Longing for longer dreads? It’s good to know the pros and cons of making your dreads grow past your shoulders or longer. When you just started out with your starter locs, you couldn’t wait for your hair to start budding and eventually locking. Then comes the dream of having longer locs. But when the day comes, it may or may not be what you envisioned.
Is Growing Longer Dreads the Right Decision?
Dreadlocks becomes heavier as they grow. It’s beautiful to see healthy long locs, but do you actually know what the person has to deal with on a daily basis? Long natural hair comes with pros and cons. Some people may not like having long hair for valid reasons.
Pros and Cons of Having Long Dreadlocks
Pro: It’s easier to keep your hair away from your face and skin, especially if you’re working out and gets sweaty a lot, versus short hair. You can make a bun with your dreads or pin them up, or even use stray strands of locs to wrap your hair in a ponytail.
Pro: You can get creative with hairstyles, especially ladies. For ladies, longer dreads is a blessing in disguise. If your hair is fully locked and have some length, you can wear them loose similar to how you would wear braids. The only difference is that you don’t have to pay for them, since they’re yours.
Con: Having long locs can get in your eyes or feel annoying if it’s touching your skin when you’re hot or sweaty. Sometimes the tips of your locs may be tough, so they can really pack a punch if one should slam you in the eyes.
Con: Long dreads take a lot of shampoo, a natural dreadlocks shampoo, not just any type. To wash your hair properly, you need to give it a good lather, and that takes up a lot of shampoo. In no time you’ll be out of a bottle of shampoo when your hair is long and thick.
Con: Another con about having long dreadlocks, is feeling some discomfort when sleeping. However, you may need to do a high-top locs hairstyle to prevent discomfort as you take your beauty rest.
Con/Pro: With longer dreadlocks, you’ll use up a lot more hair products at a faster rate. Not that you want to put too much products in your hair. Let’s say for example, you’re using a Jamaican Black Castor Oil to help your hair stay moisturized and healthy, that bottle can serve you a long while, since you’re going to be mixing the castor oil with organic extra virgin coconut oil to thin it a bit.
Even with all these pros and cons, having long dreadlocks can be rewarding, as you reflect back on how far you’re coming from in your natural hair journey. Each time you look at your hair, you’ll remember how it all started. However, not everyone likes long hair, so some people will rather let their dreads grow to a certain length, then trim them to maintain the desired length.