Dreadlocks are ropes of knotted hair. The sections to which the hair forms in to dreadlocks can be either naturally occurring (often called "patience" or "natural" styles dreads) or persuaded by the wearer with methods such as backombing or rip & twist.

The hair within dreadlocks is held together simply by the way of tangled strands. The knotting over time is what creates the form and density of the locks.

Put away your comb, and stop brushing your hair. In time, it will section off and tangle up all on it's own, regardless of race or religion. Because of this we can generally assume that dreadlocks are as old as the human race and have been with us since the very beginning of our existence. This makes it nearly impossible to pinpoint exactly when or where societies began to wear these twisted locks of hair as a cultural or religious symbol, but we have found several examples of their existence throughout our history. 

Dreadlocks in the Middle East
The biblical Nazirite hero Samson was said to have worn 7 locks of hair, which were his strength. When these 7 locks were cut from his head, he was finally captured. Nazirites cannot cut their hair as part of a vow to God, and it is entirely likely that dreadlocks were common among them. The tale of Samson is at least 3000 years old, meaning dreadlocks were probably a well defined cultural and religious symbol well before then.

Dreadlocks in India The Hindu god Shiva was said to have protected the earth from the reckless flow of the ganges river as She (the river) fell to the earth. Ganga was trapped in Shiva's matted hair, and was allowed to flow gently from his locks. Shiva is also responsible for the creation and destruction of the universe as Nataraja. As he dances, his dreadlocks (or "jataa" as they are known in India) fall around him and dislocate or destroy anything they encounter. Stories of Shiva and his predecessors may date back as much as 3,500 years ago. 

Sadhu and sadhiv are holy men and women who renounce a normal life in order to pursue spiritual enlightenment and liberation. Many allow their hair to become locked as a way of giving up their vanity, as well as their connection with modern society. Many are followers of Shiva (or one of his many forms) and are considered to be holy by many people...they are often asked to bless weddings and the sick or settle conflicts between individuals and families.

Dreadlocks in Africa

It has been rumored that the ancient Egyptians may have worn their hair in dreadlocks, and that mummies have been unearthed with dreadlocks still on their heads. Unfortunately, we have found very little evidence to support this. Egyptians may have indeed worn dreads, and many of their drawings and hieroglyphs seem to depict hair styled as dreads, but we cannot say for sure that dreads were common among egyptians. 

The Baye Fall are a sect of the Islamic Mouride Brotherhood in West Africa, and they are known in part for their colorful clothing, and their dreadlocks which they call ndiange (strong hair). The Baye Fall were established during the late 1800's, and show their devotion to go through their hard labor.

Dreadlocks in the Americas
In Peru, mummies have been found with long, thick dreadlocks in the Cementerio de Chauchilla. These mummies pre date the Incan civilizationby several hundred years, and their culture is believed to be responsible for creating the hundreds of Nazca Lines scattered across the desert plateau. 

The historian William H. Prescott wrote of Aztec priests wearing dreadlocks in his book, The History of the Conquest of Mexico in 1843. When describing human sacrifices, Prescott wrote, "On the summit he was received by six priests, whose long and matted locks flowed disorderly over their sable robes, covered with hieroglyphic scrolls of mystic import."

Dreadlocks in Europe
Although many other sites claim that Ceasar remarked that Celts had "hair like snakes," there is no evidence to suggest he ever said such a thing. However, there are roman coins dating back 2000 years that may depict dreadlock-like hair on Gaulish (celtic) figures, minted after the roman expansion into their territory. 

Dreadlocks in the Caribbean
It is within this region that the actual term "dreadlocks" was developed. For many westerners, dreadlocks are most heavily associated with the Rastafari movement. The movement dates back to the 1930's, although it wasn't until the late 40's that people began to wear their hair in locks. The actual term "dreadlock" has several possible beginnings. One version has it that the term came to be because these matted locks of hair gave a "dreadful" appearance...yet another version attributes the term to followers who "dread" or fear God. 

Dreadlocks in Modern Society
Dreadlocks have come to mean many different things to many different people. Some among the counterculture movements have embraced dreadlocks as a symbol of rejection of today's society. This is likely derived from both the Rastafari rejection of western "Babylon" society, and the renouncing of/separation from society and modern comfort by the sadhu. Many people see dreadlocks as a way to embrace their own spirituality, although there are a growing number of people who have embraced dreadlocks simply because they like the look.

Yes! Anyone can have dreadlocks regardless of their ethnic, religious, political, or social background! Dreadlocks have been around for a long time and are not exclusive to any one group of people.

Dreadlocks can also form in any type of hair, from thin and straight to thick and curly without any extra, special attention. However, the length of time it takes for the dreads to fully mature may vary depending on your hair type and texture.

The recommended length for backcombing is at least between 5-7 inches. You will initially lose a some length through backcombing, and if your hair is too short, it likely won’t work.

The shorter your hair, the harder it is too keep knots in. If your hair is very short, consider the natural method! Natural dreads can be started at any length. Many people believe that the best way to start natural dreads is from a shorter length, as the hair won’t go through as much of a noticeable the “shrinking” phase, and your hair will just grow out knotty.

It depends on your hair type, but you will most likely lose at least a little length. Thin, straight hair will lose more length than any other hair type. In general, your hair will shrink a great deal in the first year as your dreadlocks mature and after that initial shrinking phase it will then begin to gain its length back as your hair grows out more.

Yes, you absolutely can and should wash your hair with dreadlocks. Clean hair dreads best, as oils will coat the hair and make it too slick to knot properly. The general consensus will tell you to use a residue-free shampoo or soap. You won’t be able to eradicate residue or build-up through brushing like you normally do on non-dreaded hair, so it is fairly important to get a soap or shampoo that will not leave a nasty residue on your scalp. 

Some people suggest avoiding the use of shampoos with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is a foaming agent that is believed to cause scalp irritation. But generally the same things that could clean your hair pre-dreads will work post-dreads, simply avoid conditioners or shampoos with conditioners added.

At least you should avoid conditioner with immature dreads. Conditioner leaves residues in the hair to make it easier to brush and remove knots, and is thus is an enemy of dreadlocks. As your dreads get older and more mature, you may find them able to stand up against conditioner and able to use it from time to time. 

Not everyone agrees on which shampoos are best to use for dreadlocks. You just need to try different things and see what works for your body. Please check out our forum for shampoo suggestions and discussions!

The frequency with which you wash is entirely up to you and depends upon your hair type. Generally, you just want your hair to feel clean. As your dreads mature, you will likely find it less necessary to wash as often. Some people can go a month without washing, some need to do it every other day. Listen to what your body tells you and you should be fine. If your hair feels greasy and gross, wash it.
Most people with locks tend to go an average of 4-7 days between washes, but it's not uncommon for folks to wash more or less frequently. It's really up to your body chemistry, personal preference, and how long it takes your locks to dry!

The most efficient way to get dreadlocks dry is to use a bonnet hair drier like you’ll find at a hair salon. Of course, not many of us have these in our living rooms so the more common options are:

Air drying. Airdrying is a totally viable way to dry dreads, though it can take a lot of time for a mature set of locks to dry completely depending on thickness (as much as a full day for thicker locks!) and the climate you live in.

Blow drying. Using a blow-drier is a good option as well, especially on a humid day where you don’t want that wet hair feeling.

Towel drying. Another good option is to use a towel to absorb the excess water from your dreads. Super-absorbent towels are a preferred option among many dreadheads with thicker locks.
 

It is best to first ring out the majority of the water before air drying, blow drying, or towel drying.

Not at all. There are incredibly inexpensive and natural alternatives to locking accelerators & tightening gels should you feel you want to try them out.

Aloe vera gel can be used to smooth out any frizzies if you have a special occasion for which you want your hair to look a little tidier. Aloe vera plants are very simple to grow and you can get pure gel from right inside the leaves. You can also buy aloe vera gel at a health food store if you don't have a green thumb. Unless labelled as 98-100% aloe, avoid the kind that comes in bottles advertised for sunburns, as they are generally full of chemical additives you may not want in your hair.

As for locking accelerators, most of them are just a salt water-based spray. These are really easy to make on your own. Combine water, salt, and an optional drop or two of essential oil or a squeeze of lemon and voila! A locking accelerator that you don't have to invest much in putting together. In fact, I'd wager a guess that most of us have salt and water available in our homes. Also, if you live by the ocean, you can just take a dip in the water. No need to pay for shipping on chemical additives and salt water!

No. Some websites and salons will tell you to put rubber bands at either the root or the tip of your dreads to keep the roots separate and encourage knotting. Rubber bands are a bad choice for this.

First off, the tightness of the rubber band at the root restricts the movement of the hair, this can seriously mess with the development of the lock. 

Secondly, if the bands are left in the hair long enough it is possible for them to melt into your hair and you will be left with a gooey spot in your dread that is darn near impossible to remove. You can use rubber bands for the initial sectioning of your hair, but don't leave them in - remove them as you finish backcombing each section or once you have finished doing all of them.

It is important to realize that no matter what method you employ for locking your hair, they will take approximately a year to look how you thought they would.

Dreadlocks are generally considered immature (babies) until about the first year, then partially mature at ages 1 to 3 years, and fully mature at 4+ years.

It is up to you to decide how you start your journey, but each path takes you to the same place in about the same amount of time.

For the most part, yes.

For specifics, please check out the Maintenance & Care category of the FAQ. :)

For most people, it comes as a sigh of relief to find out that you do not in fact have to shave your head to remove dreadlocks.
It is definitely possible to comb out dreadlocks, even very old and mature dreadlocks can be combed out.

You will however have a harder time combing out an older set of dreads. You will also lose a lot of hair and some length in the process, as the hair you would have normally shed in a day gets sucked into your dreads. With a sturdy and preferably metal comb, an economy size tub or two of conditioner, and a lot of patience, you can return to a head of brushable hair without shaving your head.

Another method of removing dreads, rather than taking the time to brush out the full length, is to cut them half or three-quarters of the way and brush out what is left.