R☮ZE

   In the beginning, I tried the twist & rip method... I have a lot of hair, but its VERY  fine and silky. When I first heard the phrase "twist & rip" it sounded horrifying... until I realized all you were doing was tangling the hair to kick-start the dreading process. Honestly, its NOT  as bad as it sounds and it does not have to be done super tight! I had to use this method because my hair would not lock on its own. I used no wax or chemical products to make them stay... just good old-fashioned tangles! Yes, it was a mess for awhile... with bumps, loops and fly-aways everywhere! Everyone goes through the "messy stage" of locking... but I never  babied them, I never  palm-rolled, and I only used very small amounts of natural mint oil (no-itch) drops when needed. My hair creates enough oil for about 5 grown people... so its very important to wash and keep my locks clean! Think about it, if you create your own oil AND  your hair is silky... How is that going to lock exactly? It won't, it will be slippery, oily and dirty. Clean, dry hair locks dramatically faster no matter your hair type!

   I have done years of research on how to care for dreadlocks, so I'm surprised my brain is still intact! After many trials and fails, I've settled on one very simple bottle to keep in my shower. Baby shampoo. Yep. There are NO  harsh chemicals ('cause its made for babies!); baby shampoos are usually non-residue and paraben-free, and the lathering agents are very minimal. Typically, if you develop residue, its because of a lathering agent. Sure, baby shampoo doesn't lather up thick and rich like the t.v. commercials show, but it does a great job of cleaning, not stripping natural oils, and rinsing out completely. I use the lavender scented baby shampoo, which eliminates the need to spray more chemicals in my locks after a shower. I wash my locks about every other day, or every 3rd day... and let them dry thoroughly. I love the fact that I no longer have to "style" my hair in order to face the world - I just get up and go! No more bed-head, no more wasted time in the morning, and no more bad hair days! No more living for vanity... just live for freedom!