dreadlocks's topics - tribe.net

doc Bronners too damn soft

Simon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:36:27 GMT

I bought a bar of peppermint like you guys reccommend and hate to say it sucked.. left my hair soft and loose at the root.. my dreads are only 5-6 weeks old and locked up awesome excepy at the root ... Maybe some of you that compain of dry brittle locks could benefit but not me... I dont even have good soap to compare it to. Ive been using David Babaii wild aid a natural sulfate free shampoo that is sold localy and its way better.Ive been meaning to try dreadhead brand but dont have 30 bucks on my card to order it... So untill I do I will continue what Im doing..

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

sorry this is really long but needed to rant :S

Kristen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:19:30 GMT

Ugh. I can't believe there are still so many people who know nothing about dreads but think they do and go around spreading their misinformation to others.

For instance, today I was in my class at college and somehow the topic of dreadlocks came up (im not entirely sure how, I wasnt listening at first) and of course, that one story that I'm sure everyone around the world has heard about dreadlocks at one time or another came up, the one where the guy had the spider living in his dreadlocks, which turned into a nest when it's babies hatched. Lol, im not sure how true this is, but if it happened that dude must have had the Mangiest dreadlocks Ever.

Then the teacher got involved and was like, I used to know someone who knew a guy who meticulously washed his dreadlocks every single night, spent hours on them, but when he got the cut off they sliced them open and "they were full of bugs". He then proceeded to say, "Oh well, guess that's the price you pay for having dreadlocks".

Im the only person in my class with dreddies and I'm not sure if they forgot I was there or were trying to offend me, but it made me pretty angry. I just sat there quietly not saying a word. I really wanted to just get up, leave and go home for the day. But I didn't cause then they may have made something of it.

That guy probably shouldnt have washed his hair 'every night' being as dreads need hours to dry and it sounds like he went to bed with wet dreads so it was probably mildew inside the dreads rather than whatever else they reckon it was.

Fuck. I am SO tired of having to explain that dreadlocks are not dirty bug infested things. Goddamn. Ive had them for over a year and I don't scratch my head that much more than a person without dreads does, but I still feel really conscious when I do cause i think that people will look at me and think, oh she has dreads and is scratching, she obviously doesnt wash her hair and they must be full of bugs, rather than, oh her head itches she is a normal person.

I know I should be used to all the idiots and prejudice now but it still gets on my nerves.

On the other end of the scale, on sunday while at work, i was serving a customer and the dialogue was as follows:

lady customer:"ohh what have you done to your hair? curls?"
i turn my head so she can see as i have to wear them pulled back
lady customer: "dreadlocks! when did you get those?"
me: laughed and said "over a year ago"
lady customer: looked abashed and said "i hadnt even noticed im sorry!"
me: smiled indulgently
lady customer: "i like it though. they look really good!"
me: blushing "aww really? thank you!!"

so that was a nice change from the usual derogoratory remarks and stares :)

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

Burnt hair. Rubber bands, yay or nay?

Adam — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:55:52 GMT

Just three days ago i got my hair backcombed into pretty dreads, and left the rubber bands at the roots, but the bands seem to be hindering all my little frays (i got lots of them, i jumped through a bonfire a while back and it singed my hair up a good bit) from becoming part of the locks. So is it super important to leave the bands in for a few weeks or should i take them out and roll the frays in?

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

OH NO!!! ugly dreads

Sarah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:26:04 GMT

i have really nasty dreads on top with great fat ones on the bottom. would it make more sense to condition and start from scratch or just try to salvage them with wax and rolling, they are pretty bad. i have four fat goodlooking dreads. and the roots are split sooooo bad on all of them. im freaking out and i need sooo much advice trying to do the natural dread but my hair is so fucked up. what do i do?

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

hair follicles?? please help?

Kristen — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:53:59 GMT

Hello my fellow dreadheads.

This may have been asked before and if so I apologise, but recently I've started noticing that at the base of a couple of my dreads near my face (I can't see the roots of the rest of my dreads easily so I'm not sure if they're all over my head or just near my face) what appears to be dandruff.

However, upon closer inspection (and pulling some of it out) it turns out that the white stuff I can see is actually dried hair follicles that have come out as the individaul hairs have fallen out, but obviously stayed in place because the hair is knotted into my dreads. We lose hair everyday so its nothing shocking, but Im just wondering if anyone has any experience with this and if there is anything I can do about it, because it really does look like dandruff and Im not really enamoured by its appearance haha.

My dreadbabies are about a week shy of their 1st birthday if that helps at all.

:)

posted in dreadlocks - 15 replies

New Dread Paranoia

Amy — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:35:31 GMT

Hey, I've just put in my own dreads two days ago all by myself and now I'm just feeling horribly paranoid about the whole affair.

To start, I accidentally used petroleum based wax (the package was in German and I didn't recognize it for what it was until I realized the effect it was having and then it was too late...)

Now, all my backcombing seems to have gone to shit and while they haven't fallen apart yet, I'm afraid it may only be a matter of time and the roots aren't knotted at all. To try to counteract the wax, I took a shower wearing a nylon and rinsed my hair with salt and baking soda water (no shampoo. I can't find non-residue shampoo here in Switzerland and I can't purchase things online, so I'm not gonna bother with it for the time being. At least until I get back stateside in a year.)

This seems to have helped a little with the horrible greasiness of excess wax, but I'm still really worried and I really am not masochistic enough to completely redo them by myself and I have no one available to help me. I'm taking it as a personal challenge to make them work, but I worry that they won't lock up on their own, despite accounts I've read to the contrary.

Any suggestions would be seriously appreciated here.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Brushin out bangs

Jessica — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:46:27 GMT

Hey all!
I've had my dreads for a couple years now, and for the last 4 or so months I have been contemplating bangs...I realize brushing a dread out is near impossible, but I was thinking about cutting it and then attempting to brush it out...its so scary though! I dont want to cut it and then realize that my hair is so damaged that the bangs look like straw! Any suggestions? I may just be S.O.L....
Thanks for reading...blessings

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Dandruff problem

Caraibeman — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:05:00 GMT

Hi, ive got my dread for 2years and ive a serious dandruff problem there is really a lot and i dont know how to get rid of them. In fact they are mostly stick to my scalp. Ive been reading some other posts with similar problem and was wondering about the product named nizoral it seems to be very goodbut i would like some more opinions about it and also i'd like to know if its a limited time treatment or if i could use it as my regular shampoo.

also i heard about apple cider vinegar if i use the nizoral do i still have to use the vinegar ? and where can i find it is it the normal vinegar that i would find in my local supermarket ?

Thank you

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

dread soap

alyx — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:14:55 GMT

what do you use to wash your hair?
what stuff have you tried/what's been good/what's been bad
i saw a similar thread but i think it was pretty old and more about 'what's best'.
i'd just like to know what everyone personally prefers.

i've only ever used the dreadhead shampoo, and i like it a lot, but i'd rather not have to special order it.
it seems like it would be a lot simpler than it seems to find good soap for dreads, but to be honest i'm a little afraid to experiment!
i'd like to know what to absolutely watch out for, lest i might ruin my hair. it really shouldn't be that complicated, should it?

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Tips for natural dreads

Marcus — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:23:10 GMT

OK so I have been letting my hair naturally dread for little over a month and im making some slow progress. I know it takes months/years so im patient :) Just looking for some tips to help out. I have thick, wavy hair, and I have had a few natural dreads before but my main issue is that once I wash my hair every 3-4 days without any conditioner (use the dreadhead HQ shampoo) my hair becomes so wavy that I have baby dreads what are wavy lol. Any way to straighten them out? How should I dry my hair? I usually just let it air dry which takes hours. And last, what could I use to keep my hair dry enough but not to dry? I hear baking soda works but never tried it..

Thanks for any help.

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

Home Made Locking Accelerator Questions

Elliot — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:08:55 GMT

I've made a home made recipie of

1 parts lemon juice
1 parts sea salt
8 parts warm water

and put it into a spray bottle.

Just a couple of questions on how to use it...

1. Do you apply with your hair wet or dry? Before or after a shower?

2. I have short dreads (about 3 inches long) how do I stop it from getting on my scalp?

3. Will the lemon juice dye my hair blonde?

4. How often should I apply it?

5. Any other details I should know??

Thanks.

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

i want thicker locks!

ann e — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:06:22 GMT

can i allow some of this webbing that i have such a problem with work to my advantage? when two of these guys get together (assuming they're right next to each other), can i just allow them to grow out? i'm not worried about them being forked; if i don't like it, i can sew them together later. because i just grabbed chunks and started backcombing, some of my dreads have sort of thin boundaries at the scalp, and so, they're not matting up, while those with broader bases are doing great.

any better ideas on fattening my dreads up?

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Ants

Ginger — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:41:14 GMT

I recently started dreads but I am kinda of worried about ants getting into them. My house has a lot of tiny black ants and I can't get rid of them and now I worry that they will crawl into my dreads... has anyone ever had an issue with ants or other bugs?

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

They won't hire me back because of my hair!

Jacq — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:37:38 GMT

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them. I've worked at a swimming pool retailer for the past 5 summers. I can honestly say I'm one of the best employees they have at the store I work at. In December, I got dreads! (yay!! =] ) well- i went in today and apparently the owner found out about my hair and told my manager he doesn't want me working for the company unless I get a hair cut. I'm still furious but was wondering if this happened to anyone else.

posted in dreadlocks - 29 replies

Colored Dreads!

Greatdane576 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:08:16 GMT

I wanna see your dyed dreadlocks! Post theeemmmm.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r85/Greatdane576/Hair/WhiteDreads.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r85/Greatdane576/Hair/Dreadlocks.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r85/Greatdane576/Hair/poster_twins_full.jpg

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

new dreads- half braided/half backcombed

namastearth — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:00:30 GMT

hi y'all!

i've always wanted dreads for sooo long and i just got my dreads 10 days ago- i did plenty of research beforehand or so i thought. when i got to the salon, they backcombed everything then braided it and backcombed the ending. at that moment, i was puzzled at the process but thought the lady knew her way with dreads. i wonder if they can be salvaged? just leave 'em or redo? any suggestions? i've posted my dreads in my gallery.

thanks! namaste

posted in dreadlocks - 12 replies

My 5-year-old wants dreads...

DreadMom — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:09:55 GMT

I'm ok with it, have done the research, but haven't seen much info about dreadlocks for little (white) kids.

I have no previous experience with dreadlocks, so I'm reaching out to the tribe.

Is there any reason (physical, emotional) why I shouldn't dread her little head?

Thanks & Peace

posted in dreadlocks - 11 replies

I need help backcombing please im in the nyc area

Banana — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:20:41 GMT

looking for someone to give me a hand backcombing. preferably someone who has done it before.
thanx
mike

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Tams, Dreadbands and more

iriedesigns — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:27:15 GMT

I sell Tams, Dreadbands, headbands, scarves and more at my etsy shop :

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7550877

I do a lot of custom work, especially with tams and dreadbands. You can contact me through etsy, or send me a message on here.

Peace :D

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

FREE DREAD KIT!

Kath — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:09:39 GMT

Hi people,

If you are thinking about dreading your hair, then click here to check out our completely free dread kits. http://dreadlockforums.ning.com/page/free-dread-kit-1

has all the tools and information you need for perfect dreadlocks.

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

I would like to dread. Am I ready?

AngelaEnglund — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:50:42 GMT

So I've spent a few months looking at videos, reading and researching. I spent 6+ months without running a comb through my hair and it wasn't getting anywhere at all. So I finally pinched some pennies and bought a metal comb and I may have a friend who will help me out (I have wimpy arms!) I've been wanting to get started for a long time.

I've decided to go the no-wax route. I really want to skip as many products as I possibly can.

SO my question is: Can I get away with just washing my locks with dish soap? for keeping residue down. I know I know, everyone is different. But I really can't afford anything more than a bottle of dish soap here and there :-p So I'm really hoping this will be a low-cost thing.

I've had mixed information from people about how easy it is to take care of locks. Many saying they don't take any work at all while some saying they take a lot of work. I think I might be happy somewhere in the middle. I'm flaky and very absentminded so I hope that won't lead my locks to ruin.

Dish soap advice and encouraging pats on the back are very welcome ^-^

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Has anyone else tried knottyboy's liquid shampoo?

seaofcolour — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 07:23:17 GMT

I've used it a couple times now, and I love it (so far)!! It seems not to take as long for my hair to start looking 'propper' again after a shampoo (compared to dreadhead shampoo - which I hate to say anything bad about!).. I think it may be b/c of the oils in it (which, incidentally.. I L-O-V-E the smell of!!).

Anyway, has anyone used it more than twice, and what were ur longer-term results?

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

I miss my dreads :(

Brwneyedgrrl118 — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:45:25 GMT

You can see in my profile picture. they were so pretty. My hair is very course and thick and perfect for dreading.

Im thinking im going to redread. Heres my issue. Im going to school for dental hygeniest. Anyone think i wont be hired with the dreadies??? HONESTLY.

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Thinking About Cutting Off My Dreads.....

Elliot — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:13:33 GMT

Little background...

This is my 2nd time having dreadlocks, I had my 1st set about 2-3 years ago and I had to cut them off because I got them over summer and had to cut them off because my high school didn't allow long hair on boys.

This time round, I've had them for about 4 months so far. However, in 6+ months I will be finished my university studies and will begin looking for and applying for jobs. My mum and dad have told me that I will have a very hard time trying to fight the stereotypes of dreadlocks for people employing me. I keep them quite clean (washing 2x per week, palm rolling lots).

I'm undecided on whether to cut them off for other reasons aswell. I do triathlon training and racing so I swim, bike and run lots. The dreads get real annoying trying to fit into swim caps, helmets and hats while I exercise. They are real annoying and sometimes I get so fed up I feel like cutting them off right then and there!

But then I want to keep them sometimes because when I look into the mirror or see my reflection in a window, I think well... I look pretty damn cool.

So mainly I'm just asking, would it be best for me to cut off my dreads once I start going for jobs?

Also, how do you put up with them being so annoying when you exercise/sleep/every day life?

Thanks.

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Crochet needle helpp!

Alex — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:57:33 GMT

So i have a Crochet needle and am going to try to give myself round tips.But the question is how old should ur dreads be before u put them threw this??

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Wrapping dreads with thread.

Kath — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:53:44 GMT

I'm having a few problems maintaining the back of my dreads at the moment as they are fairly short and impossible for me to maintain without the help of my husband (he never gets around to helping me). So I have been wondering if it would be safe to wrap some thread close to the roots to help keep the dreads together and minimise the amount of loose hair. I know not to thread them too tight but do you think this idea will help with my problem just until they really start to lock a bit more - they were born 01/01/2009.

Please help. I am open to other suggestions too.

posted in dreadlocks - 15 replies

How Do You Section?

GodlessCelt — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:38:56 GMT

Been thinking of starting locks, but I don't know how I want my hair sectioned.

I've heard of 4 sectioning schemes so far:

1) The grid
2) Bricklaying
3) Catch-as-catch-can (just grab some hair)
4) Let the hair decide (i.e., the natural method)

Are there other methods? Which do you prefer, and why?

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

Male Pattern Baldness

GodlessCelt — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:02:20 GMT

I just posted a list of newbie questions, but I wanted to post this one separately so it wouldn't get lost in the mix.

What do you think about locks and MPB?

I'm considering getting locks, but I have a prominent bald spot (male pattern baldness). My hairline has receded slightly over the years, but I still have fairly thick hair on top. For years I told myself dreads would look terrible on me because of the bald spot. But then I thought, y'know, it's not like I'm going to grow any more hair up there, and it's not like my current hairstyle makes the spot less bald. I might as well go for it while I still have hair to dread.

Thanks,
Charles

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

I don't know how to section!!!

alex — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:06:49 GMT

Hi there everyone! My names Alex. Firstly I had dreads until the start of this year but they were a disaster for the 2 years I had them, mostly due to my own and others stupidity. I won't go into details but lets just say I want to go TOTALLY natural this time around with no wax, chemicals, extensions, perm solutions or anything. By natural though I mean just straight backcombing not neglect.
My hair is now about 3 inches and I've heard you can dread it with this length and that they'll turn out better in the long run if started when really short. Should I wait until its about 6 inches or go for it now? Also, I want my girlfriend to do it for me but we both don't know how to do the brick section method. Can anyone help??
Also once they are eventually done, without wax or anything I'm worried they may be really fragile and come undone when I eventually wash them what should I do? Trust the backcombing/pull-n-tangle method (thanks beksta!) will do its job????

Thanks for the help!!!
Alex

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Dreadlocks- Newbie Questions...

Elliot — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:26:40 GMT

Hi, a little background 1st off...

I'm 20 years old, white male with curly brown hair. I've had dreads for about 3-4 weeks and it was 4 inches long when I got it done (back combing method). I've been using knotty boy dread wax and a non-branded shampoo bar made especially for dreads from a local shop which I've used once so far.

So onto my questions....

1. Do the roots dread up naturally over time or do your have to do that clockwise rubbing thing for them to come together? I've just been waxing and twisting so far.

2. I've been using knotty boy dread wax and have a jar of knotty boy tropical tightening gel that I haven't used yet, how long should I use the wax for (I've heard the horror stories and disadvantages assocaited with wax so don't want to use it for much longer).

3. How long should I use the tightening gel for? I'm probably going to start using in in the next month or so.

4. Do you need to palm roll? Like is it a must or is it just to get them to dread up faster? What are the main benefits of palm rolling?

5. Can you make your own tightening gels from home made products? Any good recipies? I've heard of salt, lemon, rosemary, etc?

6. Can you bottle ocean water for applying to dreads and keep it at home for a while? Or will it start to go funky and smelly if its ocean water in a bottle at home for too long?

Sorry about all the questions, but I moved out of town from where I got them done and none of my friends know anything about this kind of stuff.

Thanks.

posted in dreadlocks - 17 replies

Graduation hair, help!

Courtney — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:48:12 GMT

Even though I've been reading these posts since I started my locks six months ago, for some reason I never did get around to joining until now. And since this is by far the best website to get some honest advice as far as the ins and out of dreadin' up, I couldn't think of a better place to go now that i need some serious help! This is the second time I've started locking up my hair, so since the first attempt failed miserably, (I went way overboard with all the wax, accelerators, and any other product I could get my hands on!), I decided that after seperating and backcombing, with the exception of hours of palmrolling, I'd just let my hair do it's own thing. Hoped I could gain some patience and keep my hair healthy at the same time!
Now I love my locks, frizzy halo and all, but unfortunately some of my extended family members don't feel the same way whatsoever. A bunch of them are flying in for my graduation in a few weeks, and the only thing my parents asked was for me to try and get my hair looking as presentable as possible. Mainly get rid of the crazy frizz that never seems to go anywhere, which I have no idea how to even begin to do. I'd prefer to not have to go out and buy anything premade, so if anyone knows of a good way to minimize the frizz somewhat naturally just for a couple hours or so i would seriously appreciate it! I don't want to to have finally gotten past the half-year mark and somehow mess everything up!

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

henna dreads?

Jen Iris Om — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:52:26 GMT

Hello, I was curious whether anyone here has tried dying their dreds with Henna, and how that worked out. I don't use chemical dye anymore, and I love henna, but it's hard enough to rinse out of loose hair! I would imagine it could be a nightmare trying to get it out of dreds...but maybe there's a trick? What do you think?

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

Can you help me backcomb?

Greatdane576 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:49:34 GMT

Hey Dreadheads,

My hair has grown out again and I would some help backcombing it.
My friends just keep putting it off. So if anyone can help me out thats
on the westside of LA, let me know. Or if you a place to get them done
please share. Of course, I'll give you some compensation for it.

Peace,
Stefan

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

anyone in houston?

Fri, 22 May 2009 02:14:09 GMT

I live in houston and finding a store that carries what-not for dreads is near impossible. If anyone else lives in the houston area and knows of come secret reggae haven, PLEASE let me know. sharing is caring =)

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Newbie Qs: Dread Size, Caps, and Other Things

GodlessCelt — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:54:55 GMT

Hi, all! I just joined Tribe to post on this forum. I've been thinking seriously about getting dreadlocks. I am a caucasian with fine, tightly curly hair that tangles easily. (I currently use a cocktail of conditioners and sculpting lotion to keep it under control, but still break a lot of hairs combing it.) I've spent some hours reading up on locks online, but I still have some (possibly silly) questions:

1) What does "congo" mean?

2) What do you think about the loose hair tool from DreadHeadHQ? I was going to get their video and shampoo, and was wondering if I should order that too while I'm at it. (In case you're wondering, I'm not planning on messing with wax.)
http://www.dreadheadhq.com/shop/loose-hair-tool.html

3) Is there a rule of thumb for relating the area of the scalp a dread draws from to the size of the dread? Just trying to predict how the dreads will look when they mature.

4) If I go the natural/neglect route, I may need to hide my hair under a ball cap while at work. (And it has to be a ball cap, not a tam. For one, the dress code only allows ball caps, and I may not be able sell a tam as one even if it has a visor. Besides, I just don't like them, and don't want one on my head.) Will this affect the locking process?

5) I've heard of bag-like attachments for blow dryers to make them work better on locks. Is that the same as an air diffuser?

Thanks,
Charles

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

how can i extend time between washes ?

missmommymeow — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:42:55 GMT

it seems most people only wash their dreads every week to 2 weeks or in some cases even longer. i cant seem go longer than 4 days. how can i go longer between washes without my scalp getting wierd or smelling like dirty hair, eww gross . i also have some hair, long bangs, in front undreaded, which becomes apparently dirty.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

lint

Coletta — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:00:19 GMT

hey i was wondering if any of you guys get lint stuck in your dreads and what you do about it. it's happening to me and it kinda bothers me but when i try and pick it out i end up pulling lots of hair with it and it freaks me out.

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

life expectancy ?

missmommymeow — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:11:44 GMT

anyone know anything about how long the life of dreads can be ? i would like this set to be the set i have for a very long time. i knew someone who had them roughly 10 years and it seems like 5 -6 years for most people seems to be average.
anyone had them for a very long time ?

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Splitting up

Mira — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:08:52 GMT

ok, me nagging again...

I have some dreads that is a little weird in the root. The root is rectangle and I find it most unpractical and sometimes uncomfortable. What is the chance to split those up in 2? Was thinking to get a friend help me with it.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

anyone tried SUPERHIPPIE.COM's dread shampoo?

Colleen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:57:25 GMT

Hey! I am intrigued by this site's products. They are adamant about not using wax, and keeping it all natural.
has anyone tried their shampoo? I'm running out of my dreadhead hq stuff, and looking to try something new! My dreads are only 7 months old, so i still dont think i am ready to go the dr. bronners route JUST yet.
:)
blessings.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

stupid wax...

Mira — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:20:44 GMT

I have flagged white.
I wont use more wax in my hair. I will miss the smell of hemp oil but I prefer having soft non-sticky dreads.
an hour ago I socked them in a mix of water, salt and vinegar. Left it in for about 20-30 min and took a looooong hot shower.
When I rinsed out the shampoo, the water was dark brown >.<
ew...
my hair is still wet, but it's sticky! like all the wax appeared from the inside of the dreads to the surface. It stinks vinegar and lots of loose hair are partying around. all in all... it was a very bad experience, but I am sure it helps!
you guys think I need to do it again? or will the rest disappear after X numbers of washing?

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

2 Months. What happened?

Mogster — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:52:40 GMT

I'm about 2 months in on my dreadlocks....and to be honest i'm a little nervous about how they look, their thin-ness, and keeping up with maintenance. I've been looking at some other pictures of dreadlocks and it looks like mine are a little thin. (i don't have as much hair as others). Maybe if i made the locks a little thicker? I used wax in the beginning....it seems like that was a big mistake. I've stopped using it this week. I also kept my bangs unlocked for added style. I want to keep going with it...I'm def passionate about keeping them....but I know this is usually a rough patch for everyone. Does anyone have any tips or tricks on my problem?

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Are loose hairs really bad?

Kath — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:33:22 GMT

Hi people!

Ok, so I know we have all covered the loose hair problem in previous threads, and how to fix the problem. And fixing the problem sounds really easy if you have:

a) long hair
b) a good friend to help you and
c) eyes that you can rip out and sit somewhere to give a great view of what you are trying to do if you dont have b.

So I kinda dont have any of those - i mean i have friends but not patient ones that are willing to sew my loose hairs in. And the loose hairs bother me a bit but I try to think about it this way.

All the people that just went with the complete "neglect method". Now surely, none of you guys out there that got your dreadies with the neglect method would have sat there sewing in your loose hairs. So, obviously you would have had loose hairs eh? Did they end up dreading by themselves?

My dreads are only 3 months old. And I did start with the backcombing method. And I guess my question really is - "Should I be worried about loose hairs or will they eventually fix themselves when they are ready?" I haven't got big chunks of loose hairs - but there are a few and I just dont know anymore.

Please help me and either throw my stress levels through the roof by telling me that loose hairs are pure evil or put my worrying to rest by just telling me that everything will be okay.

Thanks in advance. Sorry for the rambling - hope it makes sense.

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Dreadlocks and lack of a job?

Greatdane576 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:41:15 GMT

Hello everyone,

First off, I would really love to have thick dreadlocks and am currently
growing out my hair. My hair gets pretty curly when it grows out so the
locking up should be easier. However, my mom, and some friends
have advised me against getting dreads because of fear from employers
taking one look at me and obviously seeing that I am not the average joe.
I was wondering if any of you have experienced any prejudice against
your hair style as if it were like tattoos in nature.

♥ ॐ ♫,
Apollo

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

Hair Teas

Kath — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:26:43 GMT

Do hair teas really work? What is your experience or opinion of them?

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Can U help me!! What are these little Ball at the End of my DREADS

Dumaka — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:20:49 GMT

I dont want to yank them out but they don't look very good. ITs not dead hair because they're still linked to my loc......What should I do?

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

How to control dread diameter.

Greatdane576 — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:17:15 GMT

Ok so I'm set on getting dreads.
However, I'd like to have thick locks,
maybe about the size of a nickel.
So how do I go about this? Do I
just make the backcombing square
area larger? If so, how large should
it be made? Thanks!

♥ ॐ ♫
Apollo

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

new dreads, in thailand - help!

robyn — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:28:57 GMT

hello,
my dreads were born yesterday in khoa san road in thailand, i know im supposed to wax and roll them and such, my big problem is, all the info i can find says for products widely available in england, usa, aus etc but i cant find any of it in thailand and im not sure where to look. i really want to keep my dreads looking lovely and healthy but im not overly sure what to do,
can anybody help me?
thanks :)

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

Help with combing out my dreads!

Alicia — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:28:35 GMT

I have thought for a while on this, and I have decided to attempt to comb out my dreads. I am sure that I will try them again some time later in the future, but they aren't working well for me right now.

Anybody that has combed them out, what did you use? I have heard that olive oil works the best. I will be chopping most of my hair off after I get them out, but would love any advice on how to go about it.

Pleaase and thank you!

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

Permanent Extensions,""

shebacupcake — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:44:12 GMT

I have permanently extensioned my hair,heres how,,I had some yarn that matched my hair color,(black),,I cut the yarn into 3 inch strands,then pulled apart the fibers,and made a fluff,note :: the yarn i used was not wool,I think wool gives me the itchies,so I decided to use synthetic yarn,,it's better,cuz when you wash it,it dries alot quicker than wool,and is very light weight for your head,the water just quickly drips off the dread,,,anyhow,,i had alot of fluff,,i palm rolled long dreads,then,,I sewed the thing so it would stay together,causing the dread to look kinda bumpy,,i left some fluff on the end of the dread where I would attach it to my head,so,I then dreaded my own hair,,using the back comb method ,,and twist and rip,,(gently) then i sewed my own dread to a uniform roundness,that was the same width as the synthetic lock i made,then i overlapped the two un attached dreads,and i pletheraed them together using my fingers,,and holding this shape,,i very carefully started sewing them to gether,and there you go,,I cast of my thread,and had a perfectly long,natural looking dread,they look like they are well matured,i love the method i came up with,after lots of reaserch,and plenty of dreadlock picture veiwing,I want to extend this service,,so if any one is kickin around vermont,and wants this done to there,hair,,or if you need dread matenance,,or want just instantly locked natural dreads ,without synthetic's I am your girl,,

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Diet & Lifestyle

kelsey — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:29:10 GMT

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 - 13 replies

One dreadlock

shebacupcake — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:21:31 GMT

so,far this is what i started yesterday,i backcombed ,and made my first dread,it is at the base of my head at the neck,so,,i can hide the little fella,I am currently out of work because of an injury,but I realy want to dread my hair,but,,,very apprehensive about work,i am a health care professional,and take care of people with injuries,and do hospice work,I wear scrubs to work,i want to keep my job,,but at the same time,i don't want to opress myself,and deny my identity,because,I love doing what i want,and i want dreads!

just a little cofused on what your opinions are,what would you do?

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

Extensions...

Devan — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:24:04 GMT

Just out of curiousity, what are people views on dread extensions? A viable way to be a part of the sub culture or lazy way of achieving something that should be a heartfelt journey? I tend to lean towards the latter.

Opinions?

posted in dreadlocks - 26 replies

6 months old

zachary — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:15:55 GMT

hey friends. my dreads are 6 months old and i am interested in a different product to wash them with (because dreadhead shampoo doesnt seem to help). also is this recipe good for once a month deep cleanse even if my dreads are still young and definately not tight yet.

Deep Cleanse Recipe:3/4 Cup baking soda2 Tbsp lime juice2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar1-2 Tbsp sea salt (optional)6-8 drops tea tree essential oil2-3 drops peppermint essential oilenough warm water to soak all your dreads
Mix all ingredients in a large basin and soak your dreads, making sure that your scalp is saturated too. Wrap your dreads in a towel and let it soak for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water until water runs clear.

some days they seem like they are getting better and some days they seem like they are much worse. however i quit using wax and have been using ocean water as much as possible to keep them in good condition. is backcombing every day good or bad? with a metal comb? hehe i have lots of questions.

i cant say they seem to be locking yet but i know patience is important. i just dont see them being as tight as others' dreads of this age. thanks for the help

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

roots growing together

digableknots — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:46:56 GMT

so it's almost been 5 weeks for me and i feel like they're starting to tighten up a bit, but the only thing im worried about, as in the ONLY thing, i might actually tend to, are the roots, i dont want them all to form like a one inch layer around my head of just connected dreads all at the roots. i rip them apart but

im just wondering, will it ever stop? i backcombed my hair in sections on my own, which means slim to none of them are in squares, which that part i don't mind, but the roots ! ah ! i dont use anything on them, so if anyone has ever had this problem, which im sure it's kind of common, just help to make me feel better about it ahaha

verdadero <3
-Anjalina

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

My dreadlocks are smaller now than they used to be

Jon Henry — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:54:46 GMT

When i went to get some of the new growth from my dreadlocks twisted by someone, the person who did them made them way to small and didn't do the ends so now it looks kinda like small at the bottom but the ends are bigger than each dread. Can that be fixed at all?

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

adding dreads

Pandi — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:48:16 GMT

Does anyone know how to add extentions to hair that is already dreaded? I don't want longer dreads, just more of them. I just want to throw in a few brightly colored ones here and there but have the option to take them out for work.

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

I think I messed up

Zoie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:15:52 GMT

I'm redreading after 10 years with more "mainstream" hair. Last time around, I went with the chemical method. This time, I decided to go neglect. After only a few weeks, my hair has been happily going about it's business aggregating around larger ringlets into some nice fuzzy dreadlings. But, now it's pretty much all turned into one giant mass on the back of my head and I'm afraid I really f'd up. What should I do? My hair is natural, no-chemicals, blonde, fine, curly, tends toward dreads when not flat-ironed (how I had been handling it for the last few years) It was below my shoulderblades, but it has knotted up to above my shoulders. I'm afraid of mold if I leave it. I'm afraid to tear or comb it out for fear of losing all my hair-not to mention dreads. If I tear or something, how do I do it? Please help.

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

I have some quistions.

Mandy — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:26:53 GMT

I am seriously considering dreads. I'm a stay at home mom and a belly dancer so I have no boss to keep happy. There was just a couple things I was worried about before I take the plunge.

The first one is will my climate affect my dreads. I live it Washington, on the east side of the mountains. It's a desert, so there is about 6 months out of the years that it's very hot and then about 6 months that it's bitter cold. Will that effect how they hold and how comfortable they are to have?

the other question is had anyone ever effectively gotten rid of lice while having dreads, and how? I do not have lice but I have a young daughter and I will be very lucky indeed if she never brings the icky creatures home from school at least once.

Thank you so much for your help. I'm very excited to take the plunge but I wanted to do all the research needed first.

~Mandy

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

snowboarding with dreads?

nicholas — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:43:15 GMT

Hey, im an avid snowboarder, ive heard some people say that wind will help dreads lock up. I'm planning on redreading my hair very shortly so i was wondering if it would be okay to just maybe get one of them head band thingy's that cover my ears and just leave my dreads out as i rip down the mountain side?

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Full of questions, could you help me ? (pictures)

dancepixiedance — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:03:00 GMT

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!
http://i41.tinypic.com/r05tdz.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/8x7el4.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/1zznpu0.jpg

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

anyone else?

Angelheaded Hipster — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:03:26 GMT

Everyone always says its quite strange that I have one dread...just one on the right side of my hair. I used to have long dreads and then combed them out I still miss them but I also missed playing with my hair (having a 3 year old who wants to brush mommy's hair dosnt work too well with dreads) so I was wondering does anyone else out there just have one dread?

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

dreads everywhere! (questions both new & maintenance)

hunnybear — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:02:18 GMT

So my guy has dreads (and afro-american hair) and I've been helping him with maintenance, but I think I need better instructions. He has them done in a salon, and I twist (palm roll?) in ONE direction only, per his directions from the salon... but seeing instructions and video online, they show rolling in both directions. Please help!

Also, a friend of mine (with straight, caucaisan hair) wants dreads and I'll be helping her start them tomorrow. She ordered a kit from knotty boy, but i hear mixed messages about wax. Should I use it or not? (if it arrives in time!) I've been reading up what I can but I don't have a ton of time to research what's best, and I tend to question whether the sites selling stuff push the methods using their products just because it's a business...

So, I'm so sorry if I repeat old questions, but I have to get back to actually working while I'm at work, and short on time before I see her tomorrow. Please give me advice or links to reputable places if you can!!

thanks a ton!

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Milldew

Rise — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:25:54 GMT

Yesterday i took a shower and washed my dreads, most the time i blow dry um, but it still takes forever, anyways so i was getting dressed and stuff in my room and i smelled something funky, i looked around and around, tearing shit apart until finally i realized it was my dreads, their starting to get a milldewy smell, i usually only wash them once a week, cause i dont like um to stay wet. i know i could put some scented oil up in um, but i was wondering what else folks do. thankyou much

posted in dreadlocks - 9 replies

Help me get rid of all this wax!!

Jacq — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:40:42 GMT

So when i got my dreads done, the lady that did them put a lot more wax in than I would have wanted. (She didn't really let me see what she was doing, so I couldn't actually tell how much she was putting in until after). It's been about 2 weeks, and although some of the wax is gone, there is still a lot left and I want it gone!! I don't want to have to undo some of my dreads, I really don't. Is there any way I can get rid of some of the wax, especially near the roots? Help! I don't want waxy dreads!

posted in dreadlocks - 13 replies

Combining two dreadlocks

Jenna — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:29:50 GMT

Hello :) i'm new to tribe and just discovered this wealth of information on dreadlocks - it's awesome.

my dreads are approaching two months old now. I have a few really skinny dreads at the back around my hair line. I'd like to combine some of them together as they are really close and at the moment just look like rats tails.

what's the best way to do this? comb out the dreads and start again by back-combing all the hair together or maybe wrap one of the dreads around the other. i'm not sure.

any advice?

thank you in advance.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Snowboarding with Dreads

nicholas — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:21:34 GMT

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

DreAD dReAMs....

Rise — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:56:20 GMT

Last night i had a trippy dream, i've been reading on here how people crochet their locks and stuff, and i dont really get how that is done, but last night i had a dream that i was gunna try it, so some how i just knew what to do, and i cut my dreadlock open, and their were veins in it, it was so crazy, then i had to crochet the veins, i really dont remember much past cutting it open and seein that. What dreams have you all had about your locks that tripped you out, or made you happy?

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

Who wants to be Moderator for this Tribe?

tobi — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:38:21 GMT

I am no longer very active here in Triberia, I started this Tribe in '04 when the platform was blowing up. I would like to hand it over to someone who could have some fun with it, I'm not really a mod type...

Don't be mistaken though, my dreads hang proudly on the well although I cut them last year...

Moderation privileges go to the owner of the funniest dread story...Let's have them hippies!

tObi

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

Moving right along

Laa — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:14:14 GMT

Heya guys,
I thought I'd share that I'm in the process of combing out most of my dreads now. It was time, and I've had them for over a year now. I never had a plan for how long I'd keep them, and it feels right. The process of combing them out slowly has been really good for me. I'm still keeping a few of them, and I'll still be around the tribes, but I feel it's time to move to a new step in my life. Thanks for all the help, guidance and chuckles. It's been a blast!
Much Love, Laa
(X-posted to DreadTribe)

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies

new locks, fatty and natty

ryan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:33:42 GMT

Whats up dreadnauts? Sending out positive vibrations.
So my locks are new, just 2 weeks into it. They're of the natty and fatty variety, and completely improvised/spontaneous/natural/ya'll get the drift. I have 16 currently, but indications are that the real fat ones may split into two (or more). But as of now, I have 16, well sort of. The front 4 are shorter and not as fat or round, and then in the very back its just two developing locks that are still loose and haven't quite rounded out at all, but I'm confident they will. On the top of my head its mostly just matted together until the locks start. As I said, these are the unkept, un self-conscious type of dreads. :D

That's all for the backstory though. Mainly what I'm seeking advice or input about is the washing aspect. The locks aren't tightly locked in just yet, atleast not all of them, so I don't think I'll be washing for a little while longer. I went ahead and got some lemon juice and some dead sea salts for the admixture I plan to use. I think this will be effective, but my only concern is the oiliness, should I possibly add a non-residue soap to diminish the oils or will the sea salt take care of that? Does the oiliness persist indefinitely or does the scalp adjust after a period of no washing? This is all based on a feeling I get that the oiliness may give me problems early on as far as getting the hair to lock up tightly.

Other than that minor quip, I think the locks on their way to righteous nattydom, completely untamed rabid hair consuming beasts that I have no control over!

Peace and love all the sistren all the brethren

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

Any One Use accelerators? Home made? what works?

Dematerialize — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:06:18 GMT

Hi i just got my dreads on the 23rd of november which was 3 days ago,
I have been researching How to properly maintain them !!
I am looking into making an accelerator or buying one.
I would like to know if any of you all youse them? what you recommend?
If you do use it when do you apply it ?leave it in?How long?
Thanks alot! Peace !!

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

dreadlock friendly jobs??

imaginepeace — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:20:34 GMT

im currently unemployed and moving to San Diego.

what jobs should i look for now that people think im dirty? (haha)

what job do you have?

posted in dreadlocks - 20 replies

why did you dread?

meg — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:17:24 GMT

hi -

I'm new to this tribe and new to dreadlocks (4 months in!)

I'd like to hear some people's thoughts on why they decided to dread their hair.

For me, I wanted a physical reminder of how I wanted to live my life: peaceful and free and spiritual. I guess I have this notion of what dreadlocks means, and that's what I want to embrace. that's who I want to be, and it took me until I was 30 to realize that I should be living my life for me, not caring so much what others thought.

posted in dreadlocks - 25 replies

Double Knot Method

Paul — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:27:22 GMT

Hey guys and gals I'm brand new to this Site and I joined to get information about my new dreads. I'm kinda concerned about my dreads because the lady that did my hair used a method i've never heard about before. She called it, double knotting..what she did was grab a section of my hair then make a knot at the tip. she then proceeded to pull the hair from the root to the tip and then twist the tip. She says that with time my hair will grow and then i just need to start palm rolling the dread to get it thicker. Right now they look like braids.

If anyone has heard of this can you tell me what you think about this method or give me any suggestions as to what I should do.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

happy birthday!

Miss Issa — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:26:06 GMT

my babies turn 18 months old today. its hard to believe its already been a year and a half.

happy birthday!

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

natural dreadies...

nicholas — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:36:36 GMT

alright. so i began on a natural dreadlocks journey. october 13 will be one month (based on a bike acident i had and found it hard to brush or dry my hair when i got out of the shower lol). anyways, my hair is already very nappy. i wash my hair every third day and and dotn use ANY chemicals or products in my hair. so aside from obviously doing nothing to my natural dreadies, is there any tips that someone can give me to help the process? ex. when i get out of the shower i towel dry my hair in a clockwise motion. that makes my hair VERY matty, then i kinda just pull it apart in sections. is this bad? or is it helping it lock? please help! :)

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

my journey

Justin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:33:13 GMT

I just found this site the other day. I thought I would join and say hello.

I dreaded my hair January 27, 6 months ago. They started at 3-4 long. At first I could make a fist around the dread and the hair wouldn't come out the top. Now they are 6-7 inches long. I'm hoping my 1 year mark they will be long enough to tie back without looking goofy.

Anyway, a friend of mine backcombed a little but mainly twisted and waxed. (She really didn't do a good job at first) I learned very quickly that wax was just making my hair greasy and preventing lockage. So I washed the wax over time and continued to work with my hair using the comb to push the unraveling knots towards the roots. I do this very gently to minimize breakage. I'll occasionally use a small crochet hook to work dread balls into the roots. I'll back comb the loose hairs into the tips if I feel like having "neat" dreads that day. I really don't work do that much to each individual dread. I' might palm roll each for 30 seconds. But beyond that it's just washing every 1-2 weeks and waiting. I find that dancing makes my hair lock up the best as it swings around while wet and sweaty. Up until now, I have been changing the rubber bands but I feel they are a hinderance. I still have a few in but I take a few out each day. Now, I feel they should have been out a while ago...Oh well.

But I just uploaded some pics into my gallery. They were taken on my cell phone cam for now until I can get my digital cam out and have someone take some pics. So here they are. Tell me what you guys think.

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

dread suicide...need some perspective

niki — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:13:21 GMT

hola fellow dreaderators!

so here's my deal. i've had my dreads for over 2 years and spent a dedicated 6 months before the phsyical locking process to acclimate myself on all other levels. early into the locking process i felt totally legit in my reasons for wearing them, and they really sort of rounded out my image to fit my personality. for a long time now people, and strangers, tell me they look great on me, and they can't imagine how i'd look without them.

my reasons for wearing are varied and i could go into detail if prompted, but this is the point of my post: for the last 4-5 months i've been considering chopping them off. i know this is in part because i have a fist sized patch on the underside of my head that is freeform curls because the dreads fell off. i want to know if any long-time dreadies have experienced this kind of strange de-commitmment, and if so, what are you doing about it? does it pass, did you cut them off, and also, any advice or reaction to the idea, PLEASE please share.

thanks kin.

<3
n

posted in dreadlocks - 22 replies

Dread update ... with more pictures!

Nika — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:53:17 GMT

A dread update!!! I’ve had my dreads almost two and a half months now. They were originally backcombed, and then I started using a crochet hook to tighten them up. I also use my crochet hooks to take in loops and frizz, and even out bumps (all of which I’m getting less and less of). I wash them once to twice a week with Dr Bronner’s and do an apple cider vinegar treatment. Beyond washing, I use no products in my dreads. My dreads have shrunk so much. Most of them are very tight, pretty straight, and have minimal frizz. Turns out they’re not weirdly shaped like I thought they’d be! (Thank you crochet hooks!) I’ve never been happier with my hair! I mean, come on, I can play with my hair and it doesn’t tangle (tangles are just unavoidable with curly hair, lol).

I recently joined three sets of two dreads on the very back/bottom of my head. They were very tiny and the least locked up so they joined well. Now I have 49 dreads! When I started out, I thought 49 would be the ultimate number to have since it’s a multiple of 7 and 7 is my favourite number. Now I’m stupidly happy about it. :D

I’ve been wondering... How exactly do you know when your dreads are mature? And, how long do they take to grow? I’ve lost at least half before-dreading my length. Do dreads take twice as long as normal hair to grow because of the locking? Or even more?

Check out my profile for recent pictures that I just posted and tell me what you think. Why does that sound like I’m somehow whoring myself? Lol...

posted in dreadlocks - 10 replies

Will my dreads break off????

Rise — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:39:58 GMT

I read somwhere in here that someone's dreads fell off. My hair is pretty straight, and ive had my dreads for about 3 years, people always ask me if im growing them out, cause their not super tight to my scalp, i havent done much work on them, ever, aside from ripping them apart. Ive started to work the tops, but some of them are really really thin at the top, and it seems like they are not locking up, will they fall off??? I'd rather they didnt, as i have quite a bit of straight hair, that doesnt lock at all, mostly in the front, but whatever happens, i know it's just the way it is. It will be what it will be, well, thats how i let my dreads grow. But if i can stop it, without sewing or wax or any of that, i'd like to give it a try. Have peoples dreads really fallen off?

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

what to do with loose hairs?

meg — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:35:32 GMT

so my dreads are about 6 months old,
and I've found that most of my loose hairs are actually incorporated into a dreadlock,
then come loose maybe half way or 3/4 of the way down the dread.

my questions is,
do these hairs eventually get sucked into the dread,
or should I work on pulling/sewing them in?

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

Adding Dread Falls

bubbledumpster — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:49:53 GMT

Has anyone ever worn dread falls WITH their natural dreads?

I want really colorful dreads but mine are still too young to undergo bleaching without falling apart, so I was thinking about making some dread falls or fake dreads to wear in the mean time.

If you've done it, what techhniques have you used to put them in? Pictures would be awesome.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

Dreadlocks

David — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:53:28 GMT

Where in California can I find somebody to dreadlock my hair?

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Can Someone Please Explain Shrinkage?

Victoria — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:42:47 GMT

I am just really curious on the what when where and why's of dread shrinkage. My locks seem to be getting shorter so I wanted to see if there is anything I can do to prevent this from happening. Does the hair seem to ball up in one particular spot and make a bump inside of the dread? Please Help. God Bless

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

I love my Natty Natural Dread Locks!!!!!

Rise — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:11:35 GMT

I live in a small town near Yosemite, and there is not a lot of dreadies up here, people always ask me how i got my hair this way, and i tell um that I just havent brushed my hair in 3 years, and thats true. I havent had to do much of anything, besides maybe pulling them apart every now and then, and it's cool, cause my hair just does what it wants, it's free!!!! and i love it. and just wanted to share that :) nothing against dreadlocks that are rolled, or whatever people do to make um, I just kinda wanted to hear about some natural locks:) But mostly express my love for dreadlocks in general!!!! yay!

posted in dreadlocks - 1 reply

Are my new dreads delicate?

imaginepeace — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:14:28 GMT

Maintenance sounds like quite a bit of manhandling, and work for that matter.
Does that mean I don't need to worry about touch them?
I wanna play with them and feel them and do whatever is required but I'm a bit worried about messing them up.

How durable are they?
How easy are they to mess up?

Only the back of my head is done so far but they feel cool... like little cotton ropes.
:]

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

just noticed a lot of cleaning issues in the tribe..on what products to use and not to use.....

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:26:08 GMT

chamomile and calendula great for blonde hair
rosemary and yarrow is a great combo for dark hair.
strong teas to wash with, mixed with glycerine to wash
oils good conditioners.... cocnut oil with some essential oils too....rosemary, or tee tree ( help keep the bugs out!)
for wax....
i make salves
oil infused with herb...it is really easy....
say for blonde hair i would throw chamomile in a jar, fill to the top....top with oil and shake every day for a few weeks...
strain and add some bees wax ( along with the e.oils..) and voilia! dread wax that is good for your hair.
i keep joking i am going to market this as a "dread salve"...i have always thought that a silly idea......maybe not.....
but there are lots of way s to care for the locks w/out using commercial products
my favorite in the summer is to massage teetree into the roots.....rosemary oil is really good for that too as it balances out oils and gives shine and protects against dandruff and keeps bugs at bay while increasing circulation to the scalp too.

posted in dreadlocks - 6 replies

best dreadlocking methods??

nicholas — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:28:32 GMT

i currently took out my first set of dreads because i used wax and i didnt like it, i wanted a more natural approach.ive been considering doing a method i seen on youtube, using a crochet hook not only for maintenace, but to actually form the dread. (heres a couple links to videos of crocheting dreads.) http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=wrYVa9sXcDM or http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vCTyn3X32GA. i wanna know, what exactly do they do in this method?, and is there anyone whos tried this method with success or who has failed trying? or is there better methods i could/should try.

posted in dreadlocks - 2 replies

StRiNgS aT rOoTs Of DrEaDs - MaIntAiNcE

Victoria — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:49:33 GMT

When I get a maintaince done the chick who does my hair ties strings at the base of the root or new growth. This seem to help the hair lock but only if I leave the string in for a few weeks? Can anybody elaborate on this subject because the strings are a pain in the neck to try and cut out I am not sure if I want to get the strings put back in.

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

good length before locking?

nicholas — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:13:19 GMT

i'm gonna soon begin a new set of locks, and i was wondering what would be a good length for my hair if im using the back comb crochet method? i was planning on letting it grow out to be about 6-7 inches. does that sound okay?

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

ACV Treatment

.:R O O T S Y:. — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:46:06 GMT

I've seen many posts about dread "products." I strongly suggest just using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar). It's cheap, natural and it does wonders. It helps restore the proper ph balance in your hair, get rid of dandruff and itchies, makes your scalp feel fresh, and it actually makes my dreads feel tighter.

posted in dreadlocks - 16 replies

Weird "S" shaped loops in locks

Bethany — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:05:14 GMT

Hey guys and girls,

I have had my hair locked up for almost two months now, and I used the backcombing method. I absolutely love them, but I am having a few issues. The past few weeks I have noticed that some of them, mostly in the back near my neck, have developed these weird "S" shapes in the middle of them. It looks like part of it was pulled tight, and the rest bunched up around it- like if you snag a piece of yarn or something. Some are big, and some are small- I will post pictures this evening so you all can see what I am talking about.

Has anyone else had this problem? I'd hate to have to brush all of them out as they have already gotten pretty tight. Here is a little background information: My locks come down past my shoulders, I have naturally thick, curly (loose curls) caucasian hair, I use Knotty Boy wax about once a week and will occasionally use Knotty Boy tightening gel after showers. I wash it about every 3-5 day s(with Dr. Bronners and Knotty Boy bar soap) and I usually pull it in a pony tail or low bun for work.

stay knotty,

Bethany

posted in dreadlocks - 14 replies

the green goo.

shaydeo — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:13:19 GMT

so when I got my dreads put it the lady who put them in used this stuff called chi. it was realy oily and I didnt like the feel of it. plus it had petroleum as the first product in it.eww.
I was looking in the store for some different stuff to use becuase after having going with out and getting fuzzed to death by my dreads I had to try something.
I found fx molding clay and I was wondering if any one knows if it would be good to use till Im able to get the stuff from dreadheads.

its got water, sucrose, beeswax, isopropyl myristate, peg-40 hydogenated caster oil, a couple of different types of alcohol and some other scientific words that i know mean evil cemicals. but untill I get the other stuff it will have to do I hope.

oh yea and Hi to every one. ive been lurking in the background for a bit now thought i would ask a question =^.^=

posted in dreadlocks - 4 replies

Johnson and Johnson Baby shampoo

Shimrahiro — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:41:48 GMT

I like it. It has no residue and doesn't give ye dandruff! It's cheap too

CHeers every body

posted in dreadlocks - 0 replies

Dread products - What works and what doesn't

Clay — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:13:40 GMT

Thought I'd see if some of you would comment on what dread products you use and like. Also some of what you tried that didn't work for you...for whatever reason.

I've had my dreads for about 6 months. Everyhing is going well...a lot of maintenance...some of the same issues as everyone else who has straight hair.

I've used Knotty boy dread wax...works just fine. And also Dreadhead HQ's Lock Peppa which works amazingly well...just like they advertised.

posted in dreadlocks - 7 replies

dread help

nicholas — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:26:45 GMT

hey, on my first set of dreads, i made them with backcomb and wax. in the begginning they were really fat and nice. but as they got older. instead of shrinking in length. they shrunk in diameter and stayed generally the same length. i was left with ugly gaps, and you could see my scalp quite well. my dreads became skinny and flat. Another problem was my dreads in the back would never fall down natrually like a dread. they were really curly and just didnt seem to make any sense (there is a pic of them in my profile) i picked apart my month and a half old dreads and lost alot of hair. ive got my hair cut and when it grows back out, im gonna put some new dreadies back in. i plan to back comb, and then instead of wax, use a crochet hook to tame all the fly aways. does anybody have any tips for keeping my dreads thick and round, and any suggestions on how to sleep with my dreads? thanks for the help!

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

sand in dreads

erush — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:46:18 GMT

A couple days ago, I was at one of my buddies bachelor parties and we were heading out to a strip club. Unbeknownst to me, I had to ride in the back of his truck down a major highway. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of sand back there and I'm pretty sure alot of it is now caked on my scalp, not to mention inside my dreads. I finally washed today pretty thorough and scrubbed like a mother fucker. Once they were dry, I could still feel some of the sand on my scalp. I'm just wondering if there is anything else I can do to get ride of this fucking sand. Maybe wash more often for a while. Let me know what you guys think.

posted in dreadlocks - 3 replies

New dreads, new member, and pictures

Nika — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:48:34 GMT

Hi, my name is Nika. I’m 18 years old. I’m a brand new member and I got my first set of dreads over the weekend! I have 52 baby dreads and I’m so happy with them :). My dad and I did them ... well it was mostly him, but I helped with the ones I could. We didn’t use any wax, just some Lock Peppa and Locking Accelerator from Dread Head HQ. I put some before and after pictures on my profile if you’re interested. Yeah, I like taking pictures ... it’s fun, hehe. Comments are more than welcome!

My hair was a curly-curly, fuzzy, poofy mess much of the time. It looked pretty much exactly the same right after I woke as it did right after I washed and “styled” it... Haha. I loved my curls, but it was just time for a change. I wanted my dreadlock journey to symbolize the personal journey I started recently.

I did a lot of reading through this forum before deciding to get dreadlocks. You guys had a lot of helpful suggestions and interesting stories. If you think there’s anything I should really know about baby dreadlocks or whatever, please tell me. I’m happy to hear any advice. Or, if you have any questions for me, I like talking ;).

posted in dreadlocks - 5 replies

Loose hairs.. TIME.. Roots trained??

seaofcolour — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:45:12 GMT

Here's a question for any old-time locked up folks.. or anyone else who may know the answer to this question!! :D

I am just wondering if EVER roots really get 'trained' to let new little baby hairs lock up automatically... Will root rubbing go on for the rest of my life, or do I get to stop at some point? I don't mind doing it really, but just get a bit tired of having to occasionally weave back in some new growth that hasn't found it's way into a dread.. and has actually managed to grow into a little tiny 'strand' of hairs grown to about 4 inches or so (as someone else mentioned in another question).

Do they EVER get 'trained'????

I don't mean to sound 'complain-ey' (yeah, new word), I truly love my dreads, they are the most maintenance free hairstyle I've probably ever had, and look like one of the best.. most importantly FEEL the BEST on top of my rooted head.. but I still do want to know the answer to this question!!! ;)

Thanks to any and all, I look forward to reading your answers...

posted in dreadlocks - 8 replies