Roving Dreadlocks!

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  Step 1

  Set up your workspace. I prefer to do mine on my dining table so I have plenty of space to work. Fill the baking tray with boiling water (fresh from the kettle or stove is best) and dissolve ~a teaspoonful of soap in it. I recommend olive soap because it doesn't really make a lather and doesn't smell funny, so you don't need to rinse the finished dreads. Basically, the higher the pH of the soap, the better, so dishsoap = good but bodywash = bad! Set up a load of towels too, so nothing gets too wet.

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  Step 2

  Lop off a chunk of roving just shorter than the length you want your finished dread. If your roving has come all in one long strip, just grasp it hard with one hand either side of where you want it to split, and then just pull hard - this makes a nice tapered end.

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  Step 3

  Dunk your piece of roving in the (very hot) water. I used a serving spoon to just push it under the surface of the water. Now you can sit back and relax for five minutes while the heat and soap do their magic.

• Step 4

  After your roving has had a good three to five minutes to soak, fish out one end and gently tease it into a tapered shape before rolling it quickly between your palms to make a nice pointy end. Repeat with the other end and then lift the length of roving out of the water, gently squeeze off a little of the water and roll it on the towel you have set up, like you would roll a bit of clay to make it into a snake ^.^

  You will feel the wool tightening up and feeling more solid - this process is called wet-felting. Roll the dread until you have the desired consistency. I like mine quite squishy!

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  Step 5

  After a few minutes of palm rolling, you should have a sausage of wool. This is your basic dread. At this point I like to tease out any weird-looking bits or creases and pop the dread back in to soak for another few minutes before re-rolling it to tighten it up.

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  Step 6

  Hang your lovely felted dreadies somewhere warm to dry overnight (I use a clothes airer so they don't get too creased) and then check them over in the morning. They should be nice and tight, but if you find any which are loose or look under-felted, just reheat them in the soap-and-water mix and roll some more!

  When your dreads are dry, they can be rolled to tighten them up if needed, and are suitable for braiding into your own hair to wear as extensions or putting onto elastic for falls.

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