Forum Activity for @yearningforpeace

Heya fellow dread cats. It's been so long since I've posted anything. I started my dread journey back in April of 2013 with the twist and rip method. A month later I decided I had too few dreads (only 30 something) and delicately pulled them apart. I put my dreads back in May, if I recall correctly, for a total of 60 some. Twist and rip method again. It's almost a year now and my dreads are coming along nicely. I have a few concerns per my own doing, but generally speaking all is well in dreadville. I fully understand now that I MUST put down the bleach and step away from the developer. At least for my dreads. My bang fringe will forever be bleach blonde because I love the look of spunky colors. Here's my journey thus far...

Before dreads. I loved the 'mermaid' look.

The first set of dreads started April of 2013 showed a lot of scalp and lasted almost a month. I wasn't a fan. Proceed to the next and final set. This photo was taken days after twisting and ripping my new set in May.

Fast forward to July, here are my dreads at 2 months. Don't mind the baby. I was a labor doula for a friend and this was outcome, the baby

And here are my dreads in September. 4 months.

5 months...

And here we have December of 2013. 7 months.

Finally, February of 2014. 9 months and counting!!

There you have it. I'm at 9 months and inching ever so closely to that one year mark.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks ladies. I did skip the ACV, so I will definitely add that next time.

Okay, another question guys/gals. Since doing the baking soda 'wash', my hair is extremely dry and brittle. I know greasy dreads is a no-no, but wouldn't straw hair be a no-no too? I already had super damaged hair from tons of bleachings, so it dreaded really nice, but I'm thinking the baking soda put it over the edge, in a bad way. It's so brittle, hairs will snap very easily. I have tons of essential oils, so I could mix some in a bottle of water and spray my head. Would that work?

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement! I do have a question though. If wax is so terrible, how do you get it out? My husband recently asked me to do his and requested that I use wax, so I did, against my better judgment. His hair is only 4 or so inches long and it's really healthy so he didn't think it would knot up well enough. I suppose I can do dig around and see what I come up with. I'm sure some that problem is on here a bajillion times!

the Barrellady said:

YearningforPeace . Your twist & rip journey is only 5 days old! You should count your lucky stars that you did not get dreads the way your friend did. If you want your dreads to last you a lifetime or for many years to come, then stay maintenance free, don't give in. Hers are not real dreads at all, they are hairs glued together with wax to look like dreads. You on the other hand are growing dreads. Hers will grow mold in the wax, yours will not...hers will smell from all the pollutions and aromas that stick in the wax, yours will smell fresh...Hers can catch fire easily, your won't....Hers hang down, yours will dance with the breeze....Hers will never ever turn into mature dreads, yours will and they will be beautiful.

The one or two years it takes will be well worth the wait, please don't ever let anyone talk you into tidying them up. Here is a member Princenoobsauce, his are only 13 years old. This is what you get if your don't do dreads your friends way.

When you feel weak and feel temptation, just envision you dreads 3 years from now !! ...Peace

How do I get to the timelines? I saw them the other day, but now I lost 'em!

k8ekate said:

It definitely is a process. It's helped me to be waaaaay more patient that's for sure. Once yours start shrinking they will begin to feel a lot thicker. Also once they're mature you'll have less loose hair. Some of mine that are still maturing have 3-4 inches of loose hair; the mature guys have about a half inch to an inch and that's normal. Unfortunately I didn't take too may pics of my timeline but a lot of members on here have. Check um out! You'll get a better idea what you're "in for". Congrats!!!

And sorry for the sideways pictures. I have no idea how to alter them in here.

I'm digging it so far, but I wish my dreads were tight all the way to the roots. Some go 3 and even 4 inches of loose roots. I want dreads that look neat and fill my head, but I know that's a process. I had super thin hair to start, so it will probably take at least a year, if not two. As impatient of a person as I am, I'm ready for the journey. Hell, maybe this will MAKE me more patient. Wouldn't that be awesome?!

Anyways, a friend of mine had her dreads done professionally a few months back. Not like the horror stories that I've read in this forum, but probably not good or natural either. I know the lady that did them backcombed like a mofo. So much so, that my friend said her scalp hurt for days. I didn't do any backcombing, but I have to admit, her dreads look much cleaner and more completely right away than mine do. But I also know they used tons of wax and crap in her hair and I didn't want that in mine. I'll admit, I'm a little jealous of the complete look, but I'll eventually get there, right? Hoping so.

So here are my dreads, 5 days in, one baking soda 'wash', and dreadly love. They are thin and flat, crazy at the roots, and feel like rope, but all is well. This is just a phase, the first phase and there will be many more to come.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to start this journey. I guess it was probably cultural norms and societal pressure, but fuck all that. I've never been the conforming type. I've always danced to my own beat, literally, because I'm a self-proclaimed terrible dancer. Somehow, the music still moves within me and guides me in life. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Welp, this is my hair 2 days in. I used the twist and rip method and nothing else. I have washed it once since then and plan on washing about every three or four days. I have a lot of unknotted hair at the roots, sometimes up to 4 inches, but I'm hoping one day they will be uniform and lovely. I will post pictures of that issue later. I'd love to find a way to help encourage the hair to knot up by my roots. I'm sure one of you has something up your sleeve