Forum Activity for @arkynstone-gypsyfae

Checking out the rear view

General Questions

OK, so two and a half hours later and I combed out one of the two largest-based dreads. It is now three.

Here's a more focused, closer pics of the back of my head.

Checking out the rear view

General Questions

Yeah, pretty much how it goes. Most don't need me to do anything most days. However, today would be three days since I last separated and I can feel some starting to combine, mostly in places that I tend to sleep on more.

Checking out the rear view

General Questions

Yeah, I know the focus is a bit off. I can try to get a better photo when someone's home to take one.

I thought so too regarding the amount of shrinkage that happened, but I don't mind that so much. It dries pretty well and usually takes only a couple hours for most of them to dry. Only a 2 or 3 of them are still slightly damp by the end of my work day (5:30pm).

There are 2 that I might take apart which could possibly form 2-3 each. I do have a scalp patch that shows where the one is, and I'm sure that will help that issue.

As to separating, I've been doing that once a day or every other day, depending on how much they seem to be grabbing each other. Thought maybe that was contributing to it and was going to start separating less frequently.

Checking out the rear view

General Questions

I'm almost 11 months in to my natural, free form journey. This is a photo I took last week. I did not force most sections and just tried to keep them separated by how the knots were forming. It's the first real look I've had at the back of my head since I started. My hair is thin and fine, slightly thinner from the crown forward on the top of my head.

I guess it's pretty normal to look this way at this point, especially because I've seen A LOT of shrinkage in the last few months. My hair was halfway down my back when I decided to start letting it dread. Just looking for thoughts or insight. I counted 42 dreads last week, and still have hair at the side-front near the ears that has yet to lock up.

Should I pull any apart? Most sections feel to be between 1 to 2 inches wide with the dread shafts forming at only about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch wide. A couple are 1/4 of an inch at the scalp section. Some are between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch.

Will wrapping my hair during the day while at work be detrimental, or might it help with the forming of new dreads in between? Just curious.

updated by @arkynstone-gypsyfae: 01/13/15 10:06:14PM

not enough dreads?

Help! Save My Dreads

30 is a decent number unless you want thin dreads. I started off with somewhere in the 30 dread range and just counted 42 with some loose hair still just starting to knot (but I didn't count those couple of sections as dreads since they're still in the 'fragile and could unlock at any moment' stage. A few of the more recent ones are brand new babies that formed between previously formed dreads. I'm about 10.5 months in and have fine hair as well. Listen to Soaring Eagle and hang in there! Being patient with them is hard, but worth it!

Dreadie-or-not

Introduce Yourself

They're totally normal. If you palm roll the dreads the medallions will thin out a little, but they'll still do that naturally (at least a little) if you are doing free-form. I had some HUGE medallions for a bit, and almost every one of my dreads had one. I'm 10.5 months in (free form) and they are evening out well enough for my liking. I did palm roll one or two of the larger ones a couple of times while they were wet but then realized that I am more interested in letting them be natural and whatever shape they become naturally than fidgeting with them constantly. The shafts will thicken as the dreads tighten but you may still have medallions.

Love your locs! If you feel the need to tame them a little, roll them a bit every now and again. It's about what makes YOU happy!

Considering Dreads Again

Introduce Yourself

Welcome back Sarah! I say go for it! My hair was below shoulder length when I started my natural dread process eight months ago. So far I've had some shrinkage but noticed a a larger amount this past month. Still have ends that are long and shoulder length but many locs have shrunk down to about 5-6" in length. Just remember, depending on your hair type, even if your hair is butt-length it could shrink a lot more than you expect it to. Happy dreading! Looking forward to seeing your progress!

<3

Hello, there! Starting my first dreads the natural way :)

Introduce Yourself

Hi! Welcome to the family! Looking forward to watching your journey progress!

I started the natural process seven months ago! You'll hear it all the time, but patience, patience, patience! Just when you start to doubt, you'll see your baby dreads morph a little more. I promise. It's happened to me a few times already.

Happy Dreading!

Nondreading sections and super frizz

Dread Maintenance

Have you tried wrapping the separated parts? I've been thinking about doing it with a section in the back of my head that wants to congo constantly. Just haven't gone there yet. Or stick a bead on for a few days, just to help it learn to stay apart. I wouldn't leave the wrap or the bead on for more than a few days at a time, just so you can prevent weak spots. You sound like your hair is behaving much like mine. Time, patience, and maybe a trick or two in the meantime. That's my advice.

Sorry you wound up taking them back out. Mine are natural dreads at 8 months and I still separate daily. It did get easier, but I find that if I don't do it every day I have an issue the next day with major congos wanting to start. Maybe try wrapping them next time so that the white water rafting helmet isn't as much as an issue? Just a thought.