Sometimes dreadlocks are contrary things and they develop weak spots, where the hair thins, to annoy you. I had one such spot, fortunately near the end of a dread, that was defying my best efforts to correct. It was getting to the point of trimming the offending dread when a solution occurred to me.
If you haven’t heard of needle felting, it’s one of those fad crafts that come and go in waves. It’s based on the process used to make industrial felt. A lot of synthetics aren’t that keen on being felted, so barbed needles are punched through, dragging the fibres into an interlocked fabric. Needle felting is the same thing on a smaller scale and is useful if you need to sculpt fibre and felt. I don’t, so had no real interest in it, until it occurred to me that it may be a viable way to repair my dread.
I grabbed a friend who is into needle felting, stuck my head on the table and let her rip. She folded the damaged section of dreadlock onto itself and needle felted the join. It only took a couple of minutes and worked like a charm. The repaired section is indistinguishable.
I wouldn’t recommend it for weak spots closer to your scalp, but it is a useful technique for combating otherwise difficult to repair ends.
Dreadlock Repair
By Red Wolf
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faebellamum
20 June 2004 at 11.33 pm
thanks for this . I was searching for more needles as i broke one felting a bear . I now know more uses for my needles 🙂
Torey
27 June 2004 at 10.28 am
I am a natural hairstylist or loctician if you will who’s looking for various ways to repair weak dred locks. So far the only solution that I have is to wrap the weak area with 100% afo kinky human hair. This technique is similarly used for loc extensions. I’m reading the information that you have on your web site which sounds similar to the way I repair locs instead I use a transparent thread fiber kind of like fish hook wire. I’m just trying to picture your technique, well not the technique, but the materials used “felt” do u have pictures of this technique. Sorry… I am a visual learner
Torey
27 June 2004 at 10.34 am
P.S.WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THE FELT MATERIAL AND BARBED NEEDLE
sbszine
28 June 2004 at 11.13 am
Here you go: Felting Needles & Directions help you begin Needle Felting
Note that this was the fourth result on Google…
Red Wolf
28 June 2004 at 2.14 pm
The felting needles have a triangular profile with slight notches or barbs along each of the three edges. The notches are enough to drag fibres through and interlock to form felt, but aren’t that abrasive when handled. The tips, however, are extremely sharp, so watch your fingers. They are not a modified hobby tool, but are created for commercial use, which explains their weird size and shape.
Most natural fibres, including human hair, will felt given the right encouragement, some more readily than others. Felting needles are used in large machines to produce felt from synthetic fibre than doesn’t felt naturally.
To repair the thinned area of dreadlock I needed a damaged dreadlock, a felting needle (one of the heftier gauges) and a 2″ inch thick scrap of dense foam rubber.
No felt, fibre or other hair was added.
The section of thinned dreadlock was folded on itself, to approximate the thickness of its undamaged parts, making sure there was some overlap with the undamaged section of dread. This folded section was held carefully on the foam with one hand, while the other hand used the felting needle to repeatedly punch through the folded section and into the foam below. Rotate the folded dread and make sure it has been needle punched all around.
It doesn’t take long, not more than a few minutes, just stop and check your progress frequently.
The barbs on the needle catch the strands of hair and force them through the folded section, effectively binding it in place. You can then handroll the repaired area and apply dread wax to lock it in.
I’ve only used this on ends of dreads. I don’t know how lasting it would be in the middle or at the base of a long dread where the repair would have to cope with more weight and tension. I’d also avoid working on the base of a dreadlock, but if you can get someone to comfortably lie in the required position and your hands and their scalp is safe from the needle, it’s your call.
For more information about felting needles and where to get them: Felting Needles and their Uses.
There are several links with photos of the needles and the work done with them.
I don’t have any photos, but I did find a site showing the basics, which is not that dissimilar to needle felting dreadlocks: Needle Felted Llamas — (How To).
A search on Google should turn up plenty of felting needle suppliers, but give your local craft store or guild a call.
Good luck with it. I’d appreciate it if you let me know how you go with it
Kyle
18 August 2004 at 8.16 am
I have a huge birdsnest of hair coming from the back of my head which has developed from neglectful dreadlock formation. Is there any way to fix this up?
Red Wolf
18 August 2004 at 10.41 am
You could try physically tearing the dreads apart and then dread waxing the separated dreads, but it may well be time for a trip to a specialist for advice and repair
kervig
18 September 2004 at 9.21 am
I would like to know how much it would cost someone to fix their dread lock?
Sosie
31 October 2004 at 12.23 pm
Just wanna know where can i get the wax used to make dreadies for the wax method from?? If you know of any suppliers, not for rolling..
Red Wolf
1 November 2004 at 11.34 am
Knotty Boy have the best dread wax I’ve found so far.
They also have a helpful how to page and some great starter kits
kimba
24 February 2005 at 12.09 am
make your own dread wax with beeswax, hemp oil and whatever essential oils you want. (sandalwood, eucalyptus, tea tree and lemon myrtle smell like the aussie bush mmm).
Melt the beeswax in a double saucepan (very important because beeswax can catch alight if it gets too hot) and add the hemp oil. Test the consistency by dipping the end of a spoon into the blend and letting it cool on the end, it should set hard but be easy to work through your hair and more waxy than oily.
It shouldn’t be slippery/oily like lipbalm which has similar ingredients.
Take it off the heat and stir in the essential oils as it sets.
sarah
2 April 2005 at 6.23 pm
wow, not only am I a felter but I also am just hatching dreds they are 3 months old now and are maturing well. great advise. thanks
Cammy
7 April 2005 at 6.28 am
what exactly does a felting needle look like? and its there a step by step instruction for locing the new growth
jayne hodgkins
21 April 2005 at 2.28 pm
i have little bubbles in my dreadlocks can you help
Red Wolf
21 April 2005 at 3.00 pm
I’m guessing you mean the little loops of hair that sometimes poke out.
You could try needle felting them down, then hitting the repair with the dread wax
Brian
7 June 2005 at 4.41 pm
The best, is not wax….the best is like wot everyone had said…Crotchet needle//u could get them anywhere, expecially in fabric outlets….plus tighten ur roots evertime u wash them…2-3 days..by putting them through its root and pulling out..that way ur new roots will form into the logs easily..dreads are no more about time, its about how you prepare them.
colm
7 July 2005 at 6.51 am
i got my dreads done two months ago. they are shoulder length. i knew little about how they should be done and with the passing of time i have realised that i got them too thin to start off with and just because the locktician was nigerian does not necissarily mean she knew what she was doing. to make them thicker i intertwined one lock with the nearest one to it and once the beeswax dries out im left with visable loops that havent stuck. can i start over or what can i do to lock those motherfuckers up? i live in a small city where good dreadlock products are impossible to find pleas please help as i dont want to loose my dreads
Red Wolf
7 July 2005 at 8.22 am
Unfortunately, dread knowledge seems to be something learned by all of us after the fact.
Your dreads are still young and your twining process will be an ongoing thing. You could try wet fibre felting techniques to join them.
Plus, everyone gets loops at some point. needle felting may help on that score.
Your best bet is to ask around locally to find someone who does dreadlocks who has gotten a good rep and ask their advice.
Davinia
19 July 2005 at 8.07 pm
Does anybody know a salon/experienced person who can do dreads in Melbourne????? I prefer the backcomb to the perms!!
Frizz
7 August 2005 at 4.01 pm
All anyone ever needs to know can be discovered at the KnottyLocks forums. If it’s not there, ask! ::smile:: A big friendly family of locked up brothers and sisters of all colors and creeds, with all of the different types and ages of locks sharing wisdom with eachother. Whether you use a loctician, do them yourself, backcombed, had a dread-perm, or went natural, you are welcome there. We support each other through the journey of knotty bliss
Jeff
25 October 2005 at 10.19 pm
I have 4 months old 4 in. dreadlocks and they are rock hard in the body to the tips…. I’ve got rounded tips thanks to a friend who told me to sew up my tips…. i backcomb it really tight when i started, folded it over on itself and sewed sewed it tight with a thread the same color as my hair. the thread was then sucked up by my locks in a couple of weeks or so. But i haven’t used much of the dreadwax coz its so expensive. About making my own dreadwax, i do not have access to hemp seed oil. We’ve got lots of pure beeswax from wild bees since our area is so abundant of it. Any suggestions for an alternative to Hemp seed oil as an additive to the beeswax?
dHy
2 March 2006 at 2.19 pm
haw to make wax?it is easy or not?
lisa
15 April 2006 at 8.48 pm
i have african kinky hair and want to have dreadlocks, i prefer the backcombing method. do you know where i can find an experienced loctician in sydney or melbourne .
ane kruse
22 May 2006 at 9.31 am
Can i make some dreads on my own? What kind of equipment do I use, and how do I do it? ;s
natty
1 June 2006 at 12.17 pm
hi, jst came across ths site during a search for a “loctician”…
im not sure if im posting ths in an acceptable place, but i thought id give it a shot…(i appologize if ths is in the wrong spot!!)
iv had dreads for 3 yrs now, they’r about 1/3 dwn my back & r in despirate need of maintence!!! i hv ‘chronic pain’ & it’s become extremely painful for me to do much twisting, backcombing & the regular ‘maintence’ myself anymore… & i REALLY DO NOT want to cut them!! i knw i will regret it!!! …but they really look shabby, & i knw i need to find help.
i hv a lot of “loose” hairs which need “re-threading” & thgs need to be “tightened up”. they need a lotta work, for sure.
iv nvr had some1 work on my dreads, (aside from the friend who started them; who has since moved), it nvr occured to me. but it’s time to call in the professionals!!
i thought id post ths in hopes tht some1 might see ths, by chance, who knws some1 in the DC/Baltimore area w/ the patience, skill, & willingness to help?? (…of course id be GLAD to pay for their time & assistance!!!)
oh, jst in case ths makes a difference– iv only used bees wax, sea salt & castile soap since they were started, & my hair is naturally very straight, fine, & soft…
iv searched online w/o much luck, so im hoping some1 out there will see ths & hv some ideas for me & my quest!!! 🙂
hope to see a post in reply!!! thank u!!!
be peaceful, natty
sbszine
1 June 2006 at 12.51 pm
Lisa,
For dreads in Sydney try Afrique Ali in Newtown / Enmore. It’s in the phone book.
Red Wolf
1 June 2006 at 1.16 pm
Natty: Try a Google search for baltimore dreadlocks salon.
Several salons are on the first page, give them a call and have a chat.
natty
2 June 2006 at 6.37 am
thank u RW & Miss Lisa, for such fast replies!! 🙂
susan hardy
6 July 2006 at 9.31 pm
i dont know about felting so much but i use a crochet hook (0.85) and it is gold. use it to pull in loose hairs and bubbles and you can make tips on the end of your dreads as well that look really tight. also you can make them as tight as you want depending on how long you want to spend working on them. if your from brisbane i’d be happy to help i make dreads as well for a fair price. email me on tristessa_8@hotmail.com
Megsy
17 July 2006 at 5.30 pm
I have been felting my hair for the past 2 months to keep it kinda in check. I cant palmroll for the life of me. Is there any other way to palmroll easier?
megsy
17 July 2006 at 5.32 pm
does anyone know people who maintain dreads for free or really cheap but do an ok job…. salons charge $90-100 an hour….
Chris
7 August 2006 at 1.54 pm
I have naturally black hair, but with some dreads I bleached them. The bleached dreads felted easily and perfectly, however the normal hair was near impossible!
Does anyone know of places that do maintenance(crocheting) in Newcaslte (AUS), I’d like to avoid going to Sydney if possible.
Barbara Kepska
26 March 2007 at 6.53 am
I’m looking for someone who can repair my dreadlocks – it must be a really good job done with needlehook
Gene Bovill
14 April 2007 at 12.10 am
I’d be happy to lock up hair for $20 and hour, provided you’re close(ish) to Newcastle.
Sharay
27 April 2007 at 3.03 pm
This is my first visit to this site. Thanks for some tips. I am a Loctician in Charlotte,NC from VA. If anyone needs my help let me know.
Bevan Hirst
4 May 2007 at 10.21 am
Hey All
I was wondering where i could get some good dread wax from? I live in metro melbourne. Do you guys know of any cool places?
Peace
Kathy
14 May 2007 at 8.51 am
You can get Dread Wax from http://www.dreadlocks.com.au I recommend the dreadhead brand because I think it has a better hold than the knottyboy brand
Steve Zekic
26 May 2007 at 11.17 am
This is my first post, so i hope its cool. I recently got dreads the perming way, and its a not the best job. Its totally coming undone and i’m in need of deaperate help. please email me if your in the blue mountains or near sydney and would like to fix em for me. jafforated@yahoo.com.au
Marsha Presberry-Parker
17 July 2007 at 6.02 pm
Does anyone know of any good locticians in the Stockton-Modesto, CA area?
Liane
1 September 2007 at 10.09 pm
Hey! Ive had my dreds for 11months now and they’e had very little maintenance! I was wondering if anyone knew of a place or person that wud b able 2 help me out in Melbounre?
bruno
15 October 2007 at 8.38 pm
hi guys and gals, i have found a salon in melbourne who charges $70.00 per hour, and sells dread head products salon name is http://www.dare2.com.au