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I've had my dreadies for 3 months now They are changing a lot. I have to separate them about once a week. I wash once a week with Dr. Bronner's. I really like the way it makes my hair smell.

Here are some pictures of how they are looking:

It's a little past my 3 months now. I'm enjoying the process of dreading without too much worry this time round. For the most part my hair has sectioned and knotted on its own (minus the 2 tnr I started with). My front sections are still straight, but I know that may never dread. I counted 62 solid knotted sections. Tons of thin ones, a few fat ones. Lots of loops starting up. I have been washing with baking soda every 2 to 4 days. I have done a few acv rinses but its not part of my routine. I separate almost every day right now too. I have decided not to add beads or wraps yet, since the ones I had in kept falling out and I don't want to stop or hinder the process like last time. Or pick them up off the floor when they fall out daily. I'll wait until they are more along. So yeah, that's my update!

A million reasons I haven't been here, but I am still going with my locking process and although it's been slow, they are coming along.

I'm looking forward to the new site, and the possibility of a functional mobile interface.

Missing you all and looking forward to meeting the new members when time is free again

<3

So I've been naturally/ free form dreading my hair now for 1 year and 9 months..

And I have a ton of loose hairs that need to go into some of the sections/dreads.. (not re growth either)

I tried so many times tying them with little rubber bands to the dread I want it to attach to but the next day most of them come out the rubber band...I think I have a lot of loose hairs because I would tear my sections or hairs apart if it started dreading into the wrong section..

I would let those hair just become their own dread except most the hairs aren'tenoughto make a decent sized section, especially since most my sections/ dreads are super thick..

I know the crochet hook is bad for the hair but I was wondering if it would be that damaging to use it once to get those loose hairs in the dreads.. And if the crochet hook would work??

Or if there's another way..I was wondering if wrapping them would help too?

So yesterday I was driving home, and I guess I was a little close for comfort to the truck in front of me. 90% of the time, in the mountains, people will pull over and let you pass when you reach a turnout. The neo nazi pulled over and as I passed he yelled "SLOW DOWN N****R!!! We exchanged words and went our ways. I had a dream... Two actually...

#1. I was in a smoke shop and saw a HUGE tam. I asked the guy behind the counter, "How long til I can fit that one? 10 years?"

"I don't know. 20... 50..." he replied.

#2 I was with my mom again and possibly a friend I can't exactly recall. We were walking through a crowd of people and I realized we were at the Rainbow Gathering. My friend and mom weren't too thrilled but I was. I wandered off and when I was comfortable, I held out my arms and started flying just over the crowd. Someone yelled something at me, and while I don't recall what was said, negative or positive, I held my hand behind me and gave them a peace sign as I floated away.

So I guess I'm a long way from Nirvana... Or I need to calm down more...

I live in Louisiana, a very southern state (duh) with very southern people (painfully so sometimes) and in all my 28 years here I've only ever seen one other person with dreadlocks. I never gave it much thought , and never planned to have them myself, but now that I do I notice how greatly my home seems to lack diversity. Hair wise atleast. Almost every female has the same hair. Dark brown with blonde highlights or vice versa. Usually longish , and layered heavily. I've never been that type. Yes my hair is natural brunette however it's been modified for most of my life (bright red 4-life! I miss you :/ )Now that I have a different hairstyle from 97% of the population of the state, I feel eyes on me everywhere. Not that I'm not used to sticking out , hell I've been goth , emo , semi-hoochie, and currently kind of hippy-ish. I'm ok with the looks and questions and junk..people are curious by nature and I like to do things that make people wonder. I haven't been out much with my new style but simply posting a pic of my progress on Facebook incited a riot of questions "how do you wash it? You don't wash it! They're gonna be filthy and stink! Why would you do that? you had such beautiful hair!!!! "My thumbs almost bled after answering all the questions.I'm terrified to think what people will say when I bring up how bad I wish my son had dreads too or , god forbid , my daughter! Holy hairstyles would they lose their shit. In the end though, my BFF is totally supportive and asks me regularly to update her on my progress, my kids could give 2 shits about what my head looks like , and my boyfriend has learned to just let me do my thang when it comes to my appearance , as long as I stay a "sexyass thick woman".Don't worry hun, thick will forever be my calling. And as for my hair, I think it's found it's calling. It's always been a tangly rats nest of loops and bumps and squiggles , I always hated brushing , and I could never ride in a convertible without eating hair or blinded my strays whipped around by the wind. Dreadlocks were in my future always , and I think running into the one other dreaded soul in Louisiana was the universes way of pointing me in the right direction.But man, did it take me a long time to get the message!

I decided to write a little something, a testimonial if you will about my loc journey. I'm coming up on my year and 8 month mark and it has been a interesting year for my hair. There were times when I wanted to quit and say eff it I'm just gonna cut them off and start over. I'm so glad I didn't make that decision. I probably would have done that, rocked my natural for a while and then probably gotten it straighten because I saw a cute cut that would require me to get a relaxer. Now, don't get me wrong however you rock your own style is cool. I've done both so I'm not hating. For me, it's just a logical choice, because my hair has been in the best condition and I just love how organic it looks. It wasn't always that way. I tried to rush and make it look more than it should. At first I like the direction it was going, but after a while I wasn't happy with my decision. It wasn't representing me. After I started my new career, I just haven't had much time to properly take care of my locs. Yeah I would wash/condition them, but I wasn't re twisting them. I haven't don't so in month . They are kinda just hanging around. I've come so far with them and now it's time I start to get better acquaintedwith my crown. The past week I have done some pruning, I love my locs! I can finally say that and be genuine. I love how they are coming about, I love how they look, but most importantly I love how they represent who I am on the outside.....free, organic, funky, sexy, beautiful. I will continue this path. As with any journey you take there will be bumps along the way. How you handle your decision in which path you take can greatly impact your destination in life. So to those who decide to rock your natural or even start your own loc journey, my advice to you is love your crown no matter what. Be thankful that you have it because there are some who don't and not by choice. Take care of yourself and enjoy it. Blessings to you! Natural hair rocks!

This might come across as really strange to some people but i wanted to just put something out there about how my dreads have started to change me as a person. Before when i had my 'normal' straight, long hair i was really unconfident, never happy with the way i looked because of my hair having to be do perfect. I wouldn't leave the house on days that it wouldn't sit right etc etc. I wore clothes that i wasn't even particularly happy wearing just because thats the way i thought i had to be to fit into society. I soon got fed up with that as i became older and my views on things started changing gradually, and my body started to feel more connected to the earth and my soul.

When i finally set down to get dreads after years off disagreement with my parents, i finally felt whole. Knew exactly who i wanted to be and where my life was taking me. My hair is looping and crazy and never sits 'perfect' i get weird looks on the street and disgust from certain members of my family but i just don't care and this couldn't make me happier.

My mind and soul just tell me to reject meat now because of my huge love for animals. Yes i like meat but every time i come across it my heart is just screaming for me to stop. Which never happened to me before, i wasn't ever happy about eating it but would just do it to keep my parents happy, but now i just don't care about what their thoughts are. I do what makes me happy, for my life.

On a last note i had to most weirdest occurrence when i was travelling to work at 4:30am one morning. Where i work we are surrounded by woodland which is great for watching the nature and wildlife to break the day away. On this particular day we parked up and a huge portion of the trees had been cut down when i'd left the day before, and i could actually feel the pain and misery coming from the trees. The grief they felt from having their life ended after all these many years of standing there observing the world. Please tell me there are more people like this!

Everything that is happening to me and the way my life is going and changing is all down to my dreads and for that i am so every grateful!

So on a positive note for all you new dreadies out there, keep this in your head. "I just don't care" it worked for me and kept me happy and following my heart and soul through many a difficult situation.

Peace and love to you all!

http://shadeofashes.blogspot.com/2014/10/dreading-journey-two-years-with.html

So happy to have found this website. I really wish I would have joined before I started my dreadlocks. There are so many things I would have done differently, though I love my locs.

If I could go back and change some things, I would have used the twist and rip method instead of the backcombing method. I would have put maybe about ten more dreadlocks into my hair. Right now I have 25 dreads, two of them being super tiny and braided together. One of my concerns has always been not having enough!

Currently my locks are eight months old and seeming to be progressing fairly well. Can't wait for maturity! I am so excited.

Anyone suggest any dreadlock shampoos? I am currently using a wild lavendar organic and sulfate free shampoo, but after doing an ACV wash a couple of weeks ago, I've decided about looking into different shampoos to clean them better. My scalp is also really dry, like all the time.

Suggestions would definitely be appreciated!