Hi, Sorry if this was already asked but after a day of searching I can't find any info on how to actually use the felting needles to maintain the dreads. Or how to round the dread tips. If there already is info and I put missed it maybe someone can point me in the right direction. Or maybe if anyone out there maintains their dreads with a needle maybe they can just write a quick instruction guide. I don't think it would have to be too detailed. Its only that the instructions I've found are simply "use a felting needle" and not actually how to use the needle. Thanks in advance. Also I know I am gonna be told by some to just leave them be, and I have let them be, but I think I'd like them a little better if they were a little less crazy.
that's so funny. I just finished doing it to some of my dreads. It's best to use the needle on a foam block & basically all you do is jab it over and over. the needles are barbed and they grab loose hair and tangle it up inside. But these needles are VERY VERY sharp. I can't stress that enough, they scare me actually. lol It also helped to merge two thin dreads I had, I've been trying to do that for ages and the needle did it in like 3 minutes.
Using the felting needle pretty much consists of puncturing the dread repeatedly with a bit of twisting, till the area is felted well. Palmrolling comes in big here too. Felt, palmroll, felt, palmroll your way down the dread. For ends, I sort of bend the end hairs back up and twist them around so that they kind of look like a small, tight, noose. I pinch that and then - very carefully- felt it. Ends are tricky and these needles can freakn' puncture. Warnings:Needles are sharp! Felting will cause some hair breakage. Screwing up on an end may result in the end falling off. (hehe..been there) It's a bit risky and sometimes a bit bloody but if it's done well, felting certainly shows results.
Thank you both very much. I should be picking up a needle today. With the ends breaking off, does that happen more with thin or large dreads? Is it a big problem or just something to be careful about (like jabbing yourself) Again Thanks so very much!
Might wanna give a latch hook a go, I found them much easier to use. Just dreadball your loose hair and bull it into the dread, there also good for pulling your tips up Never tried a felting needle though, only a croteching hook and i didn't have much luck!
Does anyone know where I can find a felting needle? I searched Wal-Mart, FabricLand, and all the local craft/dollar/anything stores in my city. None. Online maybe?
Yeah. Ebay for sure has em, and there's even some on etsy I believe And of course online crafting stores have em
