As with the backcombing method, you’ll first need to part your hair into multiple small square sections. Once the squares are made, divide the hair from each square into two sections (you can also make three sections, although that requires more complex twisting). You can separate the sections using small hair clips or rubber bands.  Twists are an effective way to begin dreadlocks in longer hair, or hair that is highly textured. However, this method will also work if your hair is relatively short: as little as 4 inches (10 cm) will suffice.  While twists are an effective way to start dreads in black hair, they do not work well in Caucasian hair since they will unravel easily. This thick gel-like substance will help the large strands of hair cohere, and will encourage the dreadlocks to form more quickly. Before you start twisting the strands, make sure that each is fully covered with a thin layer of dread cream. Additional cream provides no added benefit, so you don’t need to slather each strand. You can purchase dread cream or wax at a local hair or beauty salon, online through large retailers, or at a local drug store or department store. At this point you’re ready to twist the strands. Begin by taking each strand of hair: twist it three or four turns counterclockwise. Once you’ve twisted a set of two strands (from the same square of hair), you can twist the strands together. Pass one strand clockwise over the other two or three times. This will form a large natural hair spiral. Once the two strands of hair have been twisted together, secure the lock together, at both the tip and the base, using a hair clip or rubber band. Due to the different directions that the strands have been twisted, the sections of hair will begin to lock together and form dreadlocks. The strand twist method of forming dreadlocks takes time: the strands can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to blend together and give the appearance of a single, solid dreadlock. During this time you should wash the dreadlocks no more than once or twice a week.  As the locks mature, it’s important to keep them tightly rolled. If dreadlocks begin to unravel at the ends, re-roll the dread (using a comb or your hands) so that the strands stay tightly woven. As new hair grows, you should avoid re-doing the strand twists, as this will lengthen the time needed for dreadlocks to form. You can dread new hair by twisting the hair at the roots to meet with the nearest dreadlock.

Summary: Divide each square into two or three strands. Coat each strand with dread cream or wax. Twist each strand counterclockwise, and then twist pairs together clockwise. Give the strands time to mature into dreadlocks.


Your operating system will most likely detect the new card and attempt to adjust your display so that it is using the optimal resolution and color depth. Accept the changes and enter the operating system.  If your monitor does not display any picture at all, you need to troubleshoot your installation. Check to make sure you have the card properly installed and connected. An irregular, jagged-looking or distorted picture might indicate a problem with your graphics card. Check that your card is properly installed before contacting the manufacturer. If your graphics card came with a driver disc, you can insert it now to begin the driver setup process. If your card did not come with a disk, or you want to ensure that you have the latest release of the drivers possible, you can download the drivers directly from Nvidia or AMD (depending on what card you have). The driver installation process is mostly automatic, though you may get asked if you want to install any additional graphics card management software. This additional software is optional, but can help ensure that your drivers stay up to date. Your display will most likely flicker and reset during the installation process. Drivers contained on a disc are almost always out of date by the time they are purchased, so you will most likely be asked to update after installing them. Let's be honest: the reason you got this card is so that you can play the latest and greatest games. So what better way to test it out than to fire one up? Before starting to play, explore the game's Video settings menu. Turn all of the settings up as high as they can go and give the game a whirl. If it performs smoothly then you're good to go!  When setting the resolution, you should always try to keep it at your monitor's resolution. For most flat screen monitors, this is 1920x1080, though newer monitors have a higher native resolution than that. If the game is choppy or otherwise performing badly, start lowering settings one-by-one. Don't worry too much if your card can't handle the Ultra settings; sometimes games come out that don't work right with any card! A game's performance is affected by more than just the graphics card. Your processor, RAM, and even hard disk speed will all play a part in how the game performs.

Summary: Power on your computer. Insert your driver disc or download the drivers. Install the drivers. Start up a game.


The goal is to remove as much dirt and grime as possible. If you are trying to clean corrosion off of your aluminum piece, the acid will need to be able to reach the corrosion to do its job. Washing as many contaminants as possible from the piece prepares it for the acid wash. A little bit of scrubbing might be needed to remove things such as burnt-on food. If this is the case, you want to use the softest method that will work. Baking soda rubbed with a rag is a good idea. Remember to use a back and forth motion rather than a circular motion to ensure an even look. Once you have washed and scrubbed the piece, it is ready for the acid wash. Rinse off any residues left behind by things such as detergent or baking soda. Dry the aluminum surface with a soft rag before exposing it to the acid solution.
Summary: Use warm water and a degreaser to wash the aluminum surface. Choose a light abrasive for any needed scrubbing. Rinse and dry the piece thoroughly before the acid wash.