Can I use elastics?

You shouldn't really use elastics with this method because you will be rubbing it and ripping it and the elastics will get in the way.

It's not really a good idea, because the dread will start to unravel because the hair that was holding the knots together before is gone. You will have to wait for the tip to lock up again and it's just a pain in the arse. But if you are going to do it the best way to cut it is like a flower, cut it at an angle and then put a rubber band around the tip and rub the tip against the palm of your hand everyday for about 2 days and then take the rubber band out.

I tried it once, and I didn't like the way my hair looked afterward, it looked really unhealthy and singed, a lot of the hair broke off, and it smelled so bad. The tips didn't have the blunt look I was looking for either they just looked fried. If you are going to do it make sure you don't have any wax or products in your hair, most hair products are very flammable. But I got the best results just rolling the tips in my palms.

Of course, they grow just like normal hair. Your normal straight hair grows out of your scalp and then it grows into the rest of the dread.

The best way to get round tips is to use the tip rounding technique where you rub the tip of the dread in the palm of your hand in a circular motion.