It has become quite popular to choose reusing your dreadlocks

as extensions rather than buying new ones.  After spending all that time growing it, why throw it away if it is in good condition?  Why not carefully  store the hair in case you changed your mind?  As a loctician, I have known many people who regretted throwing their dreads/locs out within two years of cutting them!

You have to congratulate the dread/locs community for going green and repurposing to help with

sustainability of the planet!  By doing so, they are helping reduce the amount of wasted energy used in the manufacture of hair extensions.  Also, by not getting rid of the hair, they help themselves: 

• save money on buying new extensions 
• Have longer hair almost immediately 
• No need to match texture or color
• Feel secure in the knowledge it is all your hair.

When reusing your dreadlocks as extensions:

• Ensure they are washed and dried thoroughly before storing
• The point at which it was cut should be combed out  about an inch prior to installation to save time
• If possible, sort lengths according to the area it was placed e.g. back, middle etc unless the placement is being changed.
• Most times the number of dread/locs put back will not be the same as before because of the length.  Longer dread/locs need bigger partings for hold.

Reusing your dreadlocks as extensions is one of the best ways to get length if you think you might restart your dreadlock journey some time in the future.

By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head” & Dreadlocks – A Hairstylist’s Manifest”.