In the previous post on How To Make Dreadlocks, we did not manage to get a clear view on how to create a nice rounded end for the dreadlock. So, we had to come up with another post in order to guide you fellow dreadlockers on how to achieve nice round ends. We will also try to explain in further detail on how to use the crochet hook to tighten up the dreadlock.

I will be working on one of my own dreadlocks this time around, on this particular dread which had a tip that wasn’t really tight since the beginning. I managed to tighten the end using a crochet hook a long time ago, but somehow it loosened up and looked like a rats tail instead. I beared with it for a couple of months and finally decided to make it nice and rounded once and for all, this time, recording the process on video.

Do watch the video as it contains instructions and annotations. It will be easier to learn by watching the video. Reading this article will provide more details for the instructions in the video. If you haven’t already read the post on how to make dreadlocks by using a crochet hook (which also contains a video), you can check it out here http://www.lifeinkl.com/2008/05/26/how-to-make-dreadlocks/

Things You Need
A crochet hook (a 0.6mm or 0.75mm sized crochet hook will do)
1-2cm of thin, loose dreadlock end to work with

Let’s Begin
If your loose end is more than 2cm, you will need to tighten it up using the crochet hook. How? Well, you start off by pushing your crochet hook into the dread starting at the part of the dread which is tight, just before the loose section. You want the crochet hook to go through and end up somewhere in the loose section.

Now, pull the crochet hook back all the way, out of the dread, grabbing some hair in the process. This will grab some of the loose hair in the loose section and mash it up against the tighter section. Repeat this a few more times, and then twist your dread 90 degrees and do the same thing.

You can use this method to pull loose hairs, spiky hairs, loops and weird looking sections back into the dread. Just push your hook through the dread, and grab whatever is needed by using the hook. Then pull back out. Easy.

Rotating your dread every now and then will ensure that the dread will be tight all round. Once you have gained a bit more length on the tightened section, you can move up higher and started tightening more, until you have about 1cm to 2cm of hair at the loose end.

Now that you have about 2cm of loose end, it’s time to make the rounded end. It is as easy as flipping the loose end back onto the dreadlock itself, creating a nice rounded end. You can have a clearer idea on this by watching the video posted on top.

After you have flipped the end onto the dreadlock, it’s time to crochet that section of hair into the dreadlock to make sure that it won’t fold back down and become loose again. You will have to poke the crochet hook through the dreadlock, end up at the loose end part, rolling some of the loose hair onto the hook, and pulling that rolled hair back into the opposite end.

Repeat the rolling and pulling process a few times until most of the loose hairs from the end has gone through the opposite side of the dreadlock. Now, since the hairs have gone through the opposite side, you then need to pull them back into the dreadlock from the opposing side. Confused? Well, watch the video and you will easily understand what I am trying to say here.

After you have neatly tucked all the hair from the folded loose end into the dreadlock, it’s time to repeat the tightening process (the jabbing back and forth) at the end part. This is to ensure that all the hair you rolled and pulled into the dreadlock will get locked and intertwined with all the other hair in the dreadlock, resulting in a tight end.

It will need some practice to how to ‘hook’ the hair in the dreadlock to tighten it. You will know by feeling some resistance while pulling the needle back out of the dread.

TIP: While pulling the needle back out from the dreadlock, try rotating the the needle back and forth. This will ensure the hair gets even more tangled inside. The more tangled and messy it gets inside, the better and tighter your dread will become.