Forum Activity for @mary

Help! My 7 year old dreads are falling off the roots!

Help! Save My Dreads

Hey Everyone,

I know it's been a while since I have been here. So I'll just fill you in. In 2013 I bleached my hair with 30 vol bleach and dyed my hair with Ion Color Brilliance in teal and magenta. I did the same thing in 2014 when it was starting to fade a bit. Around early 2016 I did the same thing but I used purple and sky blue. If you're keeping track that's 3 times I've dyed and bleached my hair. During this time Infot my dreads twisted bi monthly (6 times a year) between 1/2015 - 1/2017. The loctician twisted my dreads so tight I didn't have to go each month, and for an additional couple of dollars she put my hair in a desired style. I chose updos since they were low maintenance, she then sewed the dreads in place so the style wouldn't come out.

Now she is a great loctician but she doesn't have dreads and she did it very tight, even at one point admitting that she didn't know if it was too tight so I would have to tell her. I noticed that while I was getting my hair twisted by her my dreads weren't growing like they used to( during that one year period I couldn't get my hair done professionally due to a scalp fungus that was treated by my dermatologist) . I also noticed that my scalp was feeling a bit thin. I didn't want to admit that it could be traction alopecia.

So fast forward to November/ December I visit her and I decide to dye my hair back to
black. The bleach had eaten away literally half way in each of my long dreads. As she was twisting it some of the dreads were falling out. I opted for her to just twist it in braids and I'll take it out when it dries , instead of sitting under the dryer. She said the next time I came back we would cut it into a cute bob.

So literally 3 weeks later I get in the shower and wash my dreads and they all start falling out. Getting out of the shower my dreads went from being down to my lower back to a shoulder bob.

The last few months I decided to give my hair a salon break but not gonna lie haven't been doing so great with upkeep; not moisturizing as often and for a while I was sleeping with a sleep cap that was resting against my edges.

So now for some reason all of the black dye is gone and hair is brown and in some dreads you can see the old colors I had dyed them.

I was braiding my dreads for a while after I got out of the shower until they started developing this weird uneven shape. Now my dreads look awful and I have this barren land on the front of my head where my dreads have fallen out. Today I was sitting down outside and my dread literally was hanging on by a strand. I took a picture of it. From where my thumb is holding it is where the loctician started twisting it.

So now I'm sitting here upset. I decided not to have her twist my dreads again, even though she is a phenomenal stylist and person. But now I don't know what to do. A part of me wants to cut off the dreads and start all over again. But another part of me doesn't want to part with my dreads. I've had them so long, I will feel naked. Plus I'm scared with all the twisting what if my hair doesn't grow back? It just looks so bad now I'm literally running out of options.

Some of the roots feel
Fine but the nape of my neck and the front end she's and top portion don't look so great. Thank for the long read.

updated by @mary: 08/10/17 11:56:44PM

Rectifying a bad bleach job

Dread Maintenance

I guess not... I guess I have to try again but follow the directions to the T.

Rectifying a bad bleach job

Dread Maintenance

soaring eagle said:

having never dyed mine at all im no expert but i would imagine its the dyes fault

from my understanding the bleach should act on the hairs pigment wich it probably did but theres a artificial dye overlaying that wich was unaltered (im guessing)

you may need something that strips away the previous dye?

in this case my answers probably the worse answer since i really am unsure

But its good enough, thanks SE

Rectifying a bad bleach job

Dread Maintenance

So I did a strand test with two of my dreads. I mixed the bleach and developer and applied it to two dreads. I then covered it in aluminum foil. I waited 30 minutes and then had a peek. They were still black some with a couple of brown. The other dreadlock had this reverse ombre effect where only the top portion had bleached. I removed the foil and waited another 30 minutes. After removing the product I noticed that the locks had not really bleached. Anyone know what I did wrong? The blue flash bottle said not to add heat so I did not, but was I supposed to? I dyed my hair black a year ago with Bigen so could that have played a part? By the way I used 30 volume developer.

By the way I know most members don't approve of bleaching hair. So please don't tell me to sit in the sun with a bottle of lemon juice or just don't respond if it is not going to be useful advice. I have enclosed a webcam snapshot. Thanks in advance!

updated by @mary: 01/13/15 09:59:26PM

I lost my edges

Help! Save My Dreads

I just hope that I can stay away from the Salon. My sister is convinced its the way that I wear the elastic cap and does not think it has anything to do with the salon. Of course she wears wigs, lives 1000 miles away, and bases this on people's dreads that she sees on the Subway.

the Barrellady said:

Hi Mary, please show a new photo in a couple of months so we see the improvement from no salon visits. Hope it repairs soon for you.

I lost my edges

Help! Save My Dreads

So I finally looked at my hair in the mirror. I have my father's hairline so I normally don't have much hair on my upper sides but now I realized how much damage I have caused.

For starters I have been going to the salon for maintenance and styling once a month. Before I get a million I told you so's it was not the Salon's fault entirely. I either wash my hair once a month or get it done at the salon. I have not put ANY oils or nourishing products in my hair for many months (I once sprayed some Sproil.) Over the last few months I have switched from having one of those satin pillow covers that are supposed to protect your hair to one of those bonnets with a thick elastic band inside of it. I did this to cut down on the lint problem and because the head scarf kept falling off. I would pinch my hair sometimes and it came off like dust.

I know my negligence is my problem. But at the same time this happened a couple of years ago, when I had an afro and wore matching elastic headbands everyday to work. But I did nourish and wash it normally. I am skipping the salon this month but next month is what I dread. I need to trim off the excess hairs and a good palm rolling. I just don't want to sit in that salon chair as she tightens my dreads. I even have some gaps in my dreads. I thought that was because of how they were originally created but I think its from the constant twisting. A few months ago, my Aunt with floor length dreads told me that all I needed were a brush and a spray bottle of olive oil. My rasta Uncle told me I should not eat pork. All I can think of right now is apply some homemade dreadlock oil (rosemary,etc) . I am just at wits end, I have no idea what to do!

updated by @mary: 01/22/20 09:33:16AM

Help!!!How to get rid of lint?

Dread Maintenance

I just got back from NYC ( went to a salon to get twists and style) and I realized how badly I have accrued some lint. I have heard that the tea method (spray locks with tea, I did a few strands with oolong tea and I don't know if I have the patience. My aunt recommended a brush and some olive oil (her dreads are down to her waist) and she wears a stocking like almost all the time. I took some pictures but they are not the best quality and I am bad with angles. But it is really bad like nothing but white dots. Back in the city I wore a bonnet to sleep. I don't use wax and usually go to natural salons if I have to go. Im thinking of going to a salon and getting them dyed. Anyone know any tips? f I have to go. Im thinking of going to a salon and getting them dyed. Anyone know any tips?

updated by @mary: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM

Should I start again?

Help! Save My Dreads

Can't you just dye them (henna, natural powder dyes) and wear a satin pillowcase for the future? Works with a lot of African Americans.

Bus Accident

Life Issues Facing Dreads

So yesterday I was on the bus and it crashed into an animal center van. The bike rack prevented the bus from doing a lot of damage and it was a five car accident. At behest of my family I decided to go to the Hospital anyway. While I was waiting to get X-rays I noticed two black guys with dreads. The first one was a little taller than me and had manicured dreads. I could see the front looked a littlle bit odd, as if in the future it would recede. Then I saw the other employee with different color scrubs. He was really tall and his forehead was starting to recede terribly, to the point where he looked like he was from feudal Asia.

I sat there and could understand that they worked in a hospital and had to manicure their locks for professionalism, but 80% of Hospital staff/EMS I encountered had tattoos, barrels, and eclectic scrubs (it was hard figuring out students from technologist. So my question is, would you manicure your dreads for a job?

updated by @mary: 01/13/15 09:12:34PM

:/ can someone help me out?

Introduce Yourself

Have you ever noticed that when you get your braided it shrinks a little? Well the same things happen when you twist dreads because they are all forming together. They are not going to be as long as your original hair unless you are caucasian and follow the method that they do. Just relax and let them grow stop worrying. Im not going to tell you to avoid getting them retwisted at a salon but you do not need to go often. If you do go wait until you have two inches of new growth.