Hair type is an important factor when choosing dreadlocks.
When it comes to synthetic dreadlocks, hair density affects the amount of dreadlocks to braid: a hairstyle with more volume is not suitable for thin and sparse hair, because the relatively large weight of dreadlocks can have a traumatic effect on the scalp and hair.
For thick hair, on the contrary, you need to braid in more dreadlocks so that the braided hair would look neat and not too heavy. Thus, as a rule, it amounts to 50-55 dreads for medium thickness hair, 45-50 dreads for thin hair, and 55-60 dreads for thick hair.
Deciding on the thickness and the number of natural dreadlocks can be a bit trickier. You can easily make any number of natural dreadlocks with medium-thick to thick hair, and your decision will only affect the time of making them: making thick dreadlocks is more time-consuming than making medium-thick ones, and thin ones will take more time only because of their total number. In the case of more sparse and thin hair, you will have to choose between quantity and thickness. The thinner the dreadlocks, the more you get, and the thicker the hairstyle will look than if you make thicker dreadlocks.
You might also need to extend your natural dreadlocks if the length of your hair doesn’t match the desired length of the hairstyle. Natural dreadlocks can be extended with both synthetic material and natural hair, depending on the desired result and budget.
As for choosing between natural and synthetic dreadlocks, you can think about:
- Hair length: synthetic dreadlocks can be braided into your hair if it is 7 cm long or more, natural – starting from 10-15 cm.
- Hair quality and density: for more damaged, thin hair, it would be more appropriate to braid in temporary dreadlocks first, to see the reaction of hair and scalp to the procedure.
If you have trouble deciding on the thickness and type of dreadlocks yourself, you can always consult with a stylist. You will certainly be advised on what is the most correct and safest way for your hair and scalp.
