Chemical intervention can accelerate the natural formation of dreadlocks
In short: Dreadlocks are traditionally viewed as a natural progression of hair growth. However, a specific chemical process known as dread perming can bypass the patience of natural formation. By manipulating the hair's molecular bonds, this method offers a way to achieve a polished look or faster lockage.
Dread perming is a chemical process primarily used to achieve two specific results: smoothing out coarse hair textures and accelerating the 'locking' process. For individuals with softer hair textures, the chemical reaction helps the hair fibers bind together more quickly. For those with coarser hair, it serves as a way to even out the hair's surface, creating a more uniform and polished appearance that some prefer over the completely organic progression of locks.
The mechanism relies on a specific type of relaxer called thioglycolic acid. This is an alkaline chemical that works by swelling the hair's cuticle layer and breaking down its internal bonds. This rearrangement of bonds is what allows the hair to be manipulated into a specific shape or texture. Once the chemical has broken down the bonds and smoothed the hair, it enters a rinsing phase.
Because dreadlocks do not shed like combed hair, the shedding that occurs during this chemical treatment remains trapped within the locks. During the rinse-out stage, the softened hair and the chemical runoff begin to fuse. This causes the hair to lock together more tightly and quickly. As the new growth at the root slides further down into the lock, the lock itself becomes thicker and more defined. The process concludes with a neutralization step, followed by twisting or drying to set the final style. While some purists argue that dreadlocks should remain entirely natural, perming provides a deliberate path for those seeking a specific aesthetic or a faster timeline to their desired style.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Get Dreads with Dread Perming | Get Dreads
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