Dreadlocks are so mainstream that style and fashion blogs are now breathlessly critiquing them whenever celebrities wear them.
A recent style blog recently declared that there are three main dreadlocks styles. The blog declared that the three main styles of dreadlocks included the "Sister," "Traditional," and the "Freeform."
Sister dreadlocks are the nickname for very thin or thin and twisty faux dreadlocks. Traditional dreadlocks are self-explanatory. And Freeform dreadlocks are dreadlocks that are naturally formed with minimal hair manipulation or twisting.
It is a wonder that dreadlocks, named such with "dread" in the name, are so popular. Dreadlocks as a hairstyle are over 4,500 years old. So, it is improbable that there are only three kinds of dreadlocks.
One trendy way of rocking dreadlocks is to curl them. In the same manner that one can curl straight hair, you can curl dreadlocks. (Someone should inform the celebrity style blogs.)
Here are five popular curly dreadlock styles.
Take care of your dreadlocks in the natural, vegan, and organic way. Check out Lion Locs today.
Related: 12 Celebrities with Locs
5 Popular Curly Dreadlock Styles
You don't just have to curl your dreadlocks and leave them at that. There are many ways that you style curly dreadlocks.
The Loc’ed Out Leia
Even if you are not a sci-fi film fanatic, you have heard of the Princess Leia hairdo. It is basically two hair buns placed diametrically on both sides of the head behind the ears.
Just do the same thing with your curly dreadlocks. And curly dreadlocks inject this very dated style with an infusion of cool.
Curly dreadlocks wrapped in buns in the place of straight hair will grab a lot of attention.
Leave multiple dreadlock strands to lay from your head to add some more coiffed dynamism to this style.
The Curly Beehive
The late Amy Winestreet brought back the retro cool of the beehive as her signature hairstyle. And while you don't have to make this hairstyle your signature look, you can use it as a style inspiration.
Strategically wrap your curly dreadlocks into a beehive. Make sure to arrange for your curly dreadlock ends to fall away from the main wrapped beehive for a majestic crown-like finish.
Twisty Curly Pineapple
Instead of a beehive, you can wrap your curly dreadlocks into a more haphazard but compact pineapple shape hairdo.
Arrange your curly dreadlocks to be messily placed but aesthetically eye-catching with its curliness. This hairstyle has less style structure but heaps of style cool.
Curly Knots
Tie your curly dreadlocks into three, four, or five tightly compact knots on your scalp. The result will look like several tree-like dreadlock stumps on top of your scalp, aesthetically enhanced by the curliness.
This style of dreadlock or braid wrapping is also known as the Bantu Knot as well.
Micro Wavy Curls
If you have thin dreadlocks, you can tightly wrap them on rollers to achieve Shirley Temple-style curls with thin dreadlocks.
And now that we have discussed a few curly dreadlock styles let's discuss how to create curls.
How to Curl Dreadlocks
In the same manner, straight hair can be made curly with rollers. You need to use the same method when curling dreadlocks.
The type and variety of curls that you can accomplish with dreadlocks depend on your dreadlocks' shape, width, thickness, and length. For example, if you have very thick congo locs, making them curly would probably not be easy or feasible.
Your dreadlocks should be thin or of medium width for maximum aesthetic effect. The thicker your dreadlocks are width-wise, the harder it will be to curl.
And your dreadlocks should be at least three inches in length to show off any kind of appreciable curl.
Satin or Silk Sponge Rollers
To start the dreadlock curling process, you need to get hair rollers. Get sponge rollers that are covered in silk or satin. Don't wrap your dreadlocks in bare sponge hair rollers. Your dreadlocks could become stuck or entangled in the sponge material, which could rip or frizz your entangled dreadlock follicles.
And silk or satin-covered sponge rollers are optimal for use on thin and long dreadlocks.
Buy sets of large and thick hair rollers and thin ones.
Use the thin hair rollers to create small and tight curls.
And use the large, thick hair rollers to make wavier, looser, and wider curls.
Or use both to mix and match tight and wider dreadlock curls.
Try to get hair rollers that can accommodate rolling your dreadlocks all the way up to the scalp. Otherwise, you can roll your dreadlocks halfway or a third of the way to your scalp.
But before you begin rolling your dreadlocks, start by damping your hair.
Dampen Dreadlocks
The best time to curl your dreadlocks would be after washing them. Dry your dreadlocks thoroughly but leave them mildly damp. Just make sure that they are mildly damp, not soaking wet.
Then, apply a water-based and organic hair-setting cream or lotion on your dreadlocks. Apply the hair setting lotion on each dreadlock liberally from the end to the scalp. Doing this before rolling your dreadlocks will help each loc retain and set the curl formed in the hair rollers.
You don't need to saturate the setting lotion deep into the interior of the dreadlock. Just make sure it coats the exterior of the loc.
Roll Your Dreadlocks
How you roll your dreadlocks will determine the style of curls your locs will aesthetically manifest. Tight curls rolled tightly like the thread on a sewing bundle will result in thin curls.
Or you can loosely wrap the dreadlocks on the rollers with spacing on the roller to develop wide and wavy curls.
Experiment with different styles of rolling your dreadlocks.
You may need to clasp the hair roller shut with a hairpin if you have very long or medium-width-sized dreadlocks.
The hair rollers should roll up to your scalp unless your preference is for varying lengths of your dreadlocks to curl.
Dry Your Dreadlocks
You have to sleep with a silk or satin cap, so you want to make sure that your dreadlocks are dry before you go to sleep. Sleeping with damp dreadlocks will result in dread rot and pungent, unpleasant smells emanating your dreads.
Let your dreadlocks air dry or dry them with a hairdryer on a low setting.
Sleep with a hair cap overnight.
Remove the cap and the rollers in the morning, and you should have noticeable dreadlock curls. The curls won't last long, so you will have to repeat this process as needed.
If you don't want to bother with hair rollers, you can get curly dreadlocks by simply braiding your dreadlocks.
Dreadlock Braid Curls
You can curl your hair without hair rollers. You will just use strategic braiding in place of hair rollers to create the curls.
Try starting this process in the late afternoon so your hair will dry before bedtime.
Start by prepping your dreadlocks in the same way that you prepped with hair rollers. Wash your dreadlocks entirely, and then dry them.
The hair can be mildly damp but not soaking wet.
Liberally apply an organic and water-based hair setting lotion or cream to the exterior of your dreadlocks.
You will take three dreadlocks at a time and braid them tightly but not tight enough to hurt the scalp.
You could partition your dreadlocks into four even space quadrants to make the job easier. Then you can braid locs in each quadrant in a more organized process.
Secure each braid securely at the end with a hair tie.
Go to sleep with a hair cap. Then, unbraid your locs in the morning and check out your curls.
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