Curly hair holds an allure for those pursuing dreadlocks. However, curly hair comes in many textures and not all curl patterns lead to ideal dreadlocking or hair growth.
Understanding your curl type, porosity, density and other factors can help determine if curly hair supports or hinders your dread journey. Proper maintenance and care also play key roles in the hair growth process. Arm yourself with information before deciding if curly hair achieves the dreadlocked style and locks longevity you seek.
What Curl Types Best Suit Dreadlocks?
Not all curls dread well or encourage length retention for dreadlocks. Hair typing systems help categorize curl patterns to understand compatibility.
Does Curly Hair Lock Faster Than Straight Hair?
Curly hair’s texture allows quicker knotting and tangling during the initial dreadlocking process. The coils and waves provide a jumpstart on reaching the matted, sectioned look unique to dreadlocks hair.
However, straight hair can form established dreadlocks faster long-term. Without proper maintenance, curly hair’s texture loosens more readily overtime, requiring repeated tightening.
Well-maintained straight hair locks tighten faster as roots mature, resisting loosening. Proper care for both straight and curly dreads achieves better results.
Locking Speed By Hair Type
| Hair Type | Locking Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Straight | 4-8 months |
| Wavy | 2-6 months |
| Curly | 1-4 months |
Curly hair has types 3B–4C best achieve dreadlocks.
Type 3B features spiral curls ranging from a sharpie’s width up to pinky size. These springy ringlets retain definition when stretched straight.
Type 3C demonstrates corkscrew coils packing tightly together. Strands showcase a zig-zag pattern when extended.
Type 4 hair represents the tightest curl patterns. 4A contains tightly coiled spirals forming ringlets and 4B shrinks extremely, with less definition.
4C showcases such tight kinks retaining little spiral or coil shape at all when shrunken. Instead, Z-shaped kinks and sharp angles remain defining characteristics.
All three patterns mentioned readily tangle and knot — important factors for dreadlocks to establish on curly hair.
Does Type 4 Hair Lock Better Than Type 3?
There is little difference dreading type 3B–4C hair. However, type 4C’s brittle texture remains the most prone to breakage during the dreadlocking process.
Creating small, thin dreadlocks allows 4C hair to better withstand manipulation. Overall, type 3C may achieve slightly more voluminous dreadlocks more easily. But all three curl patterns work well.
Straight type 1-2 hair lacks enough texture for dreadlocks to properly form or tighten over time. Occasionally, type 2 waves or curls can successfully lock if coarse or thick enough.
Why Do Curly Dreads Loosen Faster?
Curly hair’s texture allows quicker, initial knotting forming dreadlocks. But the spirals and coils also unwind faster long term.
Factors For Loosening Curly Dreads
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Humectants | Curly hair retains more moisture, humidity relaxes curls |
| Shrinkage | Coils and curls retract when wet or dry |
| Density | Curly hair shows less density per square inch |
Moisture, shrinkage and curl memory all contribute to loose curly dreads. Thorough drying and regular maintenance tightens them back up.
Humectants in curly hair care products or natural oils attract moisture. Water swells hair fibers, momentarily disrupting dread bonds until drying.
Dense, straight hair resists loosening from humidity longer. Curly locks pack less hair per square inch, allowing moisture to penetrate easier.
Shrinkage also loosens curly dreadlocks as strands coil and curl tightly back on themselves when wet. Straight hair does not shrink near as much.
Lastly, curl memory relaxes texture overtime, contributing to loosening. Consistent upkeep preserves tidy, shrunken locks.
Does Curly Hair Grow Faster In Dreadlocks?
Curly texture shows no rate increase for hair growth in dreadlocks. However genetics, diet and age do impact growth speed – not curl pattern.
Average Growth Rates by Age
| Age Range | Growth Rate | Yearly Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1-14yrs | 0.35mm/day | 13 inches |
| 15-29yrs | 0.38mm/day | 14 inches |
| 30-80+yrs | 0.24mm/day | 9 inches |
Hair typically grows 0.5 inches monthly. Dreadlocked or not, curl type shows little role in growth rate.
Do Dreadlocks Ruin Curly Hair?
Dreadlocks alter curly hair’s behavior but damage mainly arises from poor care. The knotting process alone causes minimal long term effects when correctly done.
However, retaining loose natural curls after removing mature dreadlocks cannot be guaranteed. Required upkeep also demands some chemical or heat use occasionally.
Overall, well-maintained dreadlocks prevent irreversible damage on curly hair. Education promotes healthier locks during and after the dreading process.
Does Curly Hair Impact Dreadlocks Length?
Many factors regarding curly hair growth in dreadlocks remain misunderstood. However, proper maintenance trumps texture when growing lengthy locks.
Why Do Curly Dreads Appear Shorter?
Curly dreadlocks shrink significantly more than straighter textures. The spirals and coils tighten into themselves, condensing length. Think of a phone cord curling inward vs lying straight outward.
Picture a 6 inch straight phone cord, then imagine it fully spiraled inward. The cord still measures 6 inches long – just takes up less visible length thanks to contraction.
Curly dreadlocks operate the same way on a smaller scale. The hairs shrink up rather than cascading down outward. So equal length curly vs straight dreads appear drastically shorter.
Do Curly Locks Limit Length?
When properly cared for, curly texture poses no true length limitations. However, retaining impressive visible length remains more difficult.
Chemical relaxers may temporarily elongate curly strands but drastically damage integrity. Continued straightening dissolts locks completely overtime.
Rather than chemically altering texture, focus should center on retaining health. Proper technique establishes locks correctly while quality upkeep then optimizes growth ability.
Can Curly Hair Dreads Grow Long?
Yes. Healthy curly hair locks support ample length potential despite shrinkage. The keys become properly establishing and maintaining dreadlocks first and foremost.
Incorrect formation and lazy upkeep sabotages locks. Weak points then accumulate damage, eventually reaching a breaking point and self-trimming.
But correctly installed, infrequent maintenance paired with gentle routines nurtures retention. Following sound advice for curly dreadlocks sees no reason to limit length goals.
Patience remains mandatory as well. Slow but steady growth rewards those focused on length. Measure by the year over impatience by the month.
Length Expectations By Year
| Year | Average Length – Curly | Average Length – Straight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | 4 inches | 8 inches |
| 2 Years | 8 inches | 12 inches |
| 3 Years | 12 inches | 14 inches |
| 4 Years | 14 inches | 16 inches |
| 5+ Years | 16+ inches | 18+ inches |
Conclusion
So, is curly hair good for dreadlocks regarding growth and length retention? The answer points to yes – when cared for correctly.
Understand your exact curl type to strategize your dreadlocking method first. Types 3B–4C best achieve matted locks, while type 4C needs extra babying to prevent damage.
Smooth, straight hair may appear to lock faster initially at the roots. However, curly texture tangles faster early on to form young dreadlocks quicker. But straight dreads then show less loosening issues during maturation overall.
Curly texture must then focus on thorough drying and routine maintenance. Learn to properly palm roll, interlock or twist loose strands snugly back into locks. Stretching and separating during washing then fully drying prevents premature loosening.
Lastly, curly dreadlocks need extra patience when pursuing length. Set realistic goals year over year rather than month over month to allow steady, natural growth. Let locks strengthen as maturity sets in – retaining impressive length comes secondary.
While curly hair encourages knots and coils eagerly at first, dedication to upkeep ultimately determines if your locks flourish or fail. If commitment to proper technique aligns with your length mission, then curly hair supports ample growth potential for dreadlocks.
FAQs About Curly Hair Growth in Dreadlocks
Does curly hair dread faster?
Yes, curly hair’s natural texture allows coils and waves to tangle faster initially while forming locks. Knots establish quicker early on.
Why do curly locks loosen easier?
Factors like humectants, shrinkage, curl memory and low density play roles in loosening curly dreadlocks more readily without routine upkeep.
Does curly hair grow faster in dreadlocks?
No, curl type and pattern impart no increase on growth rates. Age, genetics and diet remain bigger factors influencing hair growth speeds.
Can you still straighten natural hair after dreadlocks?
How well hair straightens after removing locks remains highly unpredictable. Keeping dreads well-maintained optimizes chances of regaining versatile styling later on.
How long until curly dreadlocks start forming?
On average, curly hair begins forming young dreadlocks within 1-4 months. Proper sectioning and continual upkeep helps knots tighten sooner.