Article: Ask your barber to shape your sides and edges to keep your hair looking neat. But if your hair is regularly kept short, stop getting your hair cut for at least 4 to 6 weeks. If your hair naturally grows slowly, it may take longer for it to grow long enough for twists. As your hair grows closer to the 3 in (7.6 cm) mark, avoid the use of conditioner or other hair care products to wash your hair. Just use regular shampoo the week before you plan to twist your hair. Shampoo and rinse your hair thoroughly before starting to twist it. Products that soften hair rob kinky hair of its natural ability to curl, making dreadlock development more difficult. Make sure to dry your hair thoroughly with a blow dryer before proceeding any further. The larger the cluster you select, the thicker your dreadlock will be. Using your thumb and forefinger, you’ll want to twist this cluster from the root to the tip. Twisting in a single direction will make maintenance easier. Repeat this process until all of your hair is in twists. This should take between 3 and 6 hours. It’s difficult but not impossible to do this by yourself. Consider asking a friend to help you, or going to a salon to have it done. Roll them clockwise between your palms every couple of days. Start with the root of each lock between the heels of your palms, then roll clockwise and upward until you reach the tip of the dreadlock. Don’t roll them too tight, which can be painful and lead to hair loss. Roll twists that are fraying individually every day to help them keep their shape, rather than every other day. Avoid using shampoos with conditioner as these products can stop your hair from locking. If your hair is fraying after a month, continue to wash it once a week. If your hair is getting more compact, wash your hair every other day with shampoo and water. After a month, wash your hair every other day. Protect your locks from excess moisture by using a bandana when exercising or going out on hot days. Continue to palm roll and wash your dreadlocks every other day. Palm roll individually fraying locks more frequently. If multiple locks are loosening, reduce your hair washing frequency to once weekly. If your hair continues to fray, schedule an appointment with a stylist who may be able to help you get your locks back on track. By this time, you should have long, beautiful dreadlocks. But don’t stop maintaining them by palm rolling and washing them.

What is a summary?
Let your hair grow at least 3 in (7.6 cm) long. Rinse any product out of your hair. Twist clusters of hair clockwise. Palm roll your dreadlocks every other day. Wash your hair once a week with shampoo and water. Allow your hair to grow for 3 to 4 months.