Tips and Hints

Pain and Itch Tips

When you first have your dread extensions installed, if they were done properly they will be very tight (but again, not TOO tight haha) and sometimes stiff especially if they’re brand new dreads. Within a week your hair will start to grow which will bring some looseness to the scalp. You really just have to wait for your hair to grow a little bit and it goes away. In the meantime, simply taking some Advil or running your fingers through the dreads, not too rough, just a simple mini massage can help.

If your scalp begins to itch at any point, again, everyone is different so your scalp may or very well may not ever itch. But again, if it does… Go to the pet store, buy some itch relief spray. It may sound strange but it just works, so go for it. DO NOT get something with pesticides! Nothing that may make irritation worse! Get the spray for seborrheic dermatitus or a condition that requires moisture and relief for dry skin. Simple. If you’re not down with the dog spray try some Aloe Vera or some anti-itch topical.

Sleeping Tips

Sleeping with dread extensions is sometimes difficult. This is especially true for brand new dreads that are hard and sometimes stiff. If your dreads are long, I recommend a low pony-tail with a head scarf. If you don’t mind it being on your back while you sleep I think this is the most comfortable. When you’re on your back, it’s not bulky, and on your sides and stomach it just lays back. The head scarf is to hold them in place on your scalp. Get them into a position that you know when you lay down isn’t going to bother you, use the scarf to hold it in place.

When your dreads are older, they tend to be a bit softer, still strong and keeping shape, but bendable. This makes them much more comfortable on the scalp in general and you’ll come to find that after you wear the same set a couple of times, they’re not near as uncomfortable as the first. Anyway, the scarf is still good for keeping the frizz down as much as possible. Be aware that frizz and dreads go hand in hand. There’s not much of a way to avoid it but if you notice your natural hair around your roots is getting extra frizzy it’s either time to get them re tightened or try using some light hairspray (never go heavy on the hairspray w/ extensions, ever) to tame it.

Precautions

I’ve been getting questions lately about how to avoid the discomfort that dread extensions sometimes can create. Most long time fake dread wearers are used to the pull on the scalp and have no problem sleeping in them, everyone has their own little tricks that keep their scalp and hair healthy and the discomfort completely at bay..But we understand that if you’re a first time wearer, all that hair is going to feel a little awkward and sometimes make your head hurt.

Let’s face it, not all of us have a scalp of steal. Some are more sensitive than others and dread extensions can be a bit of a pain if you’re not used to them, or have a very sensitive scalp, weather you’ve worn them before or not. Some people have no complaints, can switch right over with their hair care, but others find it hard to get in a comfortable position while sleeping, or get an itchy scalp from the tightness.

Let me first say that there is some discomfort that is NOT okay. Sometimes you will have a friend or stylist who will put them in for you that may put them in a little too tight. There is such thing as TOO tight with braids! You see the horror stories of girls with weak hair going to the Bahamas, getting her hair braided, and it breaking off at the scalp. Same concept here, it’s still a braid, please be careful! You know your body, if it’s way too tight, get them redone!