Forum Activity for @midread

Follow up to stiff dreads, now what???

Dread Maintenance

O.K. - after a couple of side bar discussions regarding my last post about stiff dreads. The general consensus is that I should stop using teatree so much, make sure I am not mixing my BS and ACV when washing and the fact that I color my hair is all contributing to the stiffness of my dreads.O.K. - the first two are easily remedied. Actually, having not used the teatree shampoo for a few days now and watching my BS/ACV wash, my hair does feel a little better. However, the coloring is an issue. I am graying and am not ready to go whole hog into the wild gray yonder. Therefore, I am looking for suggestions from people who color their dreadlocks on keeping them conditioned and preventing buildup during this process. I have searched forums on here, but mostly it appeared that people were coloring for "effect" rather than covering gray. So, I am planning on coloring for a while -period. Sorry, this is the last amount of vanity I have left and I am loathe to give it up. I need to know what the least damaging form of coloring and conditioning would be for my hair. I have never used henna, but I understand from reading on here that once you color dark with it - you are stuck. Are there options for lighter henna colors, maybe light brown to blonde???? What other options do I have. Any suggestions???? Thanks everyone!
updated by @midread: 02/14/15 11:48:25AM

does anyone get snaged on tree limbs as much as i do?

General Questions

Straw from my chickens, leaves from low hanging branches, the pen holder on the visor in my car has caught my hair and I have ripped the pen out several times and also the zipper on my son's bed tent. At least three to four times a week I snag that stupid zipper bending over to put my son in bed. One night I was so stuck I was afraid I was gonna have to remove the bed tent, drag it attached to my head to bed and have my husband try to unsnag me LOL! Thankfully, I managed to unzip my hair from it after about 10 minutes.

If this is it, I am tempted to comb out!!!

Dread Maintenance

Now THAT is too hysterical!!!

If this is it, I am tempted to comb out!!!

Dread Maintenance


Yeah, I guess I did make it sound like I didn't rinse out the baking soda. And maybe a couple of times I didn't. But, if I wash it in the shower (which I do) then the baking soda gets rinsed out. Sometimes I just feel like I need a really good deep clean and I soak in the sink for a few minutes - it's not an all the time deal. Last week I dumped it over my head in the shower. I actually can't remember if I rinsed out the BS before I used the ACV last time I dunked. Maybe it's more rocket science than I thought LOL! I will make a mental note to be sure to rinse out the BS before the ACV rinse. Half the time, I am so distracted when I am doing anything because I have a five year old, a teenager or a dog screaming at me for something or scratching at the bathroom door - or running through the bathroom when I am just trying to have 5 minutes to myself for some personal grooming!! There is a distinct possibility that I have not rinsed between several times. I know that sounds kind of idiotic to not be able to remember, but even as I type my posts on here, my five year old is just jabbering away at me constantly and the dog is trying to sit in my lap!
soaringeagle said:

wait that sounds like your doing baking soda then u use new water with acv..but are niot rinsing betweeen
u know baking soda reacts with vinager causes heat and foam that creates a seperate chemical
thats probly the issue

why are u doing it in a sink not the shower?

try this
in the shower pour the baking soda over your head..wait 10 minutes then rinse it out well

after u rinse the baking soda pour ion the acv..wait 3 min then rinse

if your dunkingh in the acv while bs is stull in your hair your gonna cause that reaction that creates an acid that can probably dry the hair like crazy


MiDread said:

Yep! I soak in baking soda for a little, then drain, refill the sink with fresh water - add ACV and then soak and rinse with a little fresh water. I know its not rocket science - maybe I just have crappy hair, which I knew BEFORE I had dreads.
rawsum said:

just to be sure.. you do the BS rinse and the ACV rinse separately correct? .. with fresh water rinses in between the BS and the ACV and then after the ACV with cold water ?

MiDread said:

O.K. - was being a "little" bit of a drama queen. I don't really want to comb them out. I'll try the jojoba IN the rinse instead of after they dry. I don't use that much aloe at all. Not even every few days. I really don't do that much with them except wash, split and go. That is why I can't understand why they seem stiff, except that maybe they are really tight. Like I said, I think I will lay off the teatree shampoo too and just try the BS/ACV for a while and maybe they will soften up. Maybe this is just the way they are supposed to be??? I need to find somebody in this two horse town with some dreadies!!!!

Thanks for the help!

If this is it, I am tempted to comb out!!!

Dread Maintenance



Yep! I soak in baking soda for a little, then drain, refill the sink with fresh water - add ACV and then soak and rinse with a little fresh water. I know its not rocket science - maybe I just have crappy hair, which I knew BEFORE I had dreads. rawsum said:

just to be sure.. you do the BS rinse and the ACV rinse separately correct? .. with fresh water rinses in between the BS and the ACV and then after the ACV with cold water ?

MiDread said:

O.K. - was being a "little" bit of a drama queen. I don't really want to comb them out. I'll try the jojoba IN the rinse instead of after they dry. I don't use that much aloe at all. Not even every few days. I really don't do that much with them except wash, split and go. That is why I can't understand why they seem stiff, except that maybe they are really tight. Like I said, I think I will lay off the teatree shampoo too and just try the BS/ACV for a while and maybe they will soften up. Maybe this is just the way they are supposed to be??? I need to find somebody in this two horse town with some dreadies!!!!

Thanks for the help!

If this is it, I am tempted to comb out!!!

Dread Maintenance

O.K. - was being a "little" bit of a drama queen. I don't really want to comb them out. I'll try the jojoba IN the rinse instead of after they dry. I don't use that much aloe at all. Not even every few days. I really don't do that much with them except wash, split and go. That is why I can't understand why they seem stiff, except that maybe they are really tight. Like I said, I think I will lay off the teatree shampoo too and just try the BS/ACV for a while and maybe they will soften up. Maybe this is just the way they are supposed to be??? I need to find somebody in this two horse town with some dreadies!!!!Thanks for the help!

If this is it, I am tempted to comb out!!!

Dread Maintenance

I have never felt anyone else's locks because I don't know anyone who has them - I am in this all by myself here!!! Maybe they are supposed to feel like this????? It just seems like they look and feel REALLY stiff to me. They are not quite shoulder length though. Maybe they need to lengthen and thicken up a little and they won't seem so stiff.I have jojoba oil that I use on them but maybe I should put it in my rinse instead of using it after my hair is dry to tame frizzies. I use a little aloe on them too - straight out of the plant, so it can't be from any chemicals. I know they are supposed to be like ropes, but mine feel more like twine!!!! I filled the sink with cool water today and dumped a bunch of ACV in it and just dunked my head in and let my hair soak for a while. It seemed to soften them up a little, but they are still kind of stiff.My hair does not feel very soft now because I have not used any heavy conditioners for months. My hair is generally course and slightly dry because it is really curly. I was not aware that newly formed dreads would loosen up any with time. Maybe it is just that they are still under a year old "teenagers" and they will thicken and loosen a little. I really don't want to comb them out. But like I said, I don't want a head full of big 'ole stiff dreads either.I will investigate the body splash. I have seen threads about it, but have no idea what it is. Maybe I will just try the BS/ACV washes with some oils exclusively for a while and see if that helps loosen them up and condition them a little. Maybe the teatree shampoo is making them super tight. I do notice that my hair seems to really be tight after I wash with that.Its really hard when you have never seen anyone with dreads up close or know anyone with dreads so that you can kind of "feel 'em up" so to speak LOL! Even all of you guys appear to have really soft looking dreads from your pictures. Mine feel like they could poke somebody's eye out!!! I will investigate all the suggestions and see if anything helps. Otherwise, I guess I have to learn to love my funky, stiff dreads!!! Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

If this is it, I am tempted to comb out!!!

Dread Maintenance

O.K., I have searched the forums for subjects on stiff dreads. None of them seemed to apply to my situation. So, checking to see if anyone else has this issue - or if it even is an issue.Plain and simple, my dreads are stiff. They are not fluffy, they are not soft and they hang like lifeless, hard ropes on my head. I did not use wax, I did not crochet and I do no maintenance except wash, seperate and a few aloe treatments. I have soft water and alternate between Bronners REALLY diluted, a teatree shampoo and BS/ACV to wash.I am afraid this is due to the texture of my hair and I am REALLY not liking it. I see pictures of people with locks on here and most of them look incredibly soft, flowy and fluffy. What is up with mine????? I have been dreading for about 8-9 months now so they are not really "newbies" anymore. They are a little wider than a pencil and are really tightening up. They are loopy and kinky, but incrediby hard. When I squeeze one, it does not give very much - it is not "spongy". Up near the roots they are, but they are not very tight there. Could it be because they are not very thick?I hate the thought of combing them out and giving up. But, I don't want a bunch of "Johnny Clean" looking dreads on my head that never move and hang there like a dead squid (sorry Johnny if you read this, I really don't intend to be mean). I would rather be dreadless.Anyone else have locks like this??? Help????
updated by @midread: 02/14/15 03:31:31AM

Discrimination against dreadlocks in school hair wars on individuality

Life Issues Facing Dreads

Uuuhmmmm.... Dumb-Ass Conservative Republican opinion here people (guess I am the ONLY conservative republican with dreads here.. and by the way - I HATE Obama and all of his Socialist-elite lackies, so can we keep the insulting political slurs out of it????) Anyway - All of the public schools in my school district have instituted a uniform policy, which I believe is their right to do. Both of my sons attend a public charter school, which has a uniform, hair, tattoo and piercing policy. My boys cannot have their hair below the collar on their shirt.While we do get frustrated with the school at times because of some of the uber anal policies, we realize that it is not done to be mean or discriminatory. I have seen some of the kids on non-uniform days, the girls look like a bunch of tramps and the majority of the boys just look like idiots. I can't believe that parents would let their kids out of the house looking like some of the kids I have seen. Believe me, my son's rights are not being trampled on. He has plenty of time after he graduates to grow his hair however he wants, cover himself in tattoos and pierce his body from one end to the other if that is what he wants to do.If either of my boys ever decide they just HAVE to grow their hair or have dreads or get tired of uniforms, then I will find another school that will accept whatever they want to do (or home school). But, it better be something worth really fighting for at their age. Right now, it's not killing them. I nuture each of my child's opinions and expressions of personality and believe me, they are individuals in every way despite their school requirements. They are not learning to conform, or be little "soldiers". They are learning that they can't always have everything their way and that there are certain standards society requires - sad and frustrating as it may be. When they are out of high school and on their way to college or whatever, they can decide for themselves if they want to conform or not.I am, however, surprised that dreadlocks would be banned. They must not be aware of the religious implications of dreadlocks. As anal as government is (hence, the public school system) about tolerating any religious expression (except apparently, Christianity), I would think that they would be falling all over themselves to accomodate any kind of outward expression of a particular faith, whether it be Islamic, Rastafarian or friggin' devil worship. Maybe this forum should just enlighten them to the fact there are religious issues with dreads and see how fast they back-track.

How to fix tight irritating dread root?

Dread Maintenance

Cool! Nice to know I am not the only one with a "freaky" dread LOL! I have a lot of loose hair all over so I suppose I can expect this to happen once in a while. Thanks for the input!