Dread maintenance involves tightening regrowth at the roots and repairing areas that have loosened or weakened. Without it, the style does not cease to exist, but it becomes uneven over time and tangles form between sections at the roots.
We do not follow a rigid schedule. The timing depends on how quickly your hair grows and the condition of the dreads, rather than simply how many months have passed.
What exactly do we do during root maintenance?
- Regrowth at the roots. We incorporate the hair that has grown since your last appointment into the dread so that it stays close to the scalp.
- Separating sections. We separate dreads that have started joining together while this can still be done without losing hair.
- Weakened areas. We strengthen thinner sections and partial breaks instead of waiting for a dread to snap.
- Ends. We close up unravelling ends if you want rounded, closed ends.
- Scalp assessment. We also look for irritation, flaking or tension concentrated in one area.
How often should you return for maintenance?
In practice, most people come every two to four months. More often if their hair grows quickly, less often if it grows slowly. Fine, slippery hair loosens sooner than thick, springy hair.
More often does not mean better. Each pass of a crochet hook through the same point weakens the hair a little, so touching up the style every three weeks 'to keep it tidy’ makes little sense.
How can you tell it is time?
- there is a noticeable length of loose hair at the roots,
- neighbouring dreads are starting to join together and are difficult to separate with your fingers,
- individual dreads have become noticeably thinner in one spot,
- ends are unravelling even though they were previously closed,
- the style takes much longer to dry than it used to because the roots are tangled.
One sign tells you to plan an appointment. Several at once mean it is worth coming within the next few weeks, because repairing the problem later will take longer.
How long does maintenance take, and what determines the price?
We charge for maintenance by the hour, so the cost depends on the number of dreads, the length of regrowth and how many areas need repair. For the same head of hair, an appointment after three months is shorter than one after a year’s break.
If you have a lot of dreads, two of us can work together to reduce your time in the chair. You can find current rates, including work with two stylists, in the price list.
Maintaining dreads made at another salon
We welcome dreads made elsewhere and those made at home. At your first appointment, we examine how they were made, as this determines our approach and working time. Sometimes we need to even out thicknesses or separate joined areas before thinking about regular maintenance.
We do not judge previous work. We simply explain what can be improved, how long it will take and what we cannot promise.
How should you prepare for your appointment?
Come with washed and thoroughly dried dreads. Damp dreads are harder to tighten, and working on wet hair is not good for it. Do not apply oils or conditioners before your appointment.
If you have recently used a lot of products and feel there is residue left in your dreads, tell us. Sometimes cleansing the style first makes more sense; we discuss this in our article on detox and build-up in dreads.
What maintenance cannot do
Root maintenance will not change the thickness of your dreads or their sectioning. It will not reverse hair loss at the roots if the style was worn too tightly either. In that situation, we discuss reducing strain on the hair rather than another touch-up, and refer you to a dermatologist if needed. Details are in our article on traction alopecia with dreads.
Your questions
Does root maintenance hurt?
It should not. You may feel pulling at the roots, but pain is a signal to speak up straight away. We change the technique or take a break.
Can I tighten my dreads myself?
It is possible with a single dread. Over the whole head, it is difficult to keep an even thickness and avoid passing through the same point several times, which is the most common cause of broken dreads.
Does maintenance always have to cover the whole head?
No. We can tighten only the areas that need it, such as around the face and nape, where the hair loosens fastest.
What if I have not had maintenance for a year?
Come anyway. The style can usually be rescued; the appointment will simply be longer. Tell us in advance how long it has been so we can reserve enough time.
Book maintenance or send photos of the roots and your whole hairstyle. We will tell you how much time we need and what is worth doing first.
