4 months
Introduce Yourself
I have been letting my hair dread since mid Oct and am pleased with my progress. I have some pretty good ones forming, but as with all things new it takes some adjustment. Last month was the hardest because I felt like I had a big fuzzy frizzy mess on one side. I just kept sectioning to keep it from being one huge dread, and put some loose beads in to keep them separate. Now as I section, if I feel a dread that seems loose or an area trying to Congo too much, i put another brad in. These are loose enough that over the next few days many of the beads fall off, I collect them and the next time I separate I again use them on the most problematic ones. My hope is this way they get the benefit of the bead to rmaintain separation, but not the drawbacks that can come from beads (thin weak areas). A few beads seem to be semi permanent (and I am fine with them staying). I have lots (haven't counted - guessing at least 100) of smaller dreads and a few bigger ones that are maybe pinky-sized in diameter. I do realize that at some point it may be better to let some combine, but for now, having lots of small ones helps me feel better about the transition period because I can still putt hair up for work and most people don't even realize I am dreading (it is obvious when my hair is loose).My biggest problem may be messing with it too much. I seem to remember reading somewhere to separate only once a week. My hair is coarse and wavy and seems to dread pretty easily, and I have never made it a week between separation sessions. The times I have been very busy and gone 3 days between I had some monster masses of hair I had to rip apart. The beading seems to have helped have to do this less.So, understanding the premise that 'less is more', am I messing with it too much? After reading the posts of people who don't have dreads afterimage of not combing I am beginning to see my problem is really a blessing I need to embrace
updated by @denise-lagrand: 01/13/15 10:02:10PM