How Many Dread Extensions Do You Need?

How big is your head? It sounds like a simple question. There should be a simple answer to this question, but it's all about size: how big your head is and how much hair you have. In this case, one size doesn't fit most people enough to cover it. The number of dreadlocks you need depends on several factors, including the thickness and length of your natural hair, the size of the extensions, and the fullness you want for the final look. Here are some general guidelines.

Determine Your Hair Volume

So the first question should be easy to determine, you either have thick hair, or you don't.

If you don't, it's a little tricky. For example, you only have half a head of hair. You have both sides of your hair shaved into a death hawk style, so it's a mohawk.

If you have a short haircut, it could also be half a head of hair. But if you only have the sides cut, it could be two-thirds of hair.

So basically, the amount of hair you have affects the number of braids you need because that's what you're installing. 

Consider The Thickness of Your Hair

Also, the thickness of your hair can make a difference. For example, if you have thick hair, you may need more braids. If your hair is thinner, then you may need fewer braids.

Therefore, the second part, which is the size of your desired braids, plays the biggest role in calculating how many braids you need. If you want extensions, you may only need a few braids to create a complete hairstyle. 

Size of Extensions

The size I am talking about refers to the width or thickness of the braid, not the wings. Braids come in many different sizes, but on average, they come in five main types. So, there are micro braids, thin braids, medium or standard braids, and also large cuts and extra thick or chunky braids.

Those measurements you see are our estimates, and they are very rough. There is no exact standard that every dreadlocker will use. 

Besides this, you will also see in the braid extension community. A lot of people use writing instruments as a measuring tool to indicate the size of the braid. The three most common tools you see are pencils, Sharpies, and highlighters. The pencil, Sharpie, and highlighter system corresponds to thin standard sizes and thick sizes.

For example, I usually use a thick Sharpie liner for braids, but sometimes I use a thin liner like a pencil, and sometimes I mix a Sharpie and a highlighter like in this set.

Recommended Number Of Dread Extensions

So next, how do you combine these two pieces of information: how much hair you have, the size of joint you want, and how many braids you need.

So for a double braid:

If you have thick hair, you might need 80 to 90 or even 100. It depends on how small the hair is.

If you have a mohawk or a half-up and have four braids, a ballpark number is 50.

If you have a side cut, it's probably around 75.

If you want thin braids and have a lot of hair, a good number for a double braid is 70. This can range from 60 to 84.

If you have a side cut or a thicker mohawk, you might need 50 to 60.

How many you need depends on the thickness of your hair or if you have bangs you want to leave in.

Tip: I recommend buying handmade braids. Machine-made braids do exist, but they're not recommended. They are not high quality, and while some people do have good experiences with them, they tend to fall apart and don't look great.

Next, we'll talk about the most named side categories.

If you have very thick hair, you'll usually need about 45 to 50.

If you have a half set, you can order 30 sets. Of course, if you shave a lot of your head, you might only need 20 to 25 sets.

So the next size up is the thick braids or highlighter-sized braids.

A head of thick hair might only need about 30 to 40.

If you have a mohawk, then at this size, you'll need about 20 to 25.

And finally the thick size, the extra thick braids.

If you have very thick hair and want a full set of this size, you'll probably need about 30, or even less.

If you have a mohawk or a half set, you'll probably need about 20. It could be a little less, it could be a little more.

Find the right number of Loc extensions for your hair.

Everyone's hair is different, some have thick hair, some have thin hair, some have medium hair, and some have extra thick hair. Some have a Mohawk, some have a Death Hawk, some have a side part, some have an undercut, some have bangs, some have no bangs, and so on.

If you want more braids than you actually need, that's OK. As long as you don't install too many, it won't put too much strain on your vision. You can install more braids than you actually need to get a full, thick look.

Of course, you can order a little less than you actually need and then order a larger piece later if you may not want something that big.

If you are still unsure after reading this article and determining the size of braid extensions you want and comparing it to the amount of hair you have. You can send us a message for a consultation. We will be able to help you.

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