dreadlocks's topics - tribe.net

Wet dog and Dr. Bronner's

2008-05-17T00:21:52Z

So yesterday I did my weekly washing. I decided to try the Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap after all of the recommendations from you fellow dreadies. The soap smelled great (lavender scent), and I made sure to rinse very thoroughly, but once I started blow drying the pups, I started to smell the essence of wet dog! I have never had this smell emit from my dreads before with the Dreadhead soap. So is this a common smell you get with Dr. B or are my dreads, dare I say MOLDIE???

posted in dreadlocks - 12 replies

dry your locks faster

2008-05-16T12:20:51Z

In response to the weight of wet locks...

I use a microfiber travel towel to wrap up my just past shoulder-length locks after washing or swimming. It sucks up so much water in 15-30 minutes, that what used to be an all-day air drying process is shortened to maybe 2-3 hours or so. I usually take it off and re-wrap with the driest part of the towel partway through. If I need to speed it up a little more, I use an actual hair dryer but mostly not.

Works like a charm!
:)
Ember Divine

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Lush Shampoo Bars

2008-05-16T12:13:29Z

Has anyone tried those Lush shampoo bars? I' ve tried two, Squeaky Green, and Seanik which is souposed to have sea salt as an ingredient which will help tighten locks. I've also tried there ReTread conditoner on my scalp which smells so yummy. Give me your thought on this shampoo or if you have any other good suggestion. I've also tried Knotty Boy and Dr Bronners they were okay but that is about it.

posted in dreadlocks - 13 replies

Crocheting & Repair

2008-05-15T00:34:06Z

Sew..ive been hearing alot recently about sewing and crocheting dreads. Ive got mad crazy loops and flaps that i would love nothing more than to get rid of. I havent figured out 'how' to sew or crochet them and nobody here does it. Do you 'sew' ..with needle and thread....or use hair? not sure how that would work with a loop? I heard to crochet you put the hook inside the center of the knot, grab the loop and pull dat suckah in! Does it stay??? I know anytime I have had something wrapped around a dread its left really thin afterward in that spot.
Thats what happend to some ends that are thin that I would also lurrrv ta get back into a thicker part.
Sewers and crocheters speak up pleeez;>

posted in dreadlocks - 13 replies

weak spot

2008-05-13T19:09:27Z

hello dreadie fellows!

i am in dire need of some practiced and perfected advice at the expense of possible dread loss.
one of my locks near the front of my head has about 2.5 inches of soft new growth, and an 8 inch dread dangling from a few thin strands of hair. this happened because for the first year i didnt know to circular rotate the roots to continue knotting, so my new hair grew out too soft to hold the weight of the already locked dread. it is too weak to backcomb or twist at this point, and i've tried marrying it to a more sterdy dread nearby, in vain.
what can i do to save it before it falls off and i have a huge short-spot on the front of my head?

thank you wise dreaded fellows :)
peace
niki

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Removing dreads

2008-05-12T23:18:51Z

Anyone have any suggestions on a good product to use for unlocking roots that will cause minimal hair damage? I've had mine for 2 years and plan on cutting them but want to salvage as much hair as possible so i dont have to shave my head. Need help asap!!!

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

happy birthday!

2008-05-12T23:13:15Z

my little babies are a year old today!

it feels like just yesterday when i was backcombing and palmrolling. *sigh* they grow up so fast.

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

DredPerm vs. Crochet Method

2008-05-10T20:33:36Z

So I am considering having small to medium size dreads put in my hair. I found a locktican in my area that either does the "Perm" or "Crochet" Which option will give me the best results in the long run. I have long black hair that just past my waisteline and the texture is semi course kindda like hawiian type hair if that make any sense. Does a DredPerm make your locks look thinner? Which of these options will give me the fullest looking locks?

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

Do the scalp problems ever end?!?!

2008-05-04T00:04:38Z

I know that it's normal to have a dry scalp and I've only had dreads for about 10 months now and I was wondering if the scalp issues ever go away or if is it that kind of thing that you just learn to deal with? I use a special moisterizer for braids and dreads but any suggestions would be great! Thanks!

posted in dreadlocks - 12 replies

Did you know the price of life is one dollar, that's why there are slaves?

2008-05-01T14:53:43Z

Hi everybody!

My name's Cavale.

I live in Orlando.

My boyfriend had dreads for a few months about two and a half years ago. We used the DreadHeadHQ kit, until finally they drove him absolutely nuts and he cut off all of his long beautiful hair and looked like a douche bag for a year while it grew back.

I've been planning to get dreadies of my since he had his, but thanks to a few rash decisions and terrible gaffes regarding my hair, it never worked out.

But we visited the Rainbow Gathering in February, and it completely inspired us. Sam started bathing even less then ever before, leading to dreads for him regardless of his wishes about it. But he's started working on them and they look very nice and he loves them this time around. His head is about half backcombed and half natural and I'm really interested in how it will come out. The backcombed ones are really nice, knotty and healthy so far.

As for me, I finally took the plunge after taking a shower and then tripping too hard to comb my hair out. It was a tangled mess by the next morning and I just took that as a sign. My hair is fairly straight, so I'm mostly backcombing, but I think I might do a couple natural dreads if they feel like that's what they want to do.

I've basically just been slowly grabbing chunks of hair that seem like they love each other and backcombing them, working from front to back. It's been 18 days and have a little over half my head done. Right now I can only do as many as I can get other people to section off for me, because I can't see the back of my head.

Anyway, I was wondering: is there any way to stop the itching? Also, is there anything I can do about my roots? On a lot of my dreads it will feel all nice and tight until I get up to the top where it just feels like hair. Is it too early to crotchet? I got so annoyed by my roots that I put rubberbands on almost all of them. Is that bad? Also, what do I do about little tendrils of hair that I missed when backcombing? And one about all those little baby hairs near my hairline? They won't fit into a dread. My boyfriend thinks they're cute but they annoy me.

I'll upload a couple pics to my profile and also the group and post a link.

Okay. So. Advice? Opinions? Insults? Compliments? Secrets? Lies?

Go for it. Please.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Wanna dance?

2008-04-30T15:59:06Z

Greetings Fam!
I think summer weather & reggae go hand in hand... don't miss tomorrow night :)

Join us for a special monthly edition of From the Roots Up
this Wednesday April 30th at Zanzibar,
featuring special guest DJ AfroCuts Nanga, Zap Mama's nephew & DJ/producer...
Hailing from Belgium/Congo, Afrocuts has toured the world & brings to the
turntables everything eclectic, soulful, & African.
He'll be gracing us with a special reggae set on Wednesday.

FREE all night long...doors open 9pm.
located at Zanzibar: 1301 5th St. (at Arizona), Santa Monica
LAST Wednesday of every month!

http://www.zanzibarlive.com

http://www.myspace.com/deejaynanga

http://www.myspace.com/djladysha

http://www.myspace.com/djtetris

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

Just saying hello...

2008-04-28T17:40:50Z

Hi everyone,
I started my dreads a little more than a month ago, and this tribe was the reason why I signed up on this site. I just wanted to say Hello to all of you dreadies out there!
peace and love,
syd

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

exstentions dyeing and felting

2008-04-25T18:19:45Z

My dreads are 4months old now and i have been thinking about the length of them. I like them how they are but i thin i would love them if they were longer but im not sher about how old they should be before i put in extensions, and what are you opinions about dread heads that arnt all natural.
there getting a lil funky lookin right now and i had talked to one person on another post about how long i should wait until felting but i would like a cupol more opinions about it.
i have also heard that if you bleach/dye your dreads it can help them lock up a bit faster. this is also something that i dont quite know about.
If you can help me with this it would be greatly appreciated. esp is you have had dreads for a long time.

thanks in advanced
[pH]

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

what size crochet hook?

2008-04-23T17:29:03Z

i know this has been asked in the past, but i cant seem to find the topic. anyways i'm looking to crochet some of my loose hairs and basically tiddy up my dreads a little. i bought a hook but i think its a little to big and it doesnt seem to be working. what is a good sized hook that you guys used or have used it he past. i cant seem to find the smaller ones at my local crafts store, so if you have any links to where i can buy one online that would be best. thanks in advance.

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Wedding Hairstyle Help...

2008-04-23T11:56:24Z

I am going to be the Maid of Honor for my cousins wedding in June. Does anybody have any tips for a cool up-do dread hairstyle. I have about 80 pinky size dreads that go down to the middle of my back. I am thinking about extensions but just wanted some un-biased opinions....Thanks in advance

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

Cold Water Rinse for scalp probs

2008-04-20T18:02:15Z

So, I took someone's suggestion (Beksta?) about rinsing my scalp with cold water after shampooing to help alleviate scalp problems. I have done it for the last month and it is working wonderful!! Before, about 5 days after washing I would get itchy and start to flake. Now, after 10 days there is still no problem!! (I haven't gone any longer than 10 because I work out hard every day and don't want to breed bacteria or be smelly- I use tea tree or rosemary oils between washing) Anyways, those of you with scalp issues- I would STRONGLY encourage you to try this. And thank you, wise lady who suggested it!

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

the order of things

2008-04-16T01:21:07Z

alright, so after 9 months, i am ready to try something different. i havent washed my locks since they were 2 months old, and the only maintenance i have done is pulling the dread through the root and chrocheting the loose hairs, neither of which have proved to be very effective at all....

so i am moving on!

i am ready to start washing again, ready to do a little palm rolling with aloe, and ready to try the root rub instead of the pull through method.....

wondering what the order is for you folks....

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

since i struggle with frizzies and loose hairs, can i smoothe them down with aloe after the root rub ?

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?

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?

wow, that turned out to be a lot more questions than i planned. oops! :)

posted in dreadlocks - 13 replies

Getting Heavy

2008-04-10T03:36:26Z

So I spent a lot of time in the water over th 4th and I think my locks would take me down if I were shipwrecked. I could barely swim because they were so heavy. Is this normal? I live by the beach so I spend a lot of time in the water. Im thinking of getting a swim cap but I dont know that I could find one large enough to cover the do. Any advice?

Sending Peace Health & Good Vibes

posted in dreadlocks - 17 replies

Spiritual Dreadlocks

2008-04-10T03:30:22Z

I started my dreads on May 6th, 2007 while at a music festival. I remember walking around, taking in the good vibes from all around me, feeling more at home and connected with the world than I had ever been. Suddenly (for no apparent reason), I stopped and began to stare into the sun. I believe I was visited by the divine on that day, and I was told to immediately begin working on my hair.

I had no previous knowledge of dreading or any of the methods used to gain them. I was simply told to start rubbing my hair in circles constantly, fight through the pain, never wash or brush it, and dreads would come. At this time my hair was short, extremely short, about 1 inch on the top and 1/2 inch on the bottom and sides. After about a week, a nice set of dreadling spikes adorned the top of my head, about 1/2 inch each, I was instructed to leave the back and sides alone for the time being, that their time would come, and to only worry about the top dreads, as this is the area of the head in which the body connects with the divine.

As for what my dreads stand for, they are a symbol of my spiritual growth. Allow me to explain:

In the beginning, my hair lacked true purpose, existing merely as a symbol of vanity and conformity. In the same way, before divine intervention, I too lacked any true purpose, my soul merely wandering about the earthly plain, not accomplishing anything in terms of spiritual evolution.

After some time, my locks began to take shape, they had been instilled with a sense of purpose, and were working towards an ultimate goal. Still were not quite sure what their true place was, almost seeming confused at times as to what they should do. At the same time, having just been instilled with a sense of purpose, I too was confused, but knew that the path ahead of me was right. I pushed through the unknown and ventured further into the depths of my consciousness. Working on my locks was the key I realized, it allowed me to slip into a deep meditative state for hours at a time, making it possible to contemplate the everything and unlock the hidden mysteries of existence.

More time passed, and as the months went by, my dreadlocks grew longer, tighter, and had settled into place quite nicely. They had found their place, and accepted who they are and what they need to do. Much the same, I had found my place and accepted my purpose as a shaman/energy healer. I knew that it was my purpose in this life to help people by healing them physically, spiritually and emotionally and helping them find their place and begin their own spiritual journey.

My dreads are now about 6 inches in length, and still growing. I still haven't done anything with the back and sides, as spiritually they would be useless. My hair (at least the back and sides) now somewhat resembles that of Jim Morrison, the dreads on top blend extremely well with the straight hair below. Most of the time, I simply pull the loose hair back into a pony tail and allow the dreads to hang down. It amazes me how much a person can learn, change, and grow in just 10 months time, I'm a completely different person now, and am eternally grateful to the divine for inspiring me to begin my spiritual transformation.

One interesting thing I have noticed is that if I do something or perform some action in my life that is counter productive to my ultimate goal of spiritual oneness with the divine, my dreads will begin (very quickly) to fall apart. This continues until I realize my wrong and I bring myself back to my path. If, however, I come to have a spiritual epiphany of sorts, one that causes my consciousness to significantly grow very suddenly, my dreads seem to follow suit (with little or no help from me working on them) by significantly progressing themselves seemingly overnight.

There is also a significant amount of prejudice directed toward a person with dreadlocks. While it does sadden me that most people can't get passed their fear of differences, I see this as a blessing in disguise, I believe that prejudice is something everyone should experience. It forces you to become more self reliant, and helps you shed yourself of the vanity that exists within yourself, which directly feeds one's ego. It also instills deep within us the ideal that to conform is to surrender your freedom. Freedom of thought, choice, expression, speech, and everything else disappears the second you choose to conform to someone else's way of doing things. To quote Maynard James Keenan of the band Tool, you have to "Think for yourself, question authority". The prejudice others direct towards you allows you to think this way quite easily, and also grants you much more time alone to be used for inner reflection.

As your dreads continue to develop, they will pick up the grit and the grime of your daily grind. Every experience, every problem, every celebration, every heartache you will ever have in your life is and always will be deeply embedded within the intertwining knots slowly spilling from your scull. They literally become a part of you, more than anything else possibly could.

Cherish your dreadlocks. Love them, care for them, watch them grow fat, tight, and long. Allow them to guide you onward, learn from them, for they have much to teach. And above all else, never let anyone persuade you into cutting them. Of all hair choices, I believe dreads to be the most (if not the only) spiritual/divine choice. If the choice is made to destroy your locks, please think carefully and make sure that it is of your own choices and of your own free will and accord. If (and I hope you do) you do decide to keep them, wear them with pride and honor, they are part of you after all, and you should always carry yourself with pride.

I believe my dreadlocks to be directly connected to my soul and the divine, forming a bond, a channel if you will, between the two, allowing them to communicate with one another more easily than without. They are not only a symbol of my spiritual growth, but also a reminder to myself to stay on the path that was chosen for me.

posted in dreadlocks - 16 replies

new dreads...need advice

2008-04-02T15:52:54Z

Oh my GOSH!
I've wanted dreads forever...like five or six years. Finally, with the help of several friends and a trusty google search or two, we dreaded my hair two days ago. I interact with many many different people everyday, so there's no way to avoid seeing people, but I'm really not sure about how they look.

I have 53 little dreads, so they're pretty small. I used DreadHead wax to do it, and my friends did some backcombing and twisting. It took about 2 or 3 hours. I haven't washed my hair since then, and my scalp is really freaking itchy. I usually wash my hair everyday, so it feels weird. They aren't very solid, and I feel weird sleeping with them/ putting them behind my ear, and I haven't put my hair up at all. I know dreads take a lot of patience and work, but I'm not sure if they're worth keeping.

Should I try to brush and condition them out before it's too late. Should I go to a professional? Should I just keep trying to lock them up? Should I snip them away? I need some advice! ! ! ! ! !
Thanks..... = D

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Mold

2008-03-27T01:01:54Z

Had some problems with a lock or two some months back. Needed to thread some loose hairs into the lock and used some dread wax to hold it in place.

It now seems that I used too much and I'm starting to get mold in a part of one of the dreads. It's not too bad and doesn't smell so much, but I'd like to kill it stone dead if I can, without ruining the dread. It's not in the root but quite far down the dread.

These are the forst problems I've had like this in 7 years, and my dreads are almost 3 feet long.

Can anyone recommend anything that will work?

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Looking for assistance, willing to pay, in L.A.

2008-03-16T05:28:41Z

I'd like to dread my hair... does anyone have any recommendations of where to go for assistance? I've been reading about the process online and understand the idea of backcombing and the various twisting methods. I understand it is difficult dreading yourself though (especially with no prior experience) and would like it to not look as such (i.e. relative uniformity in the results would be nice).

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Friends Who Cleanse

2008-03-16T00:05:58Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/friendswhocleanse

I've been hanging out with the dreadlocks crew for a little while now... so I thought I'd tell you all about my new tribe.

Many health professionals are now saying that 95% of all diseases are caused by toxic pollution. "Friends Who Cleanse" is a tribe dedicated to understanding the impacts on our health of environmental pollution, toxins, chemicals and pesticides in our food and everyday household products. Lets discuss solutions! Let's talk about cleansing, detoxing, and prevention through diet, supplements and other holistic therepies. Let's give testimony to the symptoms we are experiencing that are related to the toxic overload in our bodies. Let's be a supportive, informative tribe ready to transmute illness into harmony and joy... let's be "Friends Who Cleanse!"

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

hiding dreads

2008-03-15T12:50:29Z

hey
i have about 7 dreads at the side of my head but i have 3 that stand out they are only about 5-6 inches long and my teacher and other people are starting to notice and they are tellin me to get rid of them but i cant let them go
whats a good way of hiding them??
cheers alex

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Some needle felting links

2008-03-13T16:59:31Z

Cause Kit insppired me to share, and I love you all so much.

Here are some links to the memories of the Get Up Dread Up livejournal community.

On felting wool into dreads:
http://community.livejournal.com/get_up_dread_up/3949753.html

On felting dreads themselves:
http://community.livejournal.com/get_up_dread_up/3656630.html

The one major warning is never, NEVER, felt the roots. you will break them and then have lots of fuzzies, and you'll be sad. And of course, beware of over felting. You can damage your hair if you felt one spot too much, which can make your dreads weak.

My lovely husband puts in time with the felting needle on my head, and it yields amazingly glorious results. The one downdise is the immediate shrinkage from the hair tightening up, but my dreads have been maturing beautifully due to this tool.

posted in dreadlocks - 21 replies

Part 2!

2008-03-11T14:00:08Z

In part 2 of this interview, Tonya discusses all manner of issues from art to music to the realities of being green.....plus WAY cool pics of her awesome dreadlocks!

http://www.tinfoilmusic.net/artists-at-the-edge/84-bleeding%20edge/1888-20-questions-with-tonya-kay-part-2
20 Questions with Tonya Kay (part 2)

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

THE dread movie

2008-03-08T16:25:14Z

10,000 BC. Went to a free screening tonight, not only was it an awesome movie, but the main characters were part of a tribe, and every one of them had absolutely the most beautiful dreads…ah, so gorgeous!

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

frizz and loose hairs?

2008-03-08T04:19:13Z

hey there all

i am super appreciative of all that i have learned on this tribe, you all have really helped me take care of my locks....

they are about 3 months old now, and they are doing really well- they are tightening really quickly, but i am having trouble with a lot of frizz, especially around my scalp. i just can't quite manage to get my dreads to tighten at the root at all... a friend of mine with beautiful dreads has me kind of creating a little split at the root and pulling the dread through... she told me that i should do that every 6 weeks or so, but it isnt really making them that much closer to the root.... i was advised NOT to use rubberbands, but it seems some of you think that's a good idea... any other suggestions?

also, i have tried to crochet in loose hair and have found that REALLY hard. i have a super small crochet needle that i got at a beauty supply store for frosting, could it be TOO small?.... can anyone describe your method of crocheting?

thanks ya'all!

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

Aaaarrrgggghhhh....!!!!

2008-03-08T01:36:30Z

I just cut-off my dreads!

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

Haircut

2008-03-04T17:39:44Z

Since it's been a while for most of us, grab your headphones and close your eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Serious Shrinkage

2008-03-03T22:19:28Z

So its been awhile since I jumped in da mix....an I gots questions... I moved to hawaii recently an have been swimming in da ocean alot knowing how good it will be fo me locks....in da process of it tightening I now fully look like a lioness cuz its all shrunk up to my upper back with it being super thick in the middle round my head an neck....it has kinda seemed like my locks have almost swelled up from da ocean like got bigger as well as tighten of course....
So my question is 1* has anyone experienced this before? 2* now that Ive lost most of my length do y'all think it will condense and get smaller with time and length? any thoughts will be much appreciloved.......
Give thanks

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

the story of my big fat flat dread

2008-02-29T23:43:17Z

i have one dread on the back of my head (whom i affectionatly call 'john') that is constantly giving me troubles! in the early months, i could not get the roots to dread up for the life of me. i had a good solid three to four inchs of undreaded root. it drove me NUTS! now that its finally dreading, its growing flat. and it keeps growing flat no matter what i do to coax it round. i've tried wraps, beads, rubber bands... nothin. i think its because the section of hair its coming from is very rectangular, so its having a hard time evenly dreading.

i'm wondering if it would be possible to split john into two dreads. since its flat for a good four or so inches down, it would be easy for me to rip that down into two... i know i would end up with one short stumpy dread that i'll have to help form into a mature dread, and one long fat dread, but i'm starting to think that would be better in the long run. i'm just worried about what damage will occur to the long fat dread after its been cut. as much as i hate john being flat, i'd hate it much more if he fell out! do you think if i cut him, and wrapped him for awhile, that would minimize loss of hair? does any of this even make sense? help!

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

custom dread hats

2008-02-29T15:30:56Z

Want a hat that fits your dreads? I'll make you one!

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

is dreading from roots or tips better?

2008-02-29T06:48:31Z

My hair is naturally locking up from the tips. My husband (former dready) says this is not good. He actually things I should break these knotted tips apart with my fingers so that dreading happens at the roots first. The only way I've thought of to get my hair to start dreading at the roots is by making it happen myself using the twist and pul method Becksta mentioned in another thread. But, I am determined to let the process happen naturally as much as possible. I did do a few this way though as an experiment.

It's so hilarious when I see people saying, I've had my dreads for two weeks or something. Like they just got them all in one day. I don't know, I have like 13 dreads or something and they are tiny. It's been a few months (i forgot when I stopped brushing my hair).

posted in dreadlocks - 13 replies

thinning hair and thinning locks...

2008-02-29T04:31:55Z

i'm 30 yrs old, and i think i'm starting to thin...is there ANYTHING i can do to stop this process so i don't lose my locks?!? HELP PLEASE!!!!

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

something terrible happened...

2008-02-28T07:21:06Z

one of my dready friends came over my house the other night, and told me she had an awesome way to tighten my roots. I was excited! She told me to sit down and she started working, and i mean WORKING my dreads, she ripped at them and tugged at them until I realized she was looping my dreads through the roots...which I've heard can be horrible for your hair...
So my question is this, has anyone looped dreads that are under a year old? And if so do you have pictures or any ideas on how mine might turn out? I'm really scared, I've tried to take a bunch of them out but many of those tries were failures...
Someone help!!!

posted in dreadlocks - 26 replies

dread dreams

2008-02-28T06:51:23Z

so i had a dream the other night that a couple of my dreads actually fell out. although it was a dream, it seemed so very real and i was actually crying in the dream. not sure if this is a sign that either my dreads will fall out or i will be cutting them soon. i know i won't be cutting them anytime soon so . . .

now i've had these dreams but never them falling out. usually they are about me finally cutting my dreads or without them in my dreams. its really really weird. just wondering if any of you guys have had these dreams before?

posted in dreadlocks - 15 replies

cost of maintenance

2008-02-21T13:58:11Z

hello lovelies.So much wonderful information gets shared on this tribe. I myself am a non dreaded being... at least for the time being BUT I am blessed enough to be surrounded by many beautiful dreaded creatures. I do regular maintenance on two of my close friends. Normally this is just done as a gift... you know that wonderful kind of primate bonding that takes place when you pick at another beings head :) other times we exchange for sewing or sexual favors... you know.. whatever might be needed at the time. Anyways, I have recently been getting requests for maintenance from strangers & friends of friends & I'm not quite sure what to charge . As much as I would like to tighten em up for free thats just not reasonable as it can be quite time consuming. So, my questions is this... what is the average going rate for dread maintenance? I clean up the sections, hook in the fuzzies & just generally leave them looking much more clean, tight & organized. Any thoughts you might have will be appreciated.
love & blessings~

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

i could've had a baby!

2008-02-19T19:47:00Z

but i had dreads instead!

happy 9 month birthday, dreadies!

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Dready TONYA KAY

2008-02-13T16:00:27Z

Just passing word to everyone about this interview with Tonya Kay (dancer, raw foodist, activist...and dread-head). It's part one of a 2-part interview:

http://www.tinfoilmusic.net/component/content/article/84-bleeding%20edge/1866-20-questions-with-tonya-kay
20 Questions with Tonya Kay

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

jobs

2008-02-11T18:44:56Z

i know this topic has been discussed in the past as i have bought it up for discussion once before. i looked for it on the boards, but the search feature isn't too helpful for someone looking for previous topics

anyways.

i've been with a job for the past few months, i've only had a few interviews, one was via telephone. none of them turned into a job.

i now have another face to face job interview lined up. i was wondering whether I should cut my dreds for the interview or just tie them back. i told really want o cut them, but i feel i wont get a job with dreadlocks. it's just how i see the world

i know it's different in other places, but i haven't been to those places.

i really need a job. the interview is next wednesday and i'm stuck on what i should do.

i know most of you will say not to cut them, but what if i told you 've been unable to get a job for the past four months. it sucks

i've applied to grad school, but haven't been accepted yet. i honestly think about either shaving my head bald, or triming my dreds down. the problem i have is i'm so bad in interviews, i dont want o get rid of my dreads and then bomb the interview and not hve the joib. i've applied for at least 75 job int he past few weeks its fucking ridiculous that i've only heard from 3 of them.

oh well.

any suggestions would help. thanks

posted in dreadlocks - 19 replies

Want dreads, Need help

2008-02-10T14:19:10Z

Looking for someone in the NYC area who can dread my hair. I was looking for a salon, but their outrageously priced. I am afraid to start them myself and fuck them up too horribly. Plus I work in a professional atmosphere and need them to look nice. My hair is past my chest and very thin and straight. If there is anyone around willing to help I will compensate you very well.

Please help me.
Kelly

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

How long did you leave your rubber bands in?

2008-02-03T20:19:06Z

I've had my dreads for about 5 months now, and I still keep rubber bands on my roots... about a month ago i was at a burn event and I got a ton of compliments on my dreads, but people kept asking me when I was going to take my rubber bands out. So I tried taking them out, but my roots loosened up a lot, and my dreads got tangled and stuck together and all sorts of messy unpleasentness. So I put rubber bands back in, and they've been in since.
How long did you guys wear rubber bands? Is there any big downside to keeping them in for a long time? Are there any convenient tricks to dealing with the problems I encountered when I took them out?
Thanks!

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

bead update x-posted

2008-01-26T21:34:02Z

Hello! I wanted to post a quick update on beads that will be sent out soon. I have all but 4 ready to go but I wanted to mail them all out at once. Holidays are being spread out for me but I will be back home soon to finish up. Thanks everyone for being patient...I am really stoked to be doing this :)

posted in dreadlocks - 14 replies

ok, on palm rollingand the dread maturation process

2008-01-24T20:50:52Z

i know that palm rolling is one of the most basic maintenance techniques, so i feel slightly embarrased even asking this after having my locks for 8 months, but ya'all are just so sweet that i know i can ask anything. :) so here we go-

how often do you all palm roll?

when you do it, do you do it one at a time,
and how long spent on each dread?

i have forty-three, and so it takes a damn long time to put some good rolling into all of them and then it never seems to do much in terms of incorporating loose hair or compressing bumps or tightening loose sections, etc. (p.s. i crochet hairs in too, but that doesnt seem to last for more than a week or two either) i have been using straight aloe, but only doing it once every 3-4 weeks because its so time consuming.

so basically i am wondering if palm rolling is just a gradual thing where you cant really see the results but they are happening, or if i am not doing it enough, or if possibly, once they are tight enough, nothing will lock in because the knot is so established it won't pick anything new up....

i guess i am also just wondering about the general maturation process with dreads and whether loose hairs/frizz etc. will incorporate over time if i leave em alone, or if you gotta work em in once the dreads are tight. do loop-de-loops ever just knot up, or will they hold course forever?

p.s.- again, as always, you all are my dready life savers....

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

~Aloe Vera Gel~

2008-01-23T19:47:08Z

Hello everyone! I keep hearing how aloe vera gel smooths down rebel hairs, and am wondering WHERE to get some good PURE stuff..

My problem is that even the products that say 100% pure have at least 4 other ingredients (minimum) added. Do you use the aloe vera gel that is for the skin (after too much sun exposure), or..? If anyone can give me a brand name of some good stuff they've tried, that'd be great, as I don't relish the idea of tearing apart one of my little 'pet' aloe plants! ;)

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Which is better?

2008-01-17T20:20:39Z

To start dreads..short or long hair?

posted in dreadlocks - 12 replies

Sleeping not so comfy?

2008-01-16T05:32:02Z

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to know if anyone has ever had a hard time sleeping on their dreads..

I've just recently lightened my roots, and I guess they're dreading like crazy (so tight right now)!!

Has anyone had this experience??

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Monster dread

2008-01-13T07:52:02Z

I know this has been mentioned on here before, but I have a monster dread that is eating other dreads around it and it's becoming uncomfortable. My diagnosis is that the root of this particular monster dread is just too wide and it needs to loose some hair. What should I do?

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

tribal dread didgeridoo

2008-01-13T05:40:58Z

not sure if any of you guys, and gals will know what the hell I am talking about, but I am looking for a picture (or t-shirt) that shows a tribal like figure who appears to be dancing and smoking a hooka and or playing a didgeridoo. Hopefully, you know what I'm talking about. I know there is a name for that guy, but I am not sure what it's called. if anyone of you peeps can help me out that would be cool. I'm think about getting a tattoo of it and I can't find it anywhere on the web. thanks in advance

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Sleeping?

2008-01-13T05:23:46Z

I was told I should sleep with something tying up my dreds - something to keep them covered.

Why? Anyone do this?

posted in dreadlocks - 12 replies

Hello!

2008-01-11T13:52:15Z

Hi people!

I have been checking this tribe/group for half a year since I got my dreadlocks. Thanks for all the great tips and suggestions and stories posted! Learnt a lot of new stuff (lemon spray, salt water, crocheting, sleeping with wraps) which helped my dreadlocks grow and matured to this very stage. Instead of just lurking and reading everyday, I have decided to register and put up this post just so that you guys know that you are reaching out to many other dreadlockers around the world!!

Well, I'm from Malaysia and I was visiting Bali when I decided to do my dreadlocks there. Somehow, it seem planned, because before I went to Bali, I did not cut my hair and kept it until neck-length and somehow, either by luck, fate or destiny, I came across this dreadlock cum tattoo shop and this guy was just standing there and I went in, and 6 hours later, a dreadlocked version of me appeared.

My dreadlocks were done May 2007, so that makes it nearly/about 7 months old/young! It's still too short to be tied at the back, so it's now left hanging to the back and sides of my head.

The technique used was a crocheting technique where he mixed backcombing with crocheting to strenghten the knots. It was a SUPER PAINFUL (10x the pain of tattooing I might say). But it was well worth the 3 hour pain. Initial dreading of the top of the head wasn't that painful but the sides (ears and neck area) was superbly painful. It was pure natural process, no chemicals used, I could was my hair the next day and I keep a twice/week washing regime ever since. Washing is done with hemp seed oil soap purchased from Victoria Market at Melb,Aus.

Maintenance wise, I just use a crohect hook to get the loops and loose hair into place. Every 6 weeks or so I will get my girlfriend to tidy up my back and clean up some bulging roots. Palm rolling does magic as well as the clockwise twisting against the scalp.

Thanks for wasting your time reading this lenghty post all the way from Malaysia and I hope its ok to join this tribe (as this is a SF area tribe).

Cheers!!

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

stuff for sale...

2008-01-08T00:29:57Z

hey guys! i've decided not to continue with my cosmetology apprenticeship...yes, a beauty school drop out! had lots of fun but, they're sharks around here & that wasn't for me. i have forfex cordless clippers & trimmers (only used occasionally for 3 weeks), oster trimmers, extention pliers & a variety of other other goodies ( some new & some barely used!)i'd love to sell at a discount & try to recoup some of my money. anybody interested let me know or tell me where if post if this is inappropriate to post here! thanks, leah

@ leahawb@bellsouth.net

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

Not-dreaded roots (New Dreads)

2008-01-07T06:38:13Z

Heya

I've gotten dreads very recently (>1 week) using via the backcombing method. However, my hair was always really straight before I did that, and I'm worried that it might be a problem, seeing as my dreads seem to be unraveling from the roots and up. I've got like, quite long, straight hair at the roots and up (The length of this varies from around 1/2" to even as much as 3/3.5"). Any suggestions on what I should do with them at this stage?

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

Worth it to Go Pro?

2008-01-07T02:55:50Z

Hey all,

My fiance is getting ready to go dreddy. She's white, italian, with shoulder-length thick hair. It's naturally curly, and will start to dread on its own just from using Doc Bron's for a few days.

She's in a semi-professional work environment (animator, so artsy, but studio oriented) but more importantly she wants them to look clean and tight. We don't have access to anyone nearby who does dreads right now, but she's dead-set on them, and feeling an urge to start them very soon.

What are the thoughts people have on having them done professionally versus doing them yourself? I have to stress her wanting them to look good and clean.

posted in dreadlocks - 17 replies

products in Ft. Collins?

2007-12-30T21:03:49Z

I need some dread wax, shampoo and a good comb but i don't know anywhere to look,
anyone know a place?

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

new growth frizz

2007-12-30T16:16:32Z

all you fine dreadfolk with your tight knots at the root...please tell me how and what you do to maintain your new growth?

i've been locking for almost 2 years, and it seems like the past few months my front row of dreads are especially undone.

i stopped using wax after the first few months. use this aloe/lime juice mix to keep fuzz down for work and such.

tell me your secrets :)

thanks! knotty love!
niki

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

new dread

2007-12-27T20:13:16Z

so i just noticed i have a new full dread that has formed on one of my other dreads. it's amazing!!

back in the day i remember this being so small and now it's its own dread. so now i have 36 dreads.

i am happy!!

anyone else ever have this happen with their dreads?

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Help making dreads in or near Boulder?

2007-12-27T20:08:05Z

I'm looking for someone in Boulder who can help me turn my long hair into dreadlocks. I know it's quite a chore to do for a stranger (i.e. lots of back combing, etc.) so I will gladly pay or trade for the time, or even go to a salon if the stylist is experienced and can do it without using perms, chemicals, wax, etc. I'm not planning to do this right away, but I wanted to go ahead and put out feelers to see if I can find someone to do it for me locally (I don't want to trek to Denver for this if I can avoid it). Please respond if you can recommend someone to help me with this, thanks in advance!

--James

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

is it really hard to maintain a single dreadlock as opposed to a whole head full?

2007-12-27T07:28:38Z

I have wanted dreads for years but I cant give up my curly hair completely.
I would really like to have just a few, get them one at a time for big moments in my life (the first one would be done at my wedding in april then things like big moves, new beginnings, children ect)

i was wondering if anyone knew if its possible to maintain half dreads half nondreaded hair. would it all just clump together? would i be able to condition half of my head and just shampoo the dreads?

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

looping?

2007-12-26T06:36:53Z

ok, so i think what i am currently trying out to tighten my roots is called "looping" but either way i havent heard it mentioned too much on the tribe so i was wondering if there are any anti-opinions about em out there.....

again, a friend with gorgous locks got me to start "looping" about 3 months into my dreads.... 3 months later, i *think* i like it but i'm not sold.... basically, i stick the butt of a pair of tweezers through the root and then grab the tip of the dread with the tweezers and pull it through... i do it about every 3-4 weeks, but the trick is doing it in a different place in the dread each time so that you don't end up with two long ropes going into one dread....

it seems to be a really good immediate solution, but i can't quite tell what that method will do to my locks in the long run as they mature. there are a few that look a little funky from it.... the only thing that i have to go off of, is my friends, but her's seem to just be the easy little dreads from heaven! she has never put much work into them at all and they are perectly formed....

any thoughts?

p.s. i just adore you all and all of your advice. any time i am feelin down about the dread process i just come and get all empowered again from your posts. such love!

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

Wash or not?

2007-12-24T15:21:02Z

I have had my dreads for 10 months now and so far have been washing them about once a month, but every time I was them my scalp gets itchy and my flakey. Then after a week or so it stops and feels much better. I am considering just rinsing my hair from now on and not using shampoo any more.
What are your thoughts on this?

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

Who wants to moderate this tribe???

2007-12-16T08:48:15Z

I would like to hand it over, for the obvious reasons (see pic)

Tell me dready story for consideration!

tObi

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

random...my dreads, my girlfriend, my journey...

2007-12-12T18:02:53Z

hey whats good my peoples!!! well, i just wanted to say a few things on behalf of my dread experience as of lately...well, for one...my hair is really curly and frizzy..so therefore you can imagine how frizzy and untamed my dreads can be..especially during the locking process...i've been locking up for about 2 months and its been a pretty good experience...but i tell ya..not everyday has been great..its been times where my hair was so frizzy..all i could do was put a hat on and pray that nobody ask me to take it off during the day...lmao...well anywayz, i've purchased alot of things for the maintenance of my dreads...i got just about the entire set of Jamaican Mango and Lime products...it works pretty good...however; with my texture of hair..i tend to need a bit more hold...so i had to go out and buy some wax; contrary to popular demand...i've used wax before; the Lets Dread wax...that was awesome...but i couldnt find it anywhere here in Valdosta...so i purchased the Twist and Lock product of Honey Wax...that worked awesome!!!! My gf who is also my personal "loctician" just twisted my hair up last night...and boy does it look good!!! im glad to have her here with me; cuz if she wasnt...i'd be runnin around looking like a caveman with some frizzy ass dreads...lol..well anywayz, i guess all i wanted to know from some other ppl out there is...how exactly do u get the ends of ur dreads to become more rounded??? i have alot of thinning ends because of the backcomb method; and they tend to not dread but remain straight...somebody help me with this please!!!

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Beads!

2007-12-08T18:28:42Z

Hello all! In the spirit of giving and spreading some love I am offering up some beads that I made. I have two different types and a wide range of sizes. I have some that are made of clay (ceramic, not Fimo) and they are shockingly light weight. Most of them are earth tones of greens, blues, and a soft yellow. The second type are made of bamboo. I have been wearing one for a few monthes to see how they perform and I really like them. I surf quite a bit so they get wet and haven't split, cracked, or gotten funky. I can leave those plain or I have some that I have burned designs into. I am offering these free to the first 7 folks from this list ( I am offereing them on both lists so please only respond once to make it fair). I will email you to get your personal info off list and send it out to you free of charge.
Blessings all!

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Looking for advice / tips

2007-12-05T04:59:19Z

I finally decided to style my hair into dreads. A friend of mine is going to help me Saturday. I'm planning on getting a Dreadlock kit and I believe I've settled on Dread Head HQ kit (if I can find it locally in Los Angeles). I've read their How To but I'm still nervous. Any advice or warnings?

I think I'm most nervous because I have no idea if they will look god on me.

posted in dreadlocks - 19 replies

In the process

2007-12-02T23:56:13Z

Sitting in a chair and halfway through getting dreads. It looks soooooo different :) I am so happy I'm doing this!

I bought th purple extensions but because the hair was too fine I couldn't use them. Next time :)

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

dreadlocks and Seborrheic Dermatitis

2007-12-01T14:01:14Z

I have a few patches on my scalp, and with dreads, it's a little difficult for any shampoo to get to the roots. I have used sea breeze and witch hazel to clean the scalp (q-tips).

Anyone else suffer from this scalp condiition? Before I got dreads, my doctor had told me to shampoo often (I was a once every other day shampooer). That just made my scalp itch more!

Since it's difficult to get where the dread meets the head, so to speak, any ideas? I don't think it will harm my scalp or dreads in the long run, but I'd love it if anyone else has tips on this.

I guess it's more of an annoyance than anything.

Thanks in advance

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

office look for short-ish dreads

2007-11-29T22:54:31Z

does anyone have any ideas of how to make my dreads presentable in an office?they only go to my shoulders and there starting to frizz really bad right now. i of course need to look "clean"
i have tried to wrap them but i look strange, i may not be wrapping then properly either, so if you have any instructions/videos on how to do that, im open to try again

if anyone has a good idea i would greatly appreciate it

[pH]

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Get A Haircut And Get A Job

2007-11-29T16:54:46Z

Hah! I remember some hick yelling that out his window to me and my boyfriend back in our young days as we sat on the roadside outside of Bend, Oregon hitchhiking from a Rainbow Gathering. Yep! the world hasnt changed much since then, or has it? Now I am a 33 year old single mama going to massage school living in the epicenter of Mormons, and asking myself, what will I really have to subject myself to, to get a "real job" to put food in the mouths of my babies. Everyone keeps telling me that if I want an employer to really take me serious, I will have to straighten out my dreads. I laugh when they say "straighten" as if I have some wacky perm or something.... but honestly. Being a white girl with the intention of getting a well paid job, is this something that I really need to consider? Sure if I was an African American girl with dreads noone would tell me to ditch the dreads to get a job. Sounds like the flip side of a little bit of racism if you ask me. I know I can be a very valuable employee whether I am bald, black or white dreadheaded. But reality in the dream world can be hard to deal with. Anyone had the same dilemma? Would love some feedback!

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

Im considering dying my dreadlocks

2007-11-20T00:33:14Z

ive been thinking about dying my dreads for awhile, but have no clue how to go about doin it. anyone know any good websites with step by step instructions?? what kind of dye should i use? do you guys have any do's and don'ts that i should know when dying them? much appreciated

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

People touching your dreads

2007-11-18T00:17:19Z

Do you guys find that complete strangers come up and want to touch your dreads?

I have caught myself doing it! If I run into someone else with dreads and stop to compliment them, I without realizing it will reach over and start rubbing them. I know that's rude-but so far no one has called me out on it!

And then I was in a Walmart one day and this little ole lady was behind me in line. She tapped me on the shoulder and asked if she could touch my hair and of course I let her and she was just so amazed that they felt like "hair". I didin't ask her what she thought they would feel like!!

posted in dreadlocks - 26 replies

Wet Dreds

2007-11-16T22:54:39Z

How long until you get 'em wet? I've heard "don;t wash for 2 weeks" and "don't get wet for a month".

I've been washing min anyway about 2x a week and then just doing maintenance, but in doing so am I delaying the locking process? Some of it is locked up tight already, but some is still kinda loose.

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Husband doesn't know yet, but I'm dreading my hair!

2007-11-14T16:31:51Z

wow... I still haven't told him, but its only been a week since I brushed my hair. I notice him looking at it though... hehe. He saw me bringing salt into the bathroom this morning and asked what I was doing with the buckets of salt water. I told him it gets my hair extra clean. I don't know wth I think I'm doing...

I think that not discussing it with him is in some way empowering me. It's like ... there is no discussion, its my hair and I don't even need to tell you what I'm doing with it. I don't want his opinion, doubts and onslaught of reasons why I shouldn't do it.

I know communication is important...am I making a big mistake? Should I tell him?

posted in dreadlocks - 16 replies

Ninjas or Samurais?

2007-11-14T06:48:04Z

Ninjas or Samurais?

Silver or gold?

Anarcho-individualism or anarcho-communalism?

Rolling Stones or Beatles?

Convertibles or hard-tops?

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

happy half birthday!

2007-11-13T14:40:58Z

my dreads turned 6 months old on saturday! i'm so excited!

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

Hair Follicle

2007-11-12T00:52:50Z

OK, in all the dread forums I've read, no one has ever addressed the problem of the little white hair follicles at the very root of the unnattached hair locked into dark dreadlocks... looks like dandruff... but it ain't... I'm thinking I wil try dying my hair... anyone have experience using henna as opposed to dye?

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

Dread "display" in the first few days and weeks....

2007-11-11T11:05:06Z

So I'm taking the leap in one more day. I'm so excited...and nervous... but excited.... and I can't wait to get my dreads started! I, like alot of posters I see here, have been doing my homework and researching all the tried and true methods and I think I get what I'm supposed to do. I am going to a natural salon here in Boston and I believe I will be given excellant advice from the women who work there as they have been dreading hair for like 10 years now. My question is perhaps where my nervousness comes in. In the first few days or weeks of maybe not quite looking like I have dreads, how have you all "displayed" (for lack of a better term) your hair?? What I mean is, headbands, bandanas, hats....should I not do any of those?? Will it not be as bad as I think it may be??? Just curious what some of you may have done at the beginning. I must admit...I am a mom of 3, involved in my children's schools and live in suburbia....and I'm quite sure most people will be puzzled when I do this....and for that I am generally prepared to take the wrath....but I also do want to be somewhat presentable while I am not quite where I look forward to being with my dreads.

Can anyone give me advice...btw...you all look awesome...and beautiful....I truly love this hairstyle/lifestyle....it really is a journey...isn't it.

Thank you.

posted in dreadlocks - 14 replies

trimming dreads for job

2007-11-11T04:55:13Z

i know this has probabaly already been posted on here before but i can a twist to it you might say. i have a degree in journalism and have been actively searching for any sort of newspaper job i can get. just wondering if any of you have felt the need to trim or even cut all of your dreads off for a job. i know i will miss them if i cut them off as i have beem growing them for about 7 years now and they basically go down to a little past my ass. i am not sure if how they will respond if i trim them. i know that you need to cut them at an angle and what not but i am scared i will fuck them up if i do trim them. maybe i will just trim a couple of them and see how things go. as of right now i have only received a couple of interviews, which have both been near to where i grew up or went to college. (upstate, NY for both) just wondering where you guys think the best place to apply for a newspaper job in the US, where they won't instantly see my locks and chose not to hire me there on the spot. sorry if this is a little confusing i am just shooting off the top of my head and didn;t really edit what i wrote. any advice would be much appreciated. thanks in advance.

irierujah

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

longer locks???

2007-11-07T14:12:02Z

hey whats up everybody! i just wanted to know is there anything you can put on your locks to make them grow longer faster?? holla at me and let me know whats good! cheaaaaa~~~

posted in dreadlocks - 15 replies

how can i use wire to make horns with my dreads?

2007-11-05T22:18:31Z

Im trying to be an antelope or ram for haloween i have sorta long dreads i want to somehow spiral around some wire and make them into horns..
is there some trick with the wire? i have some flexible somewhat sturdy beading wire .. im not sure how to keep the horns from just flopping down... how to attach the wire to my head? headband?? any ideas?
thank you!!
happy haloween:)

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Curly dreads?

2007-11-02T12:41:03Z

Hey guys, quick question.

My dreads are fairly new (a tiny bit over a month old) but they've been magnificently curly lately. I started with naturally curly hair to begin with, and I was wondering, will they straighten out, or keep a bit of curl. Also, is there any way to make them stay curly?

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Diet & Lifestyle

2007-11-02T12:03:12Z

Hey people,
One thing I seldom hear discussed is how our diet and lifestyle may affect the condition of our dreads. I was having really lame dandruff/scalp problems for a while, but recently have been trying to eat predominantly whole grains, fruits, veg, and healthy (unsaturated) fats. Since then, the problems I was having virtually disappeared! Coincidence? I just wanted to put that out there. Sometimes we don't think much about what we put in our mouth affecting our hair & scalp (not to mention how we feel emotionally/mentally), but it really does make a difference!

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Fun way to 'tie' back dreads

2007-10-30T15:14:29Z

Hello my fellow dreadies,

I work in a really casual work environment, and instead of Casual Friday, last week we had Corporate Monday. I spent all week trying to figure out what to do with my dreads, and then my hubby came up with an absolutely brilliant suggestion.

I tied them back with one if his neck ties!

I don't know if any of you have tried this before, but it looks awesome, works great for keeping them out of your eyes, and it's a great tongue-in-cheek retort to Corporate America. Also, ties are usually super cheap at thrift stores, so you can get tons of them if you want!

And it is so much fun be on dress up day to say, "Look, I'm wearing a tie!" I'm still getting requests for it a week later.

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Natural hair a no, no!

2007-10-30T13:41:21Z

Greetings lovelies,

I thought I would send this on to you. A friend of mine sent this to me this morning. This is very sad.

Open the link below to see the Law Journal article that covers this.

Subject: Glamour Magazine Editor's Offensive Statement At a recent lawyer's
luncheon at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, an invited expert speaker
from Glamour magazine presented a slide show on the Do's & Don't of
Corporate Fashion.

The first slide: natural African American hair such as afros and dreadlocks
are a corporate DON'T! Quote: Natural hair is a real no-no, announced the
Glamour editor to the 40 or so lawyers in the room. As for dreadlocks: How
truly dreadful! The style maven said it was "shocking" that some people
still think it "appropriate" to wear those hairstyles at the office. "No
offense," she sniffed, but those "political" hairstyles really have to go.

I am deeply offended by this editor's statement as should all women of
color (natural or relaxed). I didn't realize that the way my hair grows out
of my head naturally had political implications!

I've been an avid reader of Glamour over the years, but I propose a
permanent STRIKE ON PURCHASING GLAMOUR MAGAZINE. This attack on black women
is no different than Imus' recent "nappy headed hoes" statement and we have
to show our financial power by hitting companies like Conde Nast where it
hurts the most: their pockets.

If you agree with this strike on GLAMOUR MAGAZINE, please pass this email
along to your network of family and friends. Also, if you know of any
television show producers, I think it's time for this issue to go from the
web to television

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1188161099761

START A REVOLUTION. AMERICA IS LOSING ITS MIND!!

Stay up!
L

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Back to the Dry Scalp Problem

2007-10-27T16:45:36Z

Ok, I finally got back to a Whole Foods and got the shampoo that I was using when I first dreaded my hair. Now, should I go ahead and wash (I just washed last Friday and already have flakes and itching) and run the risk of drying my scalp out even more or should I wait as long as I can (I was able to go a month or more before this problem started) and then wash? I can live with the itchies and I make sure to keep the flakes from showing. I'm thinkig the longer I wait the more oil my scalp will be producing and the dry spots won't be so bad. Does that make sense?
Plus the weather has cooled off in Florida so my scalp isn't sweating as much as it did this summer.

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

brushing out dreads...?

2007-10-27T02:58:47Z

Is it possible to brush out dreadlocks? I have a friend who has had them for about 2 or 3 years and is thinking about getting rid of them, but doesn't want to cut off all her hair. What would be the best way of going about doing this?

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

DIY or Salon?

2007-10-27T01:01:38Z

If salon, what method did you use (dread perm, "natural", etc.)? If DIY, what product & method did you use?

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

neck problems

2007-10-25T23:44:54Z

does anyone do any exercises or stretches for their neck since having dreads. if so what kind do you do? i can't look up at the sky for very long because my dreads are so heavy. My neck hurts alot lately and i know there is something i can do about it, i'm just not sure what that is exactly. I have a lot of hair anyway and cannot let my dreads grow longer then a certain point because of the weight. any suggestions?

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

A few questions....

2007-10-22T22:46:02Z

Hi, this is the first time I have ever posted anything on tribe.
I have a few questions. I work at a public pool, and I was wondering if anyone has ever had their dreads sour? (smell like an old wash cloth) If so, how did you get rid of that and/or prevent it from happening? It hasn't happened yet, but I am trying to prevent it and know how to get rid of it just in case it does.
Also, every website I've been on says to get residue free shampoo. But I haven't found one so far that tells what kind and where to get it (they all seem to want to sell their product online). Where can I find some good (preferably not too expensive) shampoo?

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Reoccuring Dandruff

2007-10-21T19:14:09Z

i have pretty thin locks that i started about 7 months ago with two-strand twist. i use the shampoo from dreadheadHQ, and i find that 4-5 days after washing my hair, loads of dandruff will suddenly appear. so one day it'll be flake free, the next day..BOOM!...flake city! i tried rinsing my hair with apple cider vinegar and it didnt do anything at all, 4 days later i still had the same problem. it just smelled like the ass sweat of an obese jogger now. do you guys have any suggestions? also, if i started spraying salt water on my locks, would it dry it out further?

thanks

posted in dreadlocks - 19 replies

Burt's Bee's Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar

2007-10-15T18:43:28Z

So, I got this the other day what do you guys think, is it ok for dreads?

Burts Bee's Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar
with oat protein and pro vitamin b5

Ingredients:
Vegetable Soap, vegetable glycerin, rosemary oil, yucca schidigera extract, oat protein, peppermint oil, nettle leaf, rosemary leaf, avocado oil, coconut oil, panthernol (pro vitamin b5)

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

combining dreads and tightenting the roots

2007-10-14T05:09:15Z

hey there all. want to say i have gotten tons of info from your posts over the last few months. i am on a 4 month wilderness trip and have formed my dreads by myself, backcombing without a mirror and all natural....

i chose to do them really small and am now somewhat regretting it, because i have 55 which feels like a slightly unmanagable number in terms of maintenace, so i was thinking about trying to combine about 15- 20 of the smaller ones, and i was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to do this... the dreads are only 4-6 weeks old but some of them are fairly tight. i am afraid of BREAKING THEM! as i've done that already to one by making the middle section too weak by trying to comb the top up tighter....

which leads me to my next dilema which is that i have pretty loose roots and REALLY want to tighten them to my head.... however, the one time i tried a dread just broke right on off... any advice would be WONDERFUL....

headin back out for another 15 days on the Wooley creek in california, but will check the post when i get back, thanks!

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Coloring Dreads

2007-10-13T21:22:04Z

I had my hair highlighted right before dreading about 1 1/2 years ago. As all the highlights have now been incorporated into the locked hair I want to have some more color put on my dreads as well as around my face. Since I obviously can't do highlghts anymore should I alternate some blonde in with the natural brown and then do blonde all around my face? Or should I go all blonde? Or how about some blonde and some red? What have some of you done?

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies