Help!
Dreading Methods
My advice for what it's worth it to do nothing much really! This site is full of names of products and methods that I have never heard of and I have been a dready for more than ten years! For mine I just didn't wash it or brush it (just tied it up when I went out) was swimming in the sea a lot so salt water if you're not near the sea, and very quickly it started. Some looked a bit scraggly so initially I just rubbed a thin one into it's neighbour or pulled thick ones into two and once in a while rolled them between my palms to get them round and not flat. Just occasionally make a hole in the top and pull them through themselves to lock in new growth and boom - there you have it!
This sounds slack in comparison with most technical advice offered here but mine look good and I always get complimented on the 'tips' (which I just hack off when they get too long with the kitchen scissors) and how thick, tidy and healthy they look. I have a good job, am a mother and pull off my big fat dreadz with many a nice frock at a posh event!
Hope this helps maybe, as I get why you're overwhelmed with this flood of techniques, but be sure or comb them out early as I've joined this forum to see how to get rid of mine without shaving my head! Sad but it's time!