you deep condition every 1-2 weeks to keep your locs healthy, strong, and moisturized. NaturAll's Fresh Frozé Treatment Deep Conditioners not only keep your locs moisturized, but consistent use will keep your locs strong, healthy, and vibrant.
Frizz is an inevitable part of the loc journey and process. Frizz is a sign that your hair is growing and maturing in a healthy manner. Your frizz is needed to continue to form the loc as the hair begins to take the shape, form and mat itself together.
Do Dreadlocks Ruin Your Hair? All in all, dreadlocks, like all protective styles, help protect your hair from environmental stressors. The only way locs styles will ruin hair, is if you don't dry them properly or retwist them too often.
Locs promote great hair growth with minimal shedding.
Because your hair is in a permanent protective style—and you won't have to manipulate your hair often—there is much less wear and tear on your strands. Your hair is free to simply grow and thrive.
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.
How often to interlock your locs depends on how active you are and how fast your hair grows. But every six weeks to 3 months is a good guide. Here are a few things you can do to keep your locs neat and extend the time between interlockings: If you can, limit activities that cause you to sweat in your scalp.
With too much retwisting / palm-rolling you can drastically thin out your locs or even trigger baldness in an attempt to “keep your locs neat”. Unraveling. Often times with DIY Loc Maintenance, not protecting your hair at home, or while working out can cause your locs to unravel at the roots.