Well, think about elastics for a second. They're really tight, right? Right. So why would putting them around an area you're trying to dread make any sense? Locks form because of the constant movement of the hair tangling and untangling, tangling and untangling until it starts to mat up. But if you stop this process from occurring by constricting all movement, no locks are going to form! It may appear to be a bit more together, but even that's debatable; it's just going to look like there are elastics around your dread tips and roots, and the rest of the dreads all puffy...How cool is that? But in the end, that is NOT really going to help your lock tips or roots come together. In fact, along with the roots, your tips are one of the last parts to dread anyway. It's normal!
Anyhow, that's just our opinion in our own Knotty Boy experience. : ) Take it or leave it!