Advertisement
So, I'm new to this thread, and new to having dreads as well. My dreads have been in the locking process for almost three months now and they're making good progress but, I've noticed that they're locking more in the middle than anything, I've been trying to get them to lock at the top but am worried that something will go horribly wrong. (plus, I forgot to mention, I have blonde hair, that normally is super straight)
-Do you have any recommendations as to what I should be doing to help them lock towads the top?
And question # 2, I've used "beeswax" previously in my hair it was from Sally Beauty Supplies, and my scalp had a REALLY bad reaction to it, I was told I should use wax to help my dreads stay together but, I need to find something that's more natural I think, do any of you have any suggestoins on that as well?
& here's my hair!
i41.tinypic.com/r05tdz.jpg
i41.tinypic.com/8x7el4.jpg
i41.tinypic.com/1zznpu0.jpg
-Do you have any recommendations as to what I should be doing to help them lock towads the top?
And question # 2, I've used "beeswax" previously in my hair it was from Sally Beauty Supplies, and my scalp had a REALLY bad reaction to it, I was told I should use wax to help my dreads stay together but, I need to find something that's more natural I think, do any of you have any suggestoins on that as well?
& here's my hair!
i41.tinypic.com/r05tdz.jpg
i41.tinypic.com/8x7el4.jpg
i41.tinypic.com/1zznpu0.jpg
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 11:00 AMLooks like you have a lot of loose hair going on all over your head. How are you locking? Backcomb or natural (neglect), or another method?
From your pictures, your head looks like it needs a bit of maintenance. Might I suggest starting by sewing all your loose hairs into your dreads? (A great way to do this is to gather all the loose hairs to the dread they 'belong' in and rubber band them temporarily so you know where they go. Then one dread at a time remove the bands and sew those hairs into the dread. Pre-sectioning the hair helps you know where the hair should go so you're not grasping blindly about your head. Have a friend help you if you can.)
After you do that, I'd suggest a nice long bout of palm rolling, followed by some serious root rubbing for the hair on the top of your head near the scalp. That should definitely help a lot with tightening up both your roots and your locks.
You're still in the baby stages though. Good dreads take a lot of time, and won't even be considered towards mature until over a year. They're going to be unruly for a while, so you have to give them lost of love and care. The maintenance will plane off to minimal work eventually, but if you want really tight, good looking dreads during the younger stages you have to work on them a lot!
Dreads tend to lock up from the middle out. If you're concerned about wispy tips and want to lock them up faster, felting or crocheting is a great way to speed up the process. You can also gently backcomb them to aid the locking process. (I felted mine to blunt them at around 5 months, and it worked fine. It was just slow going.) You can also palm roll your tips.
As far as wax goes, you don't need it at all. All wax does is make your dreads sticky, and because the dreads become sticky with wax it impairs friction and knotting, making your hair dread even slower. If you're set on using it, I'd suggest getting it from one of the dread companies (Knotty Boy or Dread HQ) and using less than half of the recommended amount, but I'd urge you not to use it at all. Aloe Very gel works just as well, it's natural and it doesn't build up in your dreads.
-
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 11:30 AMNot much to add to Laa's great post....
...except maybe get some Knotty Boy cooling spray (or something with mint) to "cool" the scalp when your done with all that work. -
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 12:23 PMAgreed. I like that product too. (I use it on my loose hair now.) It's great for dread itchies! Lock Peppa is also great for roots.
-
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 11:55 AMThank you for your amazing response! WOW! I started them by backcombing, but it's turned to neglect for probably the last month, it does need maitnence, I just didn't know what to do, What do you mean by "sewing" my dreads? I'm sorry, I'm still SOOO new to this! I know that they're going to be a bit of a task and a bit of a mess for a year (at least).
But I'm just haivng questions about the "sewing" and "Crotcheting" of my dreadlocks, I've read other's posts where that was suggested but I'm having a diffucult time figureing out how to or what it is exactly... Do you have any way to explain that to me? I'm going to youtube it right now =D
& thank you again for your suggestions -
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 12:22 PMSewing is exactly what it sounds like. See of you can find a good sturdy tapestry needle with a blunt end (clover makes some great ones). The thread the loose hair into the eye and weave it back and forth through your dread until the hair is all woven into the dread. Viola! Sewing.
Crochet is similar except you use a tiny (lace weight) crochet hook to pull the hair back and forth through the dread. One warning with crochet. If you choose to maintain your dreads this way and you stop, you will be able to see the line at which you changed methods. Crochet maintenance is kind of one of those decisions you have to make and stuck with for the best results.
Dread HQ has some really great dread videos for maintaining dreads. I would also recommend looking up the Get Up Dread Up community on live journal and reading everything in the memories. Lish runs that community with an iron fist and is the dread master. Chances are if you have a question, the answer is in the memories.
I know that neglect is preferred for a lot of people, especially here on Tribe, where sensibilities run toward the natural, but dreads, especially babies, need daily love if you want great results sooner than later. If you can, you should palm roll every day. When you're at the computer, at a red light, watching tv. (I've even palm rolled in the movie theater.) Also, it's really important to care for your dreads immediately after a washing. Palm roll and root rub int he shower. It helps clean them really well and tighten them up. Suds make great friction! Root rubbing isn't as dire, and you don't want to overdo it cause you can hurt your roots. Maybe one good session a week, or slowly work around your head. An inch of loose hair around the roots is ok. It''ll knot up as it grows.
You're not that bad off right now. You're kind of in the 'terrible twos', as it were. The trick is finding a rhythm for maintenance and finding your groove. -
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 12:40 PMThere is this really good video on youtube showing you how to crochet your ends au.youtube.com/watch
It definately looks as though some maintenance wont go astray. My dreads are only 3 weeks old but I am spending well in excess of 10 hours a week just rubbing my roots, palmrolling, dreadballing and crocheting my ends. When I started my dreads, I was using knottyboy wax but i am only putting on half of the amount every 10 days and hoping to phase out completely within the next 4 weeks.
Being early days, I am trying to go a full week before washing my dreads and when i do it is with dreadheadhq shampoo. After every wash, you can really see that they are locking up. I would imagine you would be washing your hair a little more frequently? I came across a suggestion once of putting a nylon/pantyhose over your dreads when you wash them to help prevent hairs from detangling from the dread. You could give this a go.
Also, do you sleep with a headwrap? Satin is really good to minimise hair being pulled out of the dreads while you are sleeping. Perhaps invest in a satin pillow case or as I did, buy a large square of satin, fold into a triangle and wrap over your head similar to a bandana. Every morning I wake up to no fuzzies. just nice smooth baby dreads.
I just read my answer to you and I must come across really anal about my dreads - but I just want the best start for them.
Hope some of these suggestions help. -
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Sat, January 24, 2009 - 9:20 AMActually I rarely wash my hair, probably once every other week,( I'm hella filthy =D ) anyways, I hadn't thought of the satin headwrap but that's a really good idea! Thank you, I actually WORK at sally beauty supply and I think I'll pick one up tonight =D
Thank you for your advice =D
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Fri, January 23, 2009 - 12:37 PMDreadlocks arent a fashion statement, they take time and they will look like "shit" for a long time before they look amazing. Unless you pump them full of products (in which case they will look better, but not lock well). When it comes to dreads, dont chase after a "quick fix", you will regret it in the long run. Just have patience. Hell, at three months... you look a million times better than i did. -
-
Re: Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)
Sat, January 24, 2009 - 9:18 AMYes, I'm really trying to stay away from the products, I'm not really a fan after my first run in, I find that almost 9 out of 10 times with product, I get a really cool reaction to it -_- not to mention the aftermess. I knew there would be no "quick fix" but other's opinions are always nice, thank you for your opinions! Your dreads look awesome =D
-