Can You Teach Yourself to Make Dreadlocks? A Guide for Australia

Yes, you can teach yourself to make dreadlocks. I want to say that clearly, because it is true. There are people who have taught themselves and become good.

But the question is not really whether it is possible. The question is what it costs you, and whether it is the best path for you.

How most people start

It usually begins with your own hair, or a friend's. You watch videos, buy a crochet hook, and start. The first dreadlocks take forever. Some turn out well, some don't. Slowly, you get better.

There is something beautiful about that. It is how many of us began, me included.

What you can learn on your own

• the basic movements
• how hair behaves when it starts to lock
• patience, and lots of it
• whether you actually enjoy the work

That last point matters. If you are unsure whether this is for you, a bit of exploring on your own can tell you a lot.

What is hard to learn on your own

You can't see your own mistakes

The most common problems I see in self-taught locticians are things they could not have noticed by themselves: a grip that strains the wrist, tension that hurts the client's scalp, sections that will cause trouble a year later. Without someone watching your hands, these become habits.

Different hair textures

In Australia you will meet every kind of hair, from straight and fine to tightly coiled. A method you figured out on one kind of hair may not work on the next. Learning to work with all of them on your own takes a very long time.

Your body

Most self-taught locticians don't think about posture, furniture or rest until something starts to hurt. By then, the damage has often begun. Read more in How to Work as a Loctician in Australia Without Wrecking Your Body.

The business

Pricing, booking, photography and how to talk with clients rarely come from videos about technique.

A note on the law

Teaching yourself is one thing. Charging money for your work is another. In New South Wales and South Australia, there are laws about who may do hairdressing for a fee, and councils across Australia have rules about premises. Check before you take paying clients. Read more in Do You Need to Be a Qualified Hairdresser to Make Dreadlocks in Australia?

A middle path

Many people start on their own, find that they love it, and then look for help to go further. That is a lovely way to do it. The Professional Loctician Online Course is a good next step if you want structure without leaving home. And if you want someone to see your hands, The Professional Loctician In-Person Training brings me to the capital of your state or territory for two one-to-one days.

• The Professional Loctician Online Course
• The Professional Loctician In-Person Training ($4,599 USD)

You can read about all three paths in How to Become a Loctician and Dreadlock Artist in Australia.

Have you been teaching yourself and wonder what's next? Send me an email at [email protected]. I will answer honestly, even if I think the time is not right for you yet.

With love,
Ann-Marie