Welcome to Renate's Locks of Love 101
This is a page dedicated to all Dreadheads who just got or are about to get their Synthetic Dreadlocks. We will tell you our favorite tips, the do’s and dont’s and guide you through each step of the Synthetic Dreadlock journey.
Step one: "Pre-Installation"
So cool, you bought our Renates Locks of Love! There is a lot you can do to get the best experience when wearing the Locks of Love. It all starts with what you do with your own hair and the Dreads before installing them. We would love to help you get started. In our Dreadabase we have loads of information that could help. Click here for more information on how to prepare.
Step two: Installing Your Dreadlocks
Next up is installing but how do you do this? Do you have to get it done or can you do it yourself? Is there a difference between installing Partial Dreads and a Full Head?
You can easily install the Dreads yourself. We offer an online course on how to install a full head of dreads on yourself and one on how to install partial dreads on yourself.
Having your Synthetic Dreads installed by a professional is also possible! You are more than welcome in our salon and our affiliates are also more than happy to help you!
Recommended tools
Installing your dreads is the easiest with the right tools to help you with. How to know what you need and what is not necessary? Check out the Installing kits we have prepared and decide which one fits you better. Click here and check them out.
washing
Caring for your Synthetic Dreads when wearing them is pretty simple. We recommend you wash them once a week. In this video you can see how. To dry, use a special Dreadlock towel as it absorbs more water and is big enough to hold your whole head of Dreads!!
In between washes you can use a refreshening spray or mist to freshen them up.
itch/ discomfort
Your scalp can get itchy from the Synthetic Dreads but don’t worry! It is very normal. Most people have very little discomfort. But some people are more sensitive to it. This however doesn’t make it less annoying.
You might experience a rash in your neck or along your hairline. This is because the dreads are braided in tight and your scalp has to get used to it. Read the blogs below for more information.
Oily scalp
Does your scalp get oily easily when you wear Dreads? Next to washing once a week, try using the Dollylocks Cleansing Spray. It has been developed especially for Synthetic Dreadlocks and works basically like a Spray shampoo, you can spray it on your scalp and then wash it off delicately with water.
For more information and tips you can read the blogs below.
Night Care
It is also important for your Dreads to be protected while you sleep. Bad night time care might cause your Dreads to frizz and damage easily, which is not the result you would want. So what to do?
Try using a Satin Pillowcase. They are made of a material that will not cause more frizz to your Dreads so they will look as good as new in the morning. Read one of the blogs below for more information.
Blogs
How to keep your Dreads dry in the shower
Of course you want to wash yourself more often than your Dreads. 😉 But it might seem annoying or hard to keep them dry when you do so. Especially with a full head, a shower cap might come in handy.
It is super stretchy and can fit a full head of bum length Dreads. Plus it has an adjustable elastic so once your Dreads are in you can tighten it to secure.This way you don’t have to worry about your Dreads falling out and getting wet. You can wet the Shower Cap too and your Dreads will still stay dry!
Time to take out the dreads
Removing Dreads
We recommend doing this after around 2 months. But how?! It is not as difficult as it seems. You can check one of the blogs below and the video on it.
Ps: You normally lose about 80-100 hairs a day that are still in the braids. So don’t be scared by all the hair that comes out. This is completely normal.
Aftercare for your hair
Now that your Synthetic Dreads are out, it is time to take care of your own hair. Wash your hair very thoroughly and rinse well. Put in some conditioner and comb through your hair to detangle. For some extra nourishment you can use a nice hair mask.
Aftercare for dreads
Since our Dreads are reusable it's important to give them some aftercare. Wash them (you can do it in a washing machine!) to get rid of any left over product so next time you wear them there is no build up. You can add a bit of a liquid shampoo and put them in a protective washing bag. Make sure you let them dry really well.
storing renate's locks of love
It is also very important to store your Renate's Locks of Love properly until the next use. The best way to store your Locks of Love is of course in our Locks of Love Storage bag, but there are other options which you can read in one of the blogs below.
What happens now?
Your Dreads are taken out, washed and dry. You start to feel the itch in your mind to get them installed again. The question is: can you do it right away?
We recommend not to. The Dreads are reusable so it means of course you can wear them again, but give yourself a couple days, maybe a week or two at least. Your scalp will thank you for the break and will be all ready for the new install after the resting period 🤎
Make sure to enjoy your Locks of Love! I would love to see your look so don’t forget to tag @dreadshop in your photos!
-X- Renate