Show off your dreads with a fresh and new style. Pull locks back in a bun or chignon, or set on curlers for a great summer look.
Dreadlocks can be difficult to manage any time of the year (especially when they are young), but they are even more troublesome in the summer. In the summer heat, dreads can feel somewhat heavy and uncomfortable. On really hot days one can be tempted to grab the shears and just go bald.
A man with dreads can pull his hair back and go on. He can wear this same hairdo to a summer wedding, outdoor concert or even to the beach. But what's a girl with dreads to do?
Sophisticated Hairdos
With just a little creativity, the summer can be a great opportunity to show off your dreads. Buns, french rolls and chignons are both beautiful and cool in the summer heat. For a different look, tie your hair into a high ponytail. It's pretty simple. Bend your head down and tie your hair up with your own hair. Simply put, while bent over, grab three or four locks from each side of your head. Now bring these over your hair and then under (or back) again and tie together to form a ponytail. Finish off this look with a flower(s) in your hair for an exotic touch.
Curling Your Dreads
For the really special occasion, why not set your dreads on rollers? It may seem complicated, but it's very easy to curl your dreads. To set your dreads, you'll first need spiral curlers. The curlers come in small, medium and large sizes. If you have very thick or long dreads, you'll want to use medium or large curlers; thin or short dreads should be set on medium curlers.
First, give your dreads a good wash. Dry with a hair towel, or allow to air dry until the hair is damp, but no longer wet. Soak hair with a non-drying, non-alcohol based styling foam or setting lotion. Begin rolling your dreads at their immediate tip or bottom. If you don't go all the way to the bottom, you'll get an incomplete curl. Depending upon the thickness of each lock, you'll want to roll anywhere from three to six locks on one curler. Be sure to roll your hair in one direction (i.e. under or to the back).
Sit under a hair dryer (this is more efficient), dry with a blow dryer or allow it to dry naturally. Dreads on rollers can take quite a while to dry, so be patient. Your hair should be almost completely dry before removing your curlers. You can test the status of the drying process by taking down one curler every half-hour or so to see if the hair is dry.
Allow your curled dreads to hang naturally, or pull them back with a lovely scarf or decorative head band. For a different look, pull the curly hair up in a pony tail while allowing some locks to fall on the face. This style would be very attractive with an off-the-shoulder summer dress.
Now don't wait until the day of the wedding to curl your dreads for the first time. Be sure to give it a test run weeks prior to the event. This way you'll know how tight or how loose you'll want the curls. If your curls are too tight, go with a larger roller. If they're too loose, try a smaller roller or put fewer locks on one roller.
When shopping for your summer wardrobe, be sure to pick up some great hair accessories like beaded hair sticks, trendy headbands and ornamented hair pins.
