Hello every1, names Dariel, and im a fairly new dreadhead. Las week i made a month and ive had 1 retouch session. Started washing 3 weeks after i had them done, and i wash them 2ice a week, sleep with a cloth covering my head, and use salt water with essential oils almos daily. The "problem" i see is that there is a lot of loose hair and about 3 inches in the tip of every dread is loose as well. I wonder if this is a real problem and i should seek help to repair, or is a normal thing. Ill add some pics so u can see.Thanks to everyone in advance, ill check up multiple times daily for replies.
updated by @dariel-martinez: 01/13/15 09:53:29PM
Need to know if my progression is normal.. :)
This are couple pics, very recent.
Hey Dariel, sorry to hear you went to a salon and had your dreads crocheted. I may sound a little harsh here, but you need to hear the truth. Please read this link: http://www.dreadlockssite.com/page/crocheting-method-making
Did they add wax at the salon when you had them done? Crochet hooks damage the hair, breaking in into hundreds of tiny pieces each time it is done. You have done it twice in one month already. Never do crochet again if you want your dreads to last for years. If you have wax in them, you will need to start removing that. Dreads with wax will never ever mature, they are only glued together. http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/dread-wax-why-ya-dont-want-it
Dreads should be free to move, why sleep with a cloth on them? Dreads need to fly with the wind, move when you sleep. As for washing, from day one they should be washed 2-3 times a week with a dread friendly shampoo or the baking soda/apple cider vinegar rinse. Using salt water almost daily will dry out your hair in no time. When soaking with or spraying on salt water, it should be rinsed out within two hours so that no damage is done.
Go to the top of the site and read the Dreaducation section to learn the truth about dreading. Keep your money in your pocket and stay away from salons. Use that money to purchase WaxBGone if you used any wax and to purchase a dread friendly shampoo or bar. DreadlockShampoo.com sells both, made by a member on this site.
Salons cause damage, want you to go back for touch ups, just to make money from you. Dreads do not need touching up, they are the complete opposite. They are free!
So, remove any wax if you have it, never hook your hair again, wash 2-3 times a week, rinse out salt water, use dread friendly shampoo, and sit back and watch your hair dread. Oh yeah, don't cover your hair....peace
I think they're looking nice! How did you start them?
I dont know if others would agree, but I think you can stop covering them while they sleep. The movement of your head on the pillow will help them to lock up.
As for your tips, a lot of people have loose ends. I initially thought i would try to blunt Gill's tips but in the end I just let them do their thing. She probably has a good 3 inches at the ends of her dreads that is loose and fine. It's really a preference. I know that she has one dread that has a blunted end where the tip sort of folded in upon the rest of the lock and dreaded up with it, but this takes time.
Loose hairs come with the territory and again... they just take time time time. Every one has em. Eventually they will find their way into a near by dread.
Keep on keepin on! And welcome to the site!
Thank you for your reply, very informative. I have no wax on my hair, havent been wearing a cloth in a few days now, and barely use the saltwater. I will follow the advises and check on the links, thank you.
Aside from that is is normal that i have so much loose hair, and the loose tips(about 3inchs)?
So you had backcombing and some sort of crocheting.....well, when using a method like backcombing or twist & rip, they will loosen, some sections will fall out, so that is normal. They need to loosen in order to dread to maturity. The journey will take about a year to mature. During the journey, they loosen, loop, shrink, do crazy shapes, then tighten. They become the thickness of where the section of hair meets the scalp. Don't let anyone "fix" loops, they must happen in order to mature. The roots will stay loose for a couple of years, then after that you will have about an inch of looseness at the scalp. This has to be so that the scalp has no pressure when the dreads move around and fly in the breeze. Now that I see your pics, Your hair will be fine, just stay away from salons and hooks, okay?
Don't worry, your hair is doing as it should...peace
Thank you, this calms me greatly. Ill be patient and enjoy the journey knowing im on a normal path. I do LOVE my hair very much.
Gilly's Mum said:
I think they're looking nice! How did you start them?
I dont know if others would agree, but I think you can stop covering them while they sleep. The movement of your head on the pillow will help them to lock up.
As for your tips, a lot of people have loose ends. I initially thought i would try to blunt Gill's tips but in the end I just let them do their thing. She probably has a good 3 inches at the ends of her dreads that is loose and fine. It's really a preference. I know that she has one dread that has a blunted end where the tip sort of folded in upon the rest of the lock and dreaded up with it, but this takes time.
Loose hairs come with the territory and again... they just take time time time. Every one has em. Eventually they will find their way into a near by dread.
Keep on keepin on! And welcome to the site!
Im very thankful for the reply, it calms me greatly that im on a normal path, and i will follow the advises and enjoy the journey.
the Barrellady said:
So you had backcombing and some sort of crocheting.....well, when using a method like backcombing or twist & rip, they will loosen, some sections will fall out, so that is normal. They need to loosen in order to dread to maturity. The journey will take about a year to mature. During the journey, they loosen, loop, shrink, do crazy shapes, then tighten. They become the thickness of where the section of hair meets the scalp. Don't let anyone "fix" loops, they must happen in order to mature. The roots will stay loose for a couple of years, then after that you will have about an inch of looseness at the scalp. This has to be so that the scalp has no pressure when the dreads move around and fly in the breeze. Now that I see your pics, Your hair will be fine, just stay away from salons and hooks, okay?
Don't worry, your hair is doing as it should...peace
how were they done and retouvched (both bad ideas!) why are you washing with a clith over your head?
and yes they should have loose hairs
but no nevcer even thik of going for repairs
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
Happy for you they did not use wax, so you will be just fine from here on in and will have a great journey. I have a posting for the twist & rip method, but you will find tips on there so you know the changes to expect: http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/just-starting-out-what-to-expect
peace
