Forum Activity for @jessica-arnold

whats up

Introduce Yourself

Hey Levon welcome to the site man. Love to see new members become apart of this awesome community Before you start your dreads..if you use any conditioner or products in your hair you should stop using them. Also, you can wash your hair with baking soda and other recipes that we have provided here to get your scalp used to not washing so often. (I wash mine about twice a week, once with regular shampoo/trader joes bar soap and once with shampoo/water and baking soda) Also, another helpful supply to grab before starting your locks is a pick comb. Like this one. http://www.buy.com/prod/hot-waves-pick-comb-hand-model-no-0661eb/q/sellerid/26807664/loc/67984/216002993.html Its important to find one that isn't too sharp so you don't cut yourself or damage anything. It'll really help to help with scalp stimulation to help create new hair and help with occasional itchiness. I usually use mine every day.If you want natural dreadlocks, I recommend twist & rip method and minor backcombing. <== Be careful if you decide to backcomb, make sure if you do them or have someone help you that they're not moving the comb back and forth on your hair, just upward to your roots. Otherwise you could end up ripping out a lot of hair and white roots that can show on your dreads unless you dye them. I have realllllly straight wispy hair that won't even hold a curl, and I used this method. I like it because its not too messy, or too groomed looking. Even during the first month some dreads decided to join with others and do their own thing.Hope your excited about your dread journey! If you need any more tips or have any more questions send me a message or anyone on here and we would all be happy to help as much as possible :D Peace&Love man.

Levon said:

whats the twist n rip? how does that process work?? and i've got straight hair that curls in some places so i dk what youd call that....but i want the natural look....my biggest concern is when the dreads start locking that while my hair grows it will keep whats locked there and grows into the dreads as my hair gets longer....and do you start with the salt water and or bakin soda before you have the dreads to get your hair the right texture so the dreads willl form or do you wait till the dreads r starting and just use those as a method of cleaning? i want to b as natural as possible...ill buy certain soaps or oils if needed...but as i said i want to go natural...this is a personal experience for me n i want to do it right...thank you my friends for your advice its greatly appreciated...*love*

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

General Questions

I always get my dreads caught in a bush hanging from my fence. Every morning when I go out to unlock the gate I snag a few berries in my dreads that my bird helps me pick out later. Also, the other day I was walking through a Halloween store and my dreads got caught in a spider hanging from above. He wouldn't let go! D:

Dreadlock depression?

Dread Maintenance

Well, baldness is something that could inevitably happen..even for me. I figure though, if I'm meant to go bald I could make my old dreads into a wig and rock some gray wig dreads :D Teehee

Mike said:

if you love your dreads that all that matters, who cares what other people think!! buy dont cry its ok im the one who might go bald :'( omg i hope i dont, whatever ima rock the dreadlock combover lmao

Dreadlock depression?

Dread Maintenance

Yeah, that is a good idea.. I wonder though if my computer has room for all the pictures :D It'd be neat to make a video with the same expression and do it every day for a year to watch

Brandon Arnold said:

you know what might help?

taking pictures every week and seeing the progression.

you and your family might not notice day by day, but I'm sure if you look back a month ago, you'd see lots of changes!

Dreadlock depression?

Dread Maintenance

Wow, that was really inspiring :D Thank you.

Faelwynn said:

So, since you seem to be in a bit of a low point, I'll share with you my lowest point with my dreadies.

I was walking to the bus stop one morning after work, when this homeless guy stopped me. He looked at me, started talking to me about various things, and then commented on how pretty I was, and what a shame it was that I was ruining my hair with dreads... he then continued to inform me that the only way I could keep my hair in dreads was to rub things like feces, honey, wax, glue, ect in them. A HOMELESS MAN WAS COMMENTING ON MY APPEARANCE... I was floored and really considered going home and combing out my dreads ( I want to say they were 2-3 months old at the time). I just couldn't believe that someone could be so bold and hurtful to a complete stranger (or perhaps it's easier that way? I can't be sure). That may be part of the reason that for the first 6-8 months of my dreading journey, I always wore a tam...ALWAYS. Only my mate and my closest friends were privy to what was growing under the hat.

These days, regardless of hurtful comments and the like, I keep telling myself that I am a 'feral goddess' and I love it that way. I don't care if it makes it a bit harder for me to etch out a living in today's society, it's ME! and I love being seen this way. I'm becoming much more bold (could also be read 'I just don't care anymore' xD) when being seen out in public... dreads down? hell yes. Make-up? only if I want it... I don't need it anymore! The only real staples are a hair tie ( just in case ) and a good lip balm...

Point is, forget the haters. If they don't stand behind your decision, then forget about them. I still dreaded up even though my mate (read 'fianc' for those of you who don't know me) thought that dreads were something only men grew and looked good in... especially black men. Now he enjoys finding new loops just as much as I do! All it took was knowing that this is what I wanted to do, and that it made me happy...and as unsure as he was about the dreadlocks, when he saw the confidence they gave me, he was sold. Keep your chin up, and keep doing what makes you happy!

Dreadlock depression?

Dread Maintenance

I think it might also have to do with where I live as well.. Around here the only dreads you would ever see would be on African Americans, due to the texture of their hair they all look neat, perfect, straight..And because they (my family) see so many of those I think they didn't fully understand the concept of mine. Plus, like what you mentioned earlier.. Women seem to get judged on their appearance quite a lot more then guys and for my age especially that is a big factor. Usually if there are young women with dreadlocks (where I'm from) they're african american. Its not every day you see a 16 year old white girl who lives in the city with a hairstyle like that. But dreadlocks are so unique and beautiful, I have a feeling its not the hairstyle causing conflict, just people. Thank you for reminding me.

Eva Deva said:

yeah, i understand totally...especially since they waited five months before telling you.
my family told me they would disown me if i ever got dreads - i got them anyways, and for the most part, they all like them. so, things change sometimes...
and to be honest - sometimes dreads DO decrease our, um, attractiveness factor?
you know? like obviously it changes the appearance. and many times it looks more unkempt than the standard polished look that other hairstyles afford.
but, once people get in to them and understand the Heart of the Matter behind the "hairstyle" it becomes much more appealing.
keep doin your thing, and maybe your Best Beloveds will catch the vibe and acknowledge the beauty of it.



Jessica Arnold said:

I never intended to do my dreads to impress other people..but I figured I'd at least have my Dad and boyfriends support.. I think thats what threw me off. Thank you so much for reminding me that it is entirely my decision.

Eva Deva said:

As a woman, i think we catch more crap for our appearance than men do. We have a higher and more ridiculous standard of beauty that we're constantly being measured against.
its your hair. your body. and your decision.
and hopefully, you didnt start this process in an effort to impress people.
if someone doesnt like the way you look - that is their problem, not yours.
you should not be expected to constantly subject yourself to "treatments" in order to fit SOMEONE ELSES definition of what looks good!!!!!!

and im tellin you right now...if you start trying to appease other people...THEY will never be happy. and neither will you.
How can you be expected to look how someone else wants you to!??!
how do YOU want to look?
thats all that is important.
and if you've been feeling proud, and really diggin on your hair, then that is all that matters!!
dont ever let someone else steal your joy, or change your opinion of yourself.
rock it strong, Proud Mary - keep on rollin.
don't shed one more tear.

Dreadlock depression?

Dread Maintenance

I never intended to do my dreads to impress other people..but I figured I'd at least have my Dad and boyfriends support.. I think thats what threw me off. Thank you so much for reminding me that it is entirely my decision.

Eva Deva said:

As a woman, i think we catch more crap for our appearance than men do. We have a higher and more ridiculous standard of beauty that we're constantly being measured against.
its your hair. your body. and your decision.
and hopefully, you didnt start this process in an effort to impress people.
if someone doesnt like the way you look - that is their problem, not yours.
you should not be expected to constantly subject yourself to "treatments" in order to fit SOMEONE ELSES definition of what looks good!!!!!!

and im tellin you right now...if you start trying to appease other people...THEY will never be happy. and neither will you.
How can you be expected to look how someone else wants you to!??!
how do YOU want to look?
thats all that is important.
and if you've been feeling proud, and really diggin on your hair, then that is all that matters!!
dont ever let someone else steal your joy, or change your opinion of yourself.
rock it strong, Proud Mary - keep on rollin.
don't shed one more tear.

Dreadlock depression?

Dread Maintenance

Okay, so I started dreading my hair about 5 months ago, and so far I am very pleased with the way they look so loopy and you can really start to tell they're locking up Well, last night my boyfriend and dad sat down with me and I chatted with them about how excited I was with my dreads and how they were all different, all precious to me. Because I had layered hair before I started, a lot of them are quite wispy and different sizes, thicknesses and some are quite longer than others, but I liked that. They're not too dramatically different.. Or so I thought..While I rambled on about my dreads, my dad interrupted me and said, "Honestly, I don't think they look that good. They're messy, you have a lot of loose hairs, its poofy, and it doesn't look right." Immediately before I could say anything more my boyfriend shot out with "Yeah, they don't look very good. I wish you had your old hair." I sat there, a bit bewildered and lost. While I teared up my dad mentioned "Hey, its not so bad..I'll pay someone to help you with them..or we can try to find someone who knows how to do them professionally."I glared at them both. "Oh, really? How am I supposed to find someone 'professional' to not dump wax in my hair, twist them around and call them dreads? Is there even such thing as 'professional dreads'!? I'm not trying to look like Lil Wayne! Why the hell didn't you offer to help me when I was doing them myself? And now what, I spent 5 months waiting..ever so patiently for this hair that I'm so proud of and the two people in the world I care most for is telling me I look like crap?""Jess its not so bad. You'll just have to start some of them over, try something else.."I started crying. I honestly didn't think I could get so emotional over my hair. I'm so lost. I have no idea what to do. I feel so ugly. Like I should just shave off my hair..or comb them out..if my hair could survive that.. I wanted nice dreads, and I was willing to wait. Patience was the least of my worries. But with no mental support (or physical ) I feel like I'm just doing this by myself. Like my dad and boyfriend are just watching me mess up my hair for amusement? I have no idea. Gosh, my hair is so important to me. It always has been. I have no idea why. Crap I'm rambling again. Ugh, please, someone, anyone please please PLEASE help. I love my dreadies so much and I want to keep them..but if they really do look not so great, I want to know if there might be someone I could hire to do them right..? Or some way I could keep them as they are..?Sigh. I never thought a hairstyle could cause so much conflict..
updated by @jessica-arnold: 02/14/15 06:26:29AM

A lil get together.

General Talk

Woo. A dread gathering would be super awesome! I'm from Northern California, myself. :D And I have this funny feeling there would be ganja. Lots of ganja! :x

2 months of naturally straight dreaded hair. :P

Dread Maintenance

Awesome! Thank you SE. soaringeagle said:

leave the roots alone they'll dread on theyre own
and u can add beads anytime