Right now I am using Neutrogena anti residue shampoo, becuase it works wonders for oily hair, but and considering starting to use baking soda. I heard that works well too! I just think the soapyness of the shampoo helps unknot them a little...
I too, backcombed mine. I started mine of May 22. I "re-did" them several different times, but have also decided to let them do what they want. Right now they are getting bumps, but no loops yet. The only thing I do is wash and seperate. After I wash, they seem to be really loose, but after they dry for a day or two, really start locking up good. I think its when they are clean and dry! Yours are looking really good! Keep up the good work.
<3 namaste.
I strted mine by backcombing, and I completely agree with what everyone has said. They will come out, if not completely, almost all the way... I backcombed mine till I had raw spots on my fingers. Then I realized it was only setting be back. I decided to go natural and let them be. They are still sectioned in the sections that I put them in, but I have had a couple of the bigger sections, split off into several different dreads... As long as you leave them be, they will be fine.
Namaste.
Mu husband and I ride motorcycles. In FL, you don't have to wear a helment if you carry 10,000 in insurance, but we can't afford that. I have to literally force the helment over my hair, and when I take it off they look rather flat. They have always gone back to normal, round shape, but thats only wearing it a hour or two a day, tops. Either way, your dreadies look awesome! Keep up the good work!
Namaste.
Hello everyone. I hope all is well with you all.
Well, a short story of me and how I got to be where I am today. In 2009, my husband took me with him to the Winter Gathering, in Ocala, FL. My first time experience with Rainbows or Rainbow Gatherings. I loved it from the first second we got there. I unfortunetly couldn't stay over night due to work, but came out the next day, with our daughter. Needless to say, I couldn't wait until the next year.
In 2010, the winter gathering came around again, this time, at Lake Mary. By far one of my favorite places on Earth. That year, I was lucky enough to get to stay a couple of nights. I had a blast. Met some very awesome people and had some pretty amazing times. I was very sad to have to leave.
And then came this year. I had anticipated this time since the year before when we left. It was every bit as amazing as I thought it was going to be. I was almost in tears, from joy of course, to be back. We stayed fairly close to front gate, as we took our daughter and son, which was his first gathering and either of their first times camping. They did amazing and both seemed to love it!
This was the year that I realized that I found my place in life. Ealier last year, I began studying Paganism, which only reaffirmed my choice to be one with The Earth and everyone here. I
I had thought long and hard about starting my dreadlocks, but something was always stopping me. Here, jobs do not take kindly to any sort of individuality(tattoos, piercings, hair styles or hair colors etc.). My sister got married last month, which I was in the wedding. After that, I decided I had nothing stopping me now. I had done lots of research into different products and methods. I decided that I was going to backcomb and use nothing but beeswax. It took me 3 days total to get all of my hair backcombed. It was a long, but very rewarding few days. I finally got up the courage to wash them. I basically rinsed with cool water, no shampoo. I dried them and to my surprise, all of my backcombing had come unknotted. I cried... I was so disspapointed. So I backcombed them all again. I litterally had raw spots on my fingers from the comb...
I had bought a few products from a beauty supply store in town, including some anti-residue shampoo. I have backcombed my dreads several different times over this last month, because they apeared to be coming unknotted. I do believe for me, the backcombing only slowed the process down the first couple of weeks.
I luckily came accross Soaring Eagle's page on Facebook, which lead me to this site... After further reading
I realized what I should have done to begin with. I stopped putting any products in my hair and stopped backcombing them. Alot of people keep telling me, "they need to be backcombed more" or "they aren't locking up fast enough". I just brush them off. While they aren't too pretty looking right now, I know they will do what they want to do, in their own time. I realized that, worrying with products and backcombing only makes me stress over them... I was always worried about how good they looked, so I was willing to do anything and put anything in them to "fix" them.
After a week of natural dreading, I am very happy with how they are coming along. I will admit, I do worry about how they look, but I am working on that. I get odd looks, quite often since starting them, which bothered me at first. It still somewhat does, but thats another thing I am working on, not caring what others think and doing what I want in life. It is teaching my patience and self love... Which are my weak points.. 
So thank you to SE and all the wonderful, amazing people here....
Namaste.
-Star
I couldn't agree more. I started mine with backcombing but the more reading I did, the less I did to them. Now they are all natural. I till have a hard time with getting dirty looks, but it's all part of the process.. Yours are looking good, keep up the good work!
I live inpredominantly black neighborhood. I get "looks" often andsome people have even made remarks and jokes about "the white girl with dreads" It kind of botheredme at first, but after a while, I kinda just block them out. Ignorance, however, has always bothered me. Whether it be misinformation or ignorance, it does get old after a while. I am very proud of my nappy dreads and wouldn't change them for the world!!!
