The best replacement for dreads is locks.

The best alternatives to dreads are rated as following:
★★★★★  locks
★★★★  braids
★★★  waves
★★  locs
★★  haircut
★★  twists
★★  dreads
★  fade
★  cornrows
★  afro
★  clean cut
★  sisterlocks
★  no dreads
★  dreadlocks
  twist
  360 waves
  mohawk
  fro
  thin

Your alternative for dreads is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about dreads, one probably shouldn't forget about taper.

Other search terms related to dreads and their ratings are:
★★★★★ taper
★★★★ thin hair
★★★ fade
★★ taper fade
★★ blonde tips
★★ permed hair
★ good hair
★ using wax
★ receding hairline
beeswax
You have in mind a companion for dreads and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of dreads in all years. Click on graph for more.
dreads
locks
braids