Forum Activity for @panterra-caraway

Nappy & Happy (:

Introduce Yourself

Thank you Sweetheart hippiegal! (((HUGS)))

hippiegal said:

Hi Kim - Panterra's already answered your question superbly. I just want say I understand because I too had to learn to leave my hair alone. It's like any habit.When you catch yourself fiddling with your hair, don't get annoyed with yourself, just stop. With the messy phase, I do my best to embrace it. Laugh about it. If anyone says something like, 'Your hair's a mess,' smile widely and say, 'I know! Great, isn't it?' Guaranteed, that will silence them. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Please keep us posted. Love :D

Nappy & Happy (:

Introduce Yourself

Well, I will offer this....there are things that you can do to encourage dreading. But, please keep in mind that the point is not to let even the good things become obsessive and chore-like. You want to strive for simplicity and just "being". You can cover your pillow in an old wool sweater, this is very helpful. You can use a spray of either ocean water (if you are close to a water source) or make a sea salt spray. You want to use real sea salt, which you can buy at most markets. There are several recipes for the ratios here. I use ocean water for the specific purpose of dreading so that it is not too strong. Spray your hair with the salt spray as often as you like, just keep in mind that some people find it can irritate their scalp as well. You can wear a tam....I also make those by the way!...wool ones work best, but don't over-do it. Wear it no more than 50% of the time max. Make sure you are washing more,rather than less. Some people neglect shampoooing and become itchy and irritated. You will find you dread the most when shampooing and sleeping. Your hair will go through LOTS of stages...there will be times that you want to shave your head and you feel like this process was a huge mistake. You may and probably will get nasty comments from some people, who try to tell you that you are doing it all wrong and don't wash and your hair won't dread and you look gross....whatever....DON'T LISTEN! These people are simply cousins to the voices in your own head that try to tear you down and defeat you and keep you a prisoner. It is no mistake that you began this journey...you were called to it. Just focus on everything besides your hair. If someone in your life can't wrap their mind around where you are at...maybe they are someone you don't really need. SE talked about dreads being a filter, and they definitely are. You will find that your mind will begin to change, at first subtlely, then in more significant ways. You will soon embrace who you were truly meant to be...not who others want you to be or think that you are. I am now at 18 mos. and there were so many times I almost gave up. I now see the beauty in what happened. I made peace with myself by realizing that is okay to not be in control...it can be scary and exhilarating...like falling off a cliff, but in this case...you soon fly <3

Nappy & Happy (:

Introduce Yourself

Hi Kim! Okay, here is the thing. You don't actually have dreads yet...but you will. Doing T&R or backcombing is just a starter that some people utilize...but, it is not dreads. It is stuck together hair that resembles dreads. That is why it falls apart and loosens. The hair simply can not dread if it doesn't loosen and the strands don't rub against each other. That is how it "knits" together. So many people become anxious and try to "help" their hair along. Your hair doesn't need your help, it knows what to do. I find that dreads are something that kind of calls to people. We feel drawn to them for many reasons...some spiritual, some not, but we have reasons that they appeal. I also find that many of the people they appeal to are very O.C.D and obsessed with control and perfection. But I believe that is the lesson. Dreads can teach us many things about ourselves, we just need to stop asserting our will. You are the very type who needs dreads the most...to free yourself and be yourself...but, you are also the very type who it will be difficult with and drive crazy!!!! LOL...I know....me too! But you have to see that anything we strive so hard to control really is a problem. Instead of struggling, lay back and float....that is the lesson. Ofcoarse, right away...many people say, but I will look ugly and unkept...I will lose my job....blah, blah, blah.....All liesto keep you in a place of unhappiness. Who cares if you have messy hair? Really no one in the end but you. The best gift you can give yourself is dreads...and to get there you have to let go. Much love <3

Post shower care?

Dread Maintenance

Humble too

Baba Fats said:

Not at all. I just listen to what you and eagle say, and help pass it on with a little bit of my own advice

Post shower care?

Dread Maintenance

Absolutely Baba! Again, very well said! (You are so smart XD)

Baba Fats said:

I thought that was why you might have left it out. That's why I made a point to say o not overdo it. when I first started using seasalt My scalp itched like crazy and I felt like I was going to tear my hair out. It's all about proportions and moderation.

Post shower care?

Dread Maintenance

Matty, glad I could help and thank you for sharing with me <3

Matty Mac said:

awesome! i wish i had posted on this forum months ago, your advice is greatly appreciated. As a thank you I'd like to share my youtube channel with you. I have reggae style covers from all sorts of artists, anything from the temptations to mac miller, adele to bob marley and much more.

Enjoy!

Matty Mac Covers

Post shower care?

Dread Maintenance

Thanks Baba! I did leave that out, but only because I really want Matty to begin to embrace the simplicity of dreads and not get caught up in the should I do syndrome....butthanks Baba! Good point to add, well put

Baba Fats said:

Panterra's said it all.

Only thing left out was that you could use a seasalt water mixture in a spray bottle once in a while. It generally helps with the process. Don't over use or it will dry out your scalp and cause more damage than good.

Post shower care?

Dread Maintenance

No, no clips Matty. Seperating is just keeping hairs from one dread out of another so that they are individuals and a hair doesn't stretch way across and pull, which can be painful. Seperating is not meant to create perfect little "bundles" of hair that must be segregated from each other...don't think of it that way. You will drive yourself nuts if you keep trying to keep each dread self contained. Dreads should be effortless in what we do..which should be only washing and seperating. The hard part is not controlling the process. Unless you are washing or seperating...you should not be touching your hair...and I promise, it will be fine!

Post shower care?

Dread Maintenance

First, you need to stop with the twisting. That is not dreading your hair. Besides, you are putting alot of stress and tension not only on your scalp but on your hair. Repeated twisting will only hurt you and your hair in the end. Many African Americans start their dreads by twisting, but it does nothing for causcasian hair but cause damage, and on African American hair, if constantly done...will cause the same problems. Hair will dread in its own time and in its own way. You do not need to "help it". Your hair knows what to do by itself. Dreading is a very long process for many people. I didn't have one knot for the first 8 mos. You have to be patient. The best thing you can do is leave it alone, aside from seperating after your shower. Seperating will keep the dreads from matting into a big blob...but that is really all you need. Make sure that you do not sleep on your wet hair....dry thoroughly outside or with bursts from a blowdryer. Likewise, do not put it into a ponytail or tam/hat wet. There is no magic to it. Stop looking in themirror, and don't worry about all the changes. It will look different from day to day. When it falls apart...trust that that is all apart of what it must do. Dreads are not hair that is stuck togethter, it is hair that is woven together, in its own special pattern:)

I just looked at your profile....your biggest problem is wax. Your hair will never dread as long as you are using it. You must remove the wax to progress. Hope you take some time to read about wax removal and then begin your journey fresh. Good luck and happy dreading!

Should I start again?

Help! Save My Dreads

I would definitely say wash more. Atleast twice a week. I understand your weather situation and all that, but you aren't washing enough. You can use the blow dryer to dry your hair almost exclusively if you need to. I would also recommend a micro fiber type towel. You know, those kind that hold alot of water...? I bought five of them at a discount store and sewed them together so that they would hold all my hair.You will find that Bronners tends to make hair feel greasier in the beginning, but in my experience, that went away after awhile. You need to be scrubbing your scalp, not just putting the soap on...then rinse and rinse and rinse. When you think you have all the soap out, rinse some more. Many times, you will get greasy from leaving some soap in. Next, always rinse with ACV. But, I suspect you may not be using enough. Some people only use like a tablespoon...I recommend approx. a half cup or 3/4 cup to a standard bucket of water. The ACV will help with your scalp and keep your hair from looking dull, it also helps rinse out some soap too. Then, rinse again.....If you are putting your hair up with anydampness at all, you will get mold. I have some very large golf ball type knots on the bottom of many dreads and they dostay wet longer...but, you must use that blowdryer! Don't get lazy about this even though it is a hassle. I usually put my hair in the micro fiber towel for about 15 min. and then I blow dry for about 5 min. I keep doing whatever I need to do and stopping to blowdry until it is pretty dry...then I finish by air drying. I always check by squeezing my hair before bed to check for dampness. If it is the least bit moist, I hit it with the dryer once more. I always wash early in the day as well. I have very thick hair, so it takes awhile. I hope these things all help You will find that those big bumps do go down over time. Mine have shrunk and Iput wraps or beads on the worst ones to help. Find a couple of really big beads, it will make a HUGE difference. Good luck <3 Oh, and since your are oily now...lay off the oils for awhile....use them later when you feel a bit drier.

Jenni Macnair said:

For the first year and a bit i used BS, ACV and oils but my hair colour was looking very faded so my sister bought me knotty dread shampoo but i only used it for a few months because it made my hair really greasy and more recently i started using dr bronners peppermint soap. I wash my hair once a week. I put it up in a towel after washing for a bit then let it air dry. I live in the highlands in scotland so not much sun here to let it dry in any natural heat and if i need to go to work il give it a run over with a hairdryer then i have to put it up. Usually though il wash it on a day off so i can leave it to dry all day. Its only the ends of my dreads that im having problems with though, (except not sure if its relevant but i do have problems with dandruff and my scalp occasionally gets itchy ?! ).

updated by @panterra-caraway: 07/23/15 04:12:24PM