Forum Activity for @thundersquall

Dreadhead returns

Introduce Yourself

Hello you beautiful people,

I'm not new to this site, but am returning after a year long hiatus from nappy dread. I cut them last year as i didn't like how much i had snipped away and tampered with them, which defeats the purpose of growing free form dreadlocks, in my opinion.

I am currently regrowing my hair, a fairly fast process actually, and am going into this second set without any preconceived notions of what they should look like. Alot of bruthas who sport dreads go for the tiny, perfectly uniform in size look (NFL anyone)?. While i applaud any soul who grows their locks, i find this isn't for me because they are after all your bodies creative form of expression.

So with that in mind, hello again and here is wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

updated by @thundersquall: 01/13/15 10:00:03PM

I Have been freeforming from a fade for a year, my hair isn't even an inch long?

Introduce Yourself

Listen bro when i was growing my first set i was feeling some of the same things you were. Mostly impatience, so i can relate.

Question, is your hair actually dreaded at all? If not, consider picking out the Fro and let some growth set in. I have heard that the longer the hair the easier it can dread, in fact even Bob Marley if you look at pictures didn't start dreading till his hair was rather long. I didn't put down comb pick to let it dread untill i could pull a strand down to my eyebrows. Two-three months later, after washing four times a week with organic shampoos, i had baby dreads.

How did you get that unique pattern in your hair from solely using freeform?

Black folk can have different thickness/coarseness of hair which some people may not realize, but chances are you have the kind of hair that takes to dreading more naturally perhaps then any on the planet. So feel confident that it will happen, just at a time of its own choosing.

Recommended Shampoos?

Introduce Yourself

I am regrowing my hair for dreads, and the options the other listed are fantastic as well. But i am kinda partial to http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/kirk's-original-coco-castile-bar-s...

It has 4 simple ingredients, mainly coconut, an excellent moisturizer for hair. I can get a 3 pack of this stuff at Walmart or grocery store for like 3-4 bucks.

Why I chose to dread...

Introduce Yourself

Hey man if it feels right i say go for it. Too many people fashion themselves after what society thinks they should look like, or perhaps more accurately, what other members of their "race" say. Fact is we all have one life to live and being a conformist is both boring and debilitating to ones freedom of choice, real talk.

To destroy, or to let grow. My dreadlock crossroads.

Dreading Methods

I apreciate the responses, thank you. It is true that the natural method is like a marathon, and it would be a shame to quit the race when you are 75% of the way to the finish line (Shoulder length, in my case) To be honest i can see how cutting your dreads the first time SE could be a event of major significance, one which i could potentially see myself going through as well.

I too agree that many of us go through the same thing when it comes to dreading. It is odd because the other day when i took my daughter to the park, my hair was freshly washed and ornamented with wooden beads throughout. Some parents looked at me with mild curiosity and interest, but regardless at that place in time i was proud of my locks, and wore them proud. Strange, such a feeling can be so..fleeting at times. Like the above poster stated, the fact that i put down the scissors to come consult with you fine people does hint at my obvious hesitation to cut that which i grew.

To destroy, or to let grow. My dreadlock crossroads.

Dreading Methods

Hey guys,

Haven't been around for some time. My dreads have grown and matured so much since just last july, as i am now able to put beads and what have you in them. My journey using the natural method has...had its ups and downs to say the least. First i was pleased to see them actually taking shape as babies. Then i had days where i somewhat loathed their inital "tree-like" appearance in the later stage. Then came a day seemingly when i woke up and they were past my ears, blowing wildly in the wind, unchallenged, untamed. And i was content.

Some days i am quite proud of them, and others i feel like it is best if we parted ways. I realize it is after all just hair, but anyone who has grown dreadlocks especially from starter natural method can vouch for just how much time, patience, and energy can go into them. Currently, i would say they are at their "teenager" stage of length, and while i still believe the natural method is the healthiest way to go, for uniform appearance i might have chosen an alternative method. If i were to cut them i would not be interested in trying again; no, i have the experience of dreadlocks etched into memory forever. Yet when i raised the scissors to just one of them, i put it down and commenced writing this post. I am at a crossroads. Share your thoughts, near dread-death experiences if you will. Thanks ya'll.

updated by @thundersquall: 02/14/15 03:49:49AM

To cut or not to cut

Dreading Methods

Fair enough SE, point taken!

To cut or not to cut

Dreading Methods

Hey all,

Well let me start out by saying what an interesting, at times exciting experience my journey has been thus far. My hair grows longer (Thanks, biotin!) and has locked up completely, save for this one..little spot. It seemed to be true that hair along the hairline tends to dread slower, but this one spot in particular is bothering me to the point i am thinking of..cutting it off?

It is these two thin, long strands that have in fact dreaded, being so close together it would seem they were made to be together. But they refuse. I have used a rubberband to bind them together (Yes, i took it out eventually) even resorted to using Aloe Vera in an effort to encourage their entanglement together. I have finger twisted like mad even to the point that it has become something of a nervous habit for me, lol. No such luck however, and given that the other side of my hairline has formed just fine it is frustrating at this lack of "progress". Thus, like i said i have been debating just cutting them out. My girlfriend tells me no not to touch them, and i agree to a point cause if they would just dread together it would balance it all out. So what to do? Should i just let be as i have with the rest of my hair? It must be somehow humanly possible to encourage them to bind. Suggestions? Thanks.

Your friendly neighborhood Thundersquall.

updated by @thundersquall: 01/13/15 09:07:11PM

natural aloe gel as an alternative to wax

Dread Products

I tried using Aloe Gel in an attempt to get a particular lock of hair to stay together. It didn't workso hotso yea i am unconvinced about it as an alternative to wax.

Dreading my ladies hair

Dreading Methods

So my sweetheart says she wants to dread her hair! She has real fine hair though so we are trying to get an idea of what the best way to go about it would be for her, not using the "natural" method mind you.Was thinking of throwing out her commercial shampoos and having her try something like Aubrey Organics shampoo for starters. Suggestions?
updated by @thundersquall: 01/13/15 09:04:27PM