"do you wash and then root rub/aloe while wet? should i let it dry? "

>>> Wait til dry. this will also help with frizzies, which I also had problems with - the aloe will actually help them settle and your dreads will not be quite as itchy...

"any shortcut tips for root rubbing? or any of it for that matter? i tend to be intimidated by how much time i think it will take to really palm roll or rub and crochet..... how often do you all do it? "

>>> As I have said in a post recently, I used Dreadhead HQ, it has great drying-out properties...and while the shampoo was in, I root-rubbed and massaged the shampoo against my scalp...you would be surprised just how much this helped!!! When I cut my dreads off a few weeks back, the roots were almost rightt o my scalp (when previously they were a good two inches or more from scalp)...this seems to dread them up beautifully....

"also- went to buy dreadhead shampoo and it cost $10 and the shipping was $13...... that just seemed ridiculus..... is dr.bronners a comprable solution? "

>>> I have never used dr bronners to be honest...I can't seem to get it here in AU! However, I have used a number of other "dread shampoos" and the only one that really did the trick was the dreadhead. Can I ask where you were trying to get it from? I'm sure there'd be other places that wouldn't require as much postage....Although to be honest, whenever I bought a bottle it would cost me approx $30 (including postage), and I always thought it was totally worth it! The bottle lasts ages and ages, cos I would water it down a little....but yeah....

Beksta :-)

First, please don't go that long without washing! Your hair will dread much better and faster when it's clean. If you're worried about the force of the shower loosening your hair, lie down in the tub and use gently flowing water.

Personally, I root rub in the shower when I'm sudzed up, then I do it between washings when my hair is dry. I'll do anywhere from 1-10 of them when I have a quiet minute (watching tv or driving). Root rubbing can be really time consuming, so you might not want to doa ll your dreads in one session.

Frizz is just something that comes with the territory. Personally, I haven't found aloe to be much help in the matter. I occasionally use Knotty Boy tightening gel, which will keep them down for one or two days, but the only other help I have found thus far is palm rolling. Contrary to Becksta, I palm roll with product when my hair is damp from washing still. I feel this works better for my hair, and since it's dark helps to keep little flecks of product out of my hair. (Also a suggestion, the person who maintains my dreads recommended using a itty bitty teeny tiny bit of super lightweight gel to tame my hair if I need it to look super neat, just make sure not to mat in into your dreads.)

As far as time goes, you either just have to bite the bullet and do it, or do it in doses over time. There really isn't a shortcut other than going to someone and having them do it for you.

And yes, Doc Bronners is defiantly an acceptable solution to the Dreadhead HQ bar.

Dr. B is my best friend. Depending on where you buy it from it can cost around $10-$20 for a huge bottle (not sure of the mL right now). I've had my huge bottle for eight months, washing my hair (I use it as soap as well for my body) every week, and I've only used about 1/6 of the bottle. What's great about Dr. B is it's supposed to be diluted, so you can keep adding water to the bottle the more you use and it still works just as good…a little goes a reeeeeaaaly long way.
The only person I've seen maintencing their dreads is my friend Alex, and he would just rub his roots whenever. That's what I do when I do the root tip pull, whenever I'm sitting watching a movie or reading a book or whatever I play with my dreads. I'd go with what the other two ladies said though about doing it while wet. Also palm roll when wet!!! I think when your hair is wet the dreads are almost looser or something, because I can really work out kinks when it's wet and get absolutely nowhere when it's dry.
Good luck!

My routine:

Wash every 3 days or so (or whenever I sweat a lot)
- rub the roots while washing to clean the scalp.
- dry out the roots and dread using a towel
- palm roll right after that (the dread is still damp, not totally dry)
- air my hair (maybe under the sun or just walking around the house)

Besides that
- crochet loose hairs back into the dread whenever I feel free
- root rub whenever my hand reaches up to my dreads
- spray some lemon juice/salt water mixture onto the roots/scalp in between washes

Sleep with a bandana/cloth wrapped around the top and sides of my head.