Aloha,
I feel kind of weird being here right now, because I am waiting one more month before starting my dreads. While trying to grow out my hair, I decided to skip the hassle of long hair by growing dreads. Everyone that I know has been encouraging me to do it (I've wanted to for a long time). My closest friend on the mainland here in Cali suggested that I wait another month, as my hair is just at 3 inches right now, and the back and sides might be just a little shorter. Of course, I plan on starting before I go home in June.
I stumbled on this site during my insomniac research madness last night (When I can't sleep at night, I research EVERYTHING on any subject that interests me... except school). I'm stoked to have found this site, as everyone seems very friendly and chill. And please bear with me as I will probably have a lot of questions while I am starting out. As a matter of fact, here are a few questions that I have while I am getting ready to back comb...
- What are your opinions on starting with short hair (3.5 to 4 inches)? Is back combing more difficult? Is after care more difficult?
- I've seen a lot of different opinions on wax in the beginning. From what I gathered, it seems like a very tiny amount of wax is ok in the earlier stages... more or less to keep it together for the first couple weeks?
- Any tips that you guys could give me for when I start?
Big mahalo for any advise/answers that you may be able to pass on down to me.
Jef, AKA Maui Dude
updated by @maui-dude: 02/14/15 12:26:50PM
Howzit? Glad to be here!
@maui-dude
14 years ago
3 posts
@soaring-eagle
14 years ago
29,637 posts
backcombing actually a pretty poor method twist and rips better by far, but a lil extra length will help in any case3 or 4 inches is bare minimum u needno wax never use wax..noneeven a lil bit is no goodit does not help anytho9ng at all it slows the dreading drastically by preventing movement and it NEVER COMES OUTwax causes most waxy dreads to be cut in under 4 yearsok what u need ti know.. dreads are your hairs natural state so the closest you can get to just allowing dreads to happen the better.. its ok to give them a start, but by the gentlest least invasive way possible then just alow nature to take its coarse and not try to force thingsthe more force you put into dreading the more damage is done in the processweakness adds up.. the more you overwork your dreads the weaker they becomedreads are sp pleasurable because you no longer need to fuss with them .. so working on dreads hour after hour really doesnt allow you to fully appreciate the experience of dreadingbeong that dreads are your natural hairstyle everything but washing takes care of itself (although seperating is usefull to prevent a unidread)beyond separating all other "maintenance" is pointlesshow to start..well begin today yes its too short to dread maybe (maybe not mine began shorter naturaly) stop combing and conditioningslowly extend your wash cycle to once or twice a weekswim in tye ocean or use sea salt sprays occasionallyresist the urge to ruun fingers throughin a month you should at least see seperating happening..if u decide to twist n rip or backcomb at that point use those natural sections as a guideif you see knotting beginning already..dint bother backcombing (its true u probably wont see dreads till 6 inches naturaly in most cases so u probably will twist n rip or backcomb unless like most u fall in love with the natural process)
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
@soaring-eagle
14 years ago
29,637 posts
http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/dreaducation-comprehensive that thread covers most everything u may need to know http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/dread-wax-why-ya-dont-want-it that covers wax issues thouroughlypage 4 has some pics that will definably scare u away from wax
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
@spider-feet
14 years ago
458 posts
I started out with a shaved head and just let my hair grow out into dreads. 'Natural' dreads do look different from started and maintained dreads. I suggest you take a look at our members pics and ask them whether they tnr, backcomb or go natural. That way you can see the differences and get a general idea of the certain style you want.
@soaring-eagle
14 years ago
29,637 posts
wellu can force a start then allow them to continue naturalyhowever stuff like crochet and interlocking does cause them to need constant fixing\crochet breatks hairs requiring fixing by crochet which breaks hairs and they dont really dread just get woveninterlocking halts all dreading at the roots by removing the space needed for dreading to occur so u either have to continue interlocking or stop long enough for the gap to grow out enough for dreading to resumebut you are right that dreads look and are best whebn allowed to be as natural as possible.. they last longest and are strongest and healthiest when y do the least to them possible CBD Makarov said:
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
My hair is actually shorter than yours and I'm going completely natural.
Wax is death.
Backcombing is torture.
If you just let your dreads be what you want them to be then come out amazing and unique.
If you try to force them then they will always need to be forced.
Hope that makes sense.
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
i screwed with mine so much, used wax pretty often, in my time line they got so much better after i stopped using it,the starter methods will probably not hold too well with shorter lengths, probably worth trying if you want to start next month though,either way just stop conditioners/ residues, and try to get your scalp used to the change, and you'll do yourself a big favor if you have oily hair,but it will all work out in a long run,oh an Welcome
@maui-dude
14 years ago
3 posts
Thanks for all the advice/support guys. I am trying to be patient, but I really want to start dreading right now. I have decided to wait at least a month, maybe even wait til right before I leave in June. For now, I figure the best thing to do for my future dreadsQuit smoking (throwing away that half-pack was the hardest thing to do)... I hear that dreads absorb smoke, and the last thing i want to do is have all that hair smell like a giant ash-tray. Also, I hear that smoking is a contributing factor to slower hair growthStart using Dr Bronner's... I figure I am going natural with the care once I dread, might as well get my body and mind ready. And i'm looking forward to what it will be like to have naturally cleaned hair.Anyway, thanks again... I'll see you guys around here, and I'll keep you all posted on progress.MahaloJef
@soaring-eagle
14 years ago
29,637 posts
try natra bio smokers withdrawal relief 7its a homeopathic that makes quitting very easy
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
@spider-feet
14 years ago
458 posts
Isn't homeopathic taking tiny amounts of shit that can kill you and expecting it to do something good for you?