Forum Activity for @luke-passalinqua

question about section shape at roots.

Dread Maintenance

hello again! i posted my 8 month update in the user timeline section last week. im getting some really good progress i think. i have a question/concern regarding the section shape at the roots. ive been getting this sort of effect only near the top of my head, because of the way my hair grows/follicles are oriented. it grows at an angle toward the front of my head, so basically pointed down in front of me. since i part my hair from the top, off center, ive noticed around this area my sections at the roots are long, and thin. ive attached a quick paint drawing. i am talking about letter A.

letter B shows a blue peice, which is where if laying, or being pulled by a hand or gravity or whatever, this is the boundaries of where most of the tension would be. the red arrows show that at these points, near the end, since there is less hair, and thus less surface area ratio, to spread out the tension on the scalp, i fear at some point especially when longer, and especially when wet, there will be alot of tension on these weak points, and possible cause some irritation and/or damage. i was wondering if anyone would advise splitting these down the middle, like where the red line is, in attempt to equalize the tension, and make them more like the rest of my dreads, as in letter C.

the only reason im asking i guess, since ive split some like this before, is because they are fairly well sectioned at this point, while still in the early phases, i dont want to go back too far in terms of progress. but also, i dont want to get too far, and have it be a problem and have it be difficult to fix later.

anyone else get this effect/think its a good idea?

updated by @luke-passalinqua: 01/13/15 09:58:57PM

8 Months All Natural Progress

Member Journals and Timelines

http://imgur.com/a/BdXvm

and at 6 months

http://imgur.com/a/yNAIS

updated by @luke-passalinqua: 01/13/15 09:58:43PM

four months update

Dreadlock Picture Gallery

^ btw heres the under layer. almost nothing :/

SE: yeah i ran out a few weeks ago, waiting on another payday (this friday) to get some more. hours are slim at work so ive not been able to get that among other things.

thanks!

i might try tying the baby ones up for a few nights to see if keeping the lower layers in contact with the pillow while im sleeping will help them at least section.

updated by @luke-passalinqua: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM

four months update

Dreadlock Picture Gallery

hello all! ive completely neglected to post any sort of update until now. lately ive seen a bunch of new baby dreads forming, but overall i think my progress is kind of slow, since i have European hair. most of the dreading is on the top layer of hair, underneath this layer there is almost no progress whatsoever. im told this is pretty normal but i am definitely excited to start having some more progress.

updated by @luke-passalinqua: 01/13/15 09:53:27PM

only one layer?

Dreading Methods

i have pretty oily hair, so only use the vinegar once in a great while. and when i do i use less than half a capful to 2.25 quarts and its almost too much. my hair doesnt look bad or anything so i think its ok, but thats another reason i like to use the bronners and the lockin up liquid, they done mess with the ph as directly as the baking soda. i will definitely try that technique though with the spray bottle, i suppose with the right nozzle setting it would lather pretty well too. i do only scrub only the scalp but especially in the back where my hair is shorter(it was cut at all one length to donate to lock for love) its alot harder to not disturb the sections. i have had the spray before, it was excellent for after work when the ponytail straightened alot of that under hair and broke some sections, and im waiting until payday to get another.

heres my 4 months pics btw. it looks alot better here but underneath there is definitely poor progress. just used the bronners.

only one layer?

Dreading Methods

hello all! its been a while since ive been here, busy with school and whatnot but now that its out i have alot more time on my hands. yesterday was my 4th month! i have yet to post any updates but i just got out of the shower so i will take pics once my hair dries a bit. i just have one thing i wanted to ask about. i was separating today and, well its not the first time ive noticed this but i really looked into it today as i was separating, i noticed that there seems to be only one top/outer layer of my hair thats had any progress. you can literally lift this layer up and hold the dreads above my head, and underneath, the rest of the hair, while has "pieces" it is not sectioning or holding together at all. ive had this same phenomenon happen before i was dreading, it seems like its just a thing that happens overnight when i sleep, so in essence you could say this layer looks like i have brushed a few days ago. no interlocking, no looping, no nothing. i was wondering if its normal for the hair to dread from top to bottom like this or should i be seeing some more progress underneath?

this thing is especially apparent when i pull my hair back, the under layer covers most of my dread progress, and it looks like im not even dreading almost. i try to keep it down and free to tangle as much as possible, but i have to pull it back for work i am a salesman at sears.

i use bronners, the lockin up liquid, and the baking soda, depending on what i feel like i should use for the current wash. i wash every two days. recently i have realized that the sections break apart when using the bronners and lockin up liquid from scrubbing, and that they form much better when the no scrub baking soda is used, so ive been using the baking soda alot more, and using the liquids when i want to really scrub my scalp and/or use the tea tree oil(bronners) or make my hair smell strongly of nag champa.

like i said i will post a picture soon of my progress, and if you like i will also hold the sections up so you can see the underneath layer.

i was thinking about either ordering the dread gel, or doing a small amount of TnR underneath to kind of jump start it, but i really want to try to be all natural so i hope what i am experiencing is normal.

sorry for the wall of text but thanks!

updated by @luke-passalinqua: 01/13/15 09:53:24PM

starting my journey, a couple of questions

Dread Maintenance

Ok I'll try it out without the acv. Actually I used white vinegar cuz it's all I had. Also I should've made it more clear, it probably sounds pretty ambiguous from my first post but I went straight from every day wash to the baking soda etc and not every day. So it's been a few days which probably adds to the oil but my next wash is tomorrow so I'll try a new strategy then.Thanks for the replies!

starting my journey, a couple of questions

Dread Maintenance

hello all! just started my journey last sunday the 10th was the last time i brushed. actually kind of decided to go for it after a few hours of consideration. ive thought about it before, but actually doing it was pretty spur of the moment. randomly saw some pictures, and started doing research, and just decided to go for it.

anyway first i just want to say im glad i found this site because it seems like theres a ton of good info here and alot of it is what convinced me to go for it, because before i thought it would be a hassle and very complicated but everything on this site says the opposite.

i just had a few small questions though. im coming from the shampoo every day lifestyle, so the oils in my hair/scalp rebuild very quickly, and in large quantity. im trying totransitionto doing the bs/acv every few days, and my hair is currently super greasy. been roughly a day and a half-2 days. did the wash in the evening, and i woke up the next morning and my hair was surprisingly non greasy. i think i made the mistake of rinsing my hair in the morning with hot water which i think may have helped bring alot of oils from the scalp to the strands. anyone have any opinions on this? imthinkingits either that, or my head is overcompensating for not washing, or a combination.

also, ive read a bunch of different threads about the bs acv washing, some say you must use the acv afterword, and some dont even mention it, and only mention the baking soda. i have european/thin/relatively straight hair, so i was thinking if using the baking soda only, it would help more than if i conditioned with the acv after. also im using the sea salt, separately from the baking soda. ive seen some people say to mix the salt and baking soda. which would be the best way?

i think its going to be somewhat difficult/longer for me, since like i said i have very oily fine straight hair, havent brushed in over a week and my hair is still pretty untangled. i know to be patient, but i figured since sometimes ive had trouble brushing knots out, my hair wouldnt be so managable when left go haha. btw i have hair length of just below shoulder length. thanks!!

updated by @luke-passalinqua: 01/13/15 09:46:53PM