Squeak Machine

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Caring for Dread Extensions by Squeak

If I had to think of one thing that I get asked about more than anything else, it has got to be my hair!

People love it, study it, and are completely confused by it all the time. From what I can tell, I think there are a lot more people out there who would get dread extensions if they only knew how to take care of them. Now, if you have no idea what dread extensions are then you may want to read up about them in the "Intro to Dread Extensions" essay on this page. If you already have some idea what I'm talking about or have already gotten some braided in and now have no clue how to take care of them, read on!

Washing

Can you wash them? Absolutely. Whether you actually need to wash them is quite another thing! I wash mine at least once or twice each month. Some people I know never wash their dreads and they don't seem to have any problem as far as odor or cleanliness goes. Others wash them fairly regularly. It all just has to do with your own comfort, how oily your scalp gets, and how dirty your dreads get over time. If you have light colored dreads, you may find that you have to wash them more frequently. Smoke, dust, dirt, and grime can make blonde and light colored dreads look very dingy and they need a bit more care than the darker colors.

Can I Re-use Them?

Yup! You certainly can! I get about three or four good wears out of my double enders before I throw them out. Once you remove them from your head, throw them in a laundry bag (a pillow case that zips up works well too), and toss them in a washing machine set on cold. Don't be afraid to use plenty of detergent! Laundry detergent does not harm kanekalon or yaki hair...in fact; it is one of the only things that really cleans it. Once you take them out of the washing machine, drape them over your shower rod or a laundry line to dry. Don't leave them in the bag or heaped into a pile, they will dry all funky looking and it will be hard to make them straight again. Once they are dry, store them till you need them, or braid them back in.

Storing Dread Extensions

If you don't plan on using them for awhile then you may have to store them away for quite some time. Dread extensions are expensive and you don't want to just shove them into your closet or kick them under your bed. If they sit in an odd position for too long, they may actually stay like that and you won't be able to get them to lie down straight anymore! The two best ways to store them are by either laying them out nicely in a tupperware container or by hanging them.

Touching Up Roots

If you keep your dreads in for longer than a few weeks, you may need to touch up your roots. This is generally no problem at all.Hair dye...even bleach...does not affect the synthetic hair used to make dreads. Meaning, you can slather it all over your scalp without worrying about it touching the dreads. Simply follow my Washing Dread Extensions guide. Once you get to step 13, put your hair dye in. Wait for the amount of time it says on the box and continue on with step 14 and rinse it out. Now how easy is that?

Sleeping

It can take awhile to get used to sleeping with 50+ dreads tied into your hair! If you have just gotten them braided in, you will find it very uncomfortable and even a bit painful to lay your head down. This is normal and it will pass quickly. Usually after about three days or so you should be feeling much better and able to sleep through the night with no problem. But even after your dreads grow out and relax a bit, it can still be annoying to sleep with them in. If you are having a lot of trouble keeping them out of your face, try tying them back in a loose ponytail (a shoe lace works well for this!) or wrapping a scarf or bandana around your head.

Re-braiding

As your real hair grows out, your extensions may become very loose. Hair does not grow out evenly; some areas of your head may still have fairly tight extensions, while others are incredibly loose. When this happens, I usually take out and re-braid the loosest ones of the bunch. That will usually keep me going for at least another two or three weeks before I have to take them all out and rebraid. I can't really give you a specific length of time to keep them in or take them out. Everyone is different, some people's hair grows faster than others. But you will know when it is time to rebraid them; your real hair will grow out, creating a lot of space between your scalp and the dreads. If there is enough room for you to pinch the hair between your scalp and the dread, then you should probably have them taken out and rebraided. Don't let your real hair grow for too long without rebraiding or you will find that your real hair will start to dread and become difficult to brush out!

Fake Hair Faux Pas by Squeak

If you have fake hair, the only one that should know it...is YOU.

Okay, and maybe your stylist as well, but she's not telling. My point is, you should always do whatever you can to fool, confuse, and baffle everyone around into thinking that; "Hmmm....maybe it is real." If nothing else, the majority of people you meet or pass by in the streets should not be able to take one quick glance at your hair and figure out how it was done. Unless they are experienced professionals (or avid fans of this site!) they shouldn't be able to discern what is your real hair and what is extensions. However, there are some common blunders that I see committed by fake hair wearers that completely give away their facade. So without further delay, I give you.... The Fake Hair Faux Pas.

Dread Falls

By far the most fake hair faux pas are committed by dread fall wearers. You know you don't have dread extensions, no one else should. To keep up the pretense that your dreads are real or attached, keep these rules in mind:

Cover Your Real Hair- Be sure your falls are as thick and full as possible to help cover up your real hair. Nothing gives dread falls away as much as being able to clearly see smooth, dark hair pulled up into light, textured dreads. Use bandanas, headbands, or cleverly arranged dreads to cover up as much of your real hair as possible. Be sure to check the back using a hand mirror! So many girls I've seen cover up the front well and completely forget about how the back looks.
Stick With Your Hair Color- Blonde dread falls with black hair?? I don't think so. No matter how full your dreads are or how many headbands you pile on, people will still be able to see glimpses of your hair color underneath. If it is the same color as the dreads, it will blend in well enough that it won't matter if people can see it. If you want to throw in some unusual colors, it is okay to mix them in there...as long as the base color matches your own. If you are dead set on doing falls that are a completely different color than your real hair, I recommend using the Partial Pretend Extension Deception found in the "Making Dread Falls Look Natural" essay on this page. That way, it will help to blend your real hair into the other colors a bit more.
Bobby Pins Are Your New Best Friend- Even if you get all your dreads placed just right so they are covering up your buns and scalp, there is no guarantee they are going to stay that way. A few hours of dancing, playing around with your friends, or even a nice breeze can move them enough so that the buns show through. Make sure you secure enough of the dreads in place over and around your buns so that you won't have to worry about them peeking through. Bobby pins are the best tool for the job. Buy them, know them, use them!
Wash Them!- They aren't attached to your hair 24/7 but that doesn't mean they don't get dirty. Smoke, rain, sweat, dust, and other random foolishness can all take up residence in your falls. If they start looking a bit dingy or have a slight odor to them, wash them! It is easy to do; simply throw them in a laundry bag or pillow case that zips and stick them in the washing machine. Wash in cold water with detergent on a gentle cycle. Hang them up to dry and they're nice and clean for the next time you wear them.
Put Them On, Keep Them On- If you decide to wear your dread falls out to a club or out on the town, be sure your are comfortable wearing them the entire time. Do not rip them off half way through the night and keep partying like it is nothing. People notice, trust me. If your falls really become unbearable...go someplace private and see if re-installing them helps at all....if not, just call it a night! Just please, don't take them off, throw them in the car, and come right back in. It not only spoils the illusion for yourself, but also any other fake hair wearers that happen to be around.

Dread Extensions

Just because they are actually attached to your hair, doesn't mean you are incapable of committing a fake hair faux pas.

Keep Some Hair Out- If you don't plan on tightening your extensions often or keeping up with your roots then let some of your real hair out in the front. If your braid all the way up to your hairline, you may have trouble getting the dreads to lay nice or you may find that you have to constantly rebraid them to make them look neat. The best way to soften the look of dreads and camouflage the braids is to let a few inches of hair out in the front. Girls with bangs needn't worry, as we automatically leave our bangs out when we get extensions put in. But even if you don't have bangs, consider leaving a bit of your hair in the front alone so you can sweep it over to the side or style it to help cover the hairline a bit better.
Keep 'Em Clean- If you notice your dreads have an odor or look dingy, wash them! Some people get by without washing them or only have to do it a few times a month. But if your hair is oily or you do a lot of activities that cause you to sweat, you may not be able to get by without washing them a few times...maybe even as often as once a week. So don't expect that having dread extensions means you won't have to wash your hair anymore. You won't have to wash it as often, but you still need to keep it clean!
Keep Up With Them- You chose to install them, now you have to be prepared to keep up with them. Don't braid in dread extensions and then let them go for months and months without a rebraid. The longer you wait between braidings, the more your real hair grows out. If you start to get some significant length between your scalp and the dread, you may find that your real hair will begin to knot and dread up. If this happens, it can take hours to brush it all out and you may end up damaging your real hair in the process. Aside from that, it looks sloppy and messy when you don't keep up with it. So if you are planning to braid in dreads, be prepared to rebraid them when they need it!
Give The Roots The Boot- Make sure you keep up with your roots when you have dread extensions. Dye them before they become too noticeable. The more they grow out, the easier it is for others to see where your real hair stops and the dreads begin. Not only that, but dark roots on light extensions give them a dirty, grungy appearance; definitely something you want to avoid no matter what kind of hair you have!

Wool Extensions

If you have wool extensions, you may not be too concerned with how "real" they look. That does not mean, however, that they should look bad!

Keep Them High and Dry- Always protect your wool extensions against the rain. Wool gets very smelly when it gets wet and also can shrink; tightening its grip on your real hair (making them very difficult to remove!). If you need to wash them or freshen them up, use a bit of dry shampoo or odor-killing spray.
Choose Your Colors Wisely- Be sure that your extensions are a good match to your real hair color. You are never going to get an exact match because the texture of hair and wool differ so much...but get it as close as you can. Make sure you get your hair the color you need it before braiding in the wool, as you won't be able to dye in once the extensions are in.
Use Wool Roving- Take the time to buy or make dreads out of wool roving. Many people just braid in pre-spun yarn but unless you are purposely going for the "rag doll" look, this is not going to give you the best results. Besides that, pre-spun yarn is much more time consuming to braid in and can unravel within a few days. So even if you have to order it online, invest in the proper wool roving!

Straight Hair Extensions

Whether it is clipped in, tied in, or glued in...be sure to follow a few simple rules...

Match It to Your Hair Color- Take the time and try out a few shops if you have to, but find a good match. Make sure you match it to the part of your hair that will be most visible...so if you are getting one of those clips that cover most of your hair, match the extensions to your roots! Check it in both indoor lighting and outdoor lighting if you can.
Spend The Cash- Don't go cheap with straight hair extensions...you always get what you pay for. Spend some decent money and get human hair or high quality synthetic hair. Make sure the clip or weave is sturdy and that you can't pull a lot of hair out of it.
Check Yourself- Once you have the extensions or fall installed, get out your hand mirror and check yourself from all angles. Make sure that you can't see the clip or the ends of the weave. Check to make sure it mixes in naturally with the rest of your hair. Shake your head a bit and make sure it all stays put.
Throw It Out- When it starts to get ratty and knotted, just throw it out! Don't waste time trying to style it to get it to look nice again. Even if you get it looking somewhat neat, a few hours of dancing and moving about is all it takes to get it looking messy again. So learn when to let go!

Intro to Dread Extensions by Squeak

One of the most popular forms of hair extensions in the subculture genre are Dread Extensions. Easier to install than straight weaves and straight extensions, they also have the benefit of lasting up to two months or more. With very little upkeep! Sooo....

What are dread extensions?

Many people are a little unsure as to how permanent dread extensions are and exactly how they are attached. No worries! I shall explain!Dread extensions are a semi-permanent way of adding dreads into your natural hair. They are more permanent than dread falls and less permanent than real dreadlocks (read more about this in the "Intro to Dread Falls" essay on this page). The extensions are pre-made into dread shape and then simply braided into your hair. Your real hair remains safely wrapped around the extensions, held in place by an elastic band or string.

Clearing up the misconceptions...

There are some terrible misconceptions floating around out there that need to be cleared up:

Dread extensions are dirty. Many people associate dreads with being unclean. This is a huge misconception, especially in the case of dread extensions. The individual dreads are made out of synthetic hair. Most types of synthetic hair (especially the cheap kind we use to make dreads) does not hold odor nor soak up oils and water. So they stay relatively clean even over long periods of time. If you do need to wash your scalp or your dreads, you can simply wash them like you would your regular hair.
Dread extensions do damage to your hair. Actually they do very little damage, if any. Compared to the constant exposure of the hair dryer, curling iron, or flat iron that many other people put their hair through, dreads are actually quite tame! Two months of wearing dread extensions equals approximately the damage of using a flat iron set on high twice. Most damage to your hair can be avoided by keeping up with your extensions and taking them out carefully.
You have to cut them out. Now that is just silly! Removing dread extensions is time consuming, but it isn't very difficult and you certainly don't have to cut your hair to do it. When they have grown out too much or you are tired of wearing them, simply snip the elastic bands, unwrap your hair from around the dread, remove the dread, and comb your hair of knots. Once you wash your hair it goes back to looking exactly how it did before you put the extensions in.
Dread extensions are heavy and cause headaches. You can get D.E.s in pretty much any length and thickness you want. That means that you have control over how much hair you'll be braiding in and how heavy it is. On average, a full head of dread extensions weighs approximately 1-3 lbs. It takes very little time to get used to the weight of them, after about a day or two, you'll hardly notice it. But if you do have trouble adjusting, try switching to shorter or thinner dreads.

Do dread extensions fit your lifestyle?

Not everyone can sport a full head of neon green dreads 24/7. Work, school, family, and even the area you live can set standards for your hair. Most jobs will not tolerate dread extensions...even natural colored ones! Many schools have similar policies and regard dread extensions as being "too distracting" to fellow students. Your own family can set rules against them. Even the area you live can make it hard to have dread extensions without attracting a great deal of negative attention.

For those of you who are not "allowed" dreads, please remember...it is just hair. No hairstyle (no matter how fabulous) is worth your job, your grades, your safety, or your place to live. But don't despair, life changes fast and the opportunity to have extensions put in may arise one day. You just have to be patient!

Another thing to keep in mind are your hobbies. For example, if you are an avid swimmer, dreads may not be for you. Although they can get wet, submerging them completely in water can make them very heavy. This can result in them stretching out your real hair or the dreads themselves loosening up. Other hobbies, such as those that involve wearing a helmet, getting excessively dirty, or working near a flame, may be hazardous if you have dread extensions. Keep these things in mind before choosing to commit to fake dreads!

Are you a good candidate for dread extensions?

Just because you are allowed to have them, doesn't always mean you can or should! There are a few factors to consider before having dread extensions braided in:

Length of Your Hair- You will need a significant amount of length to braid the dreads into. How much exactly depends on the thickness of your hair and the skill of your braider. Some braiders can install dreads on hair that is only 2 inches long. However, to be on the safe side (and to stay on your braider's good side!) your minimum hair length should be around 4 inches.
Scalp Sensitivity- If just pulling your hair up into a tight ponytail makes you cringe, then dread extensions may not be for you. The first few days after having them braided in can be painful even to experienced fake hair wearers. This is normal and it quickly subsides. However, if you are extremely tender-headed or develop a rash, you may want to skip the dread extensions and try falls instead.
Neck Strength- The human head weighs around 10lbs, so an extra 4lbs of hair can make quite a difference for those with neck problems. If you have recently had a neck injury or suffer from frequent neck and shoulder pain, don't injure yourself even more by adding excess weight atop your head.
Allergies- It is possible to be allergic to synthetic hair. Soni is! Poor thing has to swallow antihistamines like crazy to wear her cosplay wigs for only a few hours. Make sure you test to see if you have any reaction to synthetic hair prior to braiding it in. The best way to do this is by wearing a wig (made from the same synthetic fiber) for a few hours or holding the hair near your face for awhile. If you have any reaction to it, don't even think about braiding it in!

Single looped or double ended?

When you order (or make) your dreads, you'll have the option of having them made as "double ended" dreads or "single looped" dreads. Here is the difference:

Double Ended Dreads- One side of the dread is braided down from the middle while the other end is left to hang loose. The overall result is a very full head of extensions...it is a much "larger" style than you'll get with single looped dreads and is the best way to get big hair that really stands out. The downside is that they are a tad more heavy, since each section of your hair is supporting two dreads instead of one. They also seem to loosen from the scalp faster. Since the one end is left to hang free, the braid seems to sometimes want to shimmy down the shaft of the dread. My braider, Anna, has found a clever way of combating this problem...check out her pinch braid method.
Single Looped Dreads- The hair is pulled through a loop at the top of a single dread extension and braided down the length of the dread. If you are going for a very natural, "are those really dreads?" look...than the single loop extensions are where it's at. They are lighter, lay more like natural dreads, and are ideal for those who are looking for a less "extreme" look. They also seem to last a bit longer than their double ended counterparts. The loop at the top secures the dread close to the scalp and makes it impossible for the braid to loosen up or "shimmy down". They are also a tad lighter and pull against the scalp less.
Combination- Get the best of both worlds by combining the two! If you want semi-big hair that is light and lasts, then order about half double enders and half single looped. Braid the single looped dreads in the areas that grow out the fastest (ie. around your hair line and up near your part). Fill in the middle with the double enders for added thickness.

You'll also need...

A few other things before you can begin braiding your dreads!

Proper Hair Color- Get your hair as close to the shade of your dreads as possible before you braid. You can still dye your hair and touch up your roots with your extensions in, but it is a lot harder. So do yourself a huge favor and make sure you are happy with your hair color before you put your extensions in.
Elastic bands- or some other item to secure your braids (some people use thread or glue). Elastic bands are the easiest and require the least amount of skill to secure the hair correctly. Go with clear; they are less noticeable and seem to last better than the colored or black bands. Some brands absolutely suck and start breaking within days! The best brand out there...hands down...is Goody. The clear elastic bands are not on their site but you can find them at CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Giant, and also on Amazon! I have never had one break on me yet!
Seam Ripper- or small scissors work well in case you need to remove an elastic band and rebraid a dread. You will also need it to remove your dreads when you change them out.
Comb- to section your hair and comb out any knots. If you take the time to carefully section out the hair as you work, the result will be neat hair that lays nicely and requires little to no fussing to get it to look nice.
An Experienced Braider- Yes, you can braid your extensions in yourself...but I wouldn't recommend it! It takes around 2-4 hours to braid an entire head of hair and that is a looooong time to be holding your hands straight up in the air. Find a friend or a braider that has experience installing dread extensions and have them do it for you.
Dreads- Oh yeah! Don't forget the dreads! Make sure you have enough before you start braiding. It is better to have too many than not enough. For double ended dreads...order at least 50. (However, if you want your hair as big as mine, you'll need closer to 70.) For single looped dreads, you'll need about 100. If you are mixing the two, order about 40 single looped dreads and about 40 double enders.

How to do it.

There are a few ways to braid dread extensions...

Blanket Stitch - This method is really great for getting a good, tight braid that won't budge. It also keeps your real hair down very low on the shaft of the dread. So it hides your real hair well!
Pinch Braid - This braiding method can keep your extensions tight against your scalp for a long time. The dreads don't seem to slip at all with this method.
Simple One Side Braid - The easiest and fastest way to secure double ended dreads.
Pinch Braiding with Thread - a different method of pinch braiding...this time, using thread.

How to take care of them.

Dread extensions are easier to take care of than most people think! Check out the following links to learn how:

Washing Dread Extensions
"Caring for Dread Extensions" Essay (essay is located above on this page)

Intro to Dread Falls by Squeak

Many confuse the two, and really, isn't that the point?

But if you are one of those people who aren't sure of the difference, let me take some time to explain:

Dread falls

are bunches of dreads that are attached to a clip or a piece of elastic and are then simply tied into the hair. They are normally worn only for a few hours or maybe even an entire day. Afterwards, you simply remove the falls and your hair is returned to its normal, everyday state.

Dread extensions

are individual dreads that are pre-made and then braided into the hair in a way that is very similar to pinch braiding. The process normally takes a few hours and the dreads remain in the hair for several weeks up to two months. They can sometimes be a bit time consuming to remove, but generally, they do no damage to your real hair.

When installed properly, both of these temporary dread methods look almost identical. Check out the image below and see what I mean. I (on the left) have dread extensions and my friend April (on the right) has falls in.

Both of these methods are similar in the sense that they allow a person to sport a dreaded look without actually having to commit their real hair to being dreaded. That way, if your lifestyle or job situation changes, your hair can too!

But although dread extensions are only semi-permanent, most people are not in a situation to be able to have dreads on a daily basis. School, work, parents, sports, and even hobbies can play a huge role when it comes to choosing a hairstyle. It is for all of you who have these limitations that I write this essay. Just because you can't don hot pink dreadies 24/7, doesn't mean you can't indulge once in awhile. So if your inner diva is craving some enormous chunky hair...err...but only when hitting the clubs, read on!

Advantages of falls:

It is a sad fact that people with real dreads look down on people with dread extensions. And people with dread extensions look down on people with dread falls. Well, I say, it has got to stop! When it comes to dreads, we have options! So why not take advantage of it?

So what if your hair isn't real? As long as it looks friggin fabulous, who gives a damn whether you grew it or bought it?

Keeping that in mind, let's talk about the advantages of dread falls...

No Commitment

Not ready to settle down and get serious with your hair yet? Falls give you the effect of dreads or extensions without so much commitment. They are simply wrapped or tied into your own hair (which is safely nestled underneath) so when you are tired of wearing them, you can pull them off in two minutes flat. Poof! Now you see them...now you don't!

Versatility

Another wonderful advantage to wearing falls is that you have so many options! Changing your style, color, or length is as easy as just tying on a different dread fall. You can go from crazy cyber dreads to silky falls in a matter of minutes. You can even coordinate your hair to your outfit every day. And you can change the colors just as frequently.

Living the Double Life

Business casual by day, diva deluxe by night! Falls make lifestyle dualities a reality. If you love the look of dreads but know that your boss would certainly never feel the same, then falls are your new best friends. Let's face it; few of us are in the position to have "unusual hair" at work, at school, or in our everyday lives. I happen to be one of the fortunate ones that can get away with dread extensions on a permanent basis. But there was a time when even I was not able to keep my dreads in all day, every day. And at that time, I sported falls on a rather frequent basis. So don't let work policies and school dress codes stand in your way of having the hair you want. Invest in a good pair of falls and wear them whenever you can!

Minimal Upkeep

Falls are actually the easiest kinds of dreads you can wear when it comes to upkeep. Real ones can be fussy and hard to maintain. Dread extensions can require even more work and are a bit difficult to wash. Out of all of them, falls stay the cleanest because they are worn less frequently and therefore, exposed to less dirt, smoke, atmospheric elements and other foolishness we encounter on a day to day basis. They don't need to be washed very often and when they do, you can throw them in a pillow case and toss them into the washing machine! How easy is that?

Disadvantages:

The Ouch Factor

If you are tender-headed, prone to headaches, or just a bit of a wuss; dread falls may not be such a good idea for you. Falls can get rather heavy and even if you are able to cut down on the weight, the constant pulling on your scalp can irritate even the most experienced fall wearer from time to time. If just pulling your hair up into pigtails makes you wince, then you may want to skip out on dread falls. (or stock up on pain killers!)

Hair Damage

The damage that falls can cause to your hair is generally minimal, but it can get pretty bad if you wear them frequently for long periods of time. Does it happen to everyone? No. But it is still something to be aware of and try to prevent early on. When you have your hair pulled up into high ponytails and then tie on a bunch of excess weight, you may start to experience a lot of hair breakage. Especially near your part and hairline. This can lead to temporary and sometimes permanent hair loss. You can prevent this by cutting down on the amount of time you have your falls in. Also, if you feel like your falls are pulling down on your hair too hard, try making your pigtails higher or switching to lighter falls for awhile. You could also wrap some dreads from each fall across your head and over to the other fall so that they are supporting the weight of each other. I experienced only a small amount of breakage when I wore falls. But they did have a tendency to stretch out my scalp...so much that I would get a rippled effect down my part! No worries, once I stopped wearing my falls, my scalp eventually returned to normal.

Embarrassment Potential

Since falls are not really attached to your hair, there is always the potential for an embarrassing moment. They can be pulled out, fall out, or show the buns through the sides. Both experienced and inexperienced fall wearers may suffer little mishaps do to rough wearing or improper installation. Take time attaching your falls and be sure they are well secured.

Now that you know a little about dread falls...

You may want to learn even more about them or try them out for yourself! Check out the following links:

How to Install Dread Falls
How to Make Double Ended Dreads
How to Layering Falls
Be sure to check out my links section to find online dread fall makers!

Making Dread Falls Look Natural by Squeak

Years and years ago, before I started to get dread extensions, I was an avid dread fall wearer. I wore mine almost every single day, so I had a lot of practice putting them in and fussing with them to get them to look more natural. In fact, when I switched over to dread extensions, no one even noticed! Most people figured that my dreads were always braided in. Many still don't realize that in my very first SG set I am actually sporting falls, unlike all the others where I am wearing extensions.

So how did I keep up this clever ruse you ask??

Simply by developing some easy tricks to making dread falls look a bit more natural. Tricks and tips that I am more than willing to share with all of you...

The Fake Extension Machination

With this trick, we simply want to make it look as though the dreads are actually braided into the hair. This is very useful for covering up the back of your head if it tends to show and it also helps blend the hairline into the dreads better. After all, nothing gives away falls as well as a smooth hairline being pulled up into a heap of dreadies.

Separate your hair into two parts if you are doing pigtails. Or comb your hair to the back if you are doing a pony tail. For this example, we'll do pigtails since they tend to be more popular.

Start at the hairline and make a few loose braids all in a row going all the way over to the other side. Only braid about two to three inches down the hair shaft and don't worry about securing them at the ends. Don't bother doing any areas of the head that the dreads will cover completely.

Gather all the braids and the remaining hair into a high pony tail and secure with an elastic hair band. This is a bit trickier than just doing it without the braids but you just have to take a bit more care that you don't unravel the braids and that you secure it tightly enough. Once you've done it a few times, it gets rather easy.

Wrap your hair into buns and secure the dreads as usual. Ta da! Instant faux extensions!

The Criss-Cross Confusion Maneuver

Another way to make falls look more natural is to just confuse the bloody hell out of anyone who might try to determine otherwise. The harder it is to discern two separate falls, the more realistic they end up looking.

Install your dread falls as usual.

Take some of the bottom dreads from one fall and cross them over to the other side. Use hair pins to secure them into place.

Take some bottom dreads from the other side and cross them over to the opposite side. Secure them in place with a few hair pins.

Take one or two dreads from each (opposite) side and tie them together. Don't tie them directly at the middle or it looks weird, tie them off to the side a bit and then repeat on the other side with different dreads. You can even tie some pieces together on the same side. Just keep fussing with it till it looks nice.

Just keep fussing with them and criss-crossing and tying until they look confusing but cool as hell! Finish off with some flowers or décor and you're done!

The Hidden Hair Under Headband Hoax

Out of sight, out of mind! Hiding the smoothness of your natural hair underneath a headband or scarf can keep people guessing as to whether or not your dreads are real or fake. Many people may assume they are fake if you have a headband, but can they really know? Nope. After all, my dreads are braided in but I still wear headbands from time to time. And several of my friends who have real dreads wear bandanas once in awhile to keep their dreads out of their faces.

If your headband is elastic and doesn't tie on, make sure you put it around your neck before you start installing your falls. Otherwise, you may not be able to get it over your head.

Install your dreads as usual.

Slip the headband over your forehead and behind the ears. Or tie in a scarf or handkerchief around your hair line and secure it in the back.

To make it look even more like real dreads or extensions...pull some pieces down to the front (or braid pieces in underneath). You could also secure a few pieces with hair pins and cover the bases with the headband.

The Partial Pretend Extension Deception

If you aren't pressed for time, or happen to be an incredibly fast braider, than you may want to consider braiding in a few loose dreads along with your falls. My friend Lauren did this all the time and I always thought she had extensions until she taught me this trick. All you need is a few loose double ended dreads that match your hair color (or at least the base color of your falls). About six to eight dreads will do fine and cover quite a bit of the front.

Part your hair as usual, except this time, leave some hair out in the front.

Secure the rest of your hair up into tight buns.

I like to braid in my loose dreads at this point. You can do it after you install your falls if you prefer, however, I find that doing it beforehand is less confusing and you don't have the dread falls constantly getting in the way. Follow the guide for installing double ended dread extensions to braid in the front pieces.

Install dread falls as usual and you're ready to go!

hair. tips

Hair Quick Tips by Squeak

Natural Hair Care:

Shampoo only every other day. It irritates the hair shaft and roughs up cuticles. On the days you don't shampoo, rinse your hair out and condition only the ends.
Vitamin E is so very important for healthy hair growth. Foods that are rich in Vitamin E: nuts, wheat germ, brown rice, and leafy green vegetables.
Your hair is 98% protein. If you add more protein to your diet, you will instantly see a difference in your hair's growth rate and strength. Protein rich foods are: all meats, seeds, nuts, cheese, fish, and eggs. Vegetarians have a hard time fulfilling protein needs. Don't be afraid to drink protein shakes or powdered drinks once a day. It will not make you fat!
Be careful about putting your hair up all the time. Constantly putting hair into pigtails or ponytails causes major pulling and stress on the hair shaft. This can result in recession and some hair loss or thinning. Give your hair a rest once in awhile, keep it down.
If you don't have time to wash your hair, get rid of grease by sprinkling baby powder on your roots. Comb it through. (This works better for blondes!)
Also, if you can't wash your hair, dab facial toner onto your roots to clean them and rid scalp of grease. Blow dry.
Be cautious of your water. If you have hard water, it may be weighing down your hair. Hard water makes hair dull and lifeless. If you have this problem, consider buying a showerhead filter.
Rid hair of static. Run a fabric softener sheet over your head. Spray Static Guard directly onto hair. Run a small amount of hand lotion over head.
If you wake up in a mess of tangles, the culprit may be your pillow case. Switch to sleeping on a satin case to reduce knots, tangles, and bed head.
Baby Shampoo is wonderful for fragile, color-treated hair. It is delicate enough that it won't strip color out of your hair.
There are a couple ways to prevent split ends. The first is to be careful when brushing. When you brush your hair, use a brush or comb with wide set teeth, don't ever use nylon bristles. Also, try not to brush your hair when its wet. Wet hair is vulnerable to stretching and breaking. Use your fingers or a wide set comb to get out knots. Limiting your use of elastic bands and hair clips will also aid in split end prevention.
Brushing is actually very good for the scalp and also, good for your hair. Brushing stimulates the scalp, encouraging blood flow which helps to produce healthy hair. Use a good quality brush that doesn't pull or grab at your hair at the ends. You are better off using soft, natural brushes then synthetic, plastic ones.
If your hair is dry, never use leave in conditioner. It only increases the appearance of dryness, you are better off using a more powerful rinse out conditioner. If you want extra shine and smoothness, use a serum instead, it will seal in moisture and add shine.

Hair Therapy:

Split ends are most peoples' biggest hair problem. Remember that there is NO way to fix or mend split ends. You must get them cut off. Unfortunately, if you are rough on your hair, it is probably splitting well before it gets to your ends to be trimmed. If you have flyaways or a frizz problem, then you need to get rid of those ends. But don't worry; I have discovered the best method to ridding your hair of split ends! It will instantly and drastically improve your hair without taking much length. Simply gather your hair into small sections. Twist them out straight, twirling them tightly. And carefully, take scissors and run them up the twisted shaft of hair, cutting off all those stray bits and ends poking out.
Use fresh avocado on your hair as a mask. Simply mash up a whole avocado, a tablespoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of baking powder. Mix well and work it through clean, dry hair. Wait 15 minutes and rinse.
For dry hair, add two tablespoons of mayonnaise to 1/2 teaspoon honey. Massage into hair and leave to set for about 15 minutes. (Blow with hair dryer to intensify treatment) Rinse, shampoo, and condition as normal.
Apply an even amount of whipped cream to hair to moisturize. Leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo.
Massage your scalp to promote hair growth. It gets your blood circulating. It also spreads natural oils out and keeps hair shiny and healthy.
Flat beer is great to clean hair with. Pour through hair and rinse. Also, keep hair in check and healthy by pouring flat beer into a spray bottle and spritzing damp hair before styling. Don't worry about the smell, it evaporates.
Condition hair with strawberries. Mash eight strawberries with one tablespoon of mayonnaise. Massage into washed, damp hair. Cover with a cap or plastic wrap. Leave on for a half hour and wash out with shampoo. If your hair is very light blonde, you may want to steer clear of this one. The berries may stain your hair.
To fix split ends, massage maple syrup into dry hair. Cover with plastic wrap or a cap for 30 minutes. Shampoo until completely out.
To get rid of the greenish residue from swimming in chlorinated water: Crush three aspirin into a couple ounces of water and mix until you have a loose paste. Massage it into hair and rub it through. Leave in for 5 minutes, and rinse out.

Hair Coloring:

It is totally safe to dye pubic hair. It takes to dye much like the hair on your head and it grows much more slowly, making upkeep simple.
Do not use dandruff shampoo on colored hair. It strips color out of hair and will cause it to fade fast. However, if you got a color that is too intense, you could use dandruff shampoo to get some color out.
Don't wash hair for at least two days after coloring. It needs this time to lock in hair color and produce new oils.
Do not rinse your hair in hot water, it opens up hair cuticles and allows color to escape. To prevent fading, wash hair in warm water. Keep hair in a cap or keep it up when taking that hot shower or bath.
Keep hair healthy and reduce breakage, deep condition a day or two before coloring.
Just so we are all clear on this one, hair color does not damage hair. It coats hair and can actually make hair look thicker and healthier. However, using bleach will intensely damage your hair to the point where it may become so frail, it will break right off. If you want to go bright blonde, experiment with a lower volume (20 or 30) before resorting to volume 40 or bleach.
To get yellow and copper tones out of blonde hair, add a violet or blue base. Mix 2 ounces of hair color, 2 ounces of volume 20 or 30, and 1/4-1/2 ounces of violet or blue base. Color as usual.

Hair Removal Tips by Squeak

Don't shave after waking up. Your skin is puffy and sensitive in the morning.
Exfoliate beforehand. Rid skin of top layer of dead skin cells and excess oils, this allows for a smoother, closer shave.
If your problem is ingrown hair, shave in the opposite direction that your hair grows.
If your problem is sensitivity and irritation, shave in the direction your hair grows. This is very useful if you have to shave the same area frequently.
Try to shave over each area only once. It prevents ingrown hairs and bumps.
When shaving, don't press too hard! This is such a common mistake. It takes very little pressure to remove hair. Lightly run the razor over your skin.
Some people use a beard trimmer on their bikini lines. I have not tried it but those who have, insist it produces a close shave without bumps.
Never wax or pluck hair during your period. It will hurt much more since skin is very sensitive at that time.
Before waxing, dust skin with baby powder. It helps wax adhere to the hair follicle.
Apply baby oil to skin after waxing, it keeps it smooth as well as calms the redness and soreness.
Apply deodorant to bikini area right after shaving. I know it sounds weird but it will completely prevent any red bumps from surfacing.

Eyebrows:

Tweeze after showering or apply a warm washcloth onto brows for a couple minutes. It loosens hair follicles making plucking less painful.
Pluck brows in the direction of hair growth. It helps the follicle to slide out more easily and also prevents it from breaking only partly off.
If plucking is too painful for you, try using baby Ambesol to numb the area.
To make plucking easier, draw in the desired shape with your eyebrow pencil and use it as a guide.
Some people do the opposite, and use white eyeliner to white out the undesired hairs, and then pluck only those out.

Tweezer Types:

Thin Tip- can grasp small, individual hairs. Great for getting out ingrown hairs or hairs that have broken off close to the skin.
Slanted Tip- great control. Seems to help avoid pinching skin.
Square Tip- best for the removal of coarse hairs or plucking out several at a time.