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I thought I would share some of my dread journey in the hope that it might help someone else who is considering going to a salon. I started my journey with the neglect method initially, about Sept-Oct of 2014. I had found several videos on YouTube by NatureLover, a member of this site, and thought her free form dreads were so beautiful, I decided that was the way I wanted to go. But several months in I started hearing that sectioning was really important, and so I made the mistake of going to my hairdresser to have that done. She was just supposed to section, nothing more, but before I knew it she was sectioning, twisting and ripping, and backcombing. Even though I protested at every step, she assured me that she had training in making dreads, she knew what she was doing, and that she wouldn't do anything that would be bad for my hair (she had been my hairdresser for eight years). Even so, when she said that she wanted to use wax on my hair "Just to hold the dreads in place," I put my foot down and said, "NO! Absolutely not!" Thank God I was already a member of this site at that point and had read all the horror stories of wax being used on dreads, otherwise I would have had no idea and probaly would have let her do that as well.
Three separate sessions over the course of three weeks, eleven hours total, a whole lot of money and EXCRUIATING pain later, and I had what at least my hair dresser considered to be "dreads." My head was so sore and covered with so many dreads all tightly bound with tiny elastics that she told me to leave in for at least a month, preferably two. Two MONTHS? I lasted three weeks. I couldn't STAND the elastics! They hurt my head every day, not to mention that they were awful to sleep in. After three weeks the only way I could get them out was to cut them out because they had become so miserably knotted in my hair. It took three hours to get them all out and it was very painful.
Fast foward to two weeks ago (2nd week of Oct 2015). I have taken well over a dozen of my hairdresser's "salon dreads" out because her sectioning left the back of my head looking so bald and scalpy I couldn't go out in public. For a while I was terrified that I had Alopecia, but after much research I realized that was not the case. Even so, I can't begin to describe the EXTREME stress, time money, pain, energy, and work that I have gone through to have dreads from the moment I set foot in a salon. I now have returned to the neglect method (which I should have never left) and my poor dreads at least seem to be recovering from what has been done to them. They are full of kinks loops, and bumps, which personally, I'm loving! I am using nothing on my hair except products I've purchased on this site, which is the Tea Tree shampoo, and occasionally the sea salt locking spray.
I consider myself very lucky that it doesn't "appear" that any permanent damage was done to my hair. But believe me, it wasn't from my hairdresser's (unintentional) lack of trying. My advice to anyone wanting dreads, watch lots of reputable dread videos on YouTube, and read every bit of available information on the Dreadlocks site. The misinformation that salons and hairdressers seem to cling to is truly scary. My hairdresser actually ordered me at one point to "Stay off that dread site!" Never going to happen. I hope this info has been helpful.
Posted in: Salons | 8 commentsIn about a week my dreadlocks will be 25 years old, they started growing naturally at the Vermont rainbow gathering.
What my dreads have taught me.
Growing dreads naturally has taught me a lot of patience. It has taught me to just let things happen instead of trying to force them. It is taught me that those who will hate you just the way you look don't matter. His taught me that people's worth is deeper than just appearance as taught me that many people are very superficial and vain.
The history of my dreadlocks.
My dreadlocks began at the rainbow gathering in Vermont when I traded for some beads and stuck them in my hair, I also added a few hair wraps. This began the dread within a week, maybe week and a half.
The rest of my hair was shorter so took a little longer to dread. It may have been a couple months before the rest of started to dread.
I've never done anything to my hair except for wash it and separate the dreads that were forming too thick or combining. After 18 years, however, I stop separating completely for 4 or 5 years. Only in the last year or 2 and I began to separate occasionally only those that are already pretty thick. Because of this many dreads have formed Congo's, with as many as 6 dreads combining into one thick one. I did not however let them get very thick.
I have never palm rolled, crocheted, used wax or any dreadlocks products other than shampoo, never back combed did any root maintenance or anything else.
Since about 18 years and they started to drag on the ground. My dreadlocks are now about 8 feet long.
My dreadlocks are unique and unlike anybody else's. Growing dreadlocks naturally means they form organically. This makes every dread unique from every other dread. This makes no to dreads alike.
My dreadlocks began at the Vermont rainbow gathering which is a spiritual gathering deep in the wilderness. During that week had spent much time in a silent meditation tepee surrounded by 300 oh to 1000 pound crystals. Growing dreadlocks in this type of environment is a very spiritual experience.
I'm including a couple of older pictures, and will update with new pictures, probably around the Fourth of July weekend which is approximately when my dreads began to form 25 years ago.
This is my dreadlocks at the Wyoming gathering when they were 18 years old.
This is my dreads about last year at 24 years old.
Ok here are my dreadlocks now at 25 years, the longest is i guess about 10 feet
Posted in: Dreadlocks | 4 commentsFor four months of my dreading process I wore synthetic dreadlocks in my hair to make my hair appear longer instead of doing the right thing; what I should've done from the start... accept my short dreads for what they were. I feel as if by wearing those synthetic dreadlocks I've missed out on the growth of my own dreadlocks and being able to see them mature and become the dreadies they are today. When I go back to reminisce about my dreadlock experience from day one, I won't be able to look at pictures of MY dreadlocks, all I have are pictures with the synthetic dreads .
When I started dreading my hair back in January my hair was just barely touching my shoulders. As they got older they started shrinking which I knew was going to happen but I figured I would accept it better then I did. I was self conscience of my short dreads and felt that wearing synthetic dreadlocks would be the only way to feel less embarrassed. By the time my dreadlocks were six months I finally decided to take out the synthetic dreadlocks. Even cut off a dreadlock on accident while trying to take out one of the synthetic dreads.
I'm so sorry dreadlocks for everything I put you through. I now love you for the dreadlocks you are and regret even putting those nasty things in my hair to begin with. The one thing that I will truly miss is being able to watch my dreadlocks blossom in to the beauty they are today. Although they still have a ton of growing to do, I will love them for the dreadies they are.
Posted in: default | 7 commentsA lot of people talk about how they wish their dreadlocks were long and can't wait until they get long. I thi nk that if these people would focus more on having healthy locks before they know it they have long locks. Just revel in the naturalness of having dreads in general. That is positive energy at work. My lock process started with a twa(teeny weeny afro)and just enjoying my head being free of chemicals and other toxic substances. As I began to truly love myself more and more my locks absorbed this love and became long very fast.
Putting healthy foods and drinks into my body has helped tremendously. I have increased the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in my diet and all of the vitamins and minerals were vital and still are to helping maintain a healthy head of locks.
Just my two cents worth from growing my locks for 13yrs now.Posted in: default | 24 commentsToday is my dread babies' three week birthday! I'm so excited! I made a headband to celebrate the occasion! Let me know what you think of my handy-work. Still having a bit of problems with dreading in the back, but I'm just leaving it be for now.Enjoy!
Posted in: default | 1 comments
They are changing a lot.
