Crown of Dreads

Monday, April 02, 2007

Dread natty dreadlocks' sang Bob Marley in the 70's as he flashed his dreads on the international stage. Many rastafarians might very well have done the same Sunday last (plus added Jah Rastafari) as Zahra Redwood became the nation's first dreadlock beauty to be crowned Miss Jamaica Universe with locks that fall to the waist.

Miss Jamaica Universe, Zahra Redwood. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

With her win has come renewed interest in loc' care with many asking about the maintainance. allwoman writer Debra Edwards caught Zahra with her locks down and also sought additional advise from Princess Dunn of Jus Natural Hair Studio
Tips for maintaining locks:

1. Wash
"I have been doing my own hair religiously since I was nine. I simply wash it about once a week with shampoo. My preference being Suave Balsam and Protein Shampoo, because I like the fragrance. Then I make sure that it is properly rinsed," shares Miss Jamaica Universe.

2. Dry
"Locks are already heavy so I try to ensure that I get as much water out of them as possible through towel drying", explains Redwood.

3. Moisturise
"Moisture is important for maintaining natural hair in general. But moreso for locks." Princess Dunn of Jus Natural Hair Studio located at the Bob Marley Museum explains, "We use light moisturisers here such as liquid oils, because they absorb more into the lock. Our advice is to not use anything that will cake up in the hair. Miss Universe Zahra Redwood separates lock by lock, then uses castor oil, to ensure proper moisturisation of the whole scalp.

4. Groom
"To achieve my look I simply twist my hair overnight and when I wake up pull the twists out," explains Zahra.
Dunn adds: "There are two ways that we groom locks here. The first called palm rolling which is basically as your hair grows out, using the palm of your hand to wrap around the new growth creating the lock at the root. Then pin and go under the dryer.

After the drying is done remove the pins, and you're set for about another 2-3 weeks until the next time you wash your hair. This procedure is not as long lasting as the method known as interlocking, where you are actually using a needle to create the lock from new growth. This results in a style that lasts some 4-6 weeks even when washed.

The grooming of locks is not a necessity because back in the day people never did that, But these procedures just make it a lot easier to have visually appealing locks."

Instant Dreads!
So you want locks but are worried about having to cut off the chemically treated parts of your hair and dread (pun intended) the in between stages of growth. Dunn explains, "ladies can come to Jus Natural, even with chemically treated hair and leave with dreadlocks, through a process called lock extension.

We use human hair, to create locks in your hair. My advice is to make sure that you are committed to having locks as this procedure is permanent. It is also not cheap as it takes about seven packs of hair at $3,000 a pack, plus labour to achieve. It is however worth it."