Forum Activity for @koko-earthling

Methods for "tidying up" young dreads

Dread Maintenance

Tying them up and wearing a hat are both awesome ideas that I can definitely stick to until I move out I've been messing with different ways to put them up, and I'm actually really enjoying accessorizing! Haha. I didn't think of doing these things, now I realize, cause I've never liked putting my hair up and messing with it/making it look nice :p it was too complicated for me, but with dreadlocks it's a blast!! This is my favorite way to put them up so far, it's kinda like what you suggested, Jackie! Just with a bun

It's so easy to do! I don't even need to look in a mirror :D And I love how you can just tuck locks behind locks, it's a process that builds on top of itself haha. Thank you all for your advice! I feel so much better, I am back at 100% confidence and words do not bother me ^_^ <3 my babies

updated by @koko-earthling: 07/22/15 07:04:12AM

Methods for "tidying up" young dreads

Dread Maintenance

I hadn't even thought of it before you guys mentioned it, and I even have one to use! Haha, silly me.

Methods for "tidying up" young dreads

Dread Maintenance

Okay, changed my mind on crocheting Accessories are a good idea for making them look tidy, I think I'll also look into some different ways I could put up short dreads, I'm sure there are videos out there. Thank you both!

Methods for "tidying up" young dreads

Dread Maintenance

Hello everyone!

I started dreading about 4 months ago, and I'm loving every minute of it I've never loved my hair as much as I do now that I don't have to do pretty much anything to it. Before, it was a hassle. I love being carefree about my "nest". However, there is trouble in paradise. I live with my parents at the moment, and though I plan on moving out by September, their opinions and comments really stress me out. My mom constantly tells me to comb my hair, and yesterday she told me that my little sister isembarrassed of the way I look. According to my mother and sister I always look like a disaster, and I understand how they can perceive it that way. They are both people who find the norm comfortable, they are both trying to be functioning members of this society. I'm a bit... off kilter, and I always have been. Anyway, my dreadlocks aren't going anywhere, because this is who I am and I feel comfortable in my skin, but to make my sister feel better, to make life a little easier for my mother, and make the days go by with a few less comments would really benefit my stress level, too. No one likes constantly hearing that their appearance is making someone they care for very unhappy. So, I'll betrading in my old skirts (with many holes) for jeans and a t-shirt. Plain and simple so the only messy part on me is my hair and I can get through my day without the constant distraction of selfishharassment. It really grinds my gears when people think they have the right to say anything about the way a person looks. We're all entitled to our own opinion, but to make it more than just a comment and actually say shitty things to try shaming the being into changing their mind is just selfish and ignorant...

SO after telling you my whole life story, my question for all of you beautiful souls is this; what can I do to my dreadies to make them look neater without hurting them and not messing up their health in the long run?

Less loops and loose hair might make it more "presentable" to my family. I know some of you will have the urge to say "Don't even worry about what they think! Love yourself and keep truckin'", and I am totally there with ya', however my family IS important to me, and before I leave the house in 3 months or so I'd really like to improve our relationship, without having to hurdle over "Your hair looks messy and gross" in every conversation. It is unfortunate that my appearance means so much to them, but it is what it is. (We're from Lithuania, Europe and people really like to take care of themselves there. If you don't look presentable, people stare and talk, so my moms conditioning when it comes to this matter is much different than mine, since I spent half my life there and half here in America.) Please help!

(I was thinking about crocheting the ends and bringing the loops in a little bit. Even just thinking about it makes me sad, because I love the loops, but I'm willing to do it to relieve the stress here. I think I can manage to do it without ripping hair our, you can really tell if you're ripping hair out, it's simple, it's not supposed to hurt, but my worry with that is will they start looking funny and kinky in the long run? Will they just feel "dead" and unhealthy because crocheted knots are more stagnant and don't move and breathe like the neglect-induced knots?)

I hope someone has the patience to read this, haha! I might have to repost a shorter version...

Thanks for your opinions in advance!

updated by @koko-earthling: 02/14/15 01:18:35PM

How to get dreads like this?

Dreading Methods

baking soda and apple cider vinegar is perfect. just keep up with separating the dreadlocks from your loose hair and you'll be good.

updated by @koko-earthling: 07/23/15 07:48:31AM

How to get dreads like this?

Dreading Methods

Oh and one more thing I have to add is don't get attached to the length. Initially, for the first year or so, your dreads will get tighter and shrink in length on their own. They will be getting knotty and therefore will lose length. My hair had just gotten to a point where I really loved the length when I decided to dread. It was at about mid back, and now after 4 months of neglect my dreads are right at my shoulders. Im just happy I can put them back when I need to I hear once they are done forming and knotting up after the first year the length starts coming and they seem to get length faster than regular hair cause the ends arent breaking off like they do with loose hair.

How to get dreads like this?

Dreading Methods

Yeah the last 2 photo's are temporary locks, for which girls like to just twist chunks of hair, back comb a little bit to make it stay and then spray the separated "locks" with hair spray. This video might help you, I liked this girls dreads and it helped me start mine, but like others said before you gotta let go of controlling the outcome or dreading wont be a good experience for you. It's all about letting it go free and seeing what happens. If you try to cut corners and make your dreads look more mature than they actualy are (by backcombing, felting, crocheting) chances are you''ll end up with unhealthy, "dead" locks that dont feel nice. Natural locks are really the way to go. Just switch to ACV wash, stop brushing, and separate/rip the locks apart once a week or so. You'll have beautiful locks in time and the journey will teach you alot aout yourself and patience! HAPPY DREADING

so this girl did backcombing (carefully without ripping hair!):

and then this girl did the all natural neglect method (she has more recent videos of her locks they are over a year now and look great)

I hope these videos help you

best dreadlockssite photos

Dreadlock Picture Gallery

I went through my friends and found some favorites, but I only got through a few before I got not so rudely interrupted so I gotta run, but here's what I've got so far:

Angel Frye's beautiful young locks! http://www.dreadlockssite.com/photo/feb-five-months-back1

Definitely this one from lovely bells http://www.dreadlockssite.com/photo/in-the-forest-1

Peaceful Sunflower http://www.dreadlockssite.com/photo/3-months-626?context=user zen and patient

And nooooodlesss http://www.dreadlockssite.com/photo/forcing-dreads-to-congos?context=user

a question for hippies..and spiritual travelers.. this title sounds so lame but i dunno what to write here lol

Alternative Lifestyles and Subcultures

Check out Shut Up And Grow It in Tennessee or Earth Tribe in Kentucky. You can find them both on facebook... You can also start locally. If you start getting involved with more of the things you believe in you will find your way. If the option of up and leaving is not a realistic one for you, try changing your daily routine to fit in line with how you truly want to live. Almost all towns have opportunities where you can learn useful sustainability skills like little local farms where you can learn to grow food, volunteer days at the forest preserves where you can learn how to keep an ecosystem healthy, as well as free courses on survival, fishing, archery, bird watching, all sorts of stuff that is useful to know when living off the land.

The best advice I really have for you is getting involved with the things you believe in, keep talking to people and you'll find what you're looking for.

And if that doesn't work, I plan on buying 80-100 acres of land and all good people are welcome to settle there, including you

a question for hippies..and spiritual travelers.. this title sounds so lame but i dunno what to write here lol

Alternative Lifestyles and Subcultures

My dear Christina,

I have immense love for you and your vision. I, much the same, wondered how to wander, but to wander all you need is to shed the fear of getting lost.You have to focus on what is in front of you and be content in what you have. Through mindfulness you will get there. Be here now. The people you saw who are free of mortgages and empty attachments live in the now. If you surrender yourself to the circle of life you will understand. Being present in the moment grants you the ability to see the infinite truth of space and time,- it is in no way linear, how this system makes it out to be. In other words instead of seeing life like the people caught in this ugly system,- in a straight line, you see ALL of the possibilities present in this moment, like the branches of a tree, it is no longer getting from point A to point B, everything is infinite.

I saw someone brought up the dangers of traveling alone. I agree that unfortunately a 19 year old girl is not safe out there alone, largely due to the ugly system we have built for ourselves, but the dangers are there nonetheless. I don't recommend you go out there by yourself... that's what everyone always told me which is why I practice martial arts, why I learned to use a knife, and why I run every day. Now this may sound a bit silly, but there's a show called Doctor Who about a man called The Doctor who wanders through time and space getting involved in all sorts of interesting stuff at every stop, saving the world and even the universe without a weapon, using his clever mind in every situation. He never has a plan, always thinks on his feet, and his favorite line of defense is talking to the other being. When faced with immediate danger, he runs. That's surviving.

Through being who you are you will find fellow travelers and a community you'll feel proud to be a part of. You have to surrender your fears through surrendering all visions of the future. Being mindful is feeling the moment. You have to trust the life force and trust in your intuition to give you what you need... The basic human needs are shelter, food, water, and, to keep it simple, love. When it's a nice day, sleeping outside is not a problem. You can build a shelter from a single tarp, some rope, and a stick when it's raining. You can bundle up, or go to a shelter when it's cold and you're out of options, but I like to just stick to where it's warm, because sleeping outside is the best I'd invest some money in a canteen with a water filter. To survive you don't need much cash. It's up to you how much you need to be happy. To get a little, it can be simple. You always must offer something to receive something. Manual labor, art, jewelry... Simply playing music on a sidewalk can take you far these days. If you're not settling and growing your own, beautiful, free food then you can survive on how much is wasted, and learn what's good to eat that grows in the wild, of which there is plenty when you live this way you'll find others that do, too. Just trust your intuition and go where it pulls you. Care for the world and it will care for you, I promise.