I’ve always thought dreadlocks were too cool. Just look at it, there’s something about it! However, you gotta admit that the look of it kind of makes it seem like an unhygienic hairstyle.
I remember a guy in my Science class back in high school had dreadlocks and I thought they were badass – until one day when I was talking to him I noticed something moving in his hair. (I’d also throw bits of paper into his hair since I was sitting behind him, but that’s another story, hehe.) The dirt and messiness of it put me off of ever trying this style out myself, but I still love the look of it! So for anyone who’s a bit like me and not willing to take the plunge into dreadlocks, you can always fake this look for a day. Here’s how.
Step 1: Preparation
Start by dividing dry hair in half, from your ear downwards and clip, leaving one section – the section that you will start working on loose. Clip the very top section of your hair up and away from your face.
Step 2: Load up on hair gel
With the lose section ready to be ‘done’ up, take 1 inch sections of the hair (or if you want smaller dreads, 0.5 inches) and apply a quarter coin size of strong hair gel. (The men in my life all recommend Gatsby for the best hold!)
Step 3: Teasing it up!
Once that section of hair is full of hair gel, roll it between your palms, as if you’re making a play doh snake (you remember how to do that from your childhood, right?) Roll them until they are fairly stuck together. Allow to dry for a split second (maybe 10 section) and then take a fine-toothed comb. From the tip of your hair to your roots, gently tease the rolled up pieces of hair going upwards, to messy the style a bit more. Let dry.
Step 4: Repeat, repeat, repeat!
Do the same with every section of hair until your whole head is full of your lovely fake dreads.
And that’s just it! It’s a long process and not exactly the most healthy for your hair, but this works temporarily. To remove your dreadlocks, in the shower allow conditioner to saturate your hair first, then use a wide tooth comb to gently go through the tangles. Next shampoo, condition and rinse off.
What do you think of dreadlocks? Has anyone ever had dreadlocks, or have them right now? Will you be trying this fake dreadlocks looks anytime soon?
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{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
I used to love men with dreadlocks, it looked so cool to me :p I still like it but I wouldn’t do it on myself since you’re obliged to cut your hair after a while, because it’s like, impossible to remove real dreadlocks without cutting eveything ! I knew a guy who actually washed his dreadlocks with Marseille soap. It looked pretty neat.
I like dreadlocks on guys too! As long as it’s not too dirty haha.
I’m gonna try this “fake” version one day and see how it goes, at least it’s a little more hygienic
You actually can remove dreadlocks. I used knotty buy emergency dreads remover for mine
*boy not buy
Hmmm, I will agree that on the right person they can look really good, but they are definitely not for me! All that hair gel scares me haha!
The gel scares me too
But my friends say it’s the mega hold one and they have some crazy hairstyles so I believe them that it’ll work well! 
im kinda cynical about fake dreadlocks…i had real ones for three years and these ones are kinda just messy twisties.
PS where is the first picture from? its gorgeous
Hey Dip! I guess this style could be a ‘trial’ for those who may want to get proper dreadlocks in the future, sort of testing how they look in them? If not, twists are kinda nice looking too, I’ll try this out myself sometime and let you know!
As for the picture, isn’t it gorgeous?! I saw it and that’s how this post started, haha. Unfortunately in the days of Tumblr beautiful pictures float around everywhere, so I’m not sure where I got it from. Feel free to take any of my pics… if I know where pics come from I credit them but if not then I just found them floating around the net, haha
actually the pictures belong to a cool argentinian brand. this is the link to the collection which includes them http://www.complot.com.ar/verano2009/
if you which to visit the current collection (featuring Tallula Morton!) http://www.complot.com.ar
Enjoy!
I wonder if I have the patience for this, but I’d definitely love to try it! My hair is so straight and I’m always trying to get it to have the smallest bit of texture to it. The top photo makes dreads look super glamorous in a down-to-earth type of way. And guys with dreadlocks can be real cuties too!
They are real cuties I think, too!
Yeah, the main image is what made me write this post… It looked so carefree and natural, just so cool. 
It does take patience, though, but I guess it could be worth it! 
Remington has a hair dryer called ‘Spin Curl’ (http://www.spincurl.com/) and it basically curls your hair as it dries it. After you’ve done your whole hair it looks as if you have dreadlocks….it’s kind of scary because I always use it before I night out and housemates get confused with my hair style choice. BUT once you undo them with your hand you get beautiful curls. If you want the dreadlocks look then skip that part.
Ahhh! Thanks Dee! I remember seeing that product but I had forgotten about it. Is it any good, though?
It’s amazing to curl your hair! My hair is very long and it normally takes about 30 mins to dry/curl with this hairdryer and because it curls it as it dries, the curls don’t flop after an hour which is what usually happens when I use other products.
I only like fake dreadlocks, due to the fact that a client back when I was in hair school had insect eggs growing in hers…no joke, unfortunately!!
Hehe, I can imagine there’s all kinds of nasties living in dreadlocks :S
Just Don’t! Especially if you’re white. They look horrible on white people, and yes, most black people laugh at you.
umm white people started dreadlocks long before black people started them. yea some white people look stupid with them but there are def. some white people who look good with them and all my black friends have been totally supportive of white people doing dreadlocks.
Hey, i am 14 and not allowed Dreadlocks
but i am totally addicted to them – i think they’re amazing. I have asked my mum and she said i can get them when i am 16…but of course i can’t wait that long, so i want to get clip in ones. Does anybody know where i can get nice, decent clip-in Dreadlocks? I am desperate!! Thank You 
u can buy the cheap extensions and then u back comb them thts wat i did for a friend and it looks prety good
I would just like to say, dreads are NOT supposed to be dirty. In fact, when dreading any hair type that isn’t african, the dirtier your hair the less likely your dreads will hold. In order to achieve smooth, well-matured, even looking dreads, your hair has to be completely residue free. I had dreads and it used to infuriate me that people assumed I was unclean. Grease and dirt prevents the hair from locking. It’s true that you aren’t supposed to wash them as frequently. However, as I previously stated, in order to make them mature properly, your scalp HAS to be washed at least once a week using a residue-free shampoo. Just because there are some ultra-boho people who like dreads because they consider them “maintenence free” does not mean dreads as a style are in any way, shape, or form unhygenic.
I’ve had real dreadlocks for 2 years now. First off, mine are not dirty, they don’t smell, or look gross, and I never used ANY thing to keep them together except backcombing, palm rolling, ripping them apart when they grow together and keeping them clean. I had really thin caucasian waist-length honey brown hair before we began the sectioning and backcombing process, and I lost more than half of my length. It was at my shoulders when we were done. It looked like a dreadlocked bob! If you use goop, wax, conditioners, and other styling products in your dreads, they could end up rotting and wont tighten up as quickly (although i have seen people who use wax, and regular shampoo and conditioner and have amazing dreads). It IS A BIG commitment. I went from elegant victorian hair styles to big knots and beads. There is alot of effort for the first 3 months. And I wont lie, you will HATE that you did it in those months. Your scalp dries out, and gets all itchy, then super oily, then flakey, and the best thing to do is just deal with it and keep it clean. The backcombing irritates the scalp, if it is done really well. But since the first three months, Its been awesome! After a year it was even better! I’ve had people say they would pay me to cut them off, NEVER! It may be a non-traditional hairstyle, but it can be just as elegant, and just as beautiful as any other hair style, its just a matter of how much effort you want to put into them. If you want to just let them get dirty, and dry-out, and dye them constantly, and not make sure they are dry,….of course they will look bad,…..so would normal hair! I use henna to dye them that rusty red color, and i wash with a plant based soap, and use a hair dryer on low heat, and use bobby pins, pony tails, beads, hair pins, hair sticks, and headbands. I can braid them, knot them, tie them in multiple knots, twist them, wrap them, clip them, pony them……more than i could ever do with my straight hair …….the difference is, (between dreads and free hair) is in the prep-work and styling process……thats it…..Regular hair you can style for 10mins – 2 hours a day. I styled mine for 1 week of back combing, 3 months of high maintanance, then a few hours of learning what can and cant be done…….and it might take me 5 to 10 mins to style it a day, (10 if it has a mind of its own!) I’ve gotten lots of compliments on them, and just as many complaints. I had the same reaction to my long straight hair. So personally, its not much different. Now, i dont have to TRY for volume (no i dont mean frizz!) like i used to with my straight hair, spending hours in hot rollers and using tons of foam and hairspray. Its just naturally full volume. I can even pull off the bang bump, I couldnt ever do that before!
So, I’d say, if your willing to make the commitment, then its an AMAZING hairstyle, if you like to change up your hair style constantly, stear clear of this one. You have to wait a LONG time to reap its benefits! Love Much, Hope This Helps…..Jaymes
agree with how say it adds volume. i had the thinest hair flattest hair but now it looks heeps thick. but urs sound prety goodd. (:
im 15 and i have dreadlocks with beads and rope in them. and have never looked back. ther easy. and ive never had a problem wth them being dirty. there the easiest things to have. and i always get compliments on how much they suite me and how good they look with my nose ring and ear stretchers. (;
There are so many misconceptiona bout dreadlocks it is shocking!
I have had dreadlocks for 7 years now and they formed completely naturally. They are clean no smell or whatever. Infact is it perfectly natural to have dreadlocks! Do you think the ancient people went around with head and shoulders and hairbrushes? Hair is very clever and fact of the matter is that the longer is it left untouched the better it looks and feels. The hair naturally cleans itself, common sense!
Actually dreads can be a very clean hairstyle. All you need to do is get the right shampoo to wash with also wash it once a week with salt and hot water or at least that is what I did and I had dreads for two years and never had the nasty ass problems that your class mate had.
I’m a costume designer, and I need to make a white boy with short hair have (shortish) dreads. I made a wig with kanekalon , but it looks a little fake.
How long would the hair have to be to do this ‘gatsby’ method?
Jenny
So I’m going to debunk some of the myths that keep popping up in these comments…
1) You DO wash your hair with dreadlocks. You can get away with washing less often b/c your hair does not produce as much oil as undreaded hair, but not washing your hair ever is disgusting. I have dreads, and I wash my hair.
2) You don’t necessarily have to cut your hair if/when you decide you don’t want dreads anymore. Some companies like Knotty Boy actually make products to undo them, it’s just really difficult. Dreads are essentially just really matted hair.
I combed out my dreadlocks after a year and a half. My hair was past my waist.
And dreadlocks can be as clean or as dirty as someone allows, just like any other hair style. It is harder to keep them clean, but if it’s important to you then you put the time and effort (and elbow grease) in.
Hey,
I LOVE this idea and the way it looks!! I was just wondering how long you can leave it in before it starts getting all nasty. Could you please let me know??
Uhm, that last picture, his dreads weren’t fake. It’s the guitarist for Tokio Hotel. His dreads were real, and if you have dreads, you don’t have to shave your head to get rid of them. You just soak them in special conditioner and comb them out.
The first pictures are for Complot’s Summer 2009 season. Complot is an Argentine brand (one of my hometown’s favourties), they have awesome clothes – cheap, chic and hip!
Hi, I really want dreads but I have a few questions before I do it; Can you over wash them? Because I wash my hair every day at the moment, would that be bad for them? Also my hair is currently just a couple of inches longer than shoulder length, so to my armpit. Once dreaded will they loose a lot in length, any estimates of how short they would be?
Many thanks, Dani.
I would suggest washing only your scalp once or twice a week, you have to rinse them thoroughly, having your hair dreaded is a long process. You’ll only lose about an inch though.
Thank you, I contacted someone near where I live that does dreadlocks and she said I’ll loose 3 inches, she uses a special “crochering” technique to do it. By the sounds of it it’s going to be expensive to get done in this country, she quoted £60 for 5-6 hours (which is how long she thinks it will take) and then £60 for extensions to make it abit longer and more “feminine” like. Dani.
It annoys me that people think dreadlocks are unhygienic, they actually take A LOT of maintenance and you are supposed to wash them because grease can make them fall out, in fact you are supposed to keep the hair as dry as possible so it will matt together. You can wash your hair as much as a person with “normal” hair as long as you dont use conditioner! Or anything that leaves a residue. Dreadlocks have to be twisted everyday at first with special wax, you have to roll each individual lock between your palms, it’s a lot of effort!
I’ve had my dreadlocks for 3 years and they’re fine. The boy in your class probably didn’t wash them (or himself, for that matter). A common misconception is that dreads formed from dirty hair, but that’s far from being true. You know how your hair gets greasy when you don’t wash it? Imagine that trying to knot itself… it just doesn’t work! Your hair has to be clean to lock nicely.
But the idea of fake dreadlocks is very cool, considering you don’t have to put much time into their upkeep.
I think dreadlocks – on men or women – look terrible, to be honest. I always wonder why girls with the most beautiful hair would want to completely destroy it but making it look, quite literally, like small pieces of poop. Plus, the whole “pot-head” connotation that’s attached to the hairstyle has me //completely// put off. While I don’t think there is a single human in the world who looks good with dreads, regards of race, age, or color, to each his or her own.
My opinion =D
While I know there are plenty of people that have already said this, I need to throw my opinion in. I had dreads when I was younger, and mine were not dirty, at all. I washed my hair every other day and had no issues with them, they smelled like lavender, and never looked gross. I absolutely LOVE dreads. But that being said, I love the idea of this. Some days I miss my dreads an incredible amount and want them back, but with my job I can’t do that so this is a cool idea for potential days off.
It’s a total myth that dreads are dirty, proper care of deadlock involves just as much washing as normal hair. That kid in your class probably wasn’t taking care of them, maybe he was just dirty?
Do some research. Dreads (not the kind formed by neglect) take a ton of work and upkeep and are supposed to be ashed once a week. Its not unhygienic at all. I researched them very heavily as I was seriously considering getting them until I learned how much upkeep they can take.
Sorry, my keyboard is messed up. SHould say washed at least once a week.
I just got clip in extensions, and i really want to try this out with them, but I’m scared thy would get ruined. What do you guys think? I’m kind of afraid to take the plunge, I mean I think dreads are beautiful and look amazing but theres so much negative connotation behind them, and since they’re somewhat permanent, I would be afraid to have them done in case i didn’t like them!
i should add that my extensions are synthetic, not real hair!
2 things.
1) I attempted to do these “fake dreads” and I don’t know if I did it wrong or what but they don’t look like dreads so you can’t exactly make a decision on whether to do the real things or not, but it does give you an idea of what it will look like-ish as in your hair being separated into sections instead of normal and down.
2) I’m going to get dreads next month, the way I see it, we only have one life and so you might as well give it a go once.
Dani.
With dreadlocks, you’re actually supposed to take just as good of care of them as you are your ‘normal’ hair. You can wash them just the same, but no conditioner or else the dreads will come ‘unraveled’
Dreadlocks are not unhygienic. There are several methods to the maintenance of them, and nowadays, it is more popular for people to wash, “comb”, and blow dry their dreadlocks just like you do with you’re regular hair. I wash mine every other day with organic soap. Many people say that clean dreadlocks are even cleaner than regular hair because you don’t use regular shampoos and conditioners that leave behind heavy and unnecessary residues that make your strands stick together and leave an unnatural oil giving it that Hollywood shine that make you believe your spending money on repairing your hair, rather you’re just covering up the damage with gunk that sticks to it. Mmm sexy. Anyways, having dreadlocks is a life style choice and takes lots of patience, care, and dedication.
I am thinking of getting real dreadlocks but am hesitant because I have not seen a white female that actualy looks good with dreadlocks. Does anyone have dreadlocks in right now and willing to send me a picture of them?
Just so you know..*REAL* dreadlocks are not “unhygenic”. That’s a really ignorant blanket statement to make. Seriously, just because some guy you know had dirty ones doesn’t mean we all do.
I said it SEEMS unhygienic. Calm down.
i just tried this and ILOVEIT! lol
Creating ‘homemade’ real dreads isn’t all that hard to do and undo. I dreaded bits of my hair a few months ago, using twist and rip method and palm rolling – you don’t even need to use any hair products! Just a fine toothed comb to backcomb your hair and a crochet hook to get extra knots in. Simple. And if you choose to take them out, just use your normal hair conditioner and condition the base and gradually comb the knots away. And as Mae said, real dreads aren’t always unhygienic. I just used bar soap to wash mine and made sure I dried it properly after.
Dreadlocks are actually very clean…cleaner than regular hair. The regular shampoo people use leaves a residue (same with conditioner, detanglers, hairspray and gel), while dread shampoo does not. Maybe the guy in your class didn’t shower or wash his hair, but that doesn’t mean dreadlocks are dirty. Be more open-minded!