In my opinion your sectioning looks too large on top. I had a rather large lock on the top of my head too that was showing a part. My dread was so tight at the bottom that I couldn't comb to split so I ripped it into 2 and after my shampoo (and ever since) the part is no longer visible. Can you try splitting it maybe?
I am a year and a half in and have the beavertail like knots on almost every dread. My locks are all nice and rope like and then they have the big ol knot at the bottom. Some of them have started to compress and become rather hard but they're not going anywhere.
I have the same issue with my hair. My hair feels kinda sticky and there are some different kind of knots that form from it and I have the linty stuff in the center. It isn't mold or mildew and there is no odor. I only use Vicki's shampoo bars and shampoo 2-3 times a week. I have noticed though that the Patchouli scented bar has a tendency to make it stickier than the others I have tried. I have been using clarifying shampoo every month or two and unfortunately it doesn't get it all out. I don't use any oils, do have hard water, and no products have ever been used. If somebody has any idea of what to try I'm up for some advice too. Thanks!!
Hi Taye! I was wondering what you meant about hot sauce being good? This may sound silly but you do mean eating food with hot sauce right, not some sort of scalp rub with it I'm not aware of? 
taye said:
My dreads are only 7 years old. I do know that my dreads are getting heavy. I plan on keeping mine to my ass. I will trim them to keep them at that length. I have a lot of wispy hair around my face. I don't think it is thinning, but it does not really grow. I take 10,000 mcg of Biotin every night. It has encouraged a lot of new growth. I would also recommend scalp massage. Because we have dreads our scalp gets ignored. We can not brush to stimulate blood flow. So massage is very important. Blood flow keeps a scalp happy and encourages blood flow. It also keeps the hair follicles from getting clogged. Clogged hair follicles can cause hair loss. Also hot sauce is a good thing!
Hi Jaime! The bumps, kinda like pimples seem to be pretty normal in starting new dreads. I experienced them too but mine were more less on my hairline on my neck. Your scalp may be sore if you made your dreads too tight. Your scalp has to adjust to the changes, but it will so hang in there. It is going to take some time for your dreads to fill in though. You will begin to get a lot of loose hair as your premade dreads come undone, the hairs will cross over and attach to other dreads filling in the gaps. I'm 15 months in and still have 1 straight line on the back of my head....damn it. I still have undreaded hair too though, everybody's journey is different. I wish you the bast and hope this puts you at ease some. Enjoy the ride! Take Care!
I've heard people say that they've had their hair turn that lighter white color from over using baking soda. For me personally it was really drying and now I'm faithful the dreadlockshampoo too. I have noticed that of all the different scents I've tried that 1 (Patchouli) leaves a build up over time (about a month)...of course it's my favorite. It's sticky for me though and not light in color. I use Pantene Clarifying and I think it works great. Before I found that 1 I was suggested to try the blue Dawn dish soap and that really stripped it...frizzed it and tangled it good too. I wish you luck in getting it out
I got them like the first 4 months of dreading but I haven't gotten them since. Maybe it's from the summer heat...from sweat maybe? I still gt the itchies though.
My husband is asleep right now but he is a chef. When he gets up I'll see if he has any ideas for you. It seems like there would be some kind of solution or mixture or like maybe white vinegar...(just a guess, it cleans everything else). I know I have been thinking about doing a color run but I've heard that stuff is hard to get off everything without dreads. Good luck!
