I'm in need of an elastic. No plastic.
General Questions
If your dreads are as thick and unruly as you say I don't know that an elastic of any sort will help you. What's stopping cloth wraps from working for you? Do they slide off?
Forum Activity for @tied-up-in-knots
General Questions
Curious Questions about how you face things with dreads
Life Issues Facing Dreads
Ignore the pretty girls. After you graduate they become completely irrelevant unless they were also the smart girls. And the beauty they rely on to feel better than others is going to fade fast unless they prop it up with surgery.
You have to change the way you think about the things people say. Insults from people who don't understand dreads are the same as compliments from those who do understand them as far as I'm concerned. If they're giving me funny looks about my hair that means I'm on the right track.
A drunk guy on a bike told me that I looked like I should be swinging from the trees with Tarzan. My friend was a bit offended on my behalf but I just laughed and said thank you. Really, that's the look I'm going for if you think about it.
If someone tries to use Bob Marley as an insult you should laugh at their sad attempts to hurt you. Bob Marley had fantastic hair and made some great music. How can it possibly be bad to be compared to him in that way? If they call you Medusa thank them for the halloween costume suggestions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that going out of your way to comment on someones appearance in a negative manner is immature. They are going out of their way to hurt you. Why even care about the opinions of people like that?
couple volunteers wanted for lil project
General Talk
If it's straight writing and not too much technical computer stuff I'm in!
Should I wear this hat?
General Questions
Too tight. If it actually did stay on your head while you slept you'd probably end up with a giant congo. You're much better off letting them be as free to move around as possible and only wearing tams and such when necessary.
Hairs getting messy!
General Questions
I'm a few months ahead of you with a mix of twist and rip and natural. You're right on schedule for the "worst" of it. :D. They'll really start tightening up soon enough. The dreads I twist and ripped are getting quite solid now at 7 months in.
I try to limit my separating to once a week unless I notice something serious happening. If you are worried about separating watch Baba's video on the subject.
Hair looks like a rat's nest
General Questions
How often do you separate? maybe try doing it just once a week. you want your scalp to be covered not showing up clearly when you separateyour dreads. you dont want to separate too often. some of those hairs are good to be tangled. Baba Fats recently posted a vid about separating you should check it out.
Hair looks like a rat's nest
General Questions
i recommend taking a pic or t wo in direct sunlight like i did. even if you dont post it. you might be surprised. when i just look in a mirror i dont see the definition or separationthat is visible in the pictures. its all about the flattering lighting!
Hair looks like a rat's nest
General Questions
glad i could be of help.We just have to keep in mind that we all are on differnet journeys even if we all have the same destination in mind! some people are already rocking mature dreads by this time amd others are still waitingfor their first real knots.I dont mind taking the long road. so many people talk about missing the mess and all the changes and wildness. im going to revel in it as long as possible. my dreads are for life so i will have plenty of time to enjoy them after theyve matured. this stage will never come back.
Hair looks like a rat's nest
General Questions
totally normal!Im at 7 months of twist and rip/neglect and my hair is crazy and looks nothing like dreads to anyone but the people on this site. ;p I love it. I actually just posted pics today. take a look and reassure yourself.
Wet dreads
Help! Save My Dreads
There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting them wet. You should probably wash them if that's the only time they've been wet in 10 days.
It's good for them. Your dreads might get poofy. They might fall apart. But that's what they have to do in order to dread. And in order to do that your hair has to be clean. Greasy/dirty hair won't dread nearly as fast as clean hair.
SO get it wet. Wash it. Go swimming. Jump in a sprinkler. Have a water fight. Live life.
Just make sure to let your hair dry in between washings/wettings. Your dreads are new so you likely won't have too much to worry about in that department.
Do not waste time taking out your dreads and re backcombing. That's pointless. You have to go through this stage. We all do. The only way to put it off is to crochet and wax. And that will just make things worse in the long run.