Forum Activity for @midread

How to fix tight irritating dread root?

Dread Maintenance

Fixed it!!! I did use the jojoba oil and actually did find that the root was partially dreaded somehow. It was trying to tighten up on me. I worked a little of the dread loose with the oil at the top and actually ended up having to cut a little matted part of hair that I could not pull out of the dread. That must have been the part that was pulling so much and irritating me. After I snipped it loose I ended up being able to work it out of the rest of the dread. No problems with pulling today and I didn't notice anything last night when I was thrashing around.Is it common for dreads to try to tighten up or mat at the roots like that? I don't do any clockwise rubbing or anything with them so I am a little surprised that this one was so matted so close to the scalp.Anyway - thanks for the help SE!

How to fix tight irritating dread root?

Dread Maintenance

Well, it can't hurt!!! I will give it a try and see what happens. The worse thing it can do is unravel, but as tight as it is, I doubt a little jojoba oil is gonna cause it to undread.Thanks SE!!

How to fix tight irritating dread root?

Dread Maintenance

Nope, actually it is a skinny dread - a little bigger than pencil diameter. Most of mine are, but it is really, really tight. It is right on the back of my head - almost at the crown on the top layer of my hair. It almost feels like the root has little tiny dreads it it. I kind of feel some "clumpy" areas in the root. It also has a big loop further down, so I wonder if one side of the dread is tighter than the other, causing the loop and it is pulling my hair at the root area. Any ideas SE?

How to fix tight irritating dread root?

Dread Maintenance

Hey all!Most of my hair that is dreaded has about a two to three inch undreaded "root". I like it like that - its "comfy" to me that way and the dreads don't bother me when I sleep. However, I have one dread on the back of my head that is getting REALLY tight and only has about a half to one inch undreaded section at the top. It is irritating me to death! It tends to pull for some reason when I sleep and it tangles with other loose hair and pulls. Does anyone have any suggestions for loosening the root up a little? I have half a mind to try to comb it out altogether and just let it re-dread.Any suggestions would be very welcome!!!Thanks!
updated by @midread: 01/13/15 08:46:08PM

When can you start to condition?

Dread Maintenance

I have used the BS/ACV and I alternate that with a tea tree and Bronner shampoo, but after a while my hair just starts to feel "brittle" and has NO shine. I realize dreads are not "shiny" per se, but they should look like healthy hair and have a little shine. Mine become dull and dingy - looking and feel like steel wool and a little stiff - almost like I waxed. I am sure it is just my hair type. I dilute the Bronners a ton to not get that sticky feeling now - so I am sure it is not a result of too much soap. I dumped a ton of conditioner on it before I dreaded to keep it silky and shiny looking. I have a small bottle of Jojoba, but when I use that I just feel "greasy". Are dreads usually soft and flowy????? I don't know anyone with dreads to "cop a feel on" ha-ha! In a lot of the pictures I see on here, people's dreads look nice and soft and "fluffy" LOL! The ones I have that are tightening up are really stiff!!! I mean, not sticking up straight stiff, but not "flowy" and soft either, except for at the root where they are not dreaded - then after that is like a hard rope. Normal?????

When can you start to condition?

Dread Maintenance

I am around six months in and have those "teenage" dreads. Some really tightening loopy dreads, some loose dreads, and a lot of loose wispy hairs. I have really curly hair and it is DRY most of the time. I had to quit using the seasalt spray months ago because my hair became "cripsy" LOL! I am seeing some real locking up the last month or so, but because I have naturally curly hair and have not used my usual shampoo and conditioner since starting my dreads, my hair is really dry. I actually just washed with a really heavy over the counter shampoo (left over) today because my hair desperately needed some moisture- it was dull and dry on the ends - and then washed again with Bronners to remove any heavy lanolin or glycerin. My hair is much softer and shiny and still dreaded. I don't want to do that regularly though because of the buildup.So, my question is - Can I start conditioning with something (I don't know what) and how often can I do it without damaging the progress I have made??? I just have that type of hair that needs "something" extra for a little moisture now and then.
updated by @midread: 01/13/15 08:44:22PM

When does it all start to "pull" together???

General Questions

Ha-Ha! LOVE that answer!! You are just too funny SE! I just had my birthday last month and at 42 with two kids and a 20 year old marriage I STILL haven't gotten out of my rebellious teen years!!! LOL! Maybe my hair will follow my personality and just be FUNKY!!! soaringeagle said:

wow that sounds amazing and they are well in the later teen years say 15-17 range and u know how some kids can be in those years
but

u also know how some of those kids can be when adults too if they are nurtured not tortured thro those years
they will retain alotta personality maybe get some tats and peircings
but still hold down a job, they'll probly draw the line at facial tatoos and a lipdisk and instead be slightly more refined then the wild teen years while still being a party animal after hours

you'll know are tyour dreads the kinda dreades to lie around on the couch and not really get into loving or are they the type to want to travel the wotld or start a carrer
they will mayure when they are ready to mature based on their personalities
but theyre getting more mature every month

When does it all start to "pull" together???

General Questions

Not stressing about this or anything, but just wondering...I was looking in the mirror today at my hair - I have some locks that are actually going through that "tightening" stage where they are loopy and kinky (LOVE them)!!! Then I have some that are still really kind of loose and just look like "fuzzy" hair wads. Then I still have a bunch of little loose hairs in between all of this that are not dreaded yet, but still "velcro" to the hair that is dreading. I actually LOVE the stage I am at right now (about six months in), but wondering when this all kind of "pulls itself together"???? Right now I just have really WILD hair! On top of this, I still have all the curl that I had before I started dreading, so I have all these really funky, curly, dreaded areas and then funky, curly, fuzzy areas LOL! I actually like it!!! Does this all eventually even out??? I am kind of hoping my dreads don't get boring and uniform!!!
updated by @midread: 01/13/15 08:43:03PM

Wanted to show off a special gift that I received today

General Talk

Congratulations!!! And don't let the fact that your previous ring was worn by other people affect you. My husband was engaged TWO times before me and we were so broke at the time my engagement ring was a cast off from his last fiance with my previous diamond wedding wrap band soldered to it. (I was married to my high school sweetheart for about six months - BIG MISTAKE.) We loved each other so much it didn't matter to either of us that we couldn't afford to have a "new" engagement ring made up. 20 years and two children later, although I could have gotten a new ring anytime, I LOVE that "mess" of an engagement ring and what it still stands for. It doesn't matter where it came from - it's the sentiment behind it.

so i got an email today about manicured locs

Dread Maintenance

I am not really sure what "less harmfull" methods of maintenance would be because I don't do anything with my hair, BUT - couldn't you suggest to him that he teach "less harmfull" methods and maybe instruct his clients that way????? They could still come to him for let's say... an aloe treatment?????? !!!!! Or maybe a BS/ACV wash with essential oil rinse???? Some people just feel the need to be pampered and messed with and want to pay for these services (girls especially like a "spa day")!!! Maybe this person could change their methods a little and still promote dread "maintenance and care"????? I can feel for people worried about their incomes in this economy. It's hard for everyone - even locticians who are promoting bad methods. Not to excuse them...but hey - we can offer some alternatives -can't we????