Forum Activity for @evan3

hats and dreads and help, oh my

Introduce Yourself

i have so many problems it's not funny.I recently got a job as a barista. Love the job. But i have to wear my hair in a bun and a hat and headset. I work everyday so it's hard to let my hair down. Can this cause the dreading process to cease? I wear the hat as loose as possible.I have hair just past shoulder length and I'm trying to get it to knot. I don't post here often but have a couple times. I have thick really straight oily hair.I started washing with baking soda to dry it and get it to begin knotting. I have a decent dread I'm the center of the back of my head and many others forming. All are on the back though. It's been roughly 4 months now of doing this and I'm halfway impressed and unimpressed with the progress. I use a gallon of water or so in my sink and get it really hot. Then I add about 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of sea salt (real fine sea salt). stir it real well then I dip my head in and rotate around as best as I can and scrub my scalp relatively well for about 10 minutes. then I hop in the shower, soap up and rinse, then I rinse my hair well with warm water and after that I squeeze the hair out as best I can.I also have hard water. can that affect any of this? I was thinking of getting a certain shampoo to help or use but I don't know what to get ! and I wash my hair about every three days but it gets so greasy by then, and I'm afraid that if I wash daily it'll dry out too much and can kill my hair or possibly give dread rot to the stuff I have forming nowsorry to type so much I just need help! do I wear beanies and caps or not? if I have to, can I do so? I wear my buff to push back my hair at times also. that's ok right? and how do I get the rest of my head to knot ? I even switched to satin pillowcases.help please !
updated by @evan3: 01/13/15 10:02:59PM

Washing forming dreads

General Questions

So I've been washing my hair with baking soda every couple of days for the past 2 weeks. I use a tablespoon of baking soda for every 8 oz of warm water, and i mix it. My hair was much more oily than it is here recently, but still gets rather oily between washes. Ive been washing every 2-3 days, I can't take it past 3 days because it's so greasy and nasty looking and feeling.

I have a couple of dreadlets and knots forming finely, all of which are on the back of my head. The sides of my head and front and top parts are still greasy and silky, and not drying as I thought they should. Am I not washing them correctly?

Do I need to use a bucket and dunk them or am I doing this right?

I was pouring 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a 16 oz cup over my head at once whilst showering, then rinsing it thoroughly out about 10 minutes later. I then squeeze my hair out to get the excess water out, and let it air dry after that.

HELP ME PLEASE!

updated by @evan3: 01/13/15 10:01:16PM

New to dreading

General Questions

I'm new to this site and to the dreading process.

I love dreads, and want them. I've read and clicked and watched videos all over the internet in attempt to find out the best way for me to get them. I like the organic look and experience of the natural method. From my extensive reads and browsing online from google search to various website, I decided I want to try to let mine form and grow naturally.

Here is my dilemma:

I have thick, straight, oily hair. I read that all types of hair can form dreads, some taking longer than others. I read that you have to use an anti-residue shampoo to accomplish this. I picked up some of the Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo for about $5 at a local Walmart and started to wash. I play with my hair a lot. I run my hands through my hair and twist it out of boredom, which I've read isn't good if you're attempting to dread.

I guess what I'm wanting to find out is can my hair dread? What products should I use? Specific shampoos or soap? I've been washing with this shampoo on a daily basis for about a month because I read you must have good clean hair for dreads to begin forming. I also never brush my hair. I wear ballcaps and adjustable hats frequently and also wear beanies.

I have some tangles that are forming and on the back of my head what looks to be a little dreadlet forming in the middle of the hair. (It isn't tangling or forming at the roots or tips)

Can anyone give me any advice? I want to start immediately.

Thanks!

Evan

updated by @evan3: 01/13/15 10:00:52PM