dreadlocks and surfing

[niallhills]

Do any of u know if it is hard to keep control of dreadlocks or if it is bad for them if you surf?

at the minute i surf and am thinkin of getting dreads but not sure if its the best idea??

please only post if you have or have had dreads,or know someone who has had them!

thanks

[paulS]

I had dreads years ago, getting them wet wasn't a problem, as long as you use wax...

[ginat]

Do any of u know if it is hard to keep control of dreadlocks or if it is bad for them if you surf?

at the minute i surf and am thinkin of getting dreads but not sure if its the best idea??

please only post if you have or have had dreads,or know someone who has had them!

thanks

isaluteyou has them and he surfs all the time. Must be okay. Maybe he'll see your post and let you know about maintenance issues.

[drowningbitbybit]

I know a couple of people who surf/have surfed with dreads - it was never a problem for them.

[Bewilderbeast]

Nah, there's no real problem with dreads and surfing. I had dreads for years and it was never an issue.

If thats your bag dude, go for it!

[tomcat360]

I've seen some guys who will like use two of the outer ones and tie them back. Looks soooo awesome!

[Bewilderbeast]

I've seen some guys who will like use two of the outer ones and tie them back. Looks soooo awesome!

Yep, i used to do that!

Never short of a hair band!

[PapaW]

Best ting you cn dofor them.. the salt water does it good.

[Milo]

A mate had them years ago, never surfed, did not want to get them wet. Fag

[isaluteyou]

I have dreadlocks and surf everyday. Salt water is good for them keeps them clean.

The only weird thing is i had jet black hair but since i started surfing my dreads have been sun bleached blonde

If you are just getting dreads i wouldnt go surfing for at least a month until they are better formed. The actual salt water will help them form as salt water is sticky so it acts as a natural wax matting the hair. But this only really benefits when your dreads have form and arent all fluffy

[dougirwin13]

Got a few friends who surf and have dreads and have also spent dozens of hours researching dreads on the net so I'll have a go

Ocean water is your friend! It tends to keep them clean and increase the time between washes - like if you surf every day or two you probably won't need to wash them more than once or twice a year. If your dreads are new you need to give them a chance to lock up before you get them too wet. If you get them using the backcombing and wax method they'll look a lot like dreads within 6 hours or so, but you won't want to get them wet for a week or two... And will be best off keeping them out of the ocean (which is more than a gentle wash when you wipe out) for three or four weeks.

If you surf regularly with dreads they'll tend to bleach... You can reduce that a bit with a fresh water rinse when you get out (fresh water shower is ace).

This is all just my 2c based on discussion and research - but I don't have dreads so YMMV.

-doug

[justloafing]

The actual salt water will help them form as salt water is sticky so it acts as a natural wax matting the hair.

So is that what us Americans call "Nappy Heads"?

You may have to live in the US to understand that one.

[isaluteyou]

won't need to wash them more than once or twice a year

I havnt washed my hair in 10 years

the best method for dreads for a caucation is backcombing and wax. They will look like dreads in a few hours but it will take a month or so before they are stable and around 3-4 months before they are locked tight.

Oh and dont get dreads if you ahve really short hair or really long hair its better to have a medium sized mop as it allows the dreads to grow into them if you start off too long the dreads will be too weak too short and theres not enough hair to matt.

[niallhills]

thanks guys...

bt wats a medium length hair, like 4 inches or so?

also, isaluteyou, did u do ur dreads urself, or get them done at a 'salon'

thanks

[DreadManFred]

i know this is an old topic,. but i just got dreads about a month and a half ago. ive washed it twice, i know thats bad, once at the salon and once at home with sea salt and some beez wax in a spray bottle.

the best part about having some beez wax in the spray bottle, is that whne you are air drying or blow drying your hair, the wax gets intense and makes it so much easier to twist.

does anybody have calluses(sp?) on their index finger and thumb from twisting?

[isaluteyou]

Nothing wrong with washing hair as long as you dont use condition or the shop brought shampoo as they tend to be oily and oil for the most part is the enemy of the matting process.

In fact a weekly wash with salt water is actually beneficial. Or you can get dread shampoo. Trick is not to wash the hair roughly.

Ah the index finger pain Been there

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

I don't have dreads, but I have long hair and it's a pain in the butt when I'm surfing. I'm not glamorous enough to pull off a Halle Berry haircut but I'd bet it would be a lot more functional.

[DreadManFred]

Ah the index finger pain Been there

ya it doesnt hurt anymore hehe.

so is surfing everyday ok then? my tips are locked, but the roots arent. i dunno what i should do. rubber band them?

[JoseAFI]

I have pretty long dreads myself and they KILL my peripheral vision like its hard to look over my shoulder and see the wave (just started surfing recently).
I'll try a tie but I'm wondering if I'll have to bite the bullet and rock a mowhawk again!