Forum Activity for @blessed-earth-mama

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

<3 I do understand that backcombing causes some damage but I love how mine came out the first time and since your hair keeps growing it is only the tips that have the damage. Since I do not do anything else to my dreads they should be growing in just as strong as the natural method. They just have slightly more damaged tips. Again I do understand natural is the best/least damaging way but for me right now in my life it is not what I want.

I think it is wonderful you inform others about damage and what can happen. I read about the felting and root flipping (I think I heard you guys call it) etc and it makes me cringe. I couldn't imagine doing that to my babies...

And I don't leave the rubber bands in. I just use them to make the sections. I choose a dread pull off the rubberband, backcomb/TNR and not another one is ever attached to the dread.

Thank you for all your help to me and everyone. I will be doing the backcombing/tnr but I promise to treat my hair babies like gold after the first initial "roughing up". Hopefully they will forgive me just like last time. I had them for 4 years and it was really hard to let them go the first time. I can't imagine how long they would be now if I hadn't combed them out.

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

First of I want to say again I DID mean no disrespect. I was just feeling very frustrated as I felt I was being suggested again to do something I don't want to do. That being said I think you have a wonderful site here. I also think you have amazing dreads. And I do think natural is the best way to go as well. But that is if that is what you want, and I don't.

When I do my backcombing, I do it once that is it. Just to form the initial dread. Then I do not ever backcomb them again. In fact I didn't even know people did do it again after the first initial time but since being here I have seen a few people say they have. Maybe that is why some people have worse damage. I can totally see THAT causing some damage but I only do it once just to create the dread.

I also do understand and see what you are showing me in the picture above. I do get that, I guess more what I was referring to with natural having gaps is big gaps where there is no dread.

I was asking about the triangular method because for they way I am doing it I was thinking that might make the sections not so harsh.

I see now that you are saying to let them start on their own so they can make the sections then backcomb but again it seems to me that backcombing after stuff is already starting to knot up would cause more damage.

I just want to backcomb once at the beginning. That's it....

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

They do have gaps unless we are talking about something else. I thought we are talking about where the different dreads separate at the scalp? And I don't see how I can let it section naturally if I am backcombing. If I am backcombing I have to choose the sections to backcomb. Whether I just grab chunks or make it more neat I have to section it to backcomb it. I do not see how there would be any way around that.

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

I'm sorry soaring eagle but I am getting a little frustrated with the natural comments. I mean no disrespect but I feel it is disrespectful to continually try to push someone towards something they don't want to do... I have stated many times both on this thread and in messages that the natural route is not for me. I thought this site was for all dreads. I love dreadlocks and think this website is a great idea but I thought you guys believe dreads are individual and different for everyone so why on earth try to push everyone to do it the exact same way?!

I agree some things people are doing to their dreads makes me shudder and I could never imagine doing some of those things. But backcombing is not the devil and my 4 yr old dreads were proof of that.

I also disagree that natural leaves no harsh gaps because I see way worse gaps on some natural dreads then I do on most sectioned ones.

Your one way is not the only way and it is not fair to pressure everyone on this website to do so that way. Let everyone have their own journey! You can offer your advice or what you believe but if someone clearly wants to do something else let them! It is their head.

Everyone has different lives, different likes and different hair. A one way approach is awful and I would think such a website would be against such a totalitarian view.

updated by @blessed-earth-mama: 07/10/15 02:58:37AM

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

Now if I could just get my hubby to help me section my head. xD That is the most annoying part of this method in my opinion. And I am not even sure how I want to section it this time either. Last time I did the inch grid pattern. But I saw a little video on youtube where the grid shapes were triangle instead of square. Just imagining it, I would think that would be better because you wouldn't ever look like you have squares on your head. But I don't think I have ever seen dreads on someone who has done it that way so I a little hesitant to try.

Anyone have any opinions on this or seen anyone who has tried the triangular method? I would just much rather not have square shapes on my head ever lol.

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

It is just hard to not do what I did last time because the results in my eyes were just as I wanted them to be. It is very appealing to not have to work as hard to get them though. I have been looking through others pictures and it looks like TNR gets a lot "messier" before turning into more mature shaped dreads. Where as to me it seems with backcombing they look messier in the beginning then get better. I just really don't want to deal with the natural messy look as much as possible. I think it looks great on some but for me I am not into it. I guess all in all I am still leaning towards backcombing with a little TNR.. And I love the thicker look. I wish I had thicker hair so I could have thicker dreads to begin with!

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

Thank you so much taye! So it seems to me then that the major difference between the two methods then is that TNR gets looser as it dreads and backcombing gets tighter as it dreads. Ahhh decisions decisions! I feel like I still might want to do my original method it is just so much work. It took me 3 months just to get every section on my head dreaded. I was doing it by myself and had a job and couldn't just sit around and dread my hair all day. Now I do not have a "job" but am a stay at home mom and that keeps you just as busy! I just need to get this started. I am CRAVING my head to have its babies back! :D

From what you wrote though it seems like if I do TNR that I should make sure not to to make them crazy tight. Because yea it does seem odd that after 3 years it would still be the same! I know my dreads were so much different 3 years into making them, then in the beginning.

<3

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

Yea Lindsey it took me 3 months for mine too. Not sure why the same amount of time for different age dreads but it sure was a lot of work!

And thank you Kelsey. ^^ That is what I would love to see a side by side comparison of just backcombing and just twist and rip in mature dreads. But you are right the lifestyle and hair type etc will def make all the results unique. I just know how long it took me to dread my head the way I did last time and was hoping to make it a little easier on myself this time! But it is not worth it to cut corners if things wont come out the way I want. Of course I might not even have the same exact result even with the same methods again anyway!

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

Well your reply was the most related to what I was actually asking. And you have a little bit of experience so I will take any info I can get! I did do the twist and rip but it was mixed in with the backcombing so it is kind of hard to say what method did what and caused my dreads to look as they did. Or was it the combination of the two methods!? xD

And your welcome :D

Backcombing/twist and rip or twist and rip only?

Dreading Methods

Thank you very much Lindsey! :D Goodluck with yours as well! <3