Maintenance
Price: $80/hour
Parial Set:
- Roots Only: 15-45 minutes
- Roots and Body: 30 minutes-1.5 hours
Full Set:
- Roots Only: 1-1.5 hours
- Roots and Body: 1.5-3 hours
As dreadlocks grow out, the roots will become loose and sometimes lumpy. Loose hairs will escape from the root and body of the dreads, and they may begin to grow together at the roots. Lumps and bumps, also known as “blowouts,” can form on the body of the dreads. These are all a normal part of the maturing process, but some can lead to more permanent issues if not taken care of in the beginning stages of locking. Maintenance is the remedy for all of these issues.
Maintenance is done by separating dreads that are growing together at the roots, tightening up the new growth while pulling in any loose hairs that have worked themselves free of the dread, and pulling any blowouts back into the body of the dread. This is done by crocheting knots into the loose hair with the use of a very small crochet hook.
Maintenance should be done regularly in the beginning stages of having dreadlocks(we recommend every 6 weeks for most clients), can be done less frequently once dreads start to “mature”(every 8 weeks), and finally, can be done on an as-needed basis on mature dreadlocks. Once dreadlocks have matured, the bodies of the dreads should not need much maintenance, so the focus will be on the roots mainly. We recommend continuing a regular maintenance routine for the life of your dreadlocks. This will ensure knots begin as close to the scalp as possible which keeps them from flattening and looking sparse.
FAQ:
Is crochet-method maintenance damaging to hair?
When done correctly, no. It’s important to find a skilled loctician to take care of your dreadlocks, as a crochet-hook in inexperienced hands can do more harm than good. Even some experienced locticians may use a specific style of the crochet-method where the crochet hook is pulled into the dreadlock, which is likely to cause breakage and can irreversibly damage dreadlocks over time. Always ask questions of your loctician to make sure that they use a gentle method for maintenance.
Will my dreads always need maintenance?
In short, yes. As long as your hair continues to grow, the roots will continue loosening and new growth with need to be pulled into the dread. Once your dreadlocks are mature, the bodies of your dreads will remain mostly unchanged. As long as you keep your dreads separated at the roots, you can get by without maintenance. But without maintenance, your dreads will always be loose at the roots with long strands of loose hair in-between.
How often should I get maintenance?
The best maintenance routine will be prescribed to suit your specific hair needs. Clients with shorter dreads that tend to get messier might need maintenance every 4 weeks at first. Most clients should plan on coming every 6 weeks until their dreads begin to mature. After your first appointment, we can recommend a schedule to keep your dreads looking their best.
How long does maintenance take?
Maintenance varies based on many factors, like the number of dreads you have, how mature they are, how long it’s been since your last maintenance, how long your dreads are, how thick your hair is, etc. With that being said, most clients can expect maintenance to take 1-1.5 hours. We do text consultations by an experienced loctician to try and get an accurate estimate before all new-client appointments.