Downside to dreads? Keeping it real!
Introduce Yourself
I love my dreads but nothing sucks more thanwhen you get one stuck to Velcro. Or when half your head somehow gets stuck to your jacket and you have to rip it off your head.
Forum Activity for @ferret
Seriously thinking of shaving my hair off.
Dreading Methods
Maybe you could try using conditioner on the dense areas to try and comb/brush them loose enough to separate them into more manageable dreads? It just seems like a waste to have come so far only to cut them off.
Crocheting hairs back into the dread?
Dread Maintenance
Ok, I maybe reading this wrong but are you crocheting your hair or just pulling loose wispy hair into your pre-existing dreads? If your just pulling it into the dread, you really shouldn't have an issue with it damaging your hair. The damaging from crocheting your hair is when the stands are pulled to tight at odd angles causing stress as the fibers naturally shift which can cause breakage.
As for the slipping out and being worthwhile, it all depends on the length of the hair you are pulling though. The longer it is the less likely it is to slip out. I have shoulder length hair and haven't had any problems pulling a few whispies back into their proper dreads.
Also I second the Aloe Vera advice.
Are all Knotty Boy and DreadHead products bad for dreads?
Introduce Yourself
Yay now someone deleted Fisherman Nomad's post before I even read it. I just love censorship<3 <3 <3
Are all Knotty Boy and DreadHead products bad for dreads?
Introduce Yourself
That's why I use HQ shampoo, my hair is a bit frail from my hyperthyroidism(one of the symptoms is thinning frail hair) and I don't want to mess it up more by agitating my scalp. It is a little pricy but you can buy it in bulk for a little bit of a discount, and I'm not about to condemn someone for wanting to make a livable wage.
Mary White said:
Baking soda CAN be harsh on scalps if too much is used and not rinsed cleanly away! I use it because it is cheap and additive free!
Jonathan Gonzalez said:But do their shampoos work because the baking soda make my head burn
i don't mind paying either
Are all Knotty Boy and DreadHead products bad for dreads?
Introduce Yourself
Most of their products work if used properly. They are a little pricy; however, they are manufactured in the USA(HQ is at least) so they are going to be more expensive. Like most things if you make your own it will be cheaper it all depends on if you want to bother making your own. I honestly really like HQ's no residue shampoo, I found that it keep my hair from getting greasy/oily longer than regular solon shampoo.
The only product I highly don't recommend is the Lock Docta tool. That will just damage your hair.
Does lanolin affect dreads?
Dreading Methods
Thanks, I guess I'll give my pillow case a good washing :D
Does lanolin affect dreads?
Dreading Methods
I'm a fiber artist, I clean, dye, spin, and weave my own
fibers including wool. I decided that I would try a wool pillow case to help my
dreads form. I was riffling through my work room and found a 75% wool, 12.5%
silk, 12.5% bamboo fiber bolt of fabric which I made some time ago that was
exactly the right size to make a pillow case out of. Originally I was going to
make a vest or shrug out of this fabric so I left some of the natural sheep
oil/grease (lanolin) in the wool to help water proof the cloth naturally. I'm
wondering if the lanolin will hurt or hinder the dreading possess and whether
or not I should super scour the pillow case with hot water and soap to remove
any remaining lanolin? Does anyone know how lanolin affects dreads?
updated by @ferret: 01/13/15 09:04:16PM
what to do?
Introduce Yourself
How much wax did you use? If you used wax as your main method of holding you might have to pull/comb them out. Too much wax prevents the hair fibers from shifting around and locking together. The loosening is good it means the wax is coming out and the fibers are trying to shift. I wouldn't add any more wax to your dreads. Give them at least a month before you try anything drastic with them and wash your hair every 3-4 days(there is no reason not to wash).
Remember there is no instant dreads.
to crochet or not to crochet
Introduce Yourself
Pretty much what everyone else has already said. Crocheting human hair is pretty damaging. I do fiber art (spinning wool, knitting, crocheting, weaving, ect..) and human hair does not have the elasticity or crimp to it like animal fiber does which mean that the hair will become damaged as it naturally shifts because it is pulled and breaks. Try rip-n-tearing the ends and slipping beads on if they start to unravel.