So, I started TNR then went natural well over a year ago and it's like I have fairly mature dreads with a LOT of loose hair. Any way I can make those hairs fall in line and start acting like dreads? I use the bar soap from dreadlockshampoo.com right now, and home-made sea salt accelerator rarely seems to do anything other than make my hair feel like a desert for a little while.
Thanks for the replies, guys =) I was thinking bleaching would be OK as long as it doesn't damage the hair so much it becomes brittle and just breaks off. And from every other time I've had some bleached accents (around 18-19 until my current age of 3*(#$*ahem*ahem*cough*@?) I've never had that problem. And I should learn to be patient...especially that I'm going natural this time. I've tried forced times before and it never really worked out right. I'd eventually either cut them off or have them combed out (painful and basically a not-my-idea-wait-oh-fine).
I'm thinking of either monthly progress photos or photos when I notice a big enough change to warrant photos. Woo! Dreads!
Here are some pictures from about ~2 months into natural dreading progress. Washing with dreadlockshampoo liquid twice a week and DIY sea salt "accelerator." (I put it in quotes since it doesn't seem to be accelerating anything) I actually have 3 lengths of hair: undercut, adjusted undercut that's growing out (first undercut was done by a pro that cut a bit too high, the rest are my girlfriend's help) and the regular long hair. The undercut will be staying, the adjusted that is growing out will be left to do its own dread dance.
And a quick question or two: I have some bleached parts (obviously) would it be wise or unwise to have some more parts bleached at this point? And would washing 3 times per week help at all? As you can see from the one picture I'm kinda sparse (damn you genetics!) on top.
Those pics were mainly to show the thinning/sparse hair on the top of my head. It's about 9 inches on average. The thinning/sparseness is what concerned me the most.
Here are a few pictures of my hair...how well would it dread? First one is front, next is side. I hope it can dread well, since I got my liquid shampoo from dreadlockshampoo.com today.
Oh man, if only had I known! Fortunately I have spare money to get the liquid. I try to search the forums before posting anything, but specifically the essential oil just popped into my head while I was typing out my post. Thanks again for your help! If I ever get to come out to give hands-on help with FWI I may have to kneel in your presence of Dreadlocked Royalty. (Of course I kid, I have a weird sense of humor. Weird in a good way, as my girlfriend says)
A few quick questions for the Dreadlocks version of Stephen Hawking:
Concerning the literal method of washing hair: I got a bar shampoo from dreadlockshampoo.com (the tea tree & rosemary version) about 4 weeks ago and started washing just once a week but now I'm doing twice a week since I've had dry & itchy scalp for a loooong time (honestly, I'm not as hygienic as I should be, but with my mental illnesses -- it's a common symptom). I was wondering (especially with my thinning hair, I'll post pictures later when I can get my girlfriend to take ones at a good angle with proper lighting) how to literally wash my hair. Right now I Just take the bar and rub it on the top of my head for a few seconds, then on my undercut, and kinda message/scratch my scalp to really get it in there and do its thing. I'm not vigorous about it, mostly just thorough.
And about how to literally dry my hair: since I'm in the mostly straight stage I've just been applying a little bit pressure to my head with a towel and then flipping my hair forward to kind of "squeeze" out the water (as if I actually had dreads). Would towel rubbing be a good idea? I'm trying my best not to lose any more hair, which brings me to my final question:
I've read that some essential oils can either stop hair loss or even have some grow back. Stuff like rosemary, burdock, ivy burdock, fenugreek, and thyme. I have a text file with a whole list of essential oils, vitamins, and healthy things to eat that are supposedly good for your hair. I don't know how much real research has been done with everything, which is why I added "supposedly." Do you have any knowledge about essential oils, etc. that would be good for happy healthy dreads?
Thanks for all your help so far, SE. Keep on soaring!
One more thing...this poor girl dandrataylor asks a question and some jackass rod doctor takes over her thread. Too much hate these days.
I apologize dandrataylor if you've read any of this.
Dr. Rod, I mentioned growth hormones in livestock, not your dreads. Try to remember your elementary school English. Grammar and punctuation is useful. And now suddenly we're autistic? Tell me, doctor...what are all of the mental health disorders that fall within the autistic spectrum? Are dementia and Alzheimer's related? What is corneal neovascularization? What is systolic and diastolic? What are acceptable levels? I think I have orthostatic hypotension. What does that mean? What do these following initials stand for? EKG/ECG, EEG, IVIG (all I could think of off the top of my head). What are the symptoms of a detached retina? What are the different categories of broken bones? What are the differences between eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis? What is degenerative disc disease? How many diseases are in the Herpesviridae family?
That's all I can think of right now. Don't want to waste too much brain power. Good luck being a doctor while us simple mortals live out pathetic lives.
I'm done with this "conversation."
I'm have low self-esteem and self-consciousness (going along with my mental health diseases), so I'm always trying to adjust this or that to make sure I look as good as I can for other people. I need to learn to just live and be happy. 
Thanks for the help!
Also, I've been pondering about wearing a necklace for a while now. Looks like I'm just going to have to do it now. 
