I see you have a dreadlocks section in the gallery so I thought maybe if people with dreadlocks join the forum they might like some info.
Dyeing dreads isn't the same as dyeing normal hair, for starters dreads drink dye like crazy so you need almost twice as much as you would for normal hair of the same length. Also with "ordinary" dyes dreads don't reflect the light so the colour doesn't always work out like the colour on the packet. I recently discovered that with Stargazer dye this isn't the case.
If you're going to use dye on dreads here's some tips for you:
1) Make sure your dreads aren't new - dyeing dreads before they're 6 months old can damage them beyond repair.
2) Double the amount of dye you would normally use for hair the same length as yours as the dreads need to have the dye worked right in which uses more dye than normal.
3) If you're going for a vibrant colour it's best to bleach your dreads first, again use twice as much as normal hair.
When you get to the actual dyeing process remember, it's gonna get messy! The best way to work dye into dreads is to "palm roll" them like you do when you're making dreads in the first place. This is exactly what it sounds like. You take a dread in your hand and roll it between the palms of both hands, this helps keep the dread rounded and also works in the dye really well. Personally I load up my palms with dye and roll the dread into it while squeezing tight to get the dye right in. This can cause your hands to cramp after a while if your dreads are long so be prepared.
Long dreads flick around like they have a life of their own so you and your bathroom are at risk of those little flick off drops, make sure your bathroom is as well covered as you are!
Don't forget the base of your hair. It's easy to concentrate on your dreads and forget the roots. Because the sections can be quite thick, depending on the size of your dreads, it may be difficult to work the dye all the way through to the centre section at the base but I use this chance to give myself a thorough head massage to get all the colour in.
I've always used standard dyes on my hair but I've always fancied being bright pink. Because of the lack of light coming through dreads, normal dyes looked flat and even the brightest ginger colors just looked like a dirty brown. I decided to be brave and use Stargazer "Shocking Pink" and my dreads are incredibly bright! I was so shocked at the results. I honestly expected a dark pink result, not the beautiful luminous brightness that I ended up with.
I love my dreads even more than I did before and I just wanted to say to anyone else with dreads that you shouldn't be afraid to try bright colour dyes. The right ones will work on your hair and if you check out the
Beeunique dreadlocks gallery you'll see the results for yourself.
~ Matty xx
