I'm sorry, but I feel the desire to rant! I am no expert on the subject, but I have read some horror stories that make me sad more than anything! Why are people making money ruining other people's hair? Why are people searching for dreadlock tips and getting terrible advice? I know damn well that if my hair I've been growing for years were ruined at the benefit of someone else's wallet, I'd feel extremely hurt and defeated. This just isn't right! People are telling people they need to damage their hair to achieve beautiful locks, salons mostly, from what I've read.
My hair was straight and thick and healthy before beginning my dread journey, by twist and rip. Mind you, I began before discovering this site, had I discovered this site first, I'm sure I would have gone the natural route. Since finding this site and taking all the good advice I have found, my hair is dreadingbeautifully and crazily and wonderfully!Ther is much more to dreading than just an having easier to maintain hairstyle. There is more to people than what is in their wallet for these salons and bad dread sites care about.
How do we make it so that this site comes up first when people are searching for dread help? How do we help those who have already suffered because of bad advice? How can we make this a positive experience for those looking for one? I want to be sure before I continue to spread my methods and advice that it is, in fact good advice. I'd like to become more if an expert on the subject of dreading in a healthy way because it pains me to see and hear that people have such terrible experiences. Everyone dreads for different reasons, but none of them are wrong or deserve any less than the best possible chance at achieving beautiful and healthy locks.
So hereare my methods, feel free to correct me if anything I do could be improved or is setting me back, I have already corrected myself someand I will do my best to spread the word to others. Also, feel free to leave advice for those who have been led down the wrong path. Such as by interlocking, dread perms, etc. If we can help people, let's do it.
-November 21, 2010-Twist and ripped my hair into about 36 baby dreads.
-Used Lavender soap twice a week and was palm rolling with lemon juice or aloe.-I don't recommend palm rolling, it didn't do much but make my arms sore and scalp tender.
-Found this site, stopped palm rolling.
-Received my dreadhead shampoo in the mail in early December and used that 2-3 times a week. (It made my hair soft and shiny and I'm sure only slowed the process-I have since stopped using it.
-Retwisted the ends of my hair sometime in December (please DO NOT DO THIS) it caused damage, many split ends and unhealthy looking hair.
-Went and bought some organic baking soda, learned to make a wash:
1 tsp. baking soda
1 gallon water
3(ish)drops tea tree oil
5(ish)drops rosemary
6(ish)drops lavendar
I now pour that over my hair in the shower, work it around a bit and rinse thoroughly
-Created an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse
2-3 tsps ACV
3-4 drops lavendar
1 gallon water
Pour that over my hair and rinse thoroughly
Let dry, then if I find a real crazy lump of loopy dready hair sticking out before work, I may slide a large bead over it for the day.
I have found that the more natural my maintainence routine, the more my hair seems to be thanking me, it islooking tighter after each wash and every morning when I wake up. If anyone has any more good advice, please let me know, and please share it with others.
In summary, my hair looks, feels and smells better now than it has in the 2 months I've been on my dread journey and all I am doing is letting it be, washing 2-3 times a week with the baking soda wash, I think I'll be using the ACV rinse once a week give or take depending on how dry my hair feels.
So far, I feel it is a success, with no WAX, no PERMING, no INTERLOCKING, no CROCHETING, all natural baby! Let's hope others can find this site before they are mislead, and let's help those who have already been mislead unfortunately.
updated by @crystal-o: 02/14/15 03:49:06AM