A Congo dread is two or more individual locs that have grown together and combined to form a single dreadlock. It starts at the root, where new growth from neighboring locs meet, and then travels as your hair grows. A Congo gives you a thicker, heavier loc with a shape you can’t get by retwisting your locs.
Several people want the authentic look of Congo locs and have developed several procedures to encourage them, creating the most natural-looking finish. Below are five methods to make Congo dreads, and further down, how to separate Congo locs.
What Are Congo Dreads?
The term "Congo" refers to when two individual locs (i.e., two dreadlocks) become combined at the roots to form a single dreadlock (i.e., two dreadlocks join). Some people actively avoid Congo locs and try to separate them as quickly as possible because they don't want their dreadlocks combing together.
However, others love the authentic look of Congo locs and have come up with several procedures to encourage them, creating the most natural-looking finish.
Freeform Vs. Non-Freeform Congo Dreads
Freeform Congo dreads are precisely what the name suggests - they are dreadlocks cultivated without manipulation. When dreadlocks are left untamed and unmanipulated, Congo dreadlocks will naturally form.
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The hair begins matting at the roots and will continue to mat toward the ends over time. Non-freeform Congo dreads are produced by manipulating locs and any loose hair to join together at the roots.
Unlike freeform Congo dreads, they require more work and maintenance. However, the same look can be achieved using this more-involved approach.
How Long It Takes to Make Congo Dreads
Depending on the method you choose, it can take a few weeks or several months to get Congo dreads. Some techniques require one or more sessions for quick results, and others demand time and patience.
Furthermore, the length, condition, and texture of your hair also affect the time it takes to form Congo dreads. Crochet Congo dreads, however, will be done in an instant.
How Long Congo Dreads Last
The longevity of Congo dreads largely depends on the level of care and maintenance they receive. As long as you take care of your locs, they can last for many years. But if you neglect them or over manipulate them, they may only last a few weeks or months.
The Best Candidates for Congo Dreads
Congo dreads are best suited for those with locs that haven't fully matured. Newer locks are easier to fuse together because the hair is still matting.
So, if you are within the first six months of your loc journey, Congo dreads are a great option. But if you're past the 6-month mark, there's no need to worry - Congo dreads can still be done on fully matured locks, but the process may take longer.
How To Get Congo Dreads
There are various methods you can use to make Congo dreads. Each requires few tools and minimal effort. Use the instructions and tips below to start the Congo process today.
Crochet Method
The crochet method for Congo dreads is one of the quickest ways to combine individual locs.
Not only does this technique help you achieve the Congo look quickly, but it can save problematic locks from thinning and breakage. Moreover, the crochet method can give you a more uniform look if you have locs that vary in thickness.
What You'll Need
- 0.5 mm crochet hook
- Hair tie
Instructions
Follow the steps below to combine dreads using the crochet method.
- Choose two dreads you want to combine. Then, gather the rest of your dreads into a ponytail and secure them with a hair tie.
- Using your thumb and index finger, separate the roots of one dread, making a hole. The hole should be wide enough for the other dread to fit through it.
- Insert the end of the second dread into the hole at the root of the first dread. Then, gently pull the loc through to secure both dreads at the root.
- Twist both dreads together loosely at the root about three times. Doing so will further reinforce the root of the loc.
- Using your thumb and index finger to secure the dreads, insert the crochet hook horizontally through the root of both dreads. Do not insert the crochet hook at a downward or upward angle. Gently push it through straight across to avoid pulling your hair out at the roots. Then gently pull the crochet hook back through the root of both locks to marry them together. Repeat this motion over and over again in different spots to fuse the locks.
- While the hair strands are still latched onto the crochet hook, spin the dread 180° and insert the hair into a new location on the lock. If you are more of a visual learner, you can watch a video tutorial of this process.
- Repeat this process until you notice your roots starting to lock up.
- Once the loc is fused from root to tip, complete the entire process again on any other dreads you wish to Congo.
Note: Because the individual locs have been deliberately fused together, the new loc may not lay as flat as your other ones. But over time, the new Congo will relax and lay naturally.
Rubber Band Method
The rubber band method for creating Congos is less technical than the crochet method, but it may take longer for the dreads to combine.
With this technique, those with premature locs less than six months old will likely see faster results. However, it can be done on dreads at any stage.
What You'll Need
The only accessory you need is a pack of rubber bands.
Instructions
Follow the instructions below to Congo your dreads using the rubber band method:
- Grab the locks you want to combine. For a uniform look, the locs should be roughly the same length.
- Place the rubber band around the dreads about 1 inch away from the roots. Depending on the current length of your hair, you may need to place the rubber band closer to your scalp.
- Continue placing rubber bands around the locs about 1 inch apart until you reach the ends of the locs.
- Take the rubber bands off after two to three weeks and observe your locs. If they have fused, there's no need to repeat the method. But if they are still not fused, start over from step 1.
Note: Leaving rubber bands in your hair too long may cause them to break or get lost in your dreads. That's why this method should be used no more than 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
Interlock Method
Another way to get Congos is to join your locs at the roots with an interlocking tool or latch hook. If you use the interlock method to maintain your locs, all you need to do to Congo your locs is to interlock them together at the roots every time you do your loc maintenance.
Over time, your locs will get the memo and fuse all the way down to the ends. If you want to know how to interlock your locs, watch this tutorial to learn the basics.
The key to doing Congos using the interlocking method is to interlock both of the locs in the same direction each time. They'll instantly fuse at the roots, and then all you'll have to do is wait.
Retwist Method
If you regularly retwist your locs for maintenance, you can Congo some of your locs by simply retwisting them together with a holding product. This method will take a long time to work, but it's by the far the most straightforward non-freeform method.
Freeform Method
The freeform method for Congo dreads is the most stress-free way to transform your locs. Generally, Congo dreads will naturally form as your hair progresses through your freeform journey. The only maintenance your locs need is regular washing and moisturizing.
How to Separate Congo Locs
If you decide that you don’t want Congo locs to form naturally, it’s important to maintain your locs to control their thickness. When two locs are only joined by loose new growth at the root, you can usually work them apart with your fingers. Wet the root, add some conditioner with slip or a light oil, and gently separate the two locs.
Once the locs have merged, it’s harder to pull them apart. You’re no longer separating two locs; you’re tearing one loc in half, and both halves come out thinner and weaker at the split.
If the new Congo loc has grown more than an inch or two from your scalp, some locticians will tell you to keep it or cut it rather than force a split that creates two weak locs as a replacement.
The test is whether you can see two distinct locs at the root. If you can, you can likely separate them with no problems. If the two locs have become one solid loc with no seam, separating them becomes much more difficult.
How to Stop Congo Dreadlocks From Forming
It’s easiest for Congo locs to form on wash days, because your hair swells and the new growth at your roots tangles with the loc beside it. If the locs dry that way, the Congo loc formation begins.
To prevent Congo locs from forming, separate your roots after every wash, while your hair is still damp. Run a finger between each loc down to the scalp and feel for any place where two locs are joining together. Using this approach consistently prevents most Congos from forming.
Monitoring your hair while it’s drying matters just as much. Locs that dry pressed against each other under a towel or a bonnet will often join together at the root. So give your locs room to breathe and let air move between them.
If you retwist or interlock on a regular schedule, your loctician separates the roots as part of the job. The gap between appointments is where Congos appear, which is why they turn up more often when you delay your regular maintenance routine.
Congo Dreads FAQs
How Do You Wash Congo Dreads?
Wash them the same way you wash the rest of your locs, with extra attention to drying. A Congo loc is thicker than the two locs that formed it, so it holds more water and takes noticeably longer to dry all the way through. Squeeze it out properly and don’t tie it up damp. A Congo loc that never dries fully is where a musty smell starts.
How To Get Rid of Congo Locs?
Separate them early. While the two locs are joined only by loose new growth, wet the root, add a conditioner or light oil for slip, and work them apart with your fingers from the scalp outward. Once the merged section has locked, you’re splitting one loc rather than separating two, and both halves come out thinner, so most locticians will tell you to keep it or cut it instead.
Can Any Hair Type Get Congo Dreads?
Yes. Any hair texture that will loc will also Congo, because a Congo loc is just two locs joining together at the root rather than anything texture-specific. Tighter textures loc faster, so congos tend to show up sooner on 4C hair than on looser curls.
What Is the Easiest Way to Get Congo Dreads?
Use the Freeform Method, be patient, and let them form naturally. Then, don’t separate your roots after you wash your hair, and let two locs dry while pressed together. They’ll start joining on their own within a few wash days. If you want them in a particular place rather than at random, the rubber band method gives you the most control for the least effort.
Are Congo Dreads Bad for Your Hair?
No, Congo dreads are not bad for your hair. Congos are your own hair where two or more locs have joined together. The style doesn’t damage your hair strands. However, watch the weight of the hairstyle over time, because a Congo loc is heavier than the two individual locs that formed it and can eventually create scalp tension. If a Congo loc sits at your hairline, watch the root carefully and tell your loctician if it starts thinning.
Related Articles
- How to Start Wick Dreads From Afro
- Starter Locs: Two Strand Twist
- How Long Does It Take for Dreads to Grow?
- What Are the Stages of Locs?
Congo dreads are an excellent option for those looking to rescue their locs from ruin or for those who just want a new look. But like all loc styles and methods, Congo dreadlocks must be done with care to avoid damaging your hair.
We hope this article provides you with the tips and instructions you need to rock your new Congo dreads.
