How to Install Synthetic Dreadlocks on Short Hair - DoctoredLocks.com

[@jaztlatelpa6468]

OMG seeing this video made me soooooooo happy ive wanted synthetic dreads for a while now and i have like super short hair... i would consider it a kinda grown out short mohawk and im sooo excited thank soo much

[@doctoredlocks]

Yay! Send us a picture when you get them done!

[@sammyodarling]

This is amazing. I have a nape undercut and it is growing out and o didn't know what to do with it. Now I do!!! Perfect!!

[@chemindelom]

Cool me too :)) but 4 years later

[@doctoredlocks]

How long you can keep your synthetic dreads in depends on how fast your hair grows. Some people start to find them irritating after 4 weeks or so, because they get a little floppy and loose in the braid due to grow-out. Never keep them in for more than 3 months - or your real hair will start to dread!

[@doctoredlocks]

The manufactured dreads are like that - they aren’t backcombed. They do naturally “dread” more over time. A lot of my friends reuse the same ones loads of time and they just look better and better with time. :)

[@JAMIELYNNnj]

THAAAANK YOUUUU. I'm installing dreads to give my hawk some time to grow out and I was worried I wouldn't be able to install them on the short sides. YOU'RE SO WONDERFUL! :D

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, you can use synthetic dreadlocks more than once. When they are removed, you may need to add a little backcombing or go over them with your sealing method again to freshen them up, but they can be used more than once. You can absolutely shower with them in! The best method for washing your hair that we recommend is to pre-mix shampoo with water in an applicator bottle, so the shampoo gets down to the roots where it's really needed. And when your shower is over, be sure to dry them well!

[@doctoredlocks]

You can use either SE or DE for a super short install. We have the SE video coming out soon. As long as your hair is long enough to put into a tiny ponytail, dreads are possible. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

That really depends on what you mean. Services like this are typically 1-3 hours and can range between $30 and $60 per hour. Generally it depends on the stylist doing the work. It’s a specialty service so it can be kind of hard to find someone game to do it. Just check around your area for braiders or stylists with braiders. You should be able to find someone to give you a quote. :)

[@den1skax99]

Thank you so much! I needed to cut all my hair because I fried it with bleach and I feel now less feminine or like an old woman with this short hair. 🌚😭 And I always wanted dreads. This works amazingly on my short hair! ❤ Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial!

[@doctoredlocks]

Oh no! That is always a difficult task and hard when you no longer feel like yourself. I'm so happy you were able to find this and get your dream dreads 💕

[@jamiehayes9626]

This is perfect for me! I have a mohawk and it's about as short as that at the back. This is really helpful because I'm thinking about getting a set of double ended synthetic dreads soon

[@doctoredlocks]

Yasss! Perfect!

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, and we actually have a video coming out with that technique - not that that helps you right now - BUT, yes. It's totally possible! Take your section, split it so you have two pieces - one on top of the other - not side by side as in DE. Pull the top section through the SE with the dread flipped up and the top section of hair pulled down through the loop. Join the top section with the bottom and band them together. Next band them both to the dread and you've got it! :)

[@doctoredlocks]

The exterior gel may rinse away. They don't get slimy in a "I'm gonna fall out" kind of way, if that is what you are envisioning. :) They are surprisingly stable and the gel doesn't affect the stability one bit. It gives you better control when you put them in and helps keep flyaways at bay. Cheers! Doc

[@doctoredlocks]

You do them in the same manner for each section. You can leave the front hairline out if you want bangs or fringe.

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, and we did! It’s in editing right now! It will be loaded to our channel as soon as it comes off the cutting room floor!

[@HalleyHaywirez]

Thank you so much I have such short thin hair this helped a lot

[@doctoredlocks]

You are so welcome!!

[@nospamallowed666]

Super! I was looking for this for a few days. I shaved my back head like a triangle for years so 1/3 of my hair is extremelly short, now I kinda want it back, but I got long hair now and I dont want to cut it. Also is a bit expensive to pay like $30 every 2 months just to cut my heair and take from lengh 2cm. So I want to wait to grow a bit and install syntethic dread locks. I want to do it all by myself at home. It will be that half head aestethic. Thank you for the video!

[@doctoredlocks]

Glad I could help! It's a great way to help grow out shaved sections.

[@doctoredlocks]

You can do dreads and then put synth dreads in over them until yours are longer. I wouldn't connect the synth dreads in permanently because they wont blend the same. We do have some tutorials on putting in human hair extensions - those would be a better choice for anything long term.

[@doctoredlocks]

Well, I’m sure you could braid it in, and then just leave it. I’m just not sure that’s the look you’d want to go for. You could try doing a regular SE Dread installation and try matching it to the bulk of the natural hair - that would be your best bet.

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, and actually, that's the perfect time to use this method! You can always do a different method for your longer hair and use this to fill in where you need. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Nope, I've been using elastics for years with no damage. Unless your hair is being pulled too tightly or somehow rolling up in it there is no way it could damage your hair - both of those concerns are more regarding installation though. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Hmmm... well you could try the scalp relief spray. Generally itchies come from having them too tightly installed, and tend to last about 4 days (if you don’t itch them - then they seem to last a bajillion years). It doesn’t usually happen because people are allergic or because they are scratchy - both are common misconceptions. We have a SE on super short hair video that is coming out soon. Subscribe to our channel to be notified when it’s released! :)

[@doctoredlocks]

I wish I could take credit for this method, but I didn’t make it up, only filmed it. It works like a champ though!!

[@doctoredlocks]

It's best to only wash bangs or parts of your hair left out (if any) when needed, and your whole head, dreads and all, once every couple of weeks. After washing you must make sure your dreads dry COMPLETELY. You can let them air dry if it's warm enough, or blow dry if it's cold. It will take you quite a while! Doc's dreads in this video are human hair extension dreadlocks, but she is now working on dreading her natural hair, so she'll have real ones with extensions.

[@jillschroeder149]

this house please so freaking much I thought I was never going to be able to put in my dreads

[@chrissab8638]

made my dreads and installed half of them in my mowhawk today so round 2 tomoro im excited

[@doctoredlocks]

Yassssss!! So exciting! You are going to be fabulous!

[@doctoredlocks]

Yeah, its actually surprisingly secure if it's done right.

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, and we have a video for that in editing right now. It will be loaded as soon as possible!

[@hotAboutSnoW]

wow this was posted just in time, im putting in my dreads tomorrow!!

[@doctoredlocks]

Actually, it's really simple. Just snip two rubber bands and then they slide right out.

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, an SE will work. We have a video coming out on that soon!

[@Theo-zx1wp]

I just bought dreads from you guys. Excited to try them out. 😄😄😄

[@doctoredlocks]

Awesome! Tag us on social media, would love to see your new look :)

[@AlishaArdella]

i might just use this method to put in my old micro link hair on my slowly growing back in side cuts......

[@doctoredlocks]

Not that I know of. I’m sure you could make something up, but if extensions are to be permanent, it's generally human hair you want. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

That is a wonderful take on dreadlocks, however, it is not one we personally subscribe to. Dreadlocks are a personal statement that we believe anyone can make, without limitations. And, in response to other comments made, it certainly isn't a topic that should be open to making fun of anyone for what they personally think. :) Thanks for watching, and for your thoughtful feedback!

[@saigeenglish2153]

Thank you for making this video it really helped me.

[@LampWaters]

Think doing a wrap and crochet the ends of the wrap to hide the rubber band.

[@doctoredlocks]

That's a great idea! It will make your take down harder though. This method was built to just hide the attachment without doing anything too permanent. If you crochet in, try to do it sparingly so you can get the hair and band off for your take down. :)

[@LampWaters]

@@doctoredlocks with short hair if u wrap past the hair crocheting the wrap shouldn't be a problem. Once cut to remove you would still be left with just the rubber bands. How long do your clients leave in? When I do rubber band braids in my daughter's hair the band's start to get gummy. Any way to avoid gummy bands with locs?

[@doctoredlocks]

Certain rubbers will get a bit mushy with oils - so if you can keep the oils off (scalp, conditioning oils etc) you'll have better longevity. Also, you might try orthobands or our elastic matrix thread - you might find better luck with those.

[@doctoredlocks]

It will be a little bit different. We will be doing a video on se for super short in our next round.

[@Zullala]

Getting this out looks like it would be a nightmare

[@doctoredlocks]

Aww, thanks! Be sure to send a pic when you get them in!

[@Stonesaplentysspot]

I would love to know how to do this around the face, how does it look at the hairline in the front?

[@doctoredlocks]

You would need to start dreads on your head(this can be done with hair 4 inches long), then you can add permanent human hair extenders.

[@missmizer]

Wow this video was incredibly helpful. Thank you!!!!!

[@doctoredlocks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RhiFoxx]

Annnd do you all have a video on how to put dreads in a clip-in weft?

[@Elegance33Refine]

🦋🌸♥️ I’m amazed absolutely! Wonderfully very detailed learning video! Straight from the start !!!!!!!!!!🌸🦋♥️

[@doctoredlocks]

Thank you :)

[@hannahshelly1252]

On another note besides the mannequin head... how do you get your dreads to have that wavy look? They look great! - Your tutorials are the only ones I've used ❤️ Straight and to the point. Very helpful!

[@doctoredlocks]

Thanks! You can get dreads to wave up in a variety of ways - mine are human hair - so braiding them for a while works - or for shoots where I needed more curls and volume, I used a setting lotion (like a watered down gel), then used a roller set and dried them to bone dry. You can also perm curls into them - we have a video on that. The perm won't last forever, but it goes strong for a few months. :)

[@booophis]

SO HELPFUL THANK YOU SOO MUCH

[@87MightyLeo]

thanx for replin, I did search ur channel and found wat I was looking for..my hair is very short right now and Iv been wantin to dread it but I don't wanna look like buckwheat lol, so b4 comin to ur channel I had never heard of these methods, but I did find them and soon I will do this to my hair...i'll inbox u a photo...xogreen peacexo

[@doctoredlocks]

It can be painful if you do them too tightly. You can adjust your tension as you need though. No need to do them so tightly your scalp is screamin!

[@blatinopapi7190]

Wow great video thanks very useful instead of braiding basically all rubber band methods ! Love it your fantastic 👌💯

[@doctoredlocks]

That makes me so happy to hear! You are so very welcome. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Totally can. :) We have a video for that as well. It should be released soon - it's in editing right now. :)

[@AbbieLikesLlamas]

Does it matter what colour the dreadlocks are? Could there be and extreme colour difference from your natural hair colour to your dread colour?

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes the can. We have a video coming out on that. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Yes, and we are finishing the editing on that right now. Be sure to subscribe to our channel to see when it comes out!!

[@HippyMetalhead]

Great video, and LOVE your hair! I was just wondering, if I were to do what you just showed on this video, how much(about) would it cost to fully dread my head? I'm thinking of getting dread extensions, and really need some info about it! If you could reply, it would help me alot! Thanks

[@doctoredlocks]

You can install dreadlocks of any color of the rainbow in your natural hair. If you're worried about your natural hair braid showing against the dreadlock color, you can always cover you base color. We have another tutorial called "How to Cover Your Base Color on a Synthetic Dreadlock Installation Tutorial" that you can find on our KZbin channel. Thanks for watching!

[@A.R.G.HomeImprovement]

I haven't found any kind of small rubber band that doesn't break within a day or two unfortunately. Ended up switching to embroidery thread but even that will slide out sometimes.

[@doctoredlocks]

These rubber bands are amazing! doctoredlocks.com/products/100-count-clear-elastic-bands And if you prefer a more thread type, this is what I use doctoredlocks.com/products/65m-elastic-matrix-extension-thread Both with last for a full install :)

[@cjaymays9480]

Could you do this method with medium length hair Once you put the first rubber band in can you just plait it down with the dread i suck at braids and its always loose at top

[@doctoredlocks]

Oh absolutely! Also, check out our video on troubleshooting for loose dreads too - it can help explain why that happens. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5Cthn9nnNqNZrM

[@tarapotamus]

this seems easy and sturdy, but I'm really concerned about putting the elastics in my hair for a long period of time...it seems damaging? I want this sort of as a protective style.

[@ToriaDumOfTheTweedle]

Do they last as well as when you braid them into longer hair?

[@weepingmidwinter]

I understand that it is not recommended, but is there any method of permanently attaching kanekalon locs to ones head?

[@kathyperry863]

cool, i have an idea! gonna experiment a bit. thanks!!!

[@doctoredlocks]

Awesome!! Good luck!

[@bigjugs666]

can single ended dreads go into short hair as easy as the double ended ones?

[@doctoredlocks]

You are very welcome!!

[@AbbieLikesLlamas]

Can you use synthetic dreads more than once? Like, Once you've put them in do you have to take them out for a shower? Once you've taken them out can you reuse them?

[@doctoredlocks]

Pretty darn short. On dreads, you just need to be able to wrap your hair around the dreadlock to secure it. On braids, the shorter your hair is, the smaller the braid will have to be. You need a few "turns" in the hair to secure it. Microbraids are a popular choice for shorter hair. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Check out the regular DE Dread installation on our channel or one on Blanket Stitch - those are probably better suited for most situations. :)

[@raevshi]

You should have this in your description :D

[@terichristensen2297]

Can you use shrinkies instead of rubber bands?

[@doctoredlocks]

Most people keep them in about a month.

[@Cryingggallthetime]

Thank you so much for this tutorial 😍

[@katieveck1106]

Is there any way i could permantley attach dreads to short hair?

[@HannahIsAHipsterLol]

About how many double ended dreads would you recommend for a full head?

[@doctoredlocks]

Glad to help!

[@emmestone]

How long will this last before having to redo it?

[@doctoredlocks]

Yep, its very secure...well, its secure when you do it correctly. It will obviously depend on your awesome skills, but it's not a hard method to get down. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Yay! Awesome! Send pics!

[@IndioBZ]

Can you leave these in forever? Will your hair that’s not dreaded (new growth) loc into dreads?

[@doctoredlocks]

This is a temporary installation method that usually lasts 6-8 weeks. At that point, you will need to take them out, comb out the shed and then can reinstall.

[@doctoredlocks]

I wouldn't use this method to do that. This method makes sure your natural hair doesn't lock. The one you want to look for is adding permanent dreadlocks. We have a video on that too. Just check our channel and search for "permanent human hair dreads." If you can't find the link, send me a private message or email us (address in the description) as youtube doesn't allow links in the comment section.

[@CompletelyRandomlyBroken]

This is great but I would use some strong silk thread to find it, those rubber bands slide out of my hair in no time! I tried using them to see how long they would stay... My hair is a bit longer then the mannequins... they did not last very long.

[@doctoredlocks]

Hmmmm...I really like Dollylocks bonded thread. It's super strong. Check that out. :) I can always send you a sample if you want to see it. :)

[@Zullala]

oh ok, that is good to know.

[@doctoredlocks]

Yay awesome! Send pics!

[@antoinelk00]

Like I wanna have synthetic dreadlocks but I dont know if my hair will be Suitable for it because I have like thick curly hair and I dont know if the synthetic dreads will work on my hair type

[@doctoredlocks]

Surprisingly, you don't need to worry about your own hair texture when you are doing these styles since your hair is braided up out of the way. Because of this, this is a great style for all hair types. :)

[@doctoredlocks]

Haha... buckwheat not a good look? ;) I completely understand. Good luck, and if you have trouble, just let me know and I can probably help you through any rough spots. Send pics!!

[@RhiFoxx]

Would this work with a single-loop dread, or does it have to be like the one used in the video?

[@HippyMetalhead]

How long was the hair in this short install?

[@Maeve312]

Hi! What brand/type of rubber bands do you recommend that have a decent stretch and do not snap easily?

[@doctoredlocks]

My favorite are our orthobands - they are tiny, clear and super strong. You can find them at doctoredlocks.com

[@InstantMonsters]

Very useful info, thank you!

[@doctoredlocks]

We don’t but I will send that over be queued for production. :)

[@AmphigorianXIII]

I am a noob at dreads, and I was worried that my hair wouldn't be long enough for installing them, but this was tremendously helpful, thank you!

[@Thepopsikle]

I did this exact method on my head using 20 DE 20in locs. After 4 days I had to take them out due to my scalp being red, angry, and tension bumps everywhere. Not to mention it was every painful moving them in any direction. Any suggestions??? I want to keep them in for over a month at a time

[@doctoredlocks]

Sounds like you need to loosen your braids slightly or watch out for cross-hairs. This method can be done extremely tight - which if not careful can make your head really angry. If you back off it slightly, you shouldn't have near the amount of problems.

[@madelinebaldwin8107]

How long do the dreads stay in your hair with this method?

[@doctoredlocks]

Until you take them out. :) They start looking a little questionable somewhere between 1.5 and 2 months though.

[@heatheranderson1845]

Thank u this helped soo much x

[@doctoredlocks]

You’re welcome 😊

[@alexinarts]

How short hair can be for a dreadlock or braid?

[@Doosb0x]

Ahhh awesome, I am going to a festival next month and I've been growing out my undercut, it's about 2 inches long right now and I was worried I wouldn't be able to install my festival hair! Is this way secure or does it come loose really easily?

[@Grimm-hw2jc]

I have long hair except one side I've been growing out a side shave since March, would this method work on the side that's growing in???

[@doctoredlocks]

As long as you have a couple inches to work with, you can absolutely use this method. You just need the hair long enough to get a few braid twists.

[@rachelluvsmcr]

I have thin hair, would dreads work on me?

[@doctoredlocks]

They last about the same, maybe a little more sturdy on longer hair. :)

[@fuehtdi]

Which specific rubber bands do you used?

[@doctoredlocks]

www.doctoredlocks.com/black-elastic-rubber-bands.html

[@doctoredlocks]

Thanks!

[@unicornfarts1937]

Thank you so much this helped me heaps

[@doctoredlocks]

Yay! You are so welcome!