Forum Activity for @steph4

Hair Loss?

General Questions

Hi everyone,

I started my dreads roughly 7 weeks ago (I think). I started by using backcombing, but of course they all fell out so I abandoned that method and put them back in using twist and rip. I've been pretty good about leaving them the heck alone since about week 3 and only separate every once in awhile.

Unfortunately, I feel like I'm losing a lot of hair. If I run my hands over my head I always come up with a pretty good chunk of hair (10 strands or more), and it seems like there's hair all over the pillow when I get up in the morning.

Am I just seeing all the hair that would normally end up in my hairbrush? I want to see this through and actually have nice mature dreads, but this is kinda freaking me out!

updated by @steph4: 01/13/15 09:05:33PM

Nooo! Dreads Causing a break out!

Introduce Yourself

I can't believe I forgot about witch hazel! I use it all the time. I will let her know

Nooo! Dreads Causing a break out!

Introduce Yourself

I told a friend about tea tree oil yesterday. Apparently the company that makes her acne medication stopped production for awhile due to a recall and she's struggling. Later, when someone else at my house got scratched by my cat, I offered them a bandaid and everyone said, "what, you don't have some magic herb to put on it?!?!" LOL

Hello Everyone!

Introduce Yourself

Hi everyone,

I just started dreading two weeks ago and it has already been an adventure!

I decided a few months ago that I was tired of people assuming that I was straight-laced and boring upon meeting me. The dreads, I'm guessing, will make a good sort of filter. I researched quite a bit because I am a teacher and when I decided I wanted dreads school was still in session. I decided it would be best to wait for the summer to get over that initial weird-looking period before heading back to the classroom. My assistant principal, by the way, says she doesn't care what my hairstyle is as long as I don't smell If my principal says anything the first day of inservice I guess I'll find a backup plan, but I don't see it being a problem.

Anyway, I did these without any products. I started using Dr. Bronner's and not conditioning about a week before I put them in, use some sea salt spray, and smooth them down with aloe every now and then, but no wax! I've used the baking soda/acv cleanse once and loved the results. I used a combo of backcombing and twist n' rip to get these in and I'm having a heck of a time keeping some of them knotted. My hair literally doesn't tangle, I think as a result of years and years of coloring with henna-it does a lot to add strength to your hair and makes it extra soft. I own a brush but for nearly six years I've hardly had to do anything to maintain my hair-it has just fallen into place. This process is a challenge thus far because my hair is usually so well-behaved.

My dreads so far are pretty small but I love them!

Any advice and tips are gladly welcomed. This site has been great, and I'm SO glad you all include all those warnings on wax, and so glad I stayed away from products!

Here is a pic of my dreads today (at exactly two weeks). It's kind of hard to see them but most are about the width of my index finger. Also-please let me know if there's a preferred way to post pics. Thanks!

updated by @steph4: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM