Forum Activity for @mama-harrison

cutting dreads

Dread Maintenance

thanks for reminding me that this isn't about controlling what my dreadlocks do or how they lock, but about accepting them and myself even when they are at funky, awkward stages that make me uncomfortable. Like I said in the OP--I wasn't actually gonna do it, just wondering about it. I am a lazy, minimalist and as such I rarely take action in these types of situations, I prefer to just wait it out Thanks.

cutting dreads

Dread Maintenance

SO, my dreads have shrunk A LOT and in the process they have formed into dread lumps or dread clumps {with loose hair hanging from that} at the bottom. The root to approx midlength is thinner than this clump of dreaded hair at the bottom of the dreadlock. So, I am wondering {not necessarily even considering, just wondering} what would happen if I cut the dread clumps off? I know that my hair would be super short, but besides that what would happen? Would my locks unravel {they are feeling like they are really getting on the way to mature at 10 months now}. I just really am not a huge fan of the dread clump tip. If I don't cut it, will my dreadlocks eventually be a more uniform thickness and the tips not be SO much thicker than the shaft/roots? When could I expect that to happen?
updated by @mama-harrison: 01/13/15 08:59:52PM

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

Thanks all

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

I agree! I started wrapping them last week and they are already looking better in my eyes and I feel much better. Thanks!

Frank Schuster said:

Hey Mama Harrison!

I think, in case this phase will last another couple of weeks, you should probably try to wrap them

to increase your self esteem again.

Even if wrapping em will cost some time, your self will get paid

All the best for your yourney!

updated by @mama-harrison: 07/03/15 04:57:45AM

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

yes, it was magicmeganmama and sadly, she does seem to be gone too bad--i was interestedin her journey because we had similarities.

Heather said:

i think your talking about magicmeganmama. i went to find her profile for you on one of our messages and she's gone. i hate when people leave the this place without notice:(

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

Thanks SE, I always dig your message of self acceptance and non traditional beauty, BUT.....I need this phase to be on its way out. It has been 6+ months that this has been going on and getting worse/uglier. I look pretty comical and have for some time and am starting to feel the need to have my image resonate/project with my inner self more so than it does at the moment. But once again, thanks for your kind words. they are always appreciated : )

working on pics still and wrapping these clumps slowly but surely

soaring eagle said:

i think i had some like thar long long ago i loved em they were so cool

dont seem to anymoee tho so i dunno what happened to em

but dreads are always changing so maybe they just transmorphed into something new

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

they are over 1 year I am not obsessive about them at all--I barely touch them at all and haven't since day 1. I don't buy the 'don't care about your hair or appearance' notion--I DO care about how I look to myself, not to others, but to myself. It is important to my self esteem that I can look and feel good about my appearance. I am far from the average woman in appearance--5'10'', CURVY, heavily tattooed, don't wear makeup, etc. So, I am no barbie, but I need to feel good about myself--none of us aspires to look in the mirror and say, 'i don't like what I see, but I am totally OK with that.' I don't buy that.

that being said--thanks for the support. I know it is a journey, but this has been a long part of the journey and I have been patient enough--time for action ; )

Denney Coning said:

I truly believe you really need to forget that you have hair at all in the first year. Keep it clean and pull apart the congos you don't want. People ask me all the time "You must have to put so much work into your dreads to be white and have nice ones?" I always laugh alittle and say "no." All you need is time and patience.

soaring eagle said:

wrapping will help em and u can always stop looking in the mirror too

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

So, yea--I am still dealing with this issue and it is 'worse' now than it was then. My dreads are 15 months old and I have lost 75% length and most of my over 100 dreadlocks have huge clumps on the ends which are heavy and take forever to dry and aren't really locked they are just clumped on top of each other. I have contemplated cutting them off, but then my hair would be only inches long and I am not really into that. I have contemplated using some of my old hair and making my own dread extensions, but after trying to TnR a few I realized that I am WAY too lazy for that project. *sigh* I really am not happy with the way my hair looks at all and as much as everyone here touts the natural is beautiful ideaology, it is increasingly hard to look in the mirror and not like what I see at all So, still looking for any ideas on how to deal with these {not wait it out}--will wrapping my locks a few at a time get these clumps to tighted up and not be so HUGE or will it impede their development? I know magic mountainmegan had this issue, but I can't seem to find her here anymore?...

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

So, yea--I am still dealing with this issue and it is 'worse' now than it was then. My dreads are 15 months old and I have lost 75% length and most of my over 100 dreadlocks have huge clumps on the ends which are heavy and take forever to dry and aren't really locked they are just clumped on top of each other. I have contemplated cutting them off, but then my hair would be only inches long and I am not really into that. I have contemplated using some of my old hair and making my own dread extensions, but after trying to TnR a few I realized that I am WAY too lazy for that project. *sigh* I really am not happy with the way my hair looks at all and as much as everyone here touts the natural is beautiful ideaology, it is increasingly hard to look in the mirror and not like what I see at all So, still looking for any ideas on how to deal with these {not wait it out}--will wrapping my locks a few at a time get these clumps to tighted up and not be so HUGE or will it impede their development? I know magic mountainmegan had this issue, but I can't seem to find her here anymore?...

when will this phase end?

Dread Maintenance

yes, i realize it is just another phase/stage that I need to use to learn more patience I know it sounds so corny, but I really have learned SOO much patience this year because of my hair's journey. IT is sooo 'crazy cat lady' right now and I am so pleased that I don't allow that to dictate my mood or my feelings of self worth or attractiveness on a daily basis. Sometimes it is hard for me to not feel a bit foolish when I am out in public with this crazy bird's nest hair, but then I realize that it doesn't matter at all--it means NOTHING--my hairstyle is not me and the people who don't realize that are the ones who have it all wrong, not me who doesn't feel the need to spend extra precious time messing with it so that i am 'presentable' to society at large.it is nice to be able to come here though and vent and say--WTF!?! my hair looks like bird's are nesting in it and I don't dig that! hahahaaaaaaamy 20 month old daughter's hair has started to dreadlock naturally--she has about 6 of them in the back of her head. I never intended for that to happen, but that IS what happens when you don't brush your hair My mom is convinced we put food in it to get it like that and wants us to wash it out