My dreads suck a** (with pictures)

FemalePheromones:

IT actually looks like you've still got a decent amount of volume in your hair which is good. Glad you're happier now.

KatatoniK: Trico, personally I thought you looked great with the dreads my friend 😁 although like has been said, crochet can be damaging and painful and irritating. Personally free form is best but if you're like me, and you did say something about lack of patience if I recall lol, twist and rip is also a good, less damaging method. As always tho there will be unruly frizz and craziness but its a journey. Its Definately not like going to a salon and getting a cut. You'll have to be patient and learn to embrace the craziness if you're gonna stuck with it. I'm a little over a month in and right now I have so much loose hairs and the back of my head is so matted at the roots its insane! I have to separate the back almost daily and use a sea salt water and aloe spray on a few locks to help them along and with my dandruff ive found an apple cider vinegar rinse once a month to be quite helpful 😀 way less itch and flakes. 😁 I only finger roll (like palm rolling but placing the loc between the index and middle finger valley, then "palm roll" motion) a tiny bit at the root in the back to help keep them seperated and I only do this after a wash while theyre wet to cut down on damage. And very gently do the same to the rest just to get the stray loose hairs closest to each lock to stay where I want them also a helpful tip ive picked up is, if ya dont wanna wash your hair and you wanna feel fresh (say you washed Monday and its Wednesday and ya feel a like icky) a cool water rinse is great too! Just make sure you give your hair ample time to dry ☺ if your hair is damp for too long it can cause issues. I wash or rinse mine in the morning so it can dry well. I prefer to go outside after so nature can dry it but you can use a hair dryer as well on a cool setting ☺ honestly it seems like you've done your homework and have a good sense of what ur in for. But always feel free to ask questions 😁 lets be honest, I'd be lying if I said I havent thought about brushing mine out once or twice so far. I'm sure everyone has in the baby stage! It can get frustrating and disheartening sometimes. But just remember, they need time to mature, just like any child 😜 at first, they're cute and seem to act how you want them, (infant stage) then they become a bit sassy and start to do what they want! Becoming a bit messy and not quite listening to what you want (baby stage) then they start to defy your wishes and push the boundaries, trying to make their own way (toddler stage) eventually they become unruly and completely defiant just before they start to calm down and look more like dreadlocks (teen stage) then they start to shape up and start becoming what you always wanted and knew they could be! (Young adult stage) and eventually they fully mature and become locks. They've settled in and found their place but will always need a lil guidance 😜 (mature stage) mind you this can take a year, for some more and for some less. I know a few ppl who's locks at three years are still a bit unruly and troublesome at times and others who's locks matured quickly at about 6-7 mos. It all depends on your hair. But the best advice ive heard is to set em and forget em (so to speak) and enjoy the journey 😁 its Definately a wild ride.! Keep us posted if you decide to do them again. But you look great either way ☺ these pics are of mine first done and 6 weeks in 😁 much love friend

KatatoniK:
. I get strange looks sometimes and other times compliments but I'm doing all this for me. I've never felt more confident and comfortable in my own skin as I do now. Ive always been a bit of a dancer to my own drum and as so have been cast aside by society and made to feel ashamed of myself. I would doll myself up and try to be "normal" as societies standards, but still I got sideways glances and uttered negativities thrown my way. Ive always been quite sensitive and took this to heart. (I know I shouldn't but I do) now, I feel pretty, even if noone else sees it. I feel worth while. I'm more comfortable like this than wearing "stylish" garb and trying to wear my hair and make up as "normal" girls do. (Like I said, I'm far from "normal" lol) ive noticed we all wear our locks for our own reasons, be it for aesthetics or simply because its "easier" to deal with but I have noticed that a big reason that is popular amongst the dread community is for self acceptance and self love. Ive noticed people self confidence soar with their travels on their journey. Its incredible to watch people grow as their locks change and mature and grow as well. Its more than a hair style thats for sure!