Forum Activity for @baba-fats

Brittle and breakage

Dreads Hair and Scalp Health

Absolutely use ACV every time. it doesn't have to be much. But baking soda is a base. That means it is raising the pH of your scalp and hair above what it's normal range is. In organic material, a change in pH of anything over .05 is HUGE. BS changes your pH by around 2-3. This makes your hair much drier and more brittle. It'll also make your scalp itch like crazy in between washes. The ACV is used to reset your pH back to normal. if you don't use it, then you are leaving your hair dry and brittle for long periods. This will effect it, making it brittle and break.

Oils are not 100% needed, but they do help with keeping you from itching in between washes. Some of them, like teatree and rosemary, have properties that are good for the health of your scalp. I'd recommend you add these to your wash every time

Knotty Boy Locking Gel?

Dread Products

They have to come unravled in order to lock. If you constantly tighten them all the time, they never actually lock themselves. In order to turn into dreadlocks, your hair needs to tangle. So don't try to redo them when they do comeunraveled. While it may seem like it's a step backwards, it's forward progress

Knotty Boy Locking Gel?

Dread Products

So far, the only gel I have come across that is good for your locks is the locking gel from dreadlockshampoo.com. Just about everything that Knotty Boy sells was never originally designed for locks. It was just repackaged for them. So I'd stay away from their locking gel too.

As for the bands. TAKE THEM OUT. Rubber bands do only harm to your locks. They are elastic. That means that no matter how loosely you put them on, they constrict. This causes weak spots on your locks and can pinch them until they snap off. Bands also restrict all movement. You hair needs to move in order to knot and tangle. If you tie them down and hold them there, no hair gets out and move around creating knots. So they actually prevent locking. When you do finally decide to take them out, they tend to get so tangled with loose hairs that that they just rip them out with the band. This makes your roots weaker, locks thinner, and untangles knots. If you leave them in for extended periods of time, they can get lost in your lock and start to rot there. This causes mold and mildew to grow inside of your hair.

If you feel like you can not live without bands, ONLY put them in when you wash. Then, even before they dry, take the bands out. And even then, only put them on the very tips of your locks. Don't worry about the roots. The roots should always be in a constant state of tangle with each other. This protects your scalp from damage. When your roots and the body of your lock tangle together, just rip them apart.

If you really want to keep your locks separated, beads are a much better call

For those swimmers out there

Dread Maintenance

I just washed about 45 minutes ago. I just love how it feels

For those swimmers out there

Dread Maintenance

I do too, but I think It's out of habit of getting my hair wet before I wash it. I'm sure you could just use the BS without rinsing it first, but I'm sure you could just pour the BS mix on when dry. I don't think it would have adverse effects. But for 20 years I rinsed my hair first, so it's a hard habit to break

For those swimmers out there

Dread Maintenance

That's fine. I agree. It's better to be safe. But that's why I rinse once with warm water, then wring my hair out, and then rinse again with cold water, and wring my hair out again.

But if it makes you more comfortable and gives you peace of mind, I can't blame you. It's not a bad idea at all

For those swimmers out there

Dread Maintenance

There's apossibility. But when I rinse after the BS part of the wash, I rinse for a minute or 2 and wring out my hair during and after. Then the ACV will get absorbed. Then I rinse and wring out my hair before doing a cold water rinse.

If there is a small amount of BS that gets mixed with the ACV, it won't hurt your. you start out with 1/2 cup of it. Once you rinse it out, if any is left, it's probably in the 1/8 of a tbls range. And that little, spread out all over all of your hair, won't create much of a chemical reaction

updated by @baba-fats: 07/23/15 06:55:02PM

For those swimmers out there

Dread Maintenance

I got a chance to fly in a glider when I was 10 or 11. It was nice back then. But now, I wouldn't do it. I could have something to do with my meds. One of the side effects is nausea I don't get nauseous when I'm on the ground, and at a reasonable dose. But the minute gravity changes, I feel it. If I ever get to stop taking these pills, I may give it another shot

For those swimmers out there

Dread Maintenance

Personally, I hate swimming. I don't like the feeling of being weightless and floating. I don't like boats, or flying on planes either. But this has nothing to do with me or my personal issues. It has to do with anyone who does like swimming and hops in pools as soon as the weather turns nice.

Obviously, chlorine is not good for your hair. It dries it out and makes it brittle. So whenever you are tempted to jump in a pool, get your hair wet first in the shower or hose it down.

I just learned that if you get your hair wet first, the shaft fills up with water, and therefore, does not absorb much of the chlorinated water.

Just thought I'd share

updated by @baba-fats: 02/14/15 02:46:19PM

Wet dreads

Help! Save My Dreads

Thanks guys.

What everyone already said is completely true.

Unwashed hair gets dirty, not knotted. Dirty hair gets oily and greasy. This prevents knotting and slows down and process.

Dreadlocks are an ever-changing process. Even when mature, they still change. I have one that I could get a bead on for years. Then one day, after I washed, I could no longer get the bead on. It got wider. And mine are 6 years old.

Dreadlocks do not form over night, no matter what starter method is used. Back combing and TnR only help your hair and scalp get used to where you want the sections to be. It is not a means to "create" locks.

So them unraveling is completely natural, and should happen. If you are very lucky, they won't untangle all the way. But if they do, don't stress about it. This needs to happen so that your hairs can actually start knotting. Just pushing them all backwards does not create knots. it just creates kinky hair. This kinky hair is easier to knot, but are not dreadlocks unto themselves.

So wash them, separate them when they start to snag hold of other locks nearby, and go enjoy life. You don't want to have to feel afraid to go outside if it's raining, or cross the street if a sprinkler is on someones lawn. Living in fear of all water is not a way to live.