Double ended dreadlocks extensions?

[Moana.the.mermaid]

Anyone ever use double ended dreadlocks extensions? I just bought a bunch but my husband will be putting them in my hair so I'm wondering how easy they are to put in. How long did yours last? Did it help your hair form natural dreads as they grew out?

much love, one love - Moana

[Miyu]

I'm a dreadlock artist/loctician, and I've made/used nearly every type of dreadlock extension there is. DEs are a bit finicky to learn to install sometimes, but once you learn how they go fairly quickly. I definitely like the look of DEs as opposed to SEs (DEs look "fuller", but the issue with DEs is that after a week or more of wear, when it's not so snug against your scalp, it can start to look funny, like you have one dread split into two :p

I wouldn't leave DEs in long enough for your hair to start dreading, because of that "split dread" issue - SEs are better for leaving in for long periods of time, especially if you're looking to help your hair start dreading. The other option is to actually dread your hair and attach extensions to the end in a completely different manner (not braided in, but 'locked/"sewn" in). I've done that method many many times, and it works like a charm if you use the right method to 'loc your hair up as a base. I've went from pixie cut to mid-back-length dreads that way several times, and done it for some of my clients as well.

If you're looking to NOT form dreads as you wear them... Just don't leave them in for months and you'll be fine (unless your hair is prone to dreading, in which case you want to keep your natural hair greased up with coconut oil or something and take the dreads out after a shorter time) :)

I have around a decade's worth of experience with dreads of all types, always happy to chat about them! Hope this helps!

[Moana.the.mermaid]

Is there a way to "sew" my hair into the DE without pre-'locing it? I ask because I've been no poo for over two years, so my hair has a lot of natural grease that will make it hard to dread, manually. That's why I want to opt for the natural dread stuff, but I feel like it would take too long with my hair.

much love, one love - Moana

[Yulia]

Well synthetic DEs are not really something you use when you want your natural hair to become dreadlocks, they are a substitute. If you want to have natural dreadlocks you probably want either SEs to extend your already started dreadlocks.
As far as my knowledge goes you can't sew in DEs in your hair.
If your hair is short you can have your DEs braided in your hair until it has grown long enough to start dreading it.
1.5-2 months is the recommended time to have synthetic dreads in your hair before taking them out and rebraiding them.

[Miyu]

I had a client order some DEs that the artist cut in half to make into SEs to sew/lock into her hair... But to sew in, you really do need to have established dreads (whether that be through age or by using a very good locking method that creates "tight/mature" dreads to start off with. To extend any sort of natural dreads, you really want SEs of some kind, because the extra end of the DEs can create a very funny-looking "join" area, not to mention the extra limb :P

I have been poo-free for many years now, and I kept my dreadlocks grease-free. You really have to have clean hair to get good dreads - grease lubricates/conditions hair and basically keeps it from locking properly... Plus it can build up in there and get manky. I have a greasy scalp - thanks, Italian genetics! - and when I had dreads I would wash often with a bit of baking soda mixed in with Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap and water... Then after I rinsed that I would use some apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and water (sometimes some extra essential oils), and I would put massage that on my scalp and leave it for a few minutes, then rinse... Happy, clean, grease-free dreads! A bit of salt water spray also does wonders to dry up greasy dreads :)

I really wish we lived closer, because I can 'lock up just about any hair, and I have plenty of experience with moisturized/oily, hard-to-dread hair (like I said, I have oily scalp and I've taken in/taken out so many sets of dreads I have a hard time keeping track any more - usually at least once a year).

[Moana.the.mermaid]

I had a client order some DEs that the artist cut in half to make into SEs to sew/lock into her hair... But to sew in, you really do need to have established dreads (whether that be through age or by using a very good locking method that creates "tight/mature" dreads to start off with. To extend any sort of natural dreads, you really want SEs of some kind, because the extra end of the DEs can create a very funny-looking "join" area, not to mention the extra limb [emoji14]

I have been poo-free for many years now, and I kept my dreadlocks grease-free. You really have to have clean hair to get good dreads - grease lubricates/conditions hair and basically keeps it from locking properly... Plus it can build up in there and get manky. I have a greasy scalp - thanks, Italian genetics! - and when I had dreads I would wash often with a bit of baking soda mixed in with Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap and water... Then after I rinsed that I would use some apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and water (sometimes some extra essential oils), and I would put massage that on my scalp and leave it for a few minutes, then rinse... Happy, clean, grease-free dreads! A bit of salt water spray also does wonders to dry up greasy dreads :)

I really wish we lived closer, because I can 'lock up just about any hair, and I have plenty of experience with moisturized/oily, hard-to-dread hair (like I said, I have oily scalp and I've taken in/taken out so many sets of dreads I have a hard time keeping track any more - usually at least once a year).

I wish you lived closer too! :) I've been water only, but transitioning back to acid only, so my hair is very slick and smooth. I'm also Italian American, so I get it, lol. My face is a constant greaseball and I consisting scritch and preen to distribute the sebum off my scalp.

I'll have to look into transitioning back to base/acid wash, like bs/acv, with salt spray. Maybe that could help dread my hair.

much love, one love - Moana