dreads thinning or breaking causes and cures
Dread Maintenance
So I have been letting my dreadlocks come in naturally for 4 years now. I started while I was 6 months pregnant with my oldest daughter, and have been through another pregnancy. I have somewhat thin hair to begin with, it is curly but thin. It took almost 3 full years before the majority of my hair was dreaded and still some is not on the underneath, doesn't bother me any, really I don't know if it will lock up it's not much just around the edges. Anywho, I have lost the ends of probably half of my locks. I contribute it to the heaviness of the ends from the initial knotting and my hair not having the strength to hold em, and the hormonal change of the pregnancies. Hair is also a good indicator of overall health, so if you are lacking in vitamins and minerals, your hair can be more brittle. I have never done any method to get my hair to knot, so that isn't the reason for my breakage. My two cents worth, not all breakage is caused by lock abuse 
Sad days when you lose a lock, but I figure it happens, and they will just keep a growing, I see it as an indicator that my internal well being needs some modification.