nothingwhat . re/flekt

Hair FAQ

Welcome to the Hair FAQ. Below is the list of questions this FAQ answers. Click on any question to jump to that question's answer. If you don't find your answer here, try the custom info page or the nothingwhatfaq, or send an email to lain @ nothingwhat . net.

Do you make custom hairpieces/extensions?
Can you re-seal/de-frizz/modify my dreadlocks?
Why is my quote's price different than the pricing chart?
Can you install my extensions/dread my real hair for me? How long can I keep my extensions in for?
What can I do to make my roots look good for longer?
How do i wash dread extensions?
How do I care for extensions and falls?
How do you sleep on such big hair?
How do you attach dread extensions?
How do you wear falls?
What colours and materials can you make dreads from?
How do you use extensions to start real dreadlocks?
What kind of hair do i need for falls/extensions/real dreads?

Q: Do you make custom hairpieces/extensions?

A: I make many kinds of custom dreads and hairpieces. Click on the ONLINESHOP, then choose hair, then choose custom. This will bring you to a page where you can view all the colour charts, material types, and ballpark pricing info for custom ordering. Then you can opt to send me a message with your picks and ideas to receive a quote!

Q: Can you re-seal/de-frizz/modify my dreadlocks?

A: Yes i can, even if I didn't make your dreads. Check out the onlineshop for dread revamping services.

Q: Why is my custom hair quote's price different than the pricing chart?

A: If I were to make a set of 50 jumbo-sized dreadlocks that were three inches in diameter and mid-torso length, it would take about 50% more hair than a set of more standard-sized sharpie or skinny dreads. Thus the material costs on my end are greatly increased. The same can be said for extremely short dreads - the material cost can be much less and the time taken to make each dread is also decreased. Most of the time this cost is absorbed or irrelevant, but in some cases I need to make price adjustments to reflect my time and material costs. This adjustment is generally explained in the quote.

Q: Can you install my extensions/dread my real hair for me?

A: My current location is Vancouver, BC, Canada. I travel during the summer to and from the west coast, Alberta and the BC interior. During summer 2010 I will be vending at Motion Notion, Astral Harvest, and Shambhala music festivals.
,br> If that's where you'll be, then yes, I can most likely install or dread for you! Standard synth-dread or wool-dread installs (with elastics) is $30 for about 2.5 or 3 hours of braiding. installs of more than 50 dreads or with wraps overtop take longer and can cost up to $60. Dreadification of your real hair is permanent! Takes about five hours depending on your hair type, standard price is $50.

Email for appointments!

Q: How long can I keep my extensions in for?

A:Extensions can last a few days up to two months, depending mostly on your hair, the care taken of the dreads, and that they are properly installed. Everyone's head is a bit different, so use your best judgement! Remember that extensions are entirely reusable - so if you're noticing your dreads are growing out, look silly, or are dreading into your roots quite a bit - take them out! Give your hair a few weeks' rest at least, and re-attach your dreads later.

Q:What can I do to make my roots look good for longer?

A: When your extensions start to loosen and grow out, you can take a matching colour of yarn or embroidery thread and wrap it around the dread, starting tight from the roots. This wrap is something I do often just because it looks cool and it covers the transition from hair to dread, but it's also handy for extending the life of your dreads! You can also bend and work the braid with your fingers to lengthen and tighten it.

Real dreads come with a trickbook all their own... For this one I'll be referring you back to Google!

Q: How do i wash dread extensions?

A: When dreads get wet, they are very heavy and can take hours to dry! So just like real dreadlocks, it's best not to soak your whole dread-head every time you shower. Wash your scalp and fringe every few days, and give the rest a good dunk much less often. You'll find it's more than enough unless you're rolling round in the dirt.

Tie up your dreads to keep them out of your way while you shower or bath. An easy method is to take the top half of your hair, split it in two like pigtails, and tie the two halves together in a single knot. Then take the bottom half, split it, pull it up and over top of the first knot, and do the same knot with this bottom section. Now tuck in your loose ends. You can also do this trick by splitting into three big sections. Now you can wash your fringe, face and neck and rinse while keeping your hair dry.You can make some soap or shampoo bubbles, and rinse them back through your roots. My favorite tool for washing dreads is a solid shampoo bar or soap bar. You can easily get at your roots with the bar and it creates much more bubbles and goodness than shampoo. Really it will take a few tries to get it right!!

The fastest way to dry any kind of dreads is, without question, sunlight! When that's unavailable, air-drying is the safest way for any dreads. squeeze them out and rest them on a towel for a short while to take the weight off your scalp. Lots of movement and airflow underneath them is helpful. If you must blowdry, use only the absolute lowest setting, no heat whatsoever! And even then be careful! Wool dreads will be more okay to blowdry, but take care not to blast your roots.

Keep in mind that hot water causes wool fibers to open up, which make them more dreadable. So when you wash your extensions make sure to use only lukewarm, not hot, water. Same goes for synthetic dreads, especially curls, because steam will cause them to relax. Also be sure not to scrub the extensions into your hair and scalp while they are wet, as this will encourage them to dread!

Lastly, don't sleep on wet dreads. You'll wake up with the itchiest head imaginable!

Q:How do I care for extensions and falls?

A: Wool and synth dreads can fray or snag over time, so try to be nice to them. However, when damage is done, it's generally repairable. Re-steaming and sealing synthetic dreads will tighten them, and re-felting wool dreads will de-fuzz them. Synthetic dreads can also be curled and uncurled. Wool dreads can be curled, uncurled, crinkled, or uncrinkled. All of these methods require steamy water and some skill. I provide dread revamping services, which can be ordered through the onlineshop!

All dreads are hand-washable with gentle soap, dish detegent, et al. Do not machine wash your dreads, especially wool ones!

All extensions tend to go through itchy phases, especially around the ten-day/two-week point. Make a spritz or rinse from peppermint tea and tea tree for your scalp. Knotty Boy makes amazing scalp spray if you don't wish to try making it yourself. Also, just like when you have an insect bite, don't give into the temptation to scratch away constantly at your head. You'll end up with an irritated scalp, frizzies, and a worse itch than you started with. :p

Q: How do you sleep with such big hair?

A: Make friends with your dreads. Instead of pushing them back, try using them as a pillow. Pull them over one shoulder or flip them over your head. Experiment. This way they won't pull on your scalp.

Q: How do you attach dread extensions?

A: Basically, the center of each double-ended piece is secured to your head and the hair is braided or criss-crossed down one side of the dread. Single-ended dreads have one loop at the top and are attached very similarly.

Google and Youtube will happily provide more info!

Q: How do you wear falls?

A: Falls are attached to elastics, ribbons, elastic strips, or similar. By default, I attach falls to a doubled-up elastic with a braided strand on each side, which seems to be the easiest and most durable.

First put up your hair in a ponytail, pigtails, or bun. Then , making sure the fall is centered over the front and top of the ponytail, wrap the elastic around your hair or tie the strings/ribbons underneath.

From here you can do several things. Hairpins (the open style, not bobbies) are useful to secure a few strands to your real hair to keep them it covered. Another handy trick is the crossover... With your falls in high pigtails, take one or two strands from the front of each fall, then cross them over your head, around the opposite fall, and tie them together underneath or secure them with pins.. like this:

Your falls will be a million times more secure, and this makes them look much more like a full dreadhead. Now you can cross over more dreads, tie them into each other, and all kinds of fun stuff.

If your hair is very short or thin, another option is to attach the two falls to each other with their elastics, sit the whole operation on top of your head, and then loop them around pigtails, clip them in place, or use a headband or scarf to secure them.

You can also use a pair of falls as an underlayer of extensions, simply by flattening it and pinning like clips, explained in the next question....

Google and Youtube will happily provide more info!

Q: How do you wear clips?

A: Wig (or weave) clips are rectangular and snap closed and open like contour clips, but have teeth built into them, so they have ninja grip. You choose the spot where you want the dreads to start, section off the hair above it, slide the clip downwards into your hair and push it closed. You can also tease the roots of your hair where the clip will be to prevent slippage.

Dreads on bobby pins or any kind of clip can be worn in a multitude of ways... clipped directly to short hair as pigtails, attached under layers of hair in front of the ears or low on the head, tied into ponytails and then knotted and wrapped into an updo with real hair or dreads... Again the key to this is experimenting!

You can also clip a pair of falls underneath your hair, simply by flattening it and pinning it on with wig clips, bobby pins, or contour clips!

And Google and Youtube will happily provide more info!

Q: What colours and materials can you make dreads from?

A:Refer to the custom info page.

Q: Can you use extensions to start real dreadlocks?

A: You certainly can! Use single-ended extensions (only one single dread per section) and have at least three or four inches of hair to start with. Over time your hair will dread into the extension, especially if wool is used. Then you just need to maintain your roots. You can clip and re-tip the extensions as they grow out if you wish, or remove them once your dreads have started to really lock at the roots and let the tips dread themselves. You can hook synthetic hair or wool through real baby dreads and then dread them directly over your real dreads to extend them.

Q:what kind of hair do i need for falls/extensions/real dreads?

A: To wear falls or extensions, your hair needs to be about three inches long or longer. Any hair type can be dreaded or wear falls and extensions. However medium to thick, curly or crinkly hair is the easiest with which to make natural dreadlocks. Heavily layered hair will require a bit more skill to install extensions on. Weak or brittle hair may damage under the repeated weight of very large or tightly installed dreadlocks, so always be careful and keep an eye on your tresses! :]

Extensions can also be installed in a few different ways on natural dreadlocks, and can actually help tighten and knot your roots. They can also lengthen or help new dreads get started, for those of us who are impatient!



	choose one . nothingwhatfaq / hairfaq / links
	choose one . nothingwhatfaq / hairfaq / links
	Hair FAQ Welcome to the Hair FAQ. Below is the list of questions this FAQ answers. Click on any question to jump to that question's answer. If you don't find your answer here, try the custom info page or the nothingwhatfaq, or send an email to lain @ nothingwhat . net. Do you make custom hairpieces/extensions? Can you re-seal/de-frizz/modify my dreadlocks? Why is my quote's price different than the pricing chart? Can you install my extensions/dread my real hair for me? How long can I keep my extensions in for? What can I do to make my roots look good for longer? How do i wash dread extensions? How do I care for extensions and falls? How do you sleep on such big hair? How do you attach dread extensions? How do you wear falls? What colours and materials can you make dreads from? How do you use extensions to start real dreadlocks? What kind of hair do i need for falls/extensions/real dreads? Q: Do you make custom hairpieces/extensions? A: I make many kinds of custom dreads and hairpieces. Click on the ONLINESHOP, then choose hair, then choose custom. This will bring you to a page where you can view all the colour charts, material types, and ballpark pricing info for custom ordering. Then you can opt to send me a message with your picks and ideas to receive a quote! Q: Can you re-seal/de-frizz/modify my dreadlocks? A: Yes i can, even if I didn't make your dreads. Check out the onlineshop for dread revamping services. Q: Why is my custom hair quote's price different than the pricing chart? A: If I were to make a set of 50 jumbo-sized dreadlocks that were three inches in diameter and mid-torso length, it would take about 50% more hair than a set of more standard-sized sharpie or skinny dreads. Thus the material costs on my end are greatly increased. The same can be said for extremely short dreads - the material cost can be much less and the time taken to make each dread is also decreased. Most of the time this cost is absorbed or irrelevant, but in some cases I need to make price adjustments to reflect my time and material costs. This adjustment is generally explained in the quote. Q: Can you install my extensions/dread my real hair for me? A: My current location is Vancouver, BC, Canada. I travel during the summer to and from the west coast, Alberta and the BC interior. During summer 2010 I will be vending at Motion Notion, Astral Harvest, and Shambhala music festivals. ,br> If that's where you'll be, then yes, I can most likely install or dread for you! Standard synth-dread or wool-dread installs (with elastics) is $30 for about 2.5 or 3 hours of braiding. installs of more than 50 dreads or with wraps overtop take longer and can cost up to $60. Dreadification of your real hair is permanent! Takes about five hours depending on your hair type, standard price is $50. Email for appointments! Q: How long can I keep my extensions in for? A:Extensions can last a few days up to two months, depending mostly on your hair, the care taken of the dreads, and that they are properly installed. Everyone's head is a bit different, so use your best judgement! Remember that extensions are entirely reusable - so if you're noticing your dreads are growing out, look silly, or are dreading into your roots quite a bit - take them out! Give your hair a few weeks' rest at least, and re-attach your dreads later. Q:What can I do to make my roots look good for longer? A: When your extensions start to loosen and grow out, you can take a matching colour of yarn or embroidery thread and wrap it around the dread, starting tight from the roots. This wrap is something I do often just because it looks cool and it covers the transition from hair to dread, but it's also handy for extending the life of your dreads! You can also bend and work the braid with your fingers to lengthen and tighten it. Real dreads come with a trickbook all their own... For this one I'll be referring you back to Google! Q: How do i wash dread extensions? A: When dreads get wet, they are very heavy and can take hours to dry! So just like real dreadlocks, it's best not to soak your whole dread-head every time you shower. Wash your scalp and fringe every few days, and give the rest a good dunk much less often. You'll find it's more than enough unless you're rolling round in the dirt. Tie up your dreads to keep them out of your way while you shower or bath. An easy method is to take the top half of your hair, split it in two like pigtails, and tie the two halves together in a single knot. Then take the bottom half, split it, pull it up and over top of the first knot, and do the same knot with this bottom section. Now tuck in your loose ends. You can also do this trick by splitting into three big sections. Now you can wash your fringe, face and neck and rinse while keeping your hair dry.You can make some soap or shampoo bubbles, and rinse them back through your roots. My favorite tool for washing dreads is a solid shampoo bar or soap bar. You can easily get at your roots with the bar and it creates much more bubbles and goodness than shampoo. Really it will take a few tries to get it right!! The fastest way to dry any kind of dreads is, without question, sunlight! When that's unavailable, air-drying is the safest way for any dreads. squeeze them out and rest them on a towel for a short while to take the weight off your scalp. Lots of movement and airflow underneath them is helpful. If you must blowdry, use only the absolute lowest setting, no heat whatsoever! And even then be careful! Wool dreads will be more okay to blowdry, but take care not to blast your roots. Keep in mind that hot water causes wool fibers to open up, which make them more dreadable. So when you wash your extensions make sure to use only lukewarm, not hot, water. Same goes for synthetic dreads, especially curls, because steam will cause them to relax. Also be sure not to scrub the extensions into your hair and scalp while they are wet, as this will encourage them to dread! Lastly, don't sleep on wet dreads. You'll wake up with the itchiest head imaginable! Q:How do I care for extensions and falls? A: Wool and synth dreads can fray or snag over time, so try to be nice to them. However, when damage is done, it's generally repairable. Re-steaming and sealing synthetic dreads will tighten them, and re-felting wool dreads will de-fuzz them. Synthetic dreads can also be curled and uncurled. Wool dreads can be curled, uncurled, crinkled, or uncrinkled. All of these methods require steamy water and some skill. I provide dread revamping services, which can be ordered through the onlineshop! All dreads are hand-washable with gentle soap, dish detegent, et al. Do not machine wash your dreads, especially wool ones! All extensions tend to go through itchy phases, especially around the ten-day/two-week point. Make a spritz or rinse from peppermint tea and tea tree for your scalp. Knotty Boy makes amazing scalp spray if you don't wish to try making it yourself. Also, just like when you have an insect bite, don't give into the temptation to scratch away constantly at your head. You'll end up with an irritated scalp, frizzies, and a worse itch than you started with. :p Q: How do you sleep with such big hair? A: Make friends with your dreads. Instead of pushing them back, try using them as a pillow. Pull them over one shoulder or flip them over your head. Experiment. This way they won't pull on your scalp. Q: How do you attach dread extensions? A: Basically, the center of each double-ended piece is secured to your head and the hair is braided or criss-crossed down one side of the dread. Single-ended dreads have one loop at the top and are attached very similarly. Google and Youtube will happily provide more info! Q: How do you wear falls? A: Falls are attached to elastics, ribbons, elastic strips, or similar. By default, I attach falls to a doubled-up elastic with a braided strand on each side, which seems to be the easiest and most durable. First put up your hair in a ponytail, pigtails, or bun. Then , making sure the fall is centered over the front and top of the ponytail, wrap the elastic around your hair or tie the strings/ribbons underneath. From here you can do several things. Hairpins (the open style, not bobbies) are useful to secure a few strands to your real hair to keep them it covered. Another handy trick is the crossover... With your falls in high pigtails, take one or two strands from the front of each fall, then cross them over your head, around the opposite fall, and tie them together underneath or secure them with pins.. like this: Your falls will be a million times more secure, and this makes them look much more like a full dreadhead. Now you can cross over more dreads, tie them into each other, and all kinds of fun stuff. If your hair is very short or thin, another option is to attach the two falls to each other with their elastics, sit the whole operation on top of your head, and then loop them around pigtails, clip them in place, or use a headband or scarf to secure them. You can also use a pair of falls as an underlayer of extensions, simply by flattening it and pinning like clips, explained in the next question.... Google and Youtube will happily provide more info! Q: How do you wear clips? A: Wig (or weave) clips are rectangular and snap closed and open like contour clips, but have teeth built into them, so they have ninja grip. You choose the spot where you want the dreads to start, section off the hair above it, slide the clip downwards into your hair and push it closed. You can also tease the roots of your hair where the clip will be to prevent slippage. Dreads on bobby pins or any kind of clip can be worn in a multitude of ways... clipped directly to short hair as pigtails, attached under layers of hair in front of the ears or low on the head, tied into ponytails and then knotted and wrapped into an updo with real hair or dreads... Again the key to this is experimenting! You can also clip a pair of falls underneath your hair, simply by flattening it and pinning it on with wig clips, bobby pins, or contour clips! And Google and Youtube will happily provide more info! Q: What colours and materials can you make dreads from? A:Refer to the custom info page. Q: Can you use extensions to start real dreadlocks? A: You certainly can! Use single-ended extensions (only one single dread per section) and have at least three or four inches of hair to start with. Over time your hair will dread into the extension, especially if wool is used. Then you just need to maintain your roots. You can clip and re-tip the extensions as they grow out if you wish, or remove them once your dreads have started to really lock at the roots and let the tips dread themselves. You can hook synthetic hair or wool through real baby dreads and then dread them directly over your real dreads to extend them. Q:what kind of hair do i need for falls/extensions/real dreads? A: To wear falls or extensions, your hair needs to be about three inches long or longer. Any hair type can be dreaded or wear falls and extensions. However medium to thick, curly or crinkly hair is the easiest with which to make natural dreadlocks. Heavily layered hair will require a bit more skill to install extensions on. Weak or brittle hair may damage under the repeated weight of very large or tightly installed dreadlocks, so always be careful and keep an eye on your tresses! :] Extensions can also be installed in a few different ways on natural dreadlocks, and can actually help tighten and knot your roots. They can also lengthen or help new dreads get started, for those of us who are impatient!