Hey All,
I'm Traddy and I've been dreading for about a year and a half now. I just wanted to check in with some of my concerns and see if I'm really on the right track for the long term. I plan on donating to this site today -it's just that the bank isn't open yet, heh heh. I perused these forums regularly at the beginning and even got some help from SE...
i went all natural. I dont do anything except wash with Dr. Bs lavender (1-12 about) and condition with Braggs ACV (about 1-4. I was using less, but I didnt feel it cleaning at all, so I upped the dosage.) Thats all Ive ever done (and separate of course). I wash about once a week sometimes 2 weeks. When I wash, I dont scratch the hell out of my scalp, but I do get my fingers in there and scratch where it itches. (I never really did the laying the dreads on the hand and washing them thing.) Also, I had a bit of a problem with some soap residue building up in the ends, so lately Ive been squeezing them a bit when I wash, letting them fill up with water and then squeezing a bit again to get all that soap out of there. I just do it gently. I put them up in a towel to dry
There really isnt much loose hair to be found, but I am a bit worried about some of the thinner dreads particularly 3 in the front. They just seem to be a bit thin at the roots (especially the one in the front which got stuck on a tree). The top of my scalp seems a bit thin as well. Could that be simply from the weight of the dreads? Maybe just some wicked parting? My folks are trying to tell me that my dreads are making me go bald (Haha!), but I really dont see any thinning.
My hair pretty much stopped congoing all together. Every once in a while I have to pull a hair or two away from the dread next to it, but really thats it. Most of the dreads I feel are too far away now to comfortably congo, but at the beginning many joined together. Oh yeah, my beard is starting to dread gnarly too!
I tie them back loosely pretty much all the time. I sleep with them like this too. Lately Ive been sleeping with a t-shirt over my head, because sometimes I need a change from tying them I Need a TAM!!!
If anyone sees any possibly bad dread practice here, or has any constructive criticism, please let me know. Im sorry for the biography, but Im in it for the long haul, and I want to make sure my dreads are healthy and will last my lifetime, and that I am also capable of teaching people the right way to do it, as I do get asked a lot.
Sorry for the super up-close photos. The lighting in this bathroom is pretty severe and as you know, taking pictures of yourself sucks.
Thank you for your time.
Cheers,
Traddy
updated by @traddy: 02/14/15 08:34:21AM
