Dreads with beads is a popular styling option for people with locs of all lengths. They can add a touch of personality and style to your dreadlocks, and there are many different ways to incorporate beads into your dreads.
If you find it hard to style your dreads with beads. I’m here to prove that it doesn’t have to be difficult and time-consuming at all.
So, why dreads with beads?
Adding beads to your dreads is a fashionable way to wear your dreadlocks. Not to mention that it’s a classic and never goes out of style. It also makes your dreads look fun and lively, which is excellent if you have kids wearing dreadlocks.
One of the best reasons to wear dreads with beads is that they can protect your hair. Stacking beads creates a protective layer that reduces hair movement and friction, making hair less prone to damage.
Below, I’ll show you some of the best dreads with beads locs styles and how to style your dreads with beads. If you don’t have locs yet and still figuring out what’s the best starter locs for you, check out this article first: 8 Best Starter Locs For Men Methods + Styling Tips
Best Dreads with Beads Styles
Dreads with Bead in Ponytail
Let’s start with something simple and classic. This single-bead style is perfect if you’re just trying out the dreads with bead style. It’s subtle, neutral-colored, and not flashy at all.
It’s also a great style if you like wearing bright-colored clothes and you don’t want to bring that much attention to your hair.
Dreads with Colored Beads
Men can also fashion a dread with beads hairstyle. If you’re one of the people who prefer simpler styles, whether in hair or clothing, this style is a simple yet eye-catching look
Dreads with Multiple Beads
If you’ve got time on your hands and don’t mind the beading process, you might want to don multiple beads of various designs and colors in your dreadlocks.
You can add them in different locations for a boho look. Or you can add clear see-through beads on your locs ends if you want to stand out.
Dreads with Cowrie Shell beads
Going for an island girl vibe? You won’t go wrong with this dreads with cowrie beads look.
There are a lot of types of cowrie beads for dreadlocks. There are beads with attached rings where you can insert your dreads. But some of these cowrie shells come with holes to make them more natural looking.
Dreads with Shell Beads and Threads
One might think that combining various hair accessories would a hairstyle messy–but this look proves otherwise. There are a lot of loc accessories that you can combine with beads, like hair threads and hair jewelry.
If there is one tip I can give you, it’s to not be afraid to go gaga when mixing and matching hair accessories.
Dreads with Metal Beads
Nothing looks more classy than the color silver. It goes well with everything, even if you wear multi-colored clothes. If you plan on wearing something bright or flashy, use multiple silver hair beads on your locs rather than colorful ones to balance out your entire outfit.
Short Dreads with Gold Beads
The gold color never fails to make something look more luxurious. This locs style with gold beads go well with every hair and outfit color.
Notice how it goes well even with neon green? When wearing gold hair beads, pair them with other gold accessories to give them a cleaner, more refined look.
Styling Dreads with Beads: Things You Need
Now that you’ve seen the looks you can possibly do to your dreads, it’s time to whip out your hair supplies.
Beads
Beads are available in various designs, sizes, and materials and can be found in most craft stores. Pick one that is closest to your style. A rule of thumb that I always follow is that the beads should be large enough to slide through dreadlocks as if it was a ring.
Tiny elastic bands
These elastic bands will help secure the beads on your dreadlocks. They add thickness to the dreadlocks, which allows the beads to stop moving up and down your locs.
Beads Styles
There are many beads you can use to add to your dreads. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the bead with the right color, material, and size for your dreadlocks.
Dreadlock Beads Color
Pastel colors
These colors are soft and subtle and wouldn’t clash with most colors of clothes. If you tend to wear bright and bold colors and want to flaunt your outfit rather than your locs style, go for pastel-colored hair beads.
Metallic colors
If you’re looking for a more classic look, you’ll never go wrong with metallic colors. They’re usually near neutral or earthy colors, making them match well with any hair color and any clothes.
Bright colors
Bright-colored beads are great if you want your locs to stand out more. These beads are great for styling children’s hair. You can stack them on top of each other for a cuter look. They also look and stand out even better when you wear mute-colored clothing.
Dread Beads Material
Wood
Wooden beads are great additions to your dreadlocks, giving you a nice, native touch to your locs style. Wooden beads are best used on natural-colored hair.
Metal
These beads aren’t your traditional circle-shaped, single-colored ones. They usually come in various intricate designs that can level up your dreadlocks. These metal hair beads make for a classy look that goes well on everybody.
Do take note that metal hair beads should not be left on your hair for a long period to prevent rusting.
Plastic
If you want something bold and colorful, I suggest adorning your dreadlocks with plastic hair beads. They’re usually available in bright colors and various designs. These beads are best if you want durable and affordable hair accessories.
Dread Beads Size
Bead sizes are also something you need to consider when trying out dreads with beads for the first time. There’s no limit as to how small or how big your hair beads should be, but I make sure that each bead has a hole large enough to slide dreadlocks through.
5mm beads
If you plan on stacking beads on your hair, go for smaller beads. They’re lightweight and take up less space in your hair.
8mm beads
These mid-sized beads are great if you only plan on putting a single hair bead on a loc.
10mm beads
If your dreadlocks are on the thicker side, you may opt for these 10mm beads, as they can match the width of each loc. They also usually have the largest bead holes, which allows the beads to slide through with hardly any effort.
Dreads with Beads Styling Guide
Pick your beads.
The thinnest dreads, microlocs, are around 4.5mm thin. On the other hand, small to medium dreads size can fit an 8mm dread bead, and large dreads can fit 10mm beads.
If you don’t know how thick your locs are, you can easily measure them using a measuring tape. Wrap the measuring tape around your locs and find its diameter.
You can also ask your loctician to install your preferred dreads size if you want to try a specific bead type or size.
Slide the beads.
Once you’ve found your perfect bead size, slide the beads on your dreadlocks. Move it upwards until you find the perfect place where they won’t slide back down.
Usually, this spot is found in the middle of the dreadlocks or near the roots, but if you want to put beads only at the ends of your hair, you need to secure it for a snug fit.
Secure your beads.
Once you have your beads placed, slide the bead upward and tie an elastic band around the area. It should be thick enough to stop the beads from sliding around your locs.
For a tidier finish, slide the bead further down to hide the elastic band.
FAQs about Dreads with Beads
How do dread beads stay on?
There are different ways to keep the beads on your dreads. The most common way to do that is by looking for a dreadlock that perfectly fits the bead.
If you can’t find one large enough to snugly fit the hair bead, you can always tie a small elastic band on your dreadlock, which will act as a “stopper” for the hair beads. You can hide the elastic band inside the bead for a more seamless look.
Do dreads with beads help hair grow faster?
No, the beads will not help your hair grow faster. The beads do, however, reduce hair movement and friction, which allows your hair to grow without damage or breakage.
In addition, dreadlocks are protective hairstyles that help you grow your hair out easier.
Can I wash my dreads with beads?
You can wash your dreads with beads, but you have to be careful when doing so. Pay attention to the material your beads are made of.
If it’s made from wood, wood can absorb water and, over time, soften the material. If it’s made from metal, water may cause your hair beads to rust and tarnish.
How long do dreads with beads last?
Anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. The longevity of your dreads with beads depends on how much you take care of your hair. If possible, try not to leave beads or any hair accessories longer than six weeks.
If you notice your metal beads start rusting, it’s important to remove them as soon as possible. Although dreadlocks are generally regarded as a protective hairstyle, chemical reactions caused by rusting metal beads can lead to damage and hair breakage.
How do you sleep in dreads with beads?
If you have any kind of hair jewelry, it’s best to sleep with a satin hair wrap to keep those accessories on your hair. The satin material reduces friction, thus preventing hair breakage. It also decreases movement, which may cause your jewelry to be displaced.
Bottomline…
Adding beads to your dreadlocks will definitely step up your hair game. It’s fun, colorful, and always trendy. What’s even better is that hair beads are available in almost every craft store around you. Just slide a bead in, secure it, and flaunt your dreads with beads like you own the world.
