Below is a repost of my story, which apparently inspired this discussion *blush.
If you don't learn anything else from this forum, learn this... Don't try to make dreads!!! They happen on their own, with a little help from some baking soda and apple cider vinegar. At least that's my experience in one day, after trying to backcomb and debating to use every sticky substance I could think of to make them dread, though I didn't actually ever put too much of anything in it.
My original question is under the help save my dreads section and I can't figure out how to post that link here, so if you want to read it, you gotta go search for it. :/ Anyway, here the original story of my progress in one day...
Well well...I do believe I might be the inspiration for this one, and yes, oh yes, I had more progress in one day than I had in an entire year after reaching this forum site today.
I had been trying to 'make dreads' which is the point that stood out most for me in my discussion with these wonderful people. Fortunately, I hadn't gone so far as to wax or use any type of product, but after a year of backcombing with no success, I was pretty desperate.
Most of the time when I searched for info, I came to dreadheadhq. Admittedly, I did buy some Lock Peppa about 2 months ago because nothing else was working. That didn't work either. I had read forums, watched videos on YouTube, blah blah blah. Kept at my hair for a time, left it alone for a time, washed it frequently, didn't wash it for a while. Nothing was working.
So I posted on this forum in the 'save my dreads' section.
Immediate responses from some really great and really helpful people. I took their advice and used a baking soda wash and then the apple cider vinegar. My hair immediately responded. I was absolutely amazed at the natural twisting and locking that my hair did after just one treatment. I mean really...
And then I learned how to put in beads, which may seem obvious to some of you, but wow! I've got beads in my hair now!
So thank you, thank you to you wonderful and kind people for having this place of truth! Bottom line that I learned today, don't try to MAKE dreads. Use baking soda and apple cider vinegar and leave 'em be.
PEACE!
updated by @jeannie-pitt: 02/14/15 10:08:41AM