Decided to start a journal as I'm in the very early stages and it will be good to look back on.
About 2 months ago I had shoulder length hair. I am attached to my hair because I had testicle cancer. Luckily it was only stage 1 and the chemo I had didn't make my hair fall out, but the fear of that happening was enough for me to become attached to my hair. This was 6 years ago. I tried growing my hair multiple times in that time and each time I had to get it cut. Once when my Dad died (Cancer too), and the second when my stepdad died 12 months later (Cancer too). All reinforced my love for my hair because each time I had to cut my hair for the funeral (couldn't attend with messy hair) hurt me to cut my hair. So after my stepdads death I decided to never cut it again.
But, the fear has turned into a love. A passion. A journey that is spiritual. After losing people I became more spiritual. I started looking to the Universe, and nature and loving the living things around me. I still struggle with mental health but this new journey, on a new path, is sending me in a direction that is already having a positive impact on my life.
It's so strange that some people view my journey negatively, or tar me with wanting to be "black". I do have Jamaican family, Mt cousins have a Jamaican Dad, my stepdad was Jamaican, but that's not the reason and it's nothing to do with his or their culture. A culture I have grew up around non the less. I've learned that dreadlocks are the way hair is meant to grow and it brings me closer to the natural "man" that were meant to be. At least that's my opinion.
Soaring eagle has been very helpful and I'm very much inspired by his dreads, and his process. I can't thank him enough for the wealth of information he has shared. A true inspiration.
I started by towel rubbing for a month. I stumbled on this site from a Google search and read a post by Soaring eagle that basically prompted to stop towel rubbing. And that's how I arrived here. I've now stopped that. All I'm doing from this point forward is washing with trader joes conditioner (because my gf uses it and her shampoo is no good but the conditioner is great). I let my hair dry naturally and put a towel over my shoulder to catch any small drips after ringing it out.
Only thing I'll be doing is separating locks if they get too fat, or section incorrectly. But, aside from that I'm now leaving them alone to do their thing however long that takes.
And I think that's everything for my introduction 
I'll keep it updated over time provided I have access to internet. I've included the current most picture of my hair.
updated by @dreadjay: 04/02/19 07:55:35AM
