Thermal Colour Change Hair

I'm currently working on 2 of my last custom dread orders. And one of them is using the new thermal colour change hair from Diversity Hair.
This hair is more expensive and the packets smaller than normal packs of synthetic kanekalon hair, but for this effect it is totally worth it!

I have used each of the colours of the available hair, purple, blueberry, pale blue and baby pink.

The colours react and change to heat from your hands and  temperature of your surroundings.

The baby pink changes to a beige/ white, the pale blue to a icy blue/ white, blueberry to a mauve/ pink and the purple to pink. 

Blueberry and purple are 'Thermal Pilot colour' and react to heat much faster than the other two colours.

The hair is very easy to work with when it comes to back combing and crocheting.

I filmed while sealing some of the dreads with boiling water so the colour change is much more dramatic.

I've nearly finished making this set and will post pics when they are completed :)

Note: You can see the completed dreads HERE

Photo Theft

If you are a fan of my Facebook page you may have noticed I have been re uploading all my customer photos with water marks. I made this decision after having a couple of incidents of photo theft.

Basically other Facebook pages using photos of my work, and others, and using them to advertise their own work. For one this this is not fair on the makers of the products in the photos, we spend a lot of time and hard work making our dreads.
Secondly it is not fair on you, the customer. I would not want you spending money on a product you think you are going to get, in reality you will be getting something completely different. I'm not saying the people that take these photos to advertise their own work cannot make dreads but they will never be the same texture or style as the one pictured that they have taken from another seller.

Photo by Luci Alice Photography
Corset by Bubble Fusion

One thing I have learned over the years of dread making and buying others dreads, is that even though a similar method may be used each sellers dreads are 100% unique.

So when looking to purchase dreads, or any other handmade product, make sure you can see photos of the sellers past work. Not just customer photos but pictures of the products alone. And feedback from past customers.

I know when you are starting out as a seller it is hard to get a feedback base. But examples of your own work can go a long way.
If you check out the Hair Extension Society group on Facebook you will find they have a feedback system for a lot of dread sellers. And if you are starting out as a seller you can offer to send small samples of your work to other dread makers, this will help you build up your feedback base.

Just to add I do not mind people using my images as inspiration photos as long as it is clearly labelled as inspiration and credit is given. And it is nice to be asked first, I don't bite :)

Weapons of Dread Creation

I thought I would show you guys what tools I use to make my synthetic dreads.

Latch hook, felting needles, crochet hook and of course, scissors.

I go through a lot of combs which always end up snapping and breaking, but these blue ones are the best I've used over the years and are from Boots.
Both the crochet hooks and latch hooks I purchased from Ebay. No shops here on the Isle of Wight sell such small crochet hooks. I use a 0.55 mm and a 1 mm.
I get the felting needles from Oliven, a local craft shop. And yep, the felting needles are pointy and sharp and I am always missing the dread and stabbing myself. If you follow me on Instagram, you would of seen my most recent mishap with them :p

For sealing the dreads I mostly use the boiling water method and occasionally my steamer. But since I stopped making smooth synthetic dreads my steamer has been a bit redundant.

And the most important ingredient to making dreads - kanekalon synthetic hair!
I buy the majority of the kanekalon I use from Diversity Hair. There is also Cyberlox Shop and I Kick Shins.

Useful Synthetic Dread Links

I have found many useful tutorials and forums over the years for synthetic dread making. Even after 8 years of making dreads I often look at others tutorials and tips, you can never learn to much :)

So here is a list of some of the great guides and groups I have found, whether you want to learn to make synthetic dreads or just find some more information about them.

About Dreads

• The comprehensive synthetic dread guide - Link
• The difference between single and double ended dreads - Link
• Types of dread and what to look for when buying - Link
• About dread falls - Link
• Dread buyers guide from Rivet Licker - Link 
• How to install double ended dreads - Link
• How to install single ended dreads - Link
• How to attach synthetic dreads to real dreads - Link

Dread styling / care

• How to wash you hair with dreads installed - Link
• Dread styling - Part 1 Link & part 2 Link

Dread Making (tutorials)

• Doctored Locks YouTube channel  - Link
• Rivet Licker YouTube channel - Link

Supplies  (synthetic hair, cyberlox etc.)

• Diversity Hair- Link
• Cyberlox Shop - Link
• IKickShins - Link 

Synthetic Dread Communities

The synth dread communities are a great way to find dread sellers, get feedback on your work and just to connect with other like minded people.

• Hair Extensions Forum - Link
• Hair Extension Society on Facebook - Link 
• Dreadlock Kingdom on Facebook - Link
• Alternative Hair Extensions Forum - Link

Dread Makers 

Of course its not just me that makes synthetic dreads, so here are a few of my favourite makers.

• Ls Seven - Link
• Filthy's Synthetic Dreads - Link
• Izzybeau - Link
• Darcrainbow Creations - Link
• Anouk Dread maker - Link

I will be adding to this list regularly when I come across new and informative links.

Do you have any tutorials you would like to add? Or if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment :)

My Dread Style

I first started out 8 years ago making smooth synthetic dreads ( back combed dreads which are then twisted and steam sealed) but a couple of years ago I started to dabble in more natural looking dreads. Now they are my favourite style which I specialise in.

Crochet dread texture

My dreads are still made from 100% kanekalon synthetic hair which I fully back comb, felt, crochet and then seal (multiple times) with boiling water. The result is a more natural looking very textured dread. They are lightweight, durable and easy to wear.

Blonde to off white transitional dreads

You can still have a lot of variety with these dreads not only in colours and length but in styles, which include transitional, splashed, harlequin, blended etc.

Just because they are more natural looking does not mean they have to be in natural colours! I have made many sets in pinks, blues and even rainbows :)

Kelly in her rainbow dreads