Charming Beads and Delicate Rings

Decorating dreads is for me one of the best benefits of having them! And there's practically no limit to what you can put. From inserting rings and endless charms to hanging buttons and beads of any type! 

Let your imagination flow... 

or get some ideas from here :)

I'm gonna start this post with my most favourite dread deco... seashells!
They are cool, they are organic, and they are perfect for the Summer! 

Cowry shells remind me of my Indian summer... collecting handfuls and handfuls of cowrys from the sand after the gentle waves brought them to me!

I love conchs too... can you hear the waves and the wind? Whenever I see a beautiful conch I can almost smell and taste the sea too!  

Next are some cool images of... well... charming beads ideas for your dreads!

Brass and Metal Dreadlocks Rings

Charms hooked on Dreadlocks

Skulls

If you prefer something simple and effective, try string wraps with plain beads in natural colours; they're an amazing combination.

Silver tunnel rings and brown criss-crossed string wraps look great on blond dreads.

Another idea.. make your own beaded string dread with a mix of your favourite beads and an awesome pendant at the end.

This reminds me of my friend Emma, who left for long-term travelling and before leaving asked all her friends to put something in her dreads. Soon after her hair was looking like a museum. If you like this style, just go with it, and keep adding!

Pearl beads are perfect if you have only a few dreads with your natural hair. 

Macrame hair strings come in various shapes and sizes. Include some round beads and buttons too!

If you know how to play with polymer clay these are so cool and so easy to make. Dreadlock rings for the 7 Chakras! Ohm Shanti Ohm!

Or maybe you prefer traditional Dreadlock rings.
Most organic rings you will find will be made out of coconut, bone, horn and wood.

When you fix a charm or a bead to your dreads, better to place it on the bottom half part of your hair, so that it will not press upon your skull when you are lying down.

t

However you decide to decorate your dreadlocks, remember to do it in style!
It will be a creation game of showing your personality! 

       

It's gettin' hot!!! Dread Styles for the Summer

First week of July, and we have a temperature of 31 degrees already! It's gettin' hot! And this is nothing! In July and August we will suffer heat waves of up to 40 degrees! 

One of the most things that can be really frustrating during these hot days of Summer is the hair on shoulders and face. But don't despair, and don't go for the scissors either. Check out some ideas below to put up your dreads in style!

KNOTTED STYLE

The most common and easiest way to pull up your dreads is by grabbing your dreads and twist them in one large knot.

BABA STYLE

Basically the same concept as the knotted style but instead of pulling the hair behind, you pull it on top of your head.

PLAITED STYLE

Divide your dreads in 3 equal parts and make a plait. Very easy and comfortable. There are various styles of plaits - and you can always do the plait sideways too.

 

 

INTERTWINED

Looks complicated, but is quite simple. Probably it is simpler if you have a friend helping you. Start by separating each one your dreads and twist and turn the dreads in each other. You can do it systematically, and you end up with up in a nice symmetrical shape - or you can do it un-systematically, with your dreads in a nice chaotic style.

 

If you have very, I mean VERY, long dreads, here's what you can do...

Taking inspiration once again from the Baba style, you can knot up your dreads sideways and make a huge shell shape.

Only if you feel like it...

Taking care of dreadlocks in the Summer

In view of the summer season, here are some tips for taking care of your dreadlocks. Here in Malta we have really hot summers, so it is good to continue remind people that the sun's UV rays are harmful both to scalp and hair. Protect yourself with a hat or a scarf as much as possible!

How often and when should I wash my dreads?

How often you should wash your dreadlock hair depends on your lifestyle. There is no general rule, some people wash it once a week, others once a month. However, the best rule is to wash it when you feel it dirty or stinky. Wash your hair in the morning or during the early afternoon to give it time to dry. It is not a good advice to go to bed with damp dreads as they will smell and harbor mildew. 

How do I choose the best shampoo?

Your shampoo should be free of chemicals, perfumes and conditioners. Look at the ingredients list on the bottle of your shampoo. Avoid anything containing PEG - it is a conditioner, and avoid mineral oil or petrolatum – synthetic oils only greases your hear and do not nourish or moisturize. Remember, most shampoos are made with chemical conditioning ingredients that remove knots – which is exactly what you want to avoid! Ideally choose a shampoo with natural ingredients, such as Tea Tree, Peppermint, Coconut and Jojoba.

 

tea tree or melaleuca alternifolia in latin

 

How do I wash/rinse my hair?

You should only be concerned with your scalp. Gently massage your chosen shampoo in the scalp and forget about soaping up your locks. After shampooing, make sure you rinse your dreads thoroughly. Shampoo residue makes dreads look dirty and heavy. Do not tie up your dreads while still dry or damp, but leave them loose so that the air can circulate. You should also take care on what type of towel you use as regular towels will get lint caught in your dreads. Better choose microfiber towels. 

How do I keep my dreadlocks smelling good?

To maintain healthy and good smelling dreads, moisturize your dreads with natural essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, mint or jasmine. The best way is to mix the oil with water in a spray bottle and spray your hair and scalp. If you have an itchy scalp, apply tea tree oil to it and it will work wonders.

What about swimming with dreadlocks?

Sea water is good for your dreadlocks as the salt helps to tighten loose locks. However, make sure that the water is clean. If it doesn’t look clean, resist. If you are at a swimming pool, then it’s ok too as chlorine will not damage your dreads. The only thing to be careful about at swimming pools is the sun tan residue from other swimmers that regularly sits on the top of the pool – this oil will definitely loose your dreads. 

How do I keep my dreadlocks looking great?

You should palm-roll your locks after every wash to keep them straight and smooth. But, as your hair grows you will experience loose ends, bumps and lumps which need to be tightened and fixed. The best way to fix them is to visit a professional dreadlock stylist (also called a locktician) who will help your personal dreadlock maintenance routine and keep your dreadlocks groomed and looking great. Usually the root maintenance should be done every 3-5 months, depending on how quickly your hair grows or how much frizzy your dreads have become.

 

Wishing you a happy summer!

To every ending a new beginning

Sometimes our life takes a complete new turn...

Sometimes we anticipate it, sometimes it comes unexpectedly...

But to every ending there is always a new beginning to look forward to!

June 2013 marks the day that Grasshopper officially closes its outlet in Kathmandu, Nepal. And we moved to Europe, specifically to the island of Malta.

New life, new name

We decided to use the catchy phrase of 'Keep Calm & Get Dreadlocks' as the main title for our services. In Malta, our services will for now be related to Dreadlocks Making, Dreadlocks Fixing, Lulus, Beads, Feathers and other Hair Art. Tattoos and Piercing will hopefully follow in short time after we have obtained the necessary permits and licenses.

In this blog we will post all the interesting and relevant stuff and upload the most stunning images. If you have questions or suggestion, please feel free to comment in the box below.

Check out and LIKE our new Facebook Page - Thank you!
facebook.com/keepcalmandgetdreadlocks

sanskrit mantra