Henna is recommended as the least damaging to dreads. But be forewarned, baking soda will strip the color out, any type of dyes, so you won't be able to use the BS anymore. What ever you choose to use, rinse, rinse, rinse, even squeeze to make sure all the dye is out. Have fun.
If you do the right ratio of BS, you do not need to scrub, nor should you. The BS will exfoliate your scalp all on its own. Ratio guideline, just incase you do not know: 1/2 cup BS to 5 cups water, ratio of ACV is 1-2 capfuls (teaspoons) to 5 cups water. You do not want to mess up the sections, so don't scrub. Try this out and see how it goes for you. \
Peace
Rinsing will not slow it down, it will probably speed it up.
Sure, wear that bandana, you can even cut the sleeve off a large t-shirt and use that. If you need to rinse after exercising, then do so. Your sections are young enough to dry quickly, so there should be no problem. When dreads are mature, washing every day may not be good, as they need to dry in between washes, but for now you are perfectly fine.
You don't need to wash after exercising, only rinsing should be fine.
Peace
Use the proper ratio as a starting point. Very importantly rinse well after BS and Rinse well after ACV. Keep that head under the shower head and rinse well. Finish off with a cold head rinse too. You want everything to rinse out, whether it is BS, ACV or dreadlock shampoo, it must all be rinsed.
Peace
ash kerley said:
i used a 20oz bottle, was enough to soak my head,, put about 3/4 inch bs powderand rest warm water...ok the more im looking does look like dead skin, ill do the acv rinse next wash,...WHen i rinse should i be safe to pour alot water and just let run threw?.....THanks guys
Hi Ash, if someone does not have very oily hair, then ACV should always be use after the baking soda wash. What was left on you scalp is probably the exfoliated skin. You have not washed in 3 weeks, so you have a build up. do another wash, use ACV, and you will see a difference again. I did not use ACV after every wash in the beginning and It dried out my hair because of that, so I use it every time now and restored my softness. As to your hair loosening, just let it be, it is on the journey, no worries.
Peace
Short hair does have less shrinkage than super long hair, but yes, it will shrink. There is a product called Biotin which can be found in your local drug stores vitamin section. Taken for 3 months, this will promote hair growth.
You work in a fast food place, if you are behind the counter, you could wear a hair net which is loose enough and would tame down any bizarre days you may have with your hair, we all have them in the beginning.
I understand you are concerned about you being a big girl not wanting short hair. But maybe you can look to the future of what you will look like in 3 years with natural, free form dreads. You will look beautiful. If you give in to extensions now, you would set back any progress that would be happening with natural dreads. Start with natural now, take biotin (it is not instant growth) and let those dreads start. People will not say "your face is rounder with short hair", they will say "look at those awesome dreads". Your hair will grow and one day those dreads will be down your back.
You can tie some beautiful bows with scarves etc to use as head bands to add a little oompf to the shortness when you go out. With dreads you need a vision to the future, not how they will look in the first year. Also I would like to say that Big Girls Are Beautiful,always remember that.
Peace
Hi MoorZ. Using baking soda is to exfoliate the scalp, so try pouring it directly on your scalp instead of soaking it in a large bowl. I don't think you would get the same benefits if the scalp is not completely drenched? The scalp smell did not happen in the beginning for you which might mean you have build-up from not getting the entire scalp drenched.
Good luck, hope you get it all settled soon, it's all trial and error. Peace
MoorZ said:
I use 1/2 BS cup to 5 cups of water with around 10-20 drops of tea tree and lavender, some peppermint. Usually Ill dump it all into a large bowl and soak my head in there. Ill leave in for 20 mins rinse then do ACV with a little less oils. My actual hair will smell great but by the next day or two I can already smell my scalp. This has just started to happen, wasnt an issue in the beginning.
What dreadlock shampoo are you using, it sounds like that one does not like your scalp. Are you using the right ratio for the baking soda wash & ACV rinse? 1/2 cup BS w/5 cups water, then 1-2 capfuls ACV w/ 5 cups water. Ginger puts the BS on dry hair, I always put it on wet hair. A wet sponge absorbs water quicker than a dry sponge does, so I go by that premise. Dreading is a trial and error process, eventually you will find what works best for you. Look up essential oils on this site and add some into your BS wash, that may help with any funky aromas. Do you ever go to sleep with wet hair? If so, make sure it is completely dry before bedtime. If you want your hair to naturally dry quicker, use a micro fiber towel, like a Shamwow, to suck the water out after washing, it reduces hours from my drying time. 
Peace
We all dread at different paces, some members in this community have dreads that appear to be mature 1 year in, others like me do not, I'm still pretty wild. The journey is so fun, when it is finished you may miss all the craziness.
Marissa Victoria said:
im just wondering when it seems like the hairs movin quick after just 3 months! :D
