I've heard that if you soak the dreads in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes and cover the dreads in a plastic bag and then repeat in one week then it will kill the lice and their eggs. I haven't had lice before so I haven't tried this so I don't know if it works for sure, but it's worth a try, because dreads are part of you and you do not want to give them up easily.

Your hair will look like dreads right after you put the dreads in but it will take about six months for them to lock up.

Yep, dreads do grow; they grow at the same speed your normal hair grows. The hair does not grow into the dread unless the roots of the dread are locked up. So it is very important to lock the hair at the root, you can use the clockwise rubbing method to do this.

Of course, were you planning on taking them out every night and putting them back in every morning? Actually sleeping on dreads and rolling around on them tightens them.

It will take them about six months to lock up. By that time the dreads will be harder and most of the loose hairs will be gone.

Sports and sweating will not hurt your dreads. If you are involved in a water sport where your dreads will get very wet, very often, then you may want to use a swim cap while they are new.