Dreadlocks and the crochet hook

Yet again, as with anything I write in regards to dreadlocks (unlike other topics I may write about) everything here is based upon my experience growing and helping other grow dreadlocks (for want of better wording) through all stages of the process.

NOTE THIS IS NOT A GUIDE ON HOW TO USE THE CROCHET HOOK... THERE ARE PLENTY OF HOW TO'S ON IT OUT THERE ALREADY!!!

The crochet hook is probably one of the biggest controversies within the Caucasian dread lock community. Some say it tears hairs from the locks, other swear by it and hail it as the MUST HAVE tool for maintaining neat locks. I myself have been on both sides of the debate but think I have finally found out what about crocheting is causing the 2 different opinions!

There is ALLOT on line regarding maintaining dreadlocks with a crochet hook and a majority of it depicts the hook as doing more good than bad to your dreads. The basics of it from my experiences is its a fantastic tool to use to pull loose hairs into the dread lock, making them look neater and in theory lock faster. I can imagine most, if not all people, that decide to grow locks purely for fashion purposes would spend at least some time researching how to keep their locks looking neat, particularly in the early stages, I know I did. Most of the techniques you come across for this do no harm to your dreads such as, tip rubbing, root rubbing, palm/finger rolling etc... and you are encouraged to get into the habit of doing these things as much as possible. Then you come across the crochet hook and its many wonders, neatening up the body, some of the root, and also the tip of each dread. What is not so clear is that while for the moment you are using and for a short time after, the crochet hook will make your dreads more than likely feel and most definitely look neater but, and especially in the earlier stages, the hook is doing long term damage to your dreads.

I first used the crochet hook in my towards the end of my baby dread stage, would have probably been sooner if I was able to get my hands on one sooner. Feeling the hairs being pulled in as I was using the hook was almost elating, thinking I had found the answer to all my dread worries, but now almost a year later I have a few dreads that are limp, have weak spots , feel and look completely different to the rest of them, all thanks to my misuse of the crochet hook. At first I thought this was due to the fact I had tried a few different techniques to set my dreads and have dreads of various thickness's. But now as I have put down the hook mid session, I realised where I went wrong. I used the bloody thing too early in my dreads life. Back then there wasn't enough mature dread to hold the hair I was pulling in in place, so after a bit of movement and the wind getting to them, the hairs I had worked on had come out again, so I would use the hook again, but each time YOU ARE tearing hairs, if only a few, and losing hairs in the early stages is one of the worse things for dreads. Another problem is ITS ADDICTIVE, if you can feel first hand the hairs pulling into the dread, you know its making them look healthier, and so can be hard to stop. A few sources will tell you to only use the hook after you dreads hit the 'teen' stage if not later, I would say to not use a hook until a year has passed at least, just to be safe. Tearing hairs once your dreads have matured a bit is still something you don't want, but is something the dreads will be able to cope with allot better as some to most of the broken hairs will remain within the dread (if you didn't know you clearly haven't researched enough, but broken hairs WILL occur in dreads, they are part of what makes a dread a dread).

Always remember to gently palm/finger roll as you crochet your dreadlocks to prevent too much hair gathering in one area creating those lumpy looking dreads, unless of course that's what your going for!

Another point, watch out for the moron posting videos to YouTube showing you how to devastate your dreads with a crochet hook but telling you its the correct method, I wont mention this guys username. He is almost using the right technique, but instructing you to pull the crochet in and out of the dread rapidly but this in reality is causing more harm than good, regardless of the age of your dreads. Also don't be ripped of by people/companies selling 'special dread lock maintenance/neatening/tightening tools' most of these are just crochet hooks with fancy names at far higher prices. I pay £1.20 for a standard crochet hook from a local shop that specialises in sewing and knitting supplies, and it does the job perfectly well.

As I haven't clearly stated yet, DON'T use a crochet until your dreads have at least a little more than a little maturity to them.