Dreadlocks Coloring Pages

Free dreadlocks coloring pages: 27 printable PDF designs covering hairstyle portraits, styled and braided looks, and a few playful fantasy characters. Each page can be downloaded as a PDF to print or colored online in the browser.

Dreadlocks, also called locs, are formed by twisting, backcombing, or simply leaving sections of hair to naturally mat and coil into long, rope-like strands over time. The style has a long history across several cultures and is worn today by people of many backgrounds, often styled with beads, wraps, or other accessories. This collection reflects that range, from simple portrait pages showing the hairstyle alone to styled and braided variations, alongside a handful of fantasy characters, including mermaids and a dreadlocked dog, that use the same coiled-strand look in a more playful way.

At 27 pages, the collection offers plenty of texture to work with. The simple portrait pages are a good starting point, while the styled and braided pages reward closer attention to individual strand detail.

What Is Inside This Collection

The 27 pages fall into a few clear groups.

Portrait Styles

Man with Dreadlocks, Girl with Dreadlocks Hair, Cool Girl with Dreadlocks Hair, and several similar pages show the hairstyle on a simple portrait, focused mainly on the hair itself.

Styled and Braided Looks

Dreadlocks Styles, Dreadlocks Styles for Women, Dreadlock Braids, and Fashion Woman With Dreadlock Hair show more deliberately arranged or decorated versions of the style.

Playful Fantasy Characters

Mermaid with Dreadlocks Hair, Cute Mermaid with Dreadlocks Hair, Worm With Dreadlocks and a Hat, Cartoon Worm With Dreadlocks Hair, and Cute Dog in a Dreadlocks apply the same coiled-strand look to lighthearted, non-human characters.

Additional Portraits

Rasta Man with Dreadlocks and African American Woman with Dreadlocks round out the collection with two additional portrait-style pages.

What Dreadlocks Coloring Pages Do

Fine motor development. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies fine motor skill development as a core benefit of structured coloring for children ages 2 through 7. The simpler portrait pages in this collection give a young child clear, bold outlines to color within.

Practice with texture and repetition. Because each strand in a dreadlock is a small, similar shape repeated many times, these pages give a colorist practice applying a consistent technique across a page, a useful skill for any detailed coloring subject.

Anxiety reduction through focus. A 2005 study in the Art Therapy Journal documented measurable reductions in anxiety following structured coloring sessions. The more detailed, styled, and braided pages, with many individual strands, support that kind of sustained, focused coloring.

Free color experimentation. Since hair can reasonably be colored in almost any shade, this collection rewards open color choice more than subjects with one expected, realistic color.

How to Color Dreadlocks Pages Well

• Individual strands: Color each strand slightly differently, a touch lighter or darker than its neighbor, rather than one flat color across the whole head, to suggest natural texture and depth.
• Strand shading: Add a thin, darker line along one edge of each strand and a lighter highlight along the other to give each rope-like section a rounded, three-dimensional look.
• Beads and accessories: Where beads or wraps are shown, use bright, contrasting colors against the hair so they stand out as a deliberate styling choice.
• Skin tones: Choose a warm, natural skin tone that suits the character, keeping it consistent with the coloring approach used for the hair.
• Fantasy characters: For the mermaid, worm, and dog pages, feel free to use unrealistic colors, such as blue or purple dreadlocks, since these designs are meant to be playful rather than realistic.
• Braided sections: Alternate two close shades within a single braid to make the woven pattern read clearly, rather than coloring the whole braid one flat color.

5 Creative Craft Ideas With Dreadlocks Coloring Pages

1. Hairstyle Bookmark. Color a single portrait page, cut around the outline, laminate or cover with clear tape, and add a ribbon tassel through a small punched hole.

2. Fashion Mood Board. Color a few different hairstyle pages and mount them together on one backing sheet for a simple fashion-inspiration display.

3. Hairstyle Greeting Card. Fold a colored page in half to make the front of a card, then write a message inside for a birthday note.

4. Fantasy Character Garland. Color the mermaid, worm, and dog pages, cut around each outline, and string them along twine for a playful room garland.

5. Portrait Standee Display. Color a portrait page, mount it on cardstock, and fold a small stand tab on the back so it can sit on a shelf or desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are dreadlocks coloring pages?

Dreadlocks coloring pages are printable designs featuring the dreadlocks, or locs, hairstyle across portraits, styled looks, and a few playful fantasy characters. This collection has 27 free designs, available as PDF downloads or in an online coloring tool.

What are dreadlocks?

Dreadlocks, also called locs, are a hairstyle formed by twisting, backcombing, or naturally matting sections of hair into long, rope-like strands. The style has a long history across several cultures and is worn today by people of many backgrounds.

What is the difference between the portrait pages and the fantasy character pages?

Portrait pages show the hairstyle on a realistic human figure, while the fantasy character pages, such as the mermaid and dreadlocked dog designs, apply the same coiled-strand look to a playful, non-human character.

What colors work well for coloring dreadlocks?

Varying the shade slightly from strand to strand, with a thin darker line on one edge and a lighter highlight on the other, gives the hair a natural, three-dimensional texture rather than a flat block of color.

Are the portrait pages respectful of the hairstyle’s cultural background?

Yes. The collection presents dreadlocks primarily as a hairstyle, shown across simple portraits and a couple of playful fantasy characters, without singling out or dwelling on any one cultural or religious tradition.

Are these pages suitable for young children?

Yes. The simpler portrait pages use clear, bold outlines that suit children ages 2 through 7 who are still developing fine motor control. The styled and braided pages work well for older children.

What tools work best for these pages?

Crayons or broad-tip markers work well for the simpler portrait pages, while colored pencils allow more shading control on the detailed, styled, and braided pages.

Can these pages be used for a fashion or hairstyle-themed classroom activity?

Yes. The collection works well alongside a broader fashion or personal-style unit, and the fantasy character pages add a lighter, playful option for a mixed-age group.

Start Coloring

Download any page by clicking the design. No account, email, or payment is required. Pages print directly from the browser at full resolution or open in the online coloring tool for screen use. Share finished pages on Facebook or Pinterest with the share buttons at the top of each design page.