I bet if you stopped now it wouldn't get as messy as you think. 
Especially because of your hair type. I mean someone can correct me if I am wrong but from what I have seen african american hair doesn't really get that messy looking. I bet it would still continue to grow pretty neat and uniform even if you do nothing besides seperating your dreads.
I have a friend with african american hair and he had to shave his head because his dreads starting breaking off. 
So he had all these bald spots and eventually just shaved it all off... I hope he is doing something different now as it is years later and he is dreading his hair again...
I have seen it happen. It does happen... Just thought I would say so....
Yum thanks for the ideas Angel! I actually just started culturing yogurt (got that too from the same place you posted above xD). I have been meaning to blog about my experience with it but haven't done it yet...
I also crave carbs too.. Pizza, bagels, sandwhiches, baked good are my soft spots. And I do get upset about it sometimes (won't lie I have shed tears about it) but then I see a picture of a starving man or child in another country and I say to myself suck it up cupcake! 
People are way worse off then you and your sadness over gluten. I DID find wonderful replacement bagels made by Udi though! So far still working on pizza and bread replacements.. And pasta we are now using this brand named Farmo. It is corn and rice and we all actually like it better then the old gluten crap! Only thing is I can't figure out if the corn they use is GMO free, which bugs me. But since I am aware of GMO's and try to avoid them everywhere even if they are hopfully it is not going to make us sick. :/
I feel lost and hungry a lot because of going gluten free but it is causing me to look into food more (even though I already do!) and I am coming across all kinds of things I want to try. Right now I am hoping to try some Ethiopian foods. Never thought I would be so enticed by unknown piles of mush on a platter haha!
Go Angel Frye! SO much good info up there! I have milk and water kefir grains sitting my fridge just need to get them going! But yea I sooo agree with kefir! And probiotics. I have issues as well although I don't think mine are as bad as some.. But I have to take probiotics drink/kefir everyday or I end up not feeling well.
BUT since cutting out gluten it is a bit better. Candida overgrowth and gut issues go hand in hand. Along with sugar I would recommend cutting out gluten... I am still bad on sugar sometimes but I have been gluten free for maybe 2 months now! I thought I couldn't do it but I am! :D
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/profiles/blogs/candida-101
This is my second time dreading. I had dreadlocks for 4 years the first time and I am a little over 2 weeks in this time. I did use a combo of backcombing and TNR both times.
I backcomb the roots a little then I twist and rip a little. Then I stick the comb in the TNR'd part and pull up towards the roots. Then I do backcombing and more TNR. Then I stick the comb in the TNR section and pull up again. Etc, etc.
I hope that made sense! I LOVE how my dreads came out the first time. And I am hoping for a similar outcome this time. The only difference is I used wax last time and will not be at all this time. I am hoping that will accelerate the dreading process as wax actually slows it down! Check out my pics if you want an example of combo made dreads! Everyones will be different do to different hair and other things but I think it worked great for me and hope it does again!!
Well I haven't used any salt yet and I probably wont considering it might make me feel worse! And your right SE I need to be better about the water temp. Cold water just makes me feel awful so I try to avoid it. I guess I really need to do better with that. And I love your idea about spraying your scalp with the water/oil mixture too Rachel!
I guess I will shoot for washing 2 times a week instead of one. I just worry about washing too much. My first time dreading I didn't wash for the first month! :/ Which I now know is wrong and wash once a week. But over washing can dry out your scalp too... Ugh just want my head to feel better and now I have to worry about not messing up the dreading process on top of it..
The liquid patchouli shampoo. I will be trying the BS/ACV again soon I just love the shampoo. :D I did BS/ACV for a little while awhile back and it didn't seem to clear up my issue... That is why I wonder if there is another issue causing me to have such a problem with it.. I just stopped eating gluten and so far that has not changed my scalp at all. I was hoping it might as some allergies can cause dandruff from what I have read.
Oh congrats! That must feel so amazing!!! I have been dealing with horrible dandruff for years now. :/ I hope I find a routine soon that works for me too.. I am afraid to try jojoba on my head though since I just started dreading my hair again... I have never been good about washing my hair often. I am washing once a week right now. How often is safe forabout 2 weeknew dreads?
I have tried the BS/ACV and the new dreadlock shampoos and the essential oils but I haven't found the solution yet.. I do know I am SO sick of it though. I wouldn't leave the house without a hat on almost everyday for at least the past 2 maybe 3 years. My hair is dark so it shows up even worse..
If I counted right I have 39 babies starting. :D Some are thicker some are thinner. Will have to see when they mature more how they turn out...
Yea I think I had about 4 in my 4 years. I don't mind them at all I just am wary of the "bald" spots that might be created when they join.
soaring eagle said:
i tried hard to avoidem for 18 years i only had a couple maybe 3 or 4
then i decided why bother since some of the really skinny ones would break at ground level
so i only seperate the ones that are already thick now and very rare
tho the new soap makes me so knotty b]now i do seperate around the ears every wash
and a few other spots need seperating often now
but i went 4 years without hardly ever seperatibng at all and wnt congo crazy..i love it
wasnt a fan b4 this tho..lol
at least not of the massive ones
