Dread perming

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Dread perming is a chemical treatment that is used by beauty salons to create or maintain dreadlocks. The hair is exposed to chemicals that render the hair frizzy. The frizzy hair is bound together and treated again to form the dreadlocks.

It is entirely possible to perform no maintenance at all on dreadlocks created with a dread perm for periods of a year or longer. Dread perms usually cost in the range of $300-400, and although pricey, often prove to be the easiest and most professional way of creating dreadlocks. The process can take upwards of six hours to complete, with maintenance appointments being around two hours long and pricey at upwards of $200. The process works especially well on hair that will not naturally dread, especially caucasian hair. This method requires no use of waxes or palm rolling the hair. A regular six month appointment is all the maintenance required, although tightening sprays are beneficial in the meantime.

The dread perming technique begins with at least 6 inches of hair. The hair is then separated into appropriately sized dreadlock sections. Each individual section is then backcombed, or teased, to knot the hair and create a loose dreadlock form. After each section resembles a loose dreadlock, the sections are then rolled onto curlers, to help ensure even distribution of the perming chemicals.

Once the chemicals are applied to the hair, each strand of hair begins to swell. This swelling causes the hair to forget its' original form. The hair then begins to shrink back to its' normal size, permanently taking on the shape the hair is currently in.

Dreadlocks created with a dread perm at first look somewhat silly and extremely curly, due to the hair being put into curlers while permed. However, a natural look begins to occur a few months later when the hair loosens somewhat. Within the timespan of about a year, dread-permed dreadlocks will look nearly indistinguishable from naturally grown dreadlocks.