How to Create Dread Falls for Halloween - the Basics

1) Set up. Organize a set up tray before beginning to ensure supplies are within arms reach when needed and to make clean up is a breeze for the advanced artist. Simply put my tray on an empty shelf and voila all clean and ready for next time. Choose the hair band size that feels right. Clients with thin or short hair tend to prefer thin bands while those with thick or long hair prefer the thick bands.

Beginner: Supplies needed include scissors, comb and two hair bands. A package of micro-bands is optional.

Advanced: To the above list, add transparent thread, two strips of elastic lace approx 35" long, dread wax to seal the tips. Up to six thin hair bands can be used instead of two and is the artist's preference.

2) Equipment. There are several ways to seal the hair. Using steam from a tea kettle, pot or steamer, hot water, string, plastic rexlace, hair fiber, glue, wax and even paint. There is no right way. Choose the method that is the most enjoyable, familiar or makes sense and is available at the time.

Beginner: A steamer is recommended for the first go because it's is a tidy method and any steamer should work. Be careful, the steam is very hot, keep away from fingers and skin.

Advanced: Try one of the following three types of steamers based on what is important at the time.

Fast: The Scunci SS1000 hand-held steamer has been recommended by many dread designers. This one steams a set of falls fast and easy. Zip and the strand is done. The seal is very tight and the width of the dread can be varied by pulling the nozzle away from the strand. It takes several minutes to heat the small amount of water and must cool down several minutes between refills. With constant almost daily use, these last between two and four months and cost between $50 and $70.

Travel: Some dread makers travel and need to complete orders away from home. For this, try the Conair Compact Fabric Steamer model: GS4 usually between $24 and $50. They hold a reasonable amount of water, are lightweight with a medium output of steam. The on/off button is big enough to press with ones toe if the artist prefers foot pedals. This unit is ready to steam in six minutes with a five minute cool down between uses. Power users will usually find these to last between two and six months.

Author's favorite: Professionals should try the IS8100 Commercial Garment Steamer by Rowenta. The little bar across the top is especially convenient for holding work in progress. The aluminum pole is at the perfect working height for those who stand or make use of tall bar stools. When used in this manner, it becomes a portable work station that can be pushed to which ever room the artist feels like working in that day. The tank holds 128 ounces water which is almost always enough for an entire set of dread falls. The steamer is ready to use in 90 seconds and the on/off switch is controlled by a foot pedal, keeping both hands available to handle the hair. The price can be a detractor for some, at approximately $129.00 depending where and when it is purchased. With daily use, this brand lasts the author approximately one year .

3) Hair and utensil. Purchase bulk hair for braiding online or at a beauty supply store. The amount required varies by the number of dreads per fall, thickness, length(s), number of different colors, and the type of fiber chosen. In general, plan to purchase 3 times as many $0.99 jumbo hair bags as compared to one bag priced at $2.99. Kanekalon fiber is recommended because it is easy to handle, seals well when fashioning dreads, lasts for years and tends to resemble naturally dreaded hair. A good number to start with is six bags of bulk hair, this should be enough to create many dreads and several "practice" dreads to try out before constructing the fall.

Beginner: Kanekalon Jumbo Braid. This is the recommended type because it is textured and most report for that reason, is easier to backcomb. Good quality and moderately priced, this hair really shrinks up. Use one or two more bags of hair when selecting this fiber. Hair can get tangled and messy. To keep clean and organized, spread out a couple sheets of tissue paper on a counter top and lay the unfolded bulk hair in sections. A word of caution, people find bulk hair a fascinating play toy and perfect joke prop. It's best to keep the hair in close proximity and away from kittens, children, and the significant other.

Jumbo hair can get tangled and caught when using a fine toothed comb and a plastic comb with three rows of tines may be preferable.

Advanced: Use Kanekalon Silky Straight (SS) bulk hair fiber to create professional looking long lasting dreads that fluff up over time resembling the texture of natural dreads. Silky straight can be slippery to handle but stays locked after sealing with steam. Mix fibers like Toyokalon, which doesn't seal as well, creating a bulkier, fluffier looking dread. Watch out for the treated brands, they may leave a waxy film that feels a tiny bit tacky.

Use a fine tooth "rat" comb to get started and grab the fibers. Next, switch to the wider end of a regular comb once the texture thickens.

4) Attaching the hair. This is the fun part and is how the look is created.

Beginner: Secure the hair band to an immovable object, like the back of the chair or a towel rack. Take a chunk of hair and fold over the hair band. To make it easier, secure the strand with a micro-band. Starting from the root area, closest to the band, begin combing the hair away from you. Keep backcombing small sections of one inch until the ends are reached. It's ideal to continue backcombing until the hair can stand straight out on it's own, but this is not necessary for the first time creator. This is the time to experiment with backcombing more or less. If not thrilled with the first try, untangle and try again. Experiment with different lengths and thickness until the desired look is achieved. Once the hair has been backcombed, go to step #5 and repeat steps #4 and #5 until finished. Once finished, a pat on the back is in order for a job well done.

Advanced: Tie all three hair bands together with the elastic lace. The elastic lace can be used by the wearer to tie the dreads together to help keep the weight off the scalp or can be used for decorating by adding trinkets and beads. Secure this entire set to an immovable object like the ring of the steamer pole, remember to keep the elastic lace ends out of the way until finished. The knot will be the center and the wearer will wear this on the center top of their pony tail. For long-lasting fluffy dreads backcomb until strand feels thick and stiff.

These falls are created with three rows for maximum volume. Begin with the bottom row. Take a chunk of hair and tie a long piece of transparent thread around the center. Keep hold of the thread while looping the strands around the hair band and the elastic lace, next to the center knot. Next, tie the transparent thread around the elastic band assembly. This will keep the dread strand in place and facilitate creating volume and structure while wearing. Backcomb, treat the transparent thread as if it were one of the fibers. Continue tying the hair strands tightly against one another placing an even amount on each side of the knot for a balanced feel for the wearer. The bottom row could have from four to ten strands depending on how full and thick the dreads are when finished. Go to step #5 then return to step #4. To begin the second row, tie the first strand directly over the knot. Continue to tie the transparent string to each dread then to on to the hairband on either side of the first dread until from four to ten strands have been tied and backcombed. Go to step #5 and return. Now to add a little movement, try placing the strands on without tying. Some find this hard to do, securing with a micro-band instead might help. The key is to backcomb so that no space is left between the dread and the band, otherwise it will be may be harder to seal.

5) Sealing the dread. This is the final step to creating a dread strand.

Beginner: Twist the strand, either tightly or loosely. Depending on what type of dread envisioned. Hold the steamer close to create a tighter dread and farther away to create a more fluffy dread. Cut off the last inch or so. More or less depending on the desired length and look of the dread. This is it. The first dread has been constructed. Wonderful. Continue attaching bulk hair to the hair band, backcombing and sealing. Keep creating dreads until the falls cover natural hair when installed.

Advanced: Sealing one row at a time is recommended to save time and keep at a stage that is easiest to handle. With the silky straight fiber, backcombing and sealing each dread twice creates the texture of a natural dreads after dreads have been worn for a few days, depending on condition they are kept in. It's much easier the second time. After the initial steaming, undo, backcomb and steam it again. This gets rid of all those loose loops that tend to form and creates a texture that locks better. Over time these strands stay together through washing, drying, banging and tossing around. After steaming the dread strand twice, cut to desired length and place a minuscule amount of dread wax onto the ends of each strand. Return to step #4.

Once the third row is finished, it's time to shape the dread fall. To get that curve resembling half of an "m" while wearing, roll each strand around a soda can, give it a short blast of steam and then let dry. Alternatively, strands can be wrapped around wooden dowels to create waves and curls.

Good luck, and be as creative as possible.