This tutorial follows my first one, DIY Synthetic Dreads: How to Make Solid SE Dreads...
In this instructable, I will teach you one method of how to seal and finish off those lovely dreadies in order to get them ready to wear.

(This will teach you how to seal dreads using the straightener method)

Step 1: Materials

This step of dread making is fairly simple and you don't need that much. Just stuff you can typically find around your house.

You will need a few different things for this process:

-A good straightener (one of the older low heated ones work best...NOT the ones that go up into the 100's)
-A bowl of water
-A lightweight wash cloth
-A pair of scissors

Step 2: Twisting

After you have your dread hooked up, backcombed and ready to go, we can begin twisting.

Twisting is another important part for the end result. Be sure when you twist the dread you twist it consistently and in the same direction all the way through (obviously.) Twist from top to bottom all the way down to the tail end, but if it's easier while you work, you can twist in stages to keep it tighter. (Like in the picture, I twist that far and hold it while I seal that part and then move down more.)

Step 3: Set Up

This step is as easy as could be. Simply take your wet wash cloth and lay it flat over the twisted dread.
Make sure that cloth is squeezed out but not too dry. You need it to be wet enough so that when you run the straightener over it, it will cause it to steam (and therefore sealing the dread.)

Also, remember to keep the dread twisted as tight as possible.

Step 4: Sealing

Now it's time to seal those beautiful dreads.

With the wet cloth laying over the dread, keep it twisted tight and clamp the straightener lightly over the covered portion of the dread. This will cause it to steam and while you do this the dread will shrink! Don't worry, that's the point. As it shrinks, just twist it tighter.

As you move down the dread, lay it back and check your progress. The dread should look slightly smaller and much tighter. When you touch it, you should feel that it is nearly solid. Poofy parts can always be gone over again.

*When you do this be VERY careful with the steam, it is so so so easy to burn yourself*

Step 5: Sealing the Tail

When you get down to the very bottom of the dread, you can set the wash cloth aside. Take your straightener (on low heat, around 30 works,) and clamp it quickly on the smaller part. If you leave it there for too long, you can burn straight through the hair and it will just fall off.
So carefully clamp the straightener a few times until you feel that the end has been sealed tightly and solid.

When you finish the tail, there will be a little fluff of hair off the end of the dread (picture 2). Just cut that part off up to where you sealed the tip and throw it away.

Keep in mind the more sealed the tip is, the better.

*Watch your fingers*

Step 6: Done!

Your dread is now officially done and ready to wear!

There should be a single loop at the top and it should get progressively smaller from top to bottom.

Look out for my next tutorial on installing single ended dreads!
Thanks and hope it helped :)

***I ALSO SELL THESE DREADS AND ALL OTHER DREADS FEATURED ON MY INSTRUCTABLES. IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE THEM, MESSAGE ME! I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ORDERS, AND I KEEP MY PRICES VERY MANAGEABLE! IF YOU WOULD RATHER NOT MAKE THEM YOURSELF I WILL GLADLY MAKE THEM FOR YOU.***