Forum Activity for @baba-fats

Build up, how do I rid myself of this?

Dread Maintenance

The ACV rinse is Apple Cider Vinegar. Use that. Mix about a capful of it in 1 gallon of water for new locks. And the same amount as the BS for mature locks. For baby locks, let it sit for a matter of seconds. Mature locks can have it sit for a minute or 2.

There are ways toalleviateyourself of hard water. You can get a soft water filter for your shower head. Or boil the water first. Pour off the pure water, leaving a little at the bottom where all the minerals are. Then washing with the pure water. o you can build yourself a distillery with some easy to come by parts. There are tons of vids on youtube for how to make one

Build up, how do I rid myself of this?

Dread Maintenance

From what it looks like on geographical surveys of hard water in the US, you are right on the edge of having hard to moderately hard water.

What this means is that the BS does not dissolve completely. When you wash, some still remains. This will cause buildup.

The other issue you might be facing is that you could just not be using enough BS. What is the ration of it to water you're mixing? If not enough, it is exfoliating the dead kin on your scalp, but doesn't have enough left over to take it all the way off. It's a problem many people have before they find the perfect ratio for themselves.

Ad last, Are you doing an ACV rinse afterwards? You have to. Your scalp and hair are slightly acidc. BS is a base. It will raise the pH of your scalp and make is kind of slippery. The ACV is acetic acid, which brings your pH back to normal.

would the rip and tear method be good to get my natural ones started?

General Questions

You do not need to do anything else. Anything else you do to set the stage will just reset the progress to day one.

If you want to do anything, you can use sea salt in spray bottle, or your wash (If you use the BS/SCV wash/ When wixing sea salt, make sure you don't go over 3.5% salt to water. This is what ocean water is like. You want it as close to ocean water as possible.

Also, when looking at sea salt, in the store, look for the anti-caking agent. Many use Potassium Ferrocyanide. This is toxic when mixed with a strong acid. ACV is not strong, but better to be safe. Mine uses Calcium Silicate, which the FDA never approved for human consumption. It's used as a safe alternative toasbestos, and to waterproof concrete. Be careful with what you get. Even something as simple as salt still may contain harmful ingredients.

would the rip and tear method be good to get my natural ones started?

General Questions

You could, but when you TnR them, you first see them untangle, which can be discouraging. It'll seem like they are moving backwards. While if you go 100% natural, they only move forward

is this soap good for dreads? dr bronner's magic soap

Dread Products

I loved it before I learned about the BS/ACV wash. The only problem with it is that it doesn't work in hard water. It just doesn't rinse out, and it leaves a gooy residue. In soft water, it's great. There are things you can do if you have hard water, but if you're going to use this soap, the best option is to just get a soft water filter for your shower head

How to wash and dry my hair when trying to get dreads?

Dread Maintenance

You don't wash your hair. You wash your scalp. If you are using a soap, just scrub your scalp. When you rinse, the soap will wash through your hair, cleaning it. If you are using the BS/ACV wash, you just pour the BS on, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse it all off well. Then pour on the ACV and let it sit for a couple of seconds, then rinse it off well. Never mix the 2.

Yes, just shake your head, and then let them air dry. Don't rub your head with a towel or anything. It'll just create a general knotty mess than can easily be undone the next time you rub your head.

Natural, freeform timeline- UPDATED 3 September @ 8 months

Member Journals and Timelines

Sorry to hear that. My mom's side of the family is riddled with baldness. So I know it's just a matter of time for me to go bald. My cousin started around my age. And I already have arecedinghairline and a small spot on the crown of my head

Natural, freeform timeline- UPDATED 3 September @ 8 months

Member Journals and Timelines

Because it looks like it's more towards the back, than the front of your head, and you don't twist, I'd venture to say it's not traction alopecia. Tying your hair back pulls more on the locks towards the front and along your hairline.

Random question, do you have any baldness in your genes on you mothers side?

Natural, freeform timeline- UPDATED 3 September @ 8 months

Member Journals and Timelines

They are looking great. It;s great that you noticed how much better they progress when they hang free.

That bald spot is not a huge deal if you don't feel that any of the locks surrounding it are sore at the root or that they pull tightly there.

Check out my latest video, and the one on separating locks. I have a bald spot on exactly the same place as you. It's probably from separating more vigorously than you need to. It'll show up more dramatically on the top of your head than on the sides, because on the side there's other hair to cover it up. On top, there's nothing to layer over it

You could take biotin or collagen to help bolster new growth up there. It's worked pretty well for me. Biotin takes a few months to see any difference, but it does work

Anthony_Animal- Hello!

Introduce Yourself

We may be helpful here, but it's all the members that make it so. Now you're part of that helpfulness.

And it's a good thing to not be sure when you started. It frees you from being having that self image of someone-with-locks. You just become yourself, who happens to have them