Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
Will do!
Forum Activity for @absmom
Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
That makes sense, I'm sure over times she'll collect some. She's always getting little random things from her friends.
Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
Thanks, her name is Annabelle, when typing/texting I always abbreviate it to ab because it's rather long. I won't palm roll it anymore, just separate it after she showers. I offered to buy her beads, I even showed her some beautiful animal dread beads on etsy but as of right now she is against putting anything in them. I secretly hope she changes her mind about it though!
Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
The tnr didn't go well after our break. It's hard to explain, it just knotted up weird and we both got frusterated. So I just left her hair down for the rest the day/night to do its thing (tangle like crazy). Her hair tangles in thin tendrils so this morning I just split them up and messed with them a bit, mostly palm rolling, to try to encourage them to tangle up a bit more together and to discourage up the hair net like web that her hair likes to form. I think we're off to a good start. She is absolutely in love and is so proud of them. I'm just going to let them do their thing and just separate them every morning.
updated by @absmom: 02/06/17 06:10:05PM
Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
I researched letting them dread naturally and explained it to AB yesterday. We spoke about it yesterday and today and she felt like I was going back on my promise to let her have them by not actively doing her hair. Since this is her decision in the first place I decided to let her take the lead (mostly). This evening I started what I guess I would call a gentle approach to t&r. I started trying to section her hair but the tiny fly aways kept getting caught and pulled so I gave up on that and did my best to section as I went. I left the hair pretty loose near her head and at the ends because they didn't tangle easily and I didn't want to force anything. I also made the sections on the small side (I think I did anyway) to help them dry more quickly (she lives at the pool all summer).
We are taking a break and before I start again and get toward the top of the hair that people will see more, I wanted to get some input. Do my sections look too big/small? Am I on the right track or do I need to make some changes. I attached a before pic, a pic of how much I've done so far and a close up, because I think the 1st progress pic is a bit deceptive (frizz wise) in my opinion.
Thanks so much for all of your help so far!
Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
Thanks for replying. I checked out dreadlockshampoo.com, should I order their liquid shampoo for new dreads or just buy the bar? Gilly's dreads look great, I'll do some research on doing it natural, as fast as her hair knots t&r might be a waste of time. How do I keep natural dreads from being 1 big clump, just separate them a bit as they form with my fingers?
Starting dreads on a 7 year old
General Questions
I have a 7 year old daughter who has been asking for dreads and I've finally decided to let her do it. I don't have them, but her friends mom does so she knows that she's asking for (I almost did it a few times over the years but with super thin hair I've always been afraid they'd look bad on me). She is a brilliant child with a free spirit and likes what she likes regardless of what anyone else thinks. I think they'll suit her personality and help control (probably the wrong word) her wild hair. About her hair, it is very unmanagable fine, frizzy hair with a loose curl down to the waistband of her jeans that knots up so much I keep it braided almost 24/7... even then it manages to get tangled.
I have done a lot of research and plan to start them doing twist and rip using no wax or anything and washing with Trader Joe's tea tree tingle shampoo (on the list that ragingrootstudio has online). I have a few questions though.
1.With her length about how long would you guess it will take to start them (keep in mind I've never done it before)?
2.If she can't sit still for that long, is it possible to spread it out over a few days? If I spread it out, I was planning to start at the bottom of her head and work my way up is that fine?
3. Because she is in public school, I need them to look at least somewhat like dreadlocks and not just a mass of unbrushed hair, is there anything I can do that can help with this without damaging her hair (or will it be just fine only doing t&r).
4. I've read about white people with dreads being harassed over cultural appropriation, does this really happen often? In town, I know it won't be a problem (we are a teeny tiny pop 500 rural town and those with dreads are accepted) but once a month we go to the city, will it be an issue there?
5. Is there anything you think I may not have considered?