I have dreadlocks and would really like to colour them, but I have no idea how… Any suggestions?
Brian Warfield, ethnic hair specialist at Tanaz Hair, responds:
“Dyeing dreads is a challenge, even for a hairstylist. The problem with dreads is their thickness. Getting enough product into each lock requires more product. Then there is the matter of product build-up on the hair. Because of the thickness of each strand, removing the wax on the hair can be challenging as it is the wax that initially causes the hair to bind together so it can lock. This wax saturates the hair each time it’s twisted and is inside the lock as well as on the outside. It coats the hair and is difficult to remove even with cleansing shampoos. In the salon when you want to colour dreads you have to use bleach to cut through the wax because colour on it’s own will not penetrate that wax, so to attempt it at home with just colour may prove to be frustrating. I would recommend that you go to a reputable salon that has the right products needed to cut through the wax to get your hair coloured.”
Do you have a question for Brian? Ask it here.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Best SA salons
How to: Care for your loss
What an at-home oil treatment can do for you
Do you know how to talk about your hair?
How to: Detangle your natural hair
