Dreads, Heat & Relief!

Let’s all agree that there’s thick hair and then there’s summer with thick hair.. 

Add hot flashes into the mix, and suddenly summer is your worst nightmare.  Heavy strands sticking to the neck, frizz settling in at the roots, and that suffocating feeling that just. won’t. quit. 

For women dealing with heat, hormones, or both, finding the right hairstyle can make all the difference.

That’s where dreadlocks come in!

Unlike traditional hairstyles that keep the hair packed tightly together, did you know that dreads are sectioned in a way that naturally creates space?

Space for air to move. Space for the scalp to breathe. 

It’s that airflow that makes all the difference. 

With less heat trapped at the root and more ventilation around the scalp, women are noticing just how much cooler they feel throughout the day.

No official studies (yet), but the women in our Wildcrafted Women group—13k strong and buzzing with 40+ posts a day—keep saying the same thing: their hot flashes feel way more manageable with dreadlocks. Some say they’re less intense, others say they don’t last as long, and a few barely feel them at all. 

When they talk, we always listen.

Everyone’s different, of course, but the message keeps popping up, when the scalp stays cooler, you stay cooler. And honestly, that kind of relief is something most people didn’t even realize they were missing until they felt it.

One of the most frustrating parts about hot flashes and summer heat is how out of control it all feels. You could be sitting still, minding your business, and suddenly feel like someone lit a fire inside your skin. Add thick hair into that moment, and the heat gets trapped—at the scalp, down the back, and around the neck. It’s uncomfortable, irritating, and exhausting.

But with dreadlocks, that heaviness eases. The hair stays in place, pulled away from the face, with plenty of space for airflow. That alone can take the edge off a hot flash and make the hottest days feel just a little bit more manageable. 

It’s a subtle change, but one that makes a big impact when it comes to daily comfort.

Women are saying one of the best parts is not having to deal with their hair all the time. No more constant washing, brushing, or trying to wrestle thick hair into place every morning. That kind of freedom starts to matter more as life gets busier and when self-care starts to feel more like taking things off your plate instead of adding more to it.

Once dreads are in, they’re honestly pretty easy to live with. No daily detangling, no hot tools, no layering on sticky gels or creams just to make your hair behave. 

You wake up, fix them how you like, and head out the door. 

That kind of simplicity? It’s rare and once you have it, it’s hard to imagine going back.

Of course, not every woman has considered dreadlocks before. There’s still a little bit of mystery and hesitation around the style for those who didn’t grow up seeing them as an option. But times are changing. More women are realizing that dreads aren’t just about making a statement—they’re also about finding comfort, confidence, and practicality all in one.

And honestly, they’re stunning. Whether styled into an updo, tied with a scarf, worn loose or tied, dreads can be as soft or as bold as a woman wants them to be. They hold shape beautifully, and they mature gracefully. That’s something that resonates deeply with women who are learning to embrace change, not just in their hair, but in their bodies, their energy, and their pace of life..

And that’s the beauty of it—it’s not just a hairstyle. For many women, dreadlocks represent a shift. 

A choice to do things differently. 

To prioritize comfort without sacrificing style. 

To say, “I’m done with what doesn’t serve me,” and actually mean it.

It’s a way of living lighter both mentally and physically.

So many of us have been conditioned to believe that our hair has to be “done” to be presentable. That it has to be straightened, polished, tamed, or tied back neatly for the world to take us seriously. But dreadlocks flip that on its head. They’re not about perfection, they’re about presence. About showing up as you are and letting that be enough. Letting it be more than enough.

And that’s especially powerful during times of transition. For women going through menopause, for those adjusting to a new pace of life, or even just learning how to feel at home in their own skin again, there’s something deeply grounding about a style that lets you breathe. That says, “Hey, this is me and I’m good with that.”

The emotional freedom is just as valuable as the physical comfort.

There’s also something really empowering about not needing to constantly fight your hair. The dreadlock journey can be a reclaiming of time, of energy, of identity. Instead of spending hours every week trying to get your hair to fit into a mold, you get to spend that time doing things that actually light you up. Whether that’s being outside, diving into a passion project, or just getting more sleep—it adds up in ways that are hard to measure, but impossible to ignore.

And if we’re being honest, thick hair has always been a double-edged sword. Complimented by strangers, admired in photos, but behind closed doors? It can be a whole lot of work. That work gets heavier in the summer. The heat feels more intense. The routines get longer. The products get stickier. And don’t even get started on the frizz.

That’s where dreadlocks come in and change the game.

Instead of smoothing, straightening, and silencing your hair, they invite it to do what it naturally wants to do just in a more intentional, structured way. The hair gets to keep its texture, its body, its presence but you get to experience it in a way that’s actually manageable. And most importantly, comfortable.

The cool thing is, you don’t have to fit into any box to wear them. Whether you’re more laid-back or all about glam, there’s a way to make dreadlocks reflect your vibe. You can keep them minimal or get creative! add braids, wraps or beads that feel personal to you. 

They grow with you, and they change with you. Just like everything else in life.

And the summer benefits? They’re not just hype. Less sweat, less stickiness, less of that weighed-down feeling that thick hair brings when temperatures rise.

 A scalp that doesn’t feel smothered. A neck that’s finally free. The ability to go outside and stay comfortable for longer than five minutes. That’s the kind of everyday ease that doesn’t just change how you feel—it changes what you’re able to do.

It becomes easier to move through the world when you’re not constantly trying to cool down, calm down, or fix your hair in every reflection.

You’re simply being, and that’s more than enough.

There’s also the confidence factor.

When you’re wearing a style that fits your lifestyle and feels good on your body, it shows. You stand taller. You smile more. You stop worrying about whether you look “put together,” because you already feel that way. That energy shifts the way people see you, and even more importantly—the way you see you.

And isn’t that what we all want, at the end of the day? A hairstyle that works with us, not against us. One that makes space for ease, for self-expression, and for the woman we are becoming.

For many, dreadlocks are that style.

They’re not just practical. They’re not just pretty. They’re a tool for comfort. A quiet form of rebellion. A little gift to yourself—especially when you’re in a season of life that demands so much from you. Whether you’re managing hot flashes, chasing after work deadlines, or just trying to get through a humid day without your hair staging a full protest, dreadlocks offer an unexpected kind of peace.

And let’s be real ladies: peace is priceless. 

Let’s see what women who have tried our dreadlocks are saying about them! 

“Mine keep my scalp cooler in the summer because of the air flow and I don’t have sweaty hair sticking all over my face and neck. I work outside a lot.” —- Mindy B 

“I found that my scalp was nice and cool during my Caribbean cruise, even when I wore a hat.” — Jennifer B 

“I'm post menopause and I still get BAD hot flashes and I notice when my dreads are in they are less severe and less often.” — Michele B 

“I have found that since having my dreads (full set, full time) it has allowed more airflow throughout my scalp and I do stay a bit cooler and cool off faster after working up a sweat doing chores (or just walking to the mailbox). Have fun with yours. Hope you love them!” —- Evelena P

So if you’ve been wondering whether it’s time for a change, or if you’ve felt like your current routine just isn’t working for you anymore, this might be your sign. A sign to try something new. To give your scalp a break. To finally feel the breeze.

Because hair doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful. And comfort doesn’t have to come at the expense of style.

With dreadlocks , you really can have both.