Forum Activity for @rachel-nattydee

Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo is NOT SAFE for baby dreads!

Dread Maintenance

I knew i wasn't gonna be able to wash my locs for a few days and I was not coping with my dandruff very well so i decided to experiment with an anti-dandruff shampoo-big mistake.

I tried to just use a little only on my scalp without lathering up my dreads too much, and I rinsed very thoroughly. Well it did get rid of all the dandruff, but i am not happy with what it did to my dreads. My locs have gone really soft and lots of the little knots have come out, the ends that had not fully looped but were getting there are now totally smooth and loose. The main thing you can notice is they have lost all their volume and look flat. I used to have fat bouncy dreads but they look thin and greasy now ; (

It just shows the difference washing makes - For the last 4 months I have only washed with BS & AVC twice a week, which I will be going back to as of today. Fingers crossed they get back their old shape and texture after a couple of washes, but of course i've set back my progress somewhat.

I won't be trying that again, regardless of my dandruff levels.

Lessons learnt...

updated by @rachel-nattydee: 01/13/15 09:19:30PM

Still have really bad dandruff

Dread Maintenance

I have found putting a few drops of rosemary lavender and tea tree oils, in water, in a spray bottle and lightly spraying the roots stops the itching and helps the dandruff big time. I found that advice on here and I don't get the awful itching anymore. And I use the same oils when I do the BS soak and the ACV rinse. still get some dandruff but its not as bad as it used to be.

Do not use normal anti-dandruff shampoo as it will undo your dreads (well thats what happened to me).

In the uk they come in small glass bottles and you buy them in pharmacies and health food shops, or online.

HELP! Very Short, Bridesmaid dread up-do?

Dreadlock Styles and Dread Styling

You could try some fancy wraps or a crown of flowers, or ribbons.

But to be that concerned about a bridesmaid's hair-do at your own wedding is a bit concerning.

And I think you're feminine and fabulous just the way you are, some folk have twisted ideas of what it is to be a beautiful woman. Be thankful you're not marrying her!

Good luck!

Dread locks in different languages.

General Talk

Hmmmm, not in London - Congo Natty Dread - its knotty in patois.

Iggy Smith said:

that's where we get the word 'natty' from = natty dreads

Ends of my dreads balling up : ) but then falling off!

Dread Maintenance

Hmmmm I am slightly addicted to touching them and running my fingers down the length of each dread to feel the knots, I was thinking that probably isn't helping, but it's hard when they feel so good! I'll give it a rest and see if I'm still shedding balls for the next few weeks, cheers x

Ends of my dreads balling up : ) but then falling off!

Dread Maintenance

so I'm about 2 and a half months in (patience/neglect method), and some of my ends have looped and are locking nicely, no worries with those, however balls of fuzzy hair keep dropping off the ends of others...They start to form balls that are only attached to the dread by a couple of thin strands, but after a couple of days they fall off : ( I thought they were going to form nice round ends but no. Maybe I'm touching my locs too much & that's why the balls are falling off instead of becoming part of the lock?And generally I seem to be finding a lot of my hair around the place - not coming out during washing but stuck to my jumper etc...
updated by @rachel-nattydee: 01/22/20 09:33:16AM

Starting dreads in thick curly hair

Dreading Methods

actually on reflection I would advise others to be very cautious about sectioning, as it can go very wrong! And although I'm happy with how mine are coming along, I agree with SE; it's not actually necessary.

Starting dreads in thick curly hair

Dreading Methods

you don't think the time that the twists did stay together helped the 2 strands to lock up? I guess i'll never know cos I'm planning on keeping these ones! My theory is they had a bit of time to compress before they came undone. Like after my daughter has braids taken out of her hair it stays in the sections for a day or two, until she washes it. But I'll take your word for it ; )

I do think it has helped to keep them 'neatish' and maybe prevent it forming one big congo. I'm very happy with the result :D Thank you SE x

soaring eagle said:

it would have made natural sections and dresded up just as easily without doing that

but u might have had to seoperate as they started to dread alot

Starting dreads in thick curly hair

Dreading Methods

This worked for me:

I started with very clean, unconditioned hair, and have not used any products/wax etc.

Although i wanted to go as natural as possible I needed to make some kind of sections or I would have had mad congos/beavers tail/big birds nest, as I have very thick, almost like afro hair. I was careful not to give myself a middle parting too...

My friend helped me with the back, but we didn't use a comb or anything, we just grabbed bits of hair about the thickness we thought was right for medium sized locs. Then we split each section in 2 and wrapped the two strands around each other, not very tightly, like loose twists. Then we put rubber bands in the ends, but that was a mistake and i took them out after a few days -dont use rubber bands!!

Anyway, i thought that the twists we did would dread up and form locs, but what has actually happened is over the weeks almost every twist has come un-done, but the two strands have kept their form and locked up-so each twist has now formed 2 baby dreads. I think thats partly why my hair is locking so fast, some of them are about 40% dreaded after just 6 weeks and they are pretty tight.

i'm guessing this won't work so well on straight hair, or that you might end up looking like you used one of those crimper things...but it seems to work for hair like mine.

the washing and drying makes a huge difference in my opinion. I use the BS & ACV method with essential oils. After each wash my hair gets tighter and changes a bit. I don't touch it when wet so as not to disturb the natural sections it wants to make, and the same with drying, i let gravity do its thing and never squeeze water out or use a towel to rub it. My best tip for drying your dreads - go do some gardening.

I keep being asked where i got my hair done lol

updated by @rachel-nattydee: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM

how to make dreadlocks

Dreading Methods

superb : )