The 5 Stages of Dread-Locking

3 to 6 months: The early stages of your baby's dreads

The starter phase is the baby stage of your locs' development and can last 3-6 months. The duration depends on your hair type and how quickly it grows, but the most important factor here is that your hair, from roots to ends, is able to adjust to this new shape. Hairs quickly escape, forming a film over your dreadlocks. Starter locs are easy to recognize because they are usually small, frizzy, fluffy, and easy to press in. We therefore recommend having these loose hairs tucked back in after the first 3 months.

This happens again, when your baby dreads are 6 months old.

6 to 12 months: the toddler phase of your dreadlocks. Now you'll notice your dreadlocks getting heavier and you'll also notice new hair growth. The first few centimeters are a fact. Your dreads will develop harder bits and slowly begin to felt. This doesn't happen all at once! Felting happens in stages. Gradually, your dreads will develop more and more harder, felted bits. Your dreads can become a bit thicker during this time. But they also do what they want. Again, this depends on your hair structure.

Did you have curly or wavy hair before? You're now starting to notice the first bumps, lumps, and snags in your dreads.

Did you have straight hair before? Then you'll still see a lot of loose hair and clumps around your dreads. These have escaped from the compartments and need to be tucked back in.

12 to 15 months: The teenage phase of your dreadlocks. Some call this the maturing phase, while others see it as the ugly phase, but it all depends on how you look at it. It's the exciting time when your dreadlocks become felted and truly start to look like dreadlocs, as they've swollen to almost twice their original size. People often think this is the adult stage of their dreadlocks, but we're not there yet! This phase can last a long time, up to a year. Your dreadlocks become completely felted from tip to core. But they can also start to shrink! During the matting phase, your dreadlocks undergo a lot of changes in their structure.

They hope for, and this is where the shrinkage comes from.

15 to 18 months: Maturity stage of your dreadlocks

Your dreadlocks have now matured considerably! They are denser, heavier, and can no longer be pinched. They grow well and are noticeably longer, with minimal frizz. This mature phase lasts approximately one to two years, but the rate at which your locks grow depends on your hair texture, your haircare regimen, and the products you use. You'll know you've reached the mature phase when your locks no longer change in texture.

They are as they are.

You've been through the fluff, cringe, and rebellious phase!

from 18 months: Rooted phase of your dreadlocks.

This phase is related to hair loss, and it occurs after the second year. Your dreadlocks become thinner because they simply can't hold all the hair that normally falls out. Normally, by this time, your dreadlocks should all have grown to the same length and will feel heavier and thinner at the same time. At this stage, they are already much longer than when they were first put in! After a few years of wearing your locs, it's likely that some dreads will develop thinner patches and may start to wear out. By caring for your locs and being consistent, you can minimize the signs of aging.