Dreads 'n' Threads

Thinking about getting dreadlocks but not quite sure what you’re signing yourself up for?

Here are 5 things I wish more people knew before getting them:

1. You don’t have to dread your whole head. You can have a few underneath, a partial head, leave loose hair around the front, or go for the full lot. There are loads of options.

2. Dreads don’t have to be permanent.
If you want to try the look without committing your own hair, synthetic dreadlocks can be braided in and removed again. And permanent dreadlocks can usually be brushed out too — you don’t automatically have to shave your head if you change your mind.

3. Dreadlocks can be washed.
Please wash your hair! Dreads aren’t supposed to be dirty. They just need washing and drying properly, with the right products and routine.

4. You can add length with human hair extensions.
You don’t need to wait years for long dreads. Human hair can be added when your dreadlocks are created, and I can colour-match and blend it with your own hair for a natural finish.

5. Dreadlocks still need maintenance.
They’re lower maintenance in some ways, but they’re definitely not no maintenance. Your roots grow, loose hair happens and dreads change as they mature. I generally recommend maintenance every 3–4 months to keep them tidy and healthy.

There isn’t one “right” way to have dreadlocks. I’d much rather help you work out what suits your hair, your lifestyle and how much commitment you actually want.

I work from my little off-grid narrowboat studio on the Kennet & Avon Canal, as well as offering appointments across Wiltshire, Bristol, Somerset and Gloucestershire.

If you’ve been thinking about getting dreads but have no idea where to start, send me a DM and we can have a chat.

Giving these dreads their length back.

My client had lost a number of her old extensions, so she brought along some new human hair and I made replacement dread extensions for her from scratch, before attaching them to her existing dreads.

The result was that she got her length back and the new extensions blend beautifully with the existing dreads.

If you've lost extensions, have dreads that need repairing, or want to add some extra length to your existing dreads, I can make custom human hair extensions to work with what you already have.

I'm currently taking bookings for dreadlock maintenance, repairs, extensions and new dread creation.

Based from my travelling narrowboat studio on the Kennet & Avon Canal, with mobile appointments also available in Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol and Gloucestershire.

Send me a message with some photos of your hair if you'd like to have a chat about what I can do.

20 years of dreads and 3 years since their last bit of maintenance… so these were definitely ready for some love!

This lovely fellow boater came aboard for a proper tidy-up. I separated all his roots, created a fresh undercut and side shave, then worked through his remaining dreads from root to tip.

I absolutely love working on old, well-established dreads like these. They’ve been part of someone’s life for such a long time and have so much character — they just needed bringing back into shape.

And it was especially lovely having another boater in the chair. There’s always plenty to chat about when you both live life on the cut!

One of the things I love about my little floating studio is the people who find their way to it.

I am taking bookings now for all dread work in October. Message me to get booked in x

A little heads up about my travel prices…

For the first time in 12 YEARS, I’m having to put my travel rates up.

With petrol prices currently going absolutely bloody ridiculous, I just can’t keep absorbing the extra cost of travelling out to mobile appointments.

So from now on, travel will be charged at 60p per mile for the return journey.

For my Bristol clients, I’ve always offered a massively discounted travel charge rather than charging my normal mileage. That will now be going from £6 to £12.

I’ve kept my travel prices as low as I possibly can for a very long time, but unfortunately the current cost of fuel means the old rates just aren’t sustainable anymore.

I know everything seems to be getting more expensive at the moment and I really don’t like adding to that, but after 12 years without an increase, this one has finally become unavoidable.

Thank you for understanding and for continuing to support my little boat-based business.