Dreadlocks: The Final Frontier

I recently entered into a correspondence with a dreadlock-hairdresser. I was seeking out some dreadlocks and together we talked through this important issue over the space of a few weeks. Dreadlocks are a serious business!!!!!!

hi
i was wondering how much you charge for getting dreads. hair is quite long and well groomed.

cheers, Luke

Kristen wrote:

Hello Luke,

For dreadlocks I charge $300. If it takes more than 5 hours then I start to charge more but any amount of time will be capped at $400. You will have 2 lovely dread headed ladies working on your hair at once aswell hehe, so we usually get through pretty quickly. We don't use any chemicals in our dreads because I have seen how it makes hair weak and frazzled so the dreads look like dead hair

- Kristen

hi kristen
that sounds pretty reasonable. it is not actually my hair though it is for my dog Sasha, she is a beautiful purebred Afghan and i think she would look great in dreads. where and when should I bring her to you?

Cheers, Luke

Kristen wrote:

Hello Luke,

Well this is definitely a unique request! Are you available on Sundays? Is there any chance you can send me a picture of the dog so I know what I'm in for? haha this is going to be fun and interesting! Let me know if your free on Sundays and I can arrange a meeting. Where are you based? Also feel free to give me a call on 04XXXXXXX if I don't reply hastily enough. My laptop is being repaired so when I don't have it I don't regularly check my email. Thanks!

-Kristen

hi kristen
this isn't a picture of her, but she looks almost identical to this (same hair length). Roughly how long do you think it will take? I only ask because she HATES having her hair brushed so i'm not sure if she will sit still for a huge amount of time to get dreads. it should be fine though, i cant wait to see what she looks like once the job is done! i won't be free on weekends for another couple of weeks.

Cheers, Luke

Kristen wrote:

Hey Luke,

I'm unsure how long this job would take. I'm thinking it will take more than our standard amount of dread times. Sorry I have taken so long to respond, my dreading partner has been a hard fish to catch and needed to check. We would like to meet with you first and see the dog and talk to you about dreadlocks before we lock it in. I'm thinking you probably wont want to pay the amount it will end up being for the whole dog, maybe a bunch around her mane area to give her some funk and around her back. If your free now on weekends, you should bring your dog to glebe markets on a saturday and as you walk in, on the right is a (used to be grass) mulchy dirt big area where people sit and bring dogs sometimes. My stall is overlooking this area, and I will definitely see you. Once we have a chat we can do some on ur dog right then!

Let me know what you think and I look forward to hearing back!
-Kristen

hi kristen

sorry for how it has taken for me to get back to you. i have been speaking to some people in the australian afghan breeders association and they have been telling me NOT to get dreadlocks on my dog. they said it will damage Sasha's coat and that it may even traumatise (?) her. That can't be true can it? people dont get traumatised by dreadlocks and Sasha is just as smart as any person (i think she is even smarter than some people!)

so i have been thinking about it and am still unsure. i think she will look REALLY good with dreads and i really want her to have them.
what do you think? please let me know as i am no expert on dreads.

Cheers, Luke

Kristen wrote:

Hello Luke,

Getting dreadlocks isn't a completely painless experience when you first get them. Your hair gets pulled and tightened so your scalp becomes really sensitive and sometimes painful for the first 2 days afterwards and then you adjust. Being a dog, this adjusting period would be extra sensitive and possibly painful AND it would be a WHOLE body experience. I imagine this could be traumatic to some extent. People don't get traumatised by dreadlocks because they know whats happening and the result. The process would probably be the most traumatic part! I will admit, I did a guys hair on sunday and it wouldve been shorter than your dogs hair and it took me and my dreading partner 5 hours to do it, and the dude was definitely getting quite irritable by the end of the session. So your dog would have to be sitting for a long time and would probably try to get away, which could draw out the process and put the dog in more distress. That's why I wanted you to come to the markets, so I could talk to you about the process and the time it will take and the dogs nature. Her coat would obviously never be the same unless you shaved her. As with hair when you get dreadlocks you have to cut them out when you don't want them anymore. Also they would need maintenance to some extent to prevent them matting together and pulling at her skin as a result. I know that your dog would look amazing with dreads, but in a way I can't imagine a dog being keen on 2 strangers surrounding her and pulling at her hair and what not for more than 5 hours! Long story short I would not encourage you to do dreads for your dogs whole coat. I would be very happy to do some around her mane and head but doing any more than that on a dog that size in one go would greatly distress the dog. Hope this has been helpful!!

-Kristen

hi kristen
i have told Sasha there will be some pain involved and she has told me that she is fully aware of this and will be on her best behaviour to sit through the session. she said that she wants the dreads all over her body and she has promised not to bite you.

i myself am not so sure i want her to get dreads now. i am thinking of possibly dying her hair pink instead.
we will think about it and we will see if we can come to a compromise (maybe i'll dye her hair and THEN she can get dreads)

thanks again, Luke

Kristen wrote:

Hey,

Sounds like your really keen. The whole body dog job would set you back more than $400. To give you a definitive quote I would have to meet the dog with my partner and talk with you one on one about dreads and what they are like. I think the dog would look great with dreadlocks i just want to be clear on everything before the job. You seem to be confident in your dogs nature, I just remember originally you said she hated getting her hair brushed so I was concerned about that. Anyway friend, if you end up wanting them I will be happy to follow through after a meeting and I'll give you the quote.

-Kristen

END OF CORRESPONDENCE