starting the natural method
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lol i wouldnt worry about fish shit and kids peeing in the ocean.... lets not forget there are hundreds of millions of gallons of water in there
Forum Activity for @call-tucker
Introduce Yourself
How long until my dreads start looking better?
Introduce Yourself
It take at least a year for most people to develop mature dreadlocks.
Dreading whole head.
Dreading Methods
As Baba mentioned, there is really only three ways you can start your journey without severely damaging your hair. DO NOT be sucked in by dreadhead hq and knottyboy's advertising to sell your perfect dreads as long as you buy all the chemicals and needles and slicers they sell. They dont work, they don't cause your hair to actually knot, and they will cause extreme amounts of damage.
The best way is natural/neglect/freeform. You dont do anything expect seperate. It usually takes anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 years to have mature dreads using this method. It will leave your hair the strongest, and will be a spiritual journey for you as well.
Next best, is twist and rip. You can give your dreads a big head start this way, if you are not patient enough to go the natural route. Go to the 'dreaducation' tab and it will give you a pretty good explanation of how to do it. After you create them, you just let them be (and separate as needed).
Last, is backcombing. This will damage a lot of your hair. It is done by taking a steel comb and combing in a upward motion to your head. The hair will still require about a year to mature into real 'dreadlocks'. You should not use any wax or gels with this method either. Just separate as needed.
With all of these methods, you need a 'dread-friendly', residue free shampoo. Unless the shampoo specifically says it is dread friendly, or residue free, it will have moisturizing de-tangling agents in them that will make it very difficult for any dreading progress to be made.You should wash your hair no more, and no less than 1 to 3 times a week with this kind of shampoo.
That is all the information you need to get started. Good luck!
help! fresh meat
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you could possibly start taking a Biotin supplement to help your hair grow faster. dreadlocks will definable take a good amount of length off your hair, because of all the compressing, looping, and zig zagging the knots create.
Its good to keep your hair dry outside of your wash cycle (except for the ocean, which might actually help your hair because of the sea salt). Its not that big a deal if you get them wet occasionally, but you just want to keep it dry and avoid submerging your head as much as possible. Water will loosen the dreading and delay progress. The only reason you wash is to get the oils out, which themselves delay progress. I go swimming when I work out, and I just bought a waterproof dreadlock swim cap that I use to swim outside of my wash cycle. It you are going to be regularly getting in water outside of your wash cycle, I would recommend this.
Youtube Video (BS/Vinegar Wash soak) caused bad reaction Please Help
Dread Maintenance
Here is a link to a more detailed explanation. Baba Fats response will describe what to do.
Youtube Video (BS/Vinegar Wash soak) caused bad reaction Please Help
Dread Maintenance
the baking soda should not be bleaching his hair at all. it should not have stayed in his hair. did you rinse the hair thoroughly with water after the cleanse? If the hair was not rinsed, that could be the reason there are white patches, literally being the baking soda still in his hair.
Also, I have heard a few people have issues with white gunk in their hair. It was always caused either by wax, or by some shampoo with residues in it, however. To get the wax out, many people use dawn dish soap. I know it sounds bad, but it will not harm your hair, and is one of the ONLY things that can actually get the job done. It will require using about a full bottle of dawn, mixed with hot water,and scrubbing on individual dreads. If you search the site, you would be sure to find very specific instructions. If you are serious about doing this and have any questions with that, I can get you better instructions.
Also, the shampoo is sometimes the culprit for 'white gunk'. Make absolutely certain his shampoo is a residue free, 'dread-friendly' shampoo. If not, it will leave many different moisturizers/conditioners that will remain stuck in the dread, and build up over time.
A picture might help other members identify the issue more clearly as well. These are the best theories I can come up with for the time being. I personally do a BS rinse and a ACV rinse, and it works wonderfully for cleaning my hair. Good Luck.. Keep us posted
Youtube Video (BS/Vinegar Wash soak) caused bad reaction Please Help
Dread Maintenance
I dont understand why it would cause white gunk to appear, even when they were used together. It sounds more like residue from a wax or shampoo or something put in the hair, that you just noticed after you got all the dirt out of the hair that was covering it up before.
Should I cut my hair to start short before I dread?
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keep in mind that for about an entire year, as your dread matures, they will most likely stay the same length. dreads make your hair shrink, and combined with new hair growth, they usually remain the same length for the first year. I have even seen some people who have lost two or three inches in a year, and never cut their hair. but congrats on starting this journey, if you maintain the patience needed you will be very happy with the results! good luck!
sea salt spray questions
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many people find that leaving it in over night, while they sleep, is most helpful for creating a knotty mess in the morning as well
sea salt spray questions
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personally, i like to leave the salt in for about a full day. It really just depends on how humid/dry and area you live in, and your hair type. The key is just to keep an eye on your hair, and if it start to feel itchy, or incredibly dry or brittle....wash it out! But everyone's hair is different, and there is no strict time limit for how long you need to leave it in. cheers