Forum Activity for @btw990

Scalp being weighed down

Help! Save My Dreads


It's actually funny you posted that video cause that's the exact one I used for reference when mixing up my oils for this problem lol. I actually ended up deciding I'm gonna comb it all out, trim some of the ends so there's no remnants of interlocking, and start fresh from there. I feel like it'd just be easier to repair that spot with it unlocked. Plus these last two months have been the worst of my life so far so I think I could use it spiritually. Thank you for the advice, I'm actually still going to get in touch with Panterra so that in the future I could avoid that problem from happening again.

Scalp being weighed down

Help! Save My Dreads

In the past I've posted about this weird baldish spot I've had going on the back of my scalp. I thought it could have been natural balding or traction alopecia from my last set of dreads which were crocheted super tight, which I combed out almost four years ago to go totally freeform. Now I'm actually thinking it's cause of the weight of the locks in that area putting tension on the scalp, where my hair in that area is already a little bit thinner than the rest of my head. I've tried several things in the past to try making it look better, like TnRing small groups of loose hair to make some skinny dreads, taking some hair out of some of the bigger dreads to form their own, and eventually I joined two of the skinny dreads. No matter what it has looked silly. So I was looking to see if there is really anything I can do about it, aside from combing out again and starting fresh.

While I'm at it, my previous set of dreads was heavily crocheted, interlocked, waxed, bleached, dyed, you name it. That shit show had to go once I realized how screwed up it all was. I probably should have cut off a little bit after the comb-out, but I let it start freeforming immediately after getting all the wax and crap out. Some of the dreads I had prior reformed, as well as some new ones, but ultimately now it looks so much better than the old set. Problem is, the damage from a lot of the interlocks is (or was) still there. Some locks just have thin weak spots, others reformed the actual interlocks so there's a decent hole in the middle, about 4" from the end, but what hasn't broke off yet will break off soon. So what I have going on now is just about all the locks in front about 4" shorter than the rest all around, that part doesn't bother me too too much. What I do want to know, however, is if having allowed some of the old dreads to form as they did, did I prevent my hair from dreading the way it's actually supposed to? I feel like for the size of some of my sections my locks should be thicker and shorter than what it is. I've attributed it to the fact that I have fine, thin hair, but I just don't know and it really bugs me when I think about it. I'm considering a do-over again, but if everything seems normal I wouldn't waste my time. Any advice would be great.

Picture is of that stupid baldish spot.

updated by @btw990: 06/25/21 10:56:47AM

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Oh yeah, way more comfortable lol. My head and hair breathe way better with this set for sure. Where I seemed to have that hair loss, which I think was a combination of that area thinner to begin with, as well as the damage from tightening and then combing out after having been interlocked, I have a few thinner dreads and a shorter nubby one that's been growing and folding into itself nicely. Recently I TnR'ed a few loose areas around the edges and they've all joined their neighboring locks, which I'm happy about. Other than that it's all been natural

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Thank you. I cringe every time I think about my first crochet set and any time I look at pictures lol. I'm so glad I started over completely.

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And now currently at about 22 months and a week. The one picture in back is to show where my hair became really thin and weak from the nasty sectioning I had done to it when I was forcing dreads, and how it's improved since then. The hair is still thinner in that area but I kept my locks nice and separate over there to fill it out a little more, and it's not anywhere near as noticeable now.

updated by @btw990: 09/03/19 07:40:46PM

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And 11 months:

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Hey, it's been a while since I've been on here and updated. Can't believe it's been like a year-year and a half or something, guess I've just been caught up in life and I don't spend much time on the internet anymore. Anyway, I have a few updates I figured it was time to post, I'm not sure the best way to post pics for comparison so I'm gonna do it the way I know lol.

This one's my 8 month update:

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Thank you both! I am very happy with how they are turning out. Wish I understood how dreading works a lot sooner than I did cause I'd be further along, but you live and you learn. I'm just happy to have my own experience with disaster so that I can educate others. At the moment my most underneath locks in back are my favorite because they're the most mature. It's really cool just to watch and feel them do all this curling and shrinking, definitely makes it exciting.

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4 & 1/2 month update

Finally got on here to update. Got plenty of dreads developed and a good few shrinking up nice. The dreads up top are more abundant than my last set which I'm happy about. Some of my previous dreads did re-form, but it isn't too big a deal to me because they don't affect my cowlick area. I've also become a lot better at separating and more precise with the sizes of my sections.

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3+ week update

My sections have become a lot more defined and more dreads forming. Been sleeping on my right side the last few nights to keep things balanced. The front is slowly coming along now too.