Forum Activity for @panterra-caraway

Traction Alopecia HELP

Help! Save My Dreads

Sorry that it has taken me a minute to reply. Soaring Eagle has given you good advice. I can not stress enough that you MUST shampoo at minimum once a week...I prefer you do two. You need to thoroughly scrub your scalp. I want you to use the pads of your fingers, not the fingernails. It is extremely important that you clean the entire scalp thoroughly. Proceed with your shampoo by squeezing the shampoo through the dreads from top to bottom. After the entire scalp and dreads have been soaped, rinse extremely well. Even when you think you are completely soap free, rinse everything one more time. Squeeze the dreads, soak with water and squeeze some more. Clean dreads should not stink or smell like a dirty towel or a wet dog. One of the most damaging things you can do is to neglect cleansing your scalp and hair. Most member who encounter serious problems, will find that it stems from dirty hair and laziness concerning shampooing. I know you saw the video about massage. And yes, that is my voice and my demonstration. Please, use massage as instructed...it is a valuable tool to increase blood flow.A healthy blood flow is essential. Taking a Biotin supplement is also very helpful, especially if the hair has lost elasticity and strength. Stopping wearing your hair up is also extremely important at this stage in your recovery. You want to eliminate any further tension on your scalp. Another thing that I suggest is the use of coconut milk. You can generally find it in a can in most supermarkets. It can be found in the ethnic food aisle or sometimes with sweetened, condensed milk that is used to make baked goods. You want the coconut milk to be unsweetened. Do not confuse this with coconut milk in a carton, and used as an alternative to cows milk. You want true, unsweetened coconut milk in a can. You will have to buy a few cans. They shouldn't be too expensive. Every couple of weeks, I want you to shampoo your hair as instructed and after it is clean, saturate your hair with the coconut milk. Wrap everything in a towel and leave it for about an hour. Coconut milk contains healthy essential fatty acids and will help your hair get stronger. It is a conditioning agent, which can loosen some dreads. But, given that yours are 20 years old...you have nothing to worry about. That is about it for the time being. I would like update pictures in 6-8 weeks. This is going to be a long process...but I have helped people who were much worst. Please don't stress, although this situation is not ideal...we are not giving up yet! Thanks for waiting on me...the move was pretty brutal.

Trying to diagnose traction alopecia

Help! Save My Dreads

Hello! So, I have to agree with Soaring Eagle. You need to stop any and all "maintenance". Please, no crochet, twisting, palm rolling...nothing that puts more tension on your scalp. Secondly, you need to be shampooing a minimum of once a week, if possible, twice weekly. Deep scalp massage should be your new best friend. Apply a small amount of coconut oil to your hands and begin to massage your scalp. Concentrate your efforts on the areas where you have the most loss, but make sure to involve the whole scalp...leave no area out. You want to massage with a firm pressure. Use the pads of your fingers, not the nails. Massage as if you were kneading dough. What you are trying to accomplish is increased blood flow and a looser, more pliable scalp. Do this massage as much as you can...ideally, at least three times a week. This massage should only take about 5 minutes. You can start with just three minutes if the scalp feels very tight. When you finish, you should feel a bit of tingling or warmth. This is normal and a great thing! Make sure that during the massage you are not forcing the scalp or being rough. The massage should be slow and even. Besides the massage, I would also recommend a combination of essential oils, to be applied after you shampoo. You want about an once of pure Castor oil with about 4 drops of Ginger essential oil and 4 drops of Rosemary essential oil. Apply it to areas of loss and rub it in well, you only need a very small amount...but be consistent. These remedies only work with consistent effort. I also suggest a Biotin supplement, as mentioned. Any others questions...happy to help!

Having second thoughts

General Talk

Hello Hannah! I wanted to add a thought...when I started my dreads, my hair was about chin length. I was really worried that once it began to dread that it would be like little spikes sticking out of my head and not the beautiful flowing locs that I dreamed of! Well, my journey was a very difficult one. I had not one knot after 8 long months!!! I felt defeated and sad and there were alot of people here who really had to do some talking for me to even continue. I am a very stubborn, strong willed person. Which can work against me if I decide that something is pointless or a waste of my time. Anyway, I just kept believing in what those locs represented instead of how they looked. And let me tell you...it was HARD! It was sooo hard. And then, my dreads started to happen and then, they shrank...and shrank...and shrank...you get the idea! LOL And I just went nuts. I complained my ass off. And all that struggle and all that complaining was like a tonic for my soul. After awhile, my fears just disappeared. Because that was what all that was about...fear. So, now...my dread will be 4 in June. And this guy moves across the street from me and he has dreads (they are like 3-4 inches long and mine are like to the middle of my back) and the first thing he says is.."Wow! I will never get to where you are! Mine are all shrunk up and weird!" I had to laugh. Please don't feel defeated. Hang in there. Mold can be handled. Don't forget why you started in the first place. Big (((HUG))).

crochet dreads discussion and pictures

Dreading Methods

You're welcome! Big love to you SE...keep spreading the word...the truth shall set them free!

soaring eagle said:

thank you panterra ..and welcome back

crochet dreads discussion and pictures

Dreading Methods

In the 1970's hair was highlighted most often with a plastic cap and crochet hook...it was called frosting. Frosting was only appropriate for relatively short hair because longer hair simply could not fit into the plastic cap. The problems associated with frosting centered on the metal crochet hook. Even done correctly, pulling strands of hair through tiny holes in a plastic cap via a metal tool was uncomfortable...and many times, (especially if performed by the inexperienced!) quite painful! There was also a very real chance of hair loss from breakage. At the time, it was the best that the beauty industry had to offer. By the mid to later 1980's, a newer, non painful, more natural highlighting method became available...it was called weaving. It involved small sections of hair "woven" out with the end of a rattail comb, covered in haircolor and wrapped into sheets of foil. Many women and hairstylists breathed a sigh of relief! Okay...so that said...why would anyone want to go back to using a barbaric tool that inflicts damage and pain?!!! Nuff said!!!

updated by @panterra-caraway: 07/22/15 11:56:42PM

PANTERRA IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Life Issues Facing Dreads

Well, my health did take a tremendous hit. I was in the hospital for awhile. But, maintaining a gluten free lifestyle has been a huge help and I am doing so much better than I was. It is really sad how much stresscan do to you! I was falling apart there for a bit. But I am slowly getting stronger and more focused all the time. I had to get myself together...and you are right...I could have used the support of my dreadie family and I should have let you all know...it was just so overwhelming. Thank you SE for being my rock! It feels real nice to be missed too

PANTERRA IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Life Issues Facing Dreads

Hi everybody! Some of you might remember me (atleast I hope so!). I am so sorry I was away for so long. As some of you know, I have a mentally ill child. Anyway, during the summer she got significantly worst. On two occasions, the police took her away in shackles for beating me and myother cildren. At one point, CPS was called because the people at the mental hospital assumed her hair was the result of neglect (it was the result of neglect, but not the kind they were thinking!). CPS launched an investigation looking for abuse. Ultimately, after a very hard battle...charges were dropped and my daughter was placed in another mental health facility (this one in Texas). So, she is getting the help that she needs so desperately. I have missed you all sooo much! My dreads will be 3 in June and they are beautiful! I can't imagine life without them. Please know that you are all still my family and it is wonderful to be here once again. Special love hug for Soaring Eagle. Stop by my page and say hi....show me some love you beautiful dreadie people!!!!!

updated by @panterra-caraway: 11/13/15 07:01:59PM

Is it not meant to be for me?

Dreadlocks Journey Emotional Support

Yes, it does feel very much like watery sand! It can work wonders, especially for very silky, healthy, coarse or even Asian hair...which may be a bit more reluctant to knot
James Turk said:

I tried a paste too, just out ofcuriosity, feels like rubbing sand in your hair

Is it not meant to be for me?

Dreadlocks Journey Emotional Support

So glad you are going to give it a try Butterfly! I am sending positive vibes your way <3
Butterfly said:

OMG, thank you all so much for your encouragement and support. It means so much. I'm going to try everything you suggested because at this point I've gone so long I have nothing to lose, right?

To James Turk - by giving up I mean yes I would just brush it out or go get it cut short or something. I've always had fairly short layered hairstyles. To answer your question about drying, I had been letting it air dry, but recently I started using my hair dryer because I had read on here somewhere that it might help damage it more to help it lock up sooner.

Ok, Panterra I'm going to try your paste idea lol!!! It sounds horrible but I'll do it. And I'll also put some beads in. I don't understand how the beads work because I thought your hair had to be able to move to lock up and if it's in beads then it can't move. But everybody is telling me to put beads in so I will. I have some beads because I use to make some jewelry so I'll use those. I have one month till my one year of no brushing no combing, so we'll see what happens!

Is it not meant to be for me?

Dreadlocks Journey Emotional Support

Hi Butterfly! Okay...first...please do not give up! I have looked through what everyone has said and I do agree with almost all of it. Your hair does look very healthy and slick. You have alot of hair and that body you referred to is a bit of wave. But coarse hair can be a challenge...trust me, you and I have very similar hair (mine is just curlier in spots). The first thingI suggest is this...wet your hair thoroughly and apply a paste (yes, a paste!) of BS. Try to avoid the scalp, as it can be very irritating. Leave that paste on a good half hour, then rinse thoroughly. It may take awhile to get it all rinsed well, but rinse the daylights out of it. Now, after that you may find your hair feels horrible...dry, a bit gritty even...good! That is just what you want. You have to realize that a scratchy, rough feel is going to give you some knots. That was my problem. Being a hair professional, I clung to the concept that my hair was going to remain soft and silky but somehow dread...ain't gonna happen unfortunately. If you find that your hair still feels pretty good after the paste...wait a week and do it again. Once you rough up that cuticle, you will find it can begin to progress. It took my hair a bit over 8 mos. to even have one knot! So, I do understand your frustration. Next month I will hit my 2 years...and baby, I have a full head of pretty mature dreads (just some ends sticking out here and there!). I am so glad I stuck it out! Also, for your washing...try a regular size coffee cup full of BS and no ACV, shampoo three times a week and after you are shampooed try spraying your hair with a sea salt solution...don't get it on your scalp and don't rinse it out...air dry. Keep sleeping on that wool. And best idea of all, use those beads! They will work miracles...you won't believe it! Try the wood ones, small as you can go. Contact me anytime you feel discouraged, I will bemore than happy to help. I have been there...truly. I know you want to forget it, I know you feel let down and you think that maybe it wasn't meant to be...none of that is so...I promise. Much love and Big (((HUGS))) <3