Forum Activity for @the-barrellady

Time to the Line. 4.5 Month Update. :p

Member Journals and Timelines

Hi Shane, glad you were able to post pics. I need to update also, have so many pics from the last few months but no cord to the computer...soon.....Anyways, your dreads once mature will become the thickness of where the section of hair meets the scalp. So if that area is 1 inch, your future mature dread will be one inch thick. They are skinnier now because they have not done their thing yet. They must loop and shrink, knotting as they go, becoming awesome dreads.

Your journey is great so far, enjoy the wild ride...peace

Hair elastic alternatives?

Dread Accessories

I use shoe laces which come in all colours, just tie loosely around your dreads and the texture keeps them in place, I use an extra long one and wrap it around 2 or 3 times. Go to the thrift store and look for necklaces on black type of rope, long enough to be folded in half and wrap around your dreads loosely, then slip the pendant or medallion through the loop and viola, you have tied them up and decorated them at the same time. Use a bandana to tie them. Your imagination is the only thing that will hold you back. Whatever you use, remember not to tie them up tightly to avoid stress in your dreads. Best to avoid things with elastic unless you make a loose one yourself using thick elastic material like the kind found at the top of guys boxers (sorry, did not know how else to explain that one). So, look around your house, use your imagination and have fun with your dreads....peace

Purification for my locs??

Dread Maintenance

I am sorry to hear about your past shitty times. The only positive thing about that is it makes us stronger, makes us who we are. We do get through it all and become a better person because of it. Although I am not into crystals myself, I have heard much about them. Do you have a necklace with one on it? You could attach that into your dreads for awhile. Try sitting on the floor, put on some drum chants or music, lite an incense, close your eyes, relax and let the beating of the drums take you away, let them purify your soul.

Your dreads will teach you much along the journey, you will become more at peace, believe me. You will make new history that will be recorded in them, in their growth.

It is hard to know why things happen, but they do. I was once married before and that certainly did not turn out well at all, and yes, I had a child at the time. Just by being here you have the power to learn how to channel the negativity in your life. I did not back them. But, things happen for a good reason. The other day I celebrated my 22nd wedding anniversary with my husband, my second marriage. I embrace everything I went through before I met him, it made me the person he fell in love with and still loves.

Right now your marriage is difficult and you are back into bad habits. Perhaps it is time to cleanse your life and your soul. You have a long beautiful life ahead of you that you deserve, so embrace it, take a long hard look at how you can change things to make you happier. The road might be hard at first but it will be worth it. Become at peace with yourself and know that you deserve a happy life, we all do. Surround yourself with good people only, ones that are good on the inside. I learned many moons ago what type of people I don't want to be around, and since that time I have been at peace with myself and life. It sometimes takes big steps. I've a very mean spirited sister who I love as a sister but hate as a person. I don't go anywhere with her anymore because of her dark vibes, she was the one thing in my life that ate me away. I have no guilt with my decision because I now lead a happy life, hers is still dark and lonely and I was not able to help her and stopped trying. YOU have control over YOU, only you do. We get many curve balls, just gotta learn how to swing with them.....all the best to you, may you find the happiness you deserve peace

Free form.

General Questions

You get to control the size of your dreads. We recommended one inch or smaller where the section of hair meets the scalp. This is only due to drying times, once mature, this size can take 24 hours to fully dry. Any sections larger than this can take days to dry inside the inner core of the dread and need to dry out in between washes or mold can set in. People who grow fat dreads know the special care needed, like not swimming every day...they must dry out.

Dreads will always want to join onto each other, even mature dreadlocks. So you just gently rip them apart unless you want them to join. Only do it when necessary, otherwise let them be. Some need to do it weekly, some monthly, you will know what's needed for yours.

If you are using products from www.dreadlockshampoo , the liquid form is a locking up liquid which helps quicken the journey. But both bar and shampoo keep them nice and clean.

Gary, you are still truly free form if you separate your dreads, so don't worry about that part at all. Enjoy the rest of your ride...peace

Hard Water Problems..

Dread Maintenance

Oh boy does hard water make a difference. Even with most dread shampoos. I have hard well water and learned the hard way that the baking soda does not dissolve properly. You can fix that by one of two ways:

• boil the water first to mix your BS with. Let the boiled water cool, then pour out slowly leaving the mineral residue in the bottom of the pot. ACV will mix with hard water, so don't worry there
• or you can take the lazy way out like I do. I purchase water cooler size jugs that last forever and I use that to mix my BS with

I use the BS wash / ACV rinse for my entire first year and it worked fantastic once I learned how to do it properly with my water. As Soaring Eagle mentioned, the shampoo and bars from Dreadlocks Shampoo work in all types of water. This is what I use now, but still do the BS ACV once a month....Just encase I never sent it to you, here is a map for your water type:

PEACE

updated by @the-barrellady: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM

White strands of hair in dreads

Help! Save My Dreads

No, if your hair is healthy, sunshine is fine for you. I am not sure on the ratio percentage but it is 3 1/2 tablespoons to 5 cups water.....peace Ahmed, have a great day

Ahmed Abdellah said:

Oh, that's outdated, they're 1 year old now, pretty mature, I do 1:10 ACV/water, I will try to leave it for less.

Would staying in sun for long periods cause such damage also?

the Barrellady said:

Ahmed, you are only 2 months into your journey. The ratio for ACV is 1-2 capfuls of ACV mixed with 5 cups of water. Pour over wet hair once you rinsed out the shampoo or BS, then rinse it out right away or within one minute tops....Don't leave it in longer than that, 5 minutes is too long.....peace

White strands of hair in dreads

Help! Save My Dreads

Ahmed, you are only 2 months into your journey. The ratio for ACV is 1-2 capfuls of ACV mixed with 5 cups of water. Pour over wet hair once you rinsed out the shampoo or BS, then rinse it out right away or within one minute tops....Don't leave it in longer than that, 5 minutes is too long.....peace

Ahmed Abdellah said:

I have the same problem, lots of damaged white hair in dreads that mostly face the sun, not sure what damaged them like that, I leave ACV only for 5 minutes...

White strands of hair in dreads

Help! Save My Dreads

Yikes, sorry to hear about your bad advice concerning the ACV. In the beginning, ACV should be rinsed out within one minute, then with mature dreads, it should only stay in for about 3 minutes to condition the dreads. so this may be what caused the problem for you. Think of pickles or boiled eggs inside of a jar with the juice, which largely consists of vinegar. The vinegar dissolves the egg shell over time, softens the skin of cucumbers turning them into pickles. I don't think there is a repair for this, but I know you can stop it from happening further by not resorting to leaving on ACV anymore. I wish it was only grey hairs! Hope you share your new knowledge with others you know.....peace

Linus wan said:

Yeah but then i have to order from the us.

If you leave in the ACV without washing it out, could this be the result from doing that? Someone told me you shouldnt wash it out so i did that the first year or so.

White strands of hair in dreads

Help! Save My Dreads

You look on the young side to me, but don't be surprised if it is not grey hairs since they are the length of the strand. People in their early 20's can get them. ....peace

Shampoo? For starting dreadlocks?

Dread Maintenance

In order for the scalp to really exfoliate when using the Baking Soda wash, the optimum time is 10 minutes minimum. Any time shorter than that does not allow the BS to finish doing its thing. I would worry that with 5 minutes only not enough exfoliation would happen. Do this as soon as you get in the shower and then go about your business doing everything else. I'm sure you can find something to do in there for 10 minutes...no details please...........peace