Believe it or not, there are plenty more hairstyles for black men than just a big puffy afro, like dreadlocks! Take a look below at our favorite trendy dreadlock hairstyles for black men.
Black Men With Dreads: Things You Should Know
Before we show you all the different dreads styles for black men, let’s talk about what you should know about dreadlocks.
Dreads are a whole different style than big afros and 360 waves. Most people incorrectly think the only way to get dreads is to get your hair extremely tangled and dirty for a long period of time.
You can very easily get dreads without getting your hair dirty. In fact, we recommend getting it professionally done.
However, it’s important to note that even if you do have a professional hairdresser give you dreadlocks, natural hair may still get damaged.
This doesn’t mean you’ll go bald once you remove the dreads, but that this hairstyle can put constant tension on your roots and as such, can potentially hurt your hair.
Last, but not least, you don’t have to wait for your hair to grow or reach down to your shoulders or waist to get very long dreadlocks. Nowadays, hair extensions can be clipped in or crocheted into your own hair.
You should still wash your hair on a regular basis to take care of your dreadlocks.
Coolest Dreadlock Hairstyles for Black Men
Let’s have a look at these amazing dreaded hairstyles that black men can try with confidence.
1. Long Thick Dreadlocks
If you desire a thicker hairstyle and like the appearance of long hair, transform your look into long dreadlocks!
These thick ones are all about the same size, making for a uniform and handsome style on black men. So you can flaunt this dreadlock style like African-American celebrities.
2. Blonde Ombre Dreadlocks with Temple Fade
A temple fade is a favorite hairstyle detail for black men who want a fresh, precise-looking cut. We love the way it looks with short thin dreadlocks. For a little more color, experiment with a blonde or caramel ombre. Wear your dreads down or gather the top half in a sexy man bun.
3. Wrapped Dreadlock Rows with a Low Tail
If you’re all about the details when it comes to your hairstyle, we’re sure you’ll appreciate the way thin twists “tie” together thick dreadlocks. After sectioning out some hair for the twists, gather the rest of your locs into several thick rows that run back over the head and combine into one wrapped tail at the neckline.
4. Undercut Loc Ponytail with Bangs
To put an edgy touch on a short dreadlock hairstyle, shave in an undercut. Whether you wear your hair down or up in a man ponytail, a peek of the undercut will still be visible. Some short thin dreads around your forehead will also look cool, especially with a little color.
5. Short Thin Dreadlocks
Short, narrow dreadlocks fall across the forehead and around the ears. A loose side sweep gives the compact style an uneven, natural-looking outline.
6. Caramel-Accented Dreadlock Updo
Dark dreadlocks are loosely gathered behind the head, with caramel-brown strands visible across the top and beside the face. Closely cropped sides contrast with the gathered lengths.
7. Side-Swept Ombre Dreadlocks
Ombre hair color isn’t only for women! On a medium length dreadlock hairstyle for black men, choose blonde, caramel, or a dark red. The finishing touch for this look is the half shaved head. Top with a beanie for artistic flair!
8. Tousled Short Dreadlocks
Short dreadlocks form a lifted, tousled outline around the top of the head. Unevenly falling strands add movement around the forehead and ears.
9. Long Dreadlocks with a Beanie
Long narrow dreadlocks hang loose over the chest beneath a knitted beanie. The locs fall on both sides of the face, while the hat covers the roots and part.
10. Swept-Back Thick Dreadlocks
This is simply a classic dreaded hairstyle for any black guy, and the best part is that the swept-back front keeps your face completely clear! First, ask your barber to separate your hair into big sections to then dread them into dreadlocks.
Keep in mind, these dreads SHOULD go all around your head, not only in the top part, and should be long enough to fall past your shoulders onto your chest.
11. High Dreadlock Bun
Gather your long dreadlocks into a high bun and secure them with a hair tie. The closely cropped sides emphasize the height and volume on top, while brown tips add contrast to the darker locs. Leave a few ends loose around the bun for a relaxed finish.
12. Dreadlocks with Square Partings
This particular black men’s hairstyle is a fun take on the regular dreadlocks. You see, the very roots where your dreads start should be square instead of round, also, make sure your hair is divided equally and in a very clean way so the shape can be appreciated!
13. Braided Dreads with Blonde Tips
If you’re a black guy and you’re looking for unique hairstyles, this braided dreads style is one of them! First, we recommend you bleach the ends of your hair before dreading it so you can get the blonde tips.
After that, simply ask your barber to give you dreads (again, make sure they are square at the root) and once that’s done, ask them to braid them into the back of your head in the same style as in the pic!
14. Messy High Dreadlock Updo
Dreadlocks are loosely piled high, with loops and projecting ends creating an irregular outline. Several long strands remain loose beside the face.
15. Pulled-Back Long Dreadlocks
Long brown dreadlocks are pulled back from the face and gathered behind the crown. The lower lengths remain loose around the shoulders and back.
16. Half-Up Twisted Dreadlock Bun
This dreadlocks style is for black men who want something unique and more risky. To get it, you should ask your barber or stylist to twist your locs together into chunky two-strand rope sections, gather most of them into a bun high on the crown and leave several long twisted sections hanging at the front on both sides.
Also, you can ask for a few lighter strands of hair so when you put them into dreads, it looks like you have two colors in your hair.
17. Pineapple Dreadlock Ponytail
Long dreadlocks are gathered high in a pineapple-shaped ponytail, with lighter ends spreading outward. The dark base contrasts with the warmer lengths.
18. Low Rolled Dreadlock Updo
This is a unique style for black men that turns fine locs into a thick, sculpted look. First, you should have very thin dreads that start off at your hairline and are gathered into thick wrapped rows that sweep toward the back of your head.
Last, but not least, you can take those thick rows and roll them into a very low bun to keep them from falling down your back.
19. Reddish Locs with a Goatee
It is very likely you will have to use extensions to get this hairstyle unless you already have naturally long hair. That being said, remember to dye your hair in a reddish tone before you decide to get dreads.
After that simply ask your stylist for straight, simple dreadlocks and make sure to style them away from your face, so the dreads fall down naturally on your back!
20. Shoulder-Length Brown Dreadlocks
Brown dreadlocks fall around the shoulders, with the front strands drawn away from the face. Their irregular texture creates a full, rounded silhouette.
21. Thin Black Dreads
If you’re looking for more classic styles then this is the one for you. To get it, you have to make sure that your hair is separated equally across your head so each dread comes out very thin!
This time you don’t have to ask your barber to style the dreads away from your face but to actually let your hair be styled near your hairline so it can frame your face!
22. Short Blue-Tipped Dreadlocks
Short dreadlocks transition from dark roots to blue and teal ends. The colored lengths frame the face and finish around the neck.
23. Blonde-Tipped Dreadlock Ponytail with Undercut
This black hairstyle is similar to the styles we’ve shown you before, but this time just the sides of your hair should be shaved down, NOT the front since you’ll want your stylist to actually dread your hair near your forehead to give you long dreads to frame your face.
To finish, simply put your hair up in a ponytail!
24. Half-Up Thick Locs with Bangs
To get this hairstyle (which is exactly the same as the Weeknd had) you’ll have to ask for very chunky dreads and then style JUST the half up into a pineapple kinda style, letting the bottom part fall loose on the back of your head.
25. Twisted Dreads with a Ginger Beard
A fun take on dreadlocks for black men is to dye your hair in a reddish tone and then ask your stylist for chunky twisted dreads that start off a little bit further back from your hairline, making sure to leave your edges untouched.
26. Short Blonde-Tipped Dreadlocks
Short dreadlocks fall across the forehead, with blonde lower sections contrasting against dark roots. The narrow strands finish around the temples and upper ears.
27. Side-Swept Dreadlocks with an Undercut
If you already are a black guy with dreads you can get a subtle change by simply asking your stylist to style your whole dreads to one side of your head instead of letting them fall down to your shoulders.
28. Swept-Back Dreadlock Twists
Small loc sections are grouped into thicker twists that sweep backward and fall toward the shoulders. Warm-brown ends contrast with the dark roots and closely cropped temple area.
Which of these 28 incredible dreadlock hairstyles for black guys will you choose? Long or short dreadlocks, you’ve got plenty to choose from on this list.
