Some Assembly Required
Dreading Methods
I'm glad this post is still helping
If mine weren't as old as they are, I would start over natural. But at this point, it doesn't bother me. I do miss that super messy stage, though
Starting on your dreadlock journey is always exciting. Just about everyone who decides to lock their hair is enthusiastic and can't wait for the finished product.
The only thing is, there's a waiting period. Dreadlocks do not form overnight. And for those who use a starter method like back combing and TnR, there may be a sense ofdisappointmentwhen their new locks fall apart after the first wash.
It can feel like a brand new toy, that you want to play with right away, but has that all-too-familiar "some assembly required" sticker on the side of the box.
Don'tdespair. The process of "assembling" you locks (letting them get loopy and bumpy and messy) is actually more fun than having the finished product.
When you are in the early stages of having locks, you see so much change in your hair and in yourself. As time passes and you get confronted by all sorts of people eithercomplimentingyou orcriticizingyou, you go through a personality shift where the things and people who are important in your life begin to stand out and take on a bigger role. This is the most important an the most fun part of beginning he journey.
Once you have had locks for many years, the changes on your head become less and less obvious, and occur less and less often. So, eventually, you are no longer that guy/girl with locks. You just become you. This is a very important realization to have. For once you don't equate yourself as being someone-with-locks, you are free to do whatever you want and not be subjected to ridicule from the ignorant populous.
Yup. The natural way is really to just neglect your hair. Wash it, separate it when it start to congo. But any time in between, try to forget you have hair.
It doesn't work for everyone, but when I was starting out, I just covered up or took own every mirror in my house. So for months on end I never saw my hair except in window reflections or my shadow
That's what I was about to say. Wax may be sticky, but it does flow when it gets warm enough. If it can come off on his pillow, that wax will get rubbed into the rest of the lock whenever his head rubs against it.
And yeah, in just a few months, yours will look gorgeous, and he will still be messing with them to get them to do anything. There's a video of Johnny Clean (Eagle might have the link) able to push one lock straight through another. And his are about 6 years old. If you can make a whole that big in a waxed lock, that means no tangling ever took place. Your husbands hair will end up the same
The messy stage lasts for anywhere from 6 months to around a year. The 4th month is usually the most crazy. After that, though, you start seeing the sections come together pretty quickly. You will always have loose, unknotted hair. But they become less and less prominent as time goes on and they mature. The best part of locks is that it's a no stress hairstyle. All you have to do is wash and leave them be.
The gel is good, but not essential at all. It's a relatively new product, so all of those locks you've seen that are years old didn't use it. You don't either
Along with the cold water, like Heather said, you could possibly add a TINY bit of aloe in it. Cold aloe really does wonders for itching. Don't use too much, because aloe also conditions a bit. But just a small amount will sooth your scalp and help with itchies. It's an okay substitute if you don't have any oils to use.
When you wash with the BS was, do you ever add any oils at all? Teatree/rosemary/peppermint really help you from itching in between washes. If you can, get them as soon as possible