Forum Activity for @the-barrellady

tight dreads

Dread Maintenance

At about 2 months in my twist & rip dreads felt firm, and I thought wow, that's happening fast. But I found out that I had a residue build up by using a shampoo bar that did not like my hard water. When I realized what it might be, I used an anti residue shampoo for a wash and all the build up came out, my sections were no longer firm/tight feeling. Hard water causes many shampoos and soaps to leave behind a residue in locks.

The more you wash, the looser the T&R will get, usually. Peace

tight dreads

Dread Maintenance

Sounds like you maybe twist & ripped too tightly. They may take quite a few months before the zig zag if done tightly. There is no need for you to palm roll the ends at all. All you have to do is wash & separate. You are only 3 months in, you got a way to go for all the action to happen. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Peace

Dreads take much longer than a few weeks to mature and get really strong. What ever you add on the end, just make sure that the water can still drip off freely to dry. If it does not, then just take off the bead or whatever you are using and put it back on after.

Little Mushroom said:

but if I were you I would wait at least a few weeks for the dread to mature and get really strong and form its shape. anyway good luck happy dreading

Like Robyn said, have fun, decorate it like crazy if you want. Add charms, wraps, string, shells, whatever you want. The only time is hinders the dreading process is if a tight wrap is used on the entire dread.

Dreads are a way to express ourselves, so express away my friend. Peace

What do dreads feel like?

General Questions

Zach, how long have you been dreading? Your profile pic has short hair, dreads usually like to start forming when hair is about 6 inches long. You can take Biotin to speed up hair growth. It can be found at your local drug store in the vitamin section, for under $10.

When dreads are starting to form, they will be loopy, zig zaggy and knotty, just look at some timelines of other members in this community. This needs to happen for them to become mature dreads. When they do this, they will shrink and fatten up to the size of the section at the scalp. The texture of a mature dread should be firm, yet soft (if hard or too firm, then you may have a residue build up). They should be able to sway with the wind because they are lightweight if clean. If you touch your hair and feel definable sections, like feeling a cup straw, then you have dreads. Like Melanie Rose said, you will know when yu've got em.

peace

3 1/2 months in...they've turned flat? :)

General Questions

Hi Yogibear. They are looking good. At 3 1/2 months in, you still have many changes ahead. At just over 1 year, my ends that are flat are starting to round out, loosing the paddle look. I just let mine be and they are slowly changing. No worries for ya, yours are doing great. ...Peace

To anyone thinking dreads might prevent you from finding a job..

Introduce Yourself

Having a sincere smile and a friendly personality go a long way in a job interview. Gone are the days of prim and proper uptight employers. Employees are the front line of business, personality is what counts. Congratulations on your new job. Peace

Yet another drying question..

General Questions

Here is another tip for you. Purchase a couple of micro fiber towels, like a Shamwow ( one place to find them is auto sections in stores) These will reduce your drying time so much. Use one to absorb the excess water from your hair, it will suck up so much, and use the other one to put on top of your neck brace/under your hair...this will absorb the water still coming out.

Still use a towel too. Here is a tip for a towel. Dreads love lint, can't avoid it, so use a towel the same color as your hair so that the unavoidable towel lint won't be as noticed.

Here's to a speedy recovery...Peace

Does Crocheting dreads make them NOT loop up?

crochet and dread tools recovery

Well, glad to hear you are just curious. People who use the crochet method usually have continual maintenance done on them. The maintenance tucks all the looping back inside, they get rid of what is suppose to happen. All this pulling back in with the hook breaks hundreds of hairs, maybe thousands, each time. For anyone wanting dreads instantly and only for a year or so, then hey, what the heck. If they are aware that the manufactured dreads will not last and they will eventually break off and ruin their hair, it is their hair to do with what they want. As long as they are maintained with a hook, they will NEVER mature.

For people who want dreads for years or for life, waiting two years for neat, tidy, beautiful and healthy locks is worth it.

Peace

My babies!

Member Journals and Timelines

Congrats on your beginning. You did them loose so that you wouldn't break the hairs, but you know what, loose is best, too tight and they take longer to dread. You are off to a great start, Enjoy your journey. Peace