Haha maybe "harsh" wasn't the correct term. It's strong, it is potent. The primary ingredient is ethyl alcohol - that would be pretty drying if I used it daily to wash my hair, thats why I called it "harsh". It's effective in what it does for sure!
Keep clean and separate, I can do that 
Shrinkage is kinda sad, my just past shoulder length backcombed sections of hair are now barely chin length, 9 months later - and my hair grows fast, I cannot imagine where it is disappearing to at this point 
Oh well, that is just going to have to be ok. I just now am getting ready to do a hot soak in a large basin of water and Dawn. Not pleased about having to subject my hair to a harsh, degreasing detergent but I did put wax on it, gotta pay the price now huh! After a soak - or two, or three, I will be washing it out in the shower and will shampoo with a liquid shampoo from dreadlocksoap.com. and we shall see what remains on my head at that point Still planning to use their wax-be-gone product, will order it today.
the Barrellady said:
The great and lovely thing about dreads is all you have to do is keep them clean and separate when needed. The easiest hair care in the world, and the most beautiful. When the wax comes out, the true dreading will begin, and I won't lie, it will look different and a little out of control, they won't look straight because they will start looping and shrinking so that they can mature properly. You just enjoy that ride and don't give a shit that they are not "perfect" in other peoples eyes during this process. With time and patience, they will be awesome, you will never have to worry how they look again, every day they will be beautiful, and will sway with their freedom and lightness. With your new found free time, you can knit a tam and head wrap.
Peace
Thanks Tara it's been an odd day so far - I haven't tucked in one loose hair all day, not sure what to do with all of this free time haha!
Tara C said:
Inspiring story
Thank you SE!
Wow, you certainly know how to say exactly the right thing. I will embrace my strong vibrant self, who has taken quite a beating in the last few years
Wax b gone? I'm on it.
You know what's funny? I've NEVER been any good at doing what I'm told to do, following instructions to the T, or any of that nonsense. The ONE time in my life I do, it turns out to be the wrong thing to so. Lesson learned.
Hi all -
Have been lurking on and off for a few months, envying the joy many seem to experience during their "natural" dreadlock journey. My journey, so far, has not been very joyful.
I have a 9mo old micro-managed dreadlike hairstyle, I guess you might say. I had a series of very logical reasons for "needing" a maintained look and fairly quick results while dreading up last June - haha now that I say it, the only thing that is logical is that "maintained", "quick" and dreadlocks don't really go together at all do they? But thats what I did - backcombing, some wax, bands, blunted tips, a couple of deadly looking tools, and so much rubbing and rolling that I have damaged the tendon/ligament between my shoulder and bicep, according to my chiropractor.
My journey has been pretty negative and focused on constantly fixing "problems". They look OK - of course never as good (whatever arbitrary thing that is) as they should, and it seems like I'm forever dreading - pun not intended - some formal event or another because I fear that they'll be having some sort of tantrum that day or someone will disapprove, blah blah blah.
I'd like to turn this experience in a more positive direction. Thankfully I never did bake the wax into my hair - don't own a working blowdryer. And I did a few hot rinses in the first two months, with BS and also with a biodegradable dish detergent. Wasn't faithful in using the pricey shampoo - prefer the BS/ACV because I'm cheap and we use a water recycling system so using toxic shampoos is a no-no anyway. Have been using the yummy bar soap from dreadlocksoap.com since December.
The first thing I'm going to work on is getting any remaining wax out of my somewhat stiff and scratchy ropes of hair. Providing that I have any real knots left in there, what do I do next - haha I guess I should ask what should I NOT do!!
Thanks for a great site with a positive focus
Wow. I resonate with this, nearly fell off my chair.
I'm brand new here, haven't even properly introduced myself yet, just had to give a shout out here. My journey over the last 9 months has been, well, nearly the same. I'm here because I'm at the "give up CONTROLLING FREAKING EVERYTHING point as well haha...
Well said.
