New to the site and to dreading!

Hello everyone!

My name is Laura. I am new to this site and to dreading itself and I have so many questions. I have medium textured very, very curly hair. I cut it short this past august for the first time and it was a wonderful, freeing experience. I am looking forward to my dreading journey for the same reason. I am on day number 3 of not using any product in my hair and I cannot tell you have amazing it feels. I even had someone say to me yesterday "Oh my god Laura. I LOVE your hair! It's like a work of art... it almost looks like you are trying to grow dreadlocks!"

I have spent my entire life fighting my curls. Beating them into submission with millions of products, chemicals and harmful irons. I spent lots of money on keratin treatments and countless other remedies. It has taken me 26 years but I am finally ready to let go and let my hair be what it is. This is who I am and this is what I was given so why should I fight it any longer?I have never felt like I belonged in this society anyway, so why should I try and fit into the straight haired mold that I so obviously do not and will not ever fit into? This has been my revelation for the past week or so. And it feels wonderful. I know this is the right thing for me. It is so exciting and liberating to know that I am doing this for ME and for me only. I am no longer worried about impressing men or people around me. I have always thought dread locks were beautiful and sensual and natural looking. I always envied women with them. They have always symbolized (for me) that free form lifestyle I have always wanted to live.

I want to know if I am doing the right things to start my hair off. I washed and conditioned it 3 days ago. I put no product into it after the shower and I let it dry naturally. I have a pretty awesome afro, but I need to know if I am doing what I need to do to let it dread. I know I keep reading that you just leave your hair alone. But is that the same if it is so short? I love what Soaring Eagles profile says "Just go play in the woods and forget you have hair." I think that sounds like heaven. Too bad I have to work! I believe it isseparatingsome already in 3 days but I could be wrong. Please, someone with curly and or short hair point me in the right direction!

Since I am trying to go natural and let it do whatever it wants, how often should I wash it and whatshouldI use? Should I use conditioner or no? I am afraid my hair will get very brittle if I do not condition it since it is curly, and curly hair is curly because the hair cuticle remains open all the time. I want it to remain healthy and grow fast but to also dread over time.

Thank you to everyone so far for all the warm welcomes!! I am so excited to be here!!

P.S. The photos are as follows. The first is sort of what it looks like long. I had a keratin treatment on it when this picture was taken and had been swimming in the ocean for days (that's when I love my hair the most!) The second is a picture of it with product in it. The third photo is what it looks like right now with no product in it at all. That was my first day of no product!

updated by @laura-annalina: 01/13/15 09:46:52PM

trhat will dread like crazy no dont condition if it does get too dry use a lil aloe or jojoba

wash 1-3 times a week with a dread shampoo

as it dreads sep-erate to keep the dreads apart

thats it very simple

--
My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1

so I have the perfect hair type? And where do I get a dread shampoo or can I just use the baking soda stuff I keep reading about

Welcome Laura, your dreads will look fantastic, curly hair dreads naturally so quickly. You are on the right track with this site. The dreaducation tab at the top has lots of information to keep you with healthy dreads. A great site for natural dreadlocking shampoo is dreadlockshampoo.com, this is the one that Soaring Eagle recommends. By all means, use the baking soda/apple cider vinegar rinse until you get dread shampoo. The baking soda works fantastic, so use it as long as you want in the beginning. I am at 11 months and still use it. Happy Dreading, show us a pic in a couple of months. Cheers

Laura Annalina said:

so I have the perfect hair type? And where do I get a dread shampoo or can I just use the baking soda stuff I keep reading about

Thank you!!!!!

Welcome pretty lady! We've got very similar hair, and mine has been knotting up very quickly. You shouldn't have a problem letting your babies go all natural :D before you know it you will have beautiful baby dreadies .. just be patient.Also, I can completely relate to you with the constant battle against your curls, trying to straighten defrizz and make them presentable is such a nightmare. I've also gotten the keratin relaxer when I was younger, along with the Japanese straightening done ever six months from age 14-17. 450 dollars each time!! I cringe thinking back on all the money I wasted, and what it could of gone towards. I cannot wait for you to feel the overwhelming joy and sense of freedom that comes along with locking your hair! For once, our curls are what's preferred and loved. Welcome again.Namaste.