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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
As long as there are enough hairs per square inch on your scalp to make a bundle of hair as big around as a pencil or so you should have plenty of hair density to make dreads. The dreads will generally phatten up a bit as they mature so you'll gain some thickness/fullness in the first 3/4 months.
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!
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.
You know you've reached the mature stage (about 15 to 18 months) when your locs are finally long enough to lie flat or hang down. Faulk asserts that "maturing occurs when your locs are firm and there's no more reforming," so you won't have to re-twist your new growth as often during this period.
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.
Helps with Hair Growth- Brushing your locs stimulates the hair follicles just like a hands-on scalp massage would. This stimulation causes more blood to flow to the scalp, delivering tons of oxygen and nutrients to your follicles for quicker growth.
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.
Hair loss or thinning due to tension is commonly known as traction alopecia and it can definitely happen with locs. 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.
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.
When Do Locs Start To Thicken Up? Your locs will really start to thicken up when you get to the mature stages which is anywhere between 15-18 months roughly. At this phase, if your hair was quite thin or sparse you will notice a considerable difference in the thickness of your hair.
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.
Phase 2: Swelling, Thickening or Expansion
Interlocked micro locs (such as Sisterlocks, Nappylocs etc) will double in size. Remember, the loc was originally several times smaller than the parted square at the base of the loc.
With care and an avoidance of harmful practices, your locs could potentially grow up to six inches in one year. That's significant! And because mature dreadlocks hang straight down, your locs aren't likely to suffer from the shrinkage that most afro-textured hair does.