My (almost) five month Backcombed Dreads

I've never done this before, so please forgive me if this is little long...

This was my hair before I started my dreading process.

I had never found a hair style that I felt really fit me, and had always admired dreads, but it was my long term boyfriend who urged me to give it a try. I didn't understand till after I started that dreads are more of a process, I was caught up in JC's idea of dreads, though I KNEW I didn't want any sort of product in my hair. It was after browsing this site for a while that I really got it, dreads aren't a race, it's a life style.

This is right after my boyfriend backbombed for nine hours (I watched an entire season of Seinfeld).

My hair type is a little wavy, but pretty thin (though I have a lot of hair) so I was worried about how everything would turn out, short and long term; but so far I am VERY satisfied! They are perfect for Me.

I'm now at almost five months and figured I would post some pictures of how far my babies have come, along with a few of my favorite dreads.

Please forgive the Awful facial expression here, Don't know what I was doing. haha

Most of the dreads on the top layer of my head look like this, but this is one of my favorites. Most all of them are really flat though, I'm hoping they round out with time.

This is My Favorite dread, He's just Crazy! There's a few inches, and then BLAM! Wad of hair!

I've noticed a lot of the dreads on the bottom layers of my head have dreaded up faster, and have less loose hair than those on the top. Some days it feels like I'm just one giant furry ball of loose hair, but even on these days I'm in awe and Love with my hair in a way that I have never been before. I never have those days I see others post about "Ahhhh I hate my hair!" I keep waiting for it to happen, the disappointment in my hair or something. I think I'm just to in love!

Edited: I've lost only a few inches in length. I hadn't really noticed until a month ago though.

updated by @rae: 07/08/20 10:18:55AM

omg I love you with dreads (you were cute before too tho) I hope my dreads look as good as yours in 2 more months!~

see u thiught u wanted jonny clean locks but the ones u love the most are the ones farthest from that fake look the ones that are complwetey unique and untamed are the best..

i wish more dhhq suppoerters would realize that

--
My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1

lovely:)

Thank you for posting your pictures! My hair looks similar to yours and I've just started my 5th month. It is nice to see that apparently, we are both on the right track! I also have many flat ones - mostly in the back - the ones I guess I sleep on. I am also hoping they round out. I have faith they will. Anyway, you look absolutely lovely and thanx again for sharing. It is so encouraging to see others going through the process as I am. In fact today, I was looking at someone eles's picture because her dreads were so beautiful and I was wondering how she did it. I am convinced now that they were manufactured with wax and other salon processes. Seeing your hair confirms for me that I think I like mine better. I am also learning that just because I am going more natural, doesn't mean that my dreads can't look as neat, clean, and beautiful as if they were manufactured. I've got some great ones in the front that I just can't hardly believe! I also have some interesting loopies underneath all over and it will be interesting to see how they work out.

Keep posting, I am very interested in how both of our heads turn out - my hair is even just about the same length as yours!

Johnny Clean was the only information I found on dreads that I felt was credible, or perhaps appeared credible is a better way to put it; but the idea of using wax seemed to go against the grain of what I thought dreadlocks represented. I finally started searching for "no wax dreadlocks" and found this place.Its true though! I used to want "pretty" manicured locks, but it just seemed like SO much up keep for something I originally though was supposed to be a very natural process. I know someone who has four year old dreads down to her waist and while they are nice they are all even tidy sections, and she rolls and rubs them all the time. I feel like mine are going to turn out WAY better because each dread is so individualistic. Actually I find I start touching or feeling for certain locks depending on my mood, they each have a different feel to them. (-:

soaringeagle said:

see u thiught u wanted jonny clean locks but the ones u love the most are the ones farthest from that fake look the ones that are complwetey unique and untamed are the best..

i wish more dhhq suppoerters would realize that

Thanks so much for the compliment, Andelynn! It is really great to know that I'm on the right path, and I'm dglad you feel the same way. Just because one loves her dreads doesn't mean she doesn't worry they're messing up some how. hahaI love looking at other people's photos, makes me of split mind though. On the one hand I'm excited that My dreads will look that awesome one day, on the other hand I am almost fearful that I'll never look that cool. The future is exciting isn't it?

Andelynn said:

Thank you for posting your pictures! My hair looks similar to yours and I've just started my 5th month. It is nice to see that apparently, we are both on the right track! I also have many flat ones - mostly in the back - the ones I guess I sleep on. I am also hoping they round out. I have faith they will. Anyway, you look absolutely lovely and thanx again for sharing. It is so encouraging to see others going through the process as I am. In fact today, I was looking at someone eles's picture because her dreads were so beautiful and I was wondering how she did it. I am convinced now that they were manufactured with wax and other salon processes. Seeing your hair confirms for me that I think I like mine better. I am also learning that just because I am going more natural, doesn't mean that my dreads can't look as neat, clean, and beautiful as if they were manufactured. I've got some great ones in the front that I just can't hardly believe! I also have some interesting loopies underneath all over and it will be interesting to see how they work out.

Keep posting, I am very interested in how both of our heads turn out - my hair is even just about the same length as yours!

Me too - that's why I was so excited seeing your pictures. Our hair is almost the same. My hair is a bit shorter than yours and a bit darker brown, but the time-line looks about the same. It really encouraged me to see your pictures! I almost didn't post all of that because I wasn't sure I was being a bit of a dork or not, but I figured, hey, we are all here to support one another and if it encouraged me, maybe it will encourage you to know that I'm in the same boat. ) Keep it up - I expect to see more pictures in the future!

Rachel Adelle said:

Thanks so much for the compliment, Andelynn! It is really great to know that I'm on the right path, and I'm dglad you feel the same way. Just because one loves her dreads doesn't mean she doesn't worry they're messing up some how. haha
I love looking at other people's photos, makes me of split mind though. On the one hand I'm excited that My dreads will look that awesome one day, on the other hand I am almost fearful that I'll never look that cool. The future is exciting isn't it?

Andelynn said:

Thank you for posting your pictures! My hair looks similar to yours and I've just started my 5th month. It is nice to see that apparently, we are both on the right track! I also have many flat ones - mostly in the back - the ones I guess I sleep on. I am also hoping they round out. I have faith they will. Anyway, you look absolutely lovely and thanx again for sharing. It is so encouraging to see others going through the process as I am. In fact today, I was looking at someone eles's picture because her dreads were so beautiful and I was wondering how she did it. I am convinced now that they were manufactured with wax and other salon processes. Seeing your hair confirms for me that I think I like mine better. I am also learning that just because I am going more natural, doesn't mean that my dreads can't look as neat, clean, and beautiful as if they were manufactured. I've got some great ones in the front that I just can't hardly believe! I also have some interesting loopies underneath all over and it will be interesting to see how they work out.

Keep posting, I am very interested in how both of our heads turn out - my hair is even just about the same length as yours!

Haha! I'm possibly the world leader in dorkiness! I'm also pretty oblivious to social interactions... I'm glad you kept the entire comment. I tend to start a lot of comments and then abandon them, actually I almost gave up posting this discussion, but I'm glad I didn't.

I've looked at your pics and you're right, our dreads are pretty similar. How did you start yours?

Also, I love all the beads in them! I look at all the photos of (women) with all these decorations in their hair and my heart aches to do the same thing. But I worry that I shouldn't do anything till they are a bit older. There is just so much loose hair right now and it snags a lot. But maybe I'll start looking for and wearing more beads after seeing your pics...

And don't worry about more pics, my boyfriend is a Photographer who loves to take my picture.

Andelynn said:

Me too - that's why I was so excited seeing your pictures. Our hair is almost the same. My hair is a bit shorter than yours and a bit darker brown, but the time-line looks about the same. It really encouraged me to see your pictures! I almost didn't post all of that because I wasn't sure I was being a bit of a dork or not, but I figured, hey, we are all here to support one another and if it encouraged me, maybe it will encourage you to know that I'm in the same boat. ) Keep it up - I expect to see more pictures in the future!

Rachel Adelle said:

Thanks so much for the compliment, Andelynn! It is really great to know that I'm on the right path, and I'm dglad you feel the same way. Just because one loves her dreads doesn't mean she doesn't worry they're messing up some how. haha
I love looking at other people's photos, makes me of split mind though. On the one hand I'm excited that My dreads will look that awesome one day, on the other hand I am almost fearful that I'll never look that cool. The future is exciting isn't it?

Andelynn said:

Thank you for posting your pictures! My hair looks similar to yours and I've just started my 5th month. It is nice to see that apparently, we are both on the right track! I also have many flat ones - mostly in the back - the ones I guess I sleep on. I am also hoping they round out. I have faith they will. Anyway, you look absolutely lovely and thanx again for sharing. It is so encouraging to see others going through the process as I am. In fact today, I was looking at someone eles's picture because her dreads were so beautiful and I was wondering how she did it. I am convinced now that they were manufactured with wax and other salon processes. Seeing your hair confirms for me that I think I like mine better. I am also learning that just because I am going more natural, doesn't mean that my dreads can't look as neat, clean, and beautiful as if they were manufactured. I've got some great ones in the front that I just can't hardly believe! I also have some interesting loopies underneath all over and it will be interesting to see how they work out.

Keep posting, I am very interested in how both of our heads turn out - my hair is even just about the same length as yours!

I put a lot of beads in them to help keep the sections separate and I thought that might help the process along. To start them, I sectioned off my hair and then used T&R and a little back-combing. Basically, I got a good strong knot into each section then let them go. I do have a lot of loose hairs, in fact I've got quite a few new baby dreads started with the loose sections I've been finding. I just have put a bead into them and letting them go too. I know that it is hard to find beads small enough, I've done a lot of searching and trying out new things in order to find them - that's why I have so many different kinds of beads in many different sizes. I'm thinking about getting some in the back wrapped to help them along as well. I don't know. I'm pretty happy the way they are turning out. I've got to stop playing with them tho - I just love the way they feel so I touch them a lot - lol!

Rachel Adelle said:

Haha! I'm possibly the world leader in dorkiness! I'm also pretty oblivious to social interactions... I'm glad you kept the entire comment. I tend to start a lot of comments and then abandon them, actually I almost gave up posting this discussion, but I'm glad I didn't.

I've looked at your pics and you're right, our dreads are pretty similar. How did you start yours?

Also, I love all the beads in them! I look at all the photos of (women) with all these decorations in their hair and my heart aches to do the same thing. But I worry that I shouldn't do anything till they are a bit older. There is just so much loose hair right now and it snags a lot. But maybe I'll start looking for and wearing more beads after seeing your pics...

And don't worry about more pics, my boyfriend is a Photographer who loves to take my picture.

Andelynn said:

Me too - that's why I was so excited seeing your pictures. Our hair is almost the same. My hair is a bit shorter than yours and a bit darker brown, but the time-line looks about the same. It really encouraged me to see your pictures! I almost didn't post all of that because I wasn't sure I was being a bit of a dork or not, but I figured, hey, we are all here to support one another and if it encouraged me, maybe it will encourage you to know that I'm in the same boat. ) Keep it up - I expect to see more pictures in the future!

Rachel Adelle said:

Thanks so much for the compliment, Andelynn! It is really great to know that I'm on the right path, and I'm dglad you feel the same way. Just because one loves her dreads doesn't mean she doesn't worry they're messing up some how. haha
I love looking at other people's photos, makes me of split mind though. On the one hand I'm excited that My dreads will look that awesome one day, on the other hand I am almost fearful that I'll never look that cool. The future is exciting isn't it?

Andelynn said:

Thank you for posting your pictures! My hair looks similar to yours and I've just started my 5th month. It is nice to see that apparently, we are both on the right track! I also have many flat ones - mostly in the back - the ones I guess I sleep on. I am also hoping they round out. I have faith they will. Anyway, you look absolutely lovely and thanx again for sharing. It is so encouraging to see others going through the process as I am. In fact today, I was looking at someone eles's picture because her dreads were so beautiful and I was wondering how she did it. I am convinced now that they were manufactured with wax and other salon processes. Seeing your hair confirms for me that I think I like mine better. I am also learning that just because I am going more natural, doesn't mean that my dreads can't look as neat, clean, and beautiful as if they were manufactured. I've got some great ones in the front that I just can't hardly believe! I also have some interesting loopies underneath all over and it will be interesting to see how they work out.

Keep posting, I am very interested in how both of our heads turn out - my hair is even just about the same length as yours!

updated by @andelynn: 07/03/15 05:36:35AM