Forum Activity for @crystal2

Honestly... and I know everyone here disagrees with doing this... I put some rubber bands on the ends of my stubborn ones. I didn't have a choice, the last time I had dreads I left them alone and they came completely out when left alone. I put the rubber bands on loose so they could move up and down a little, I think the friction helped knot, and I moved them up and down every couple days. After a while they were knotted at the end and I slid the rubber bands off. I've done it a bunch of times (I only do a few at a time) and I have NEVER had a problem with damage or with them getting stuck. I really don't see what the big deal with rubber bands is. It worked for me.

Also maybe reconsider the ACV, it makes my hair really soft. If I had been using it from the beginning I don't know how well my silky hair would have dread. I've had my dreads for almost 2 years now and I still have to be careful with it because it makes my loose hairs really soft and they don't ever seem to ever knot up if I use it regularly.

Yay! That's great! The BS was a like magic for me. You will probably start seeing progress every time you wash, I did. I also wanted to mention that I would be careful with how much ACV you use, it makes my hair REALLY soft. I only use a splash of it to a few cups of water and I try to keep it mainly on my scalp otherwise it makes my hair really silky, which I dont want right now! I also only use a few TBSP of BS, any more then that and my scalp freaks out. You will figure out what works for you though. Enjoy the transformation!

I agree with switching to BS. I had my dread for over a year before I switched and as soon as I did I started to see major progress. Shrinkage and tightening and all that. What you are using now may be hindering your dreads from locking, that was the case with mine. Maybe you should even try a deep cleans to get any possible build up out of your hair. That really helped kick start the progress for mine.

I just don't know that I agree with you though. Do you have any experience with AA hair?

My daughter's hair is about 9in long and if I were to leave it completely alone in an afro it would not turn into dreadlocks, it would turn into one giant matted mess, one big giant knot. It would be impossible to separate it into sections after even just 1 night of her sleeping on it without doing some major damage to both her hair and her scalp. I could do 2 strand twists or braids and let them lock over time but I don't see how I could use the neglect method. I could be wrong, I've only got a few years experience with this hair type but if I am I would like someone to explain how it is done cause I just can't imagine it.

My son on the other hand could probably do it as his hair is short and I would probably be able to keep it seperated as it grows.... but he wont let me

By the way I'm not at all trying to be argumentative with any of this and I hope I'm not coming off that way. Just trying to explain my views.

soaringeagle said:

anyone at all can go with the neglect method..

some it might just be slow but thats rare

asian babies can go neglect..any hair at all will dread naturally

some might just need to be lesss oily

Crystal said:

Well for me personally I have been told that using the word black instead of AA offends *some* people. In my own home I use the word black and I don't have a problem with it but when talking with people I don't know I try to have respect so as not to offend anyone. I don't see anything wrong with that.

By the way I have 2 black children, by adoption, so that is why I may be a bit more sensitive about the topic. I've read a lot and I do try to be a bit PC about some things for their benefit, though I'm not typically PC with many other things.

And I know that AA hair texture locks easier my point was that because of texture I don't believe some would be able to go with the neglect method.

Well for me personally I have been told that using the word black instead of AA offends *some* people. In my own home I use the word black and I don't have a problem with it but when talking with people I don't know I try to have respect so as not to offend anyone. I don't see anything wrong with that.

By the way I have 2 black children, by adoption, so that is why I may be a bit more sensitive about the topic. I've read a lot and I do try to be a bit PC about some things for their benefit, though I'm not typically PC with many other things.

And I know that AA hair texture locks easier my point was that because of texture I don't believe some would be able to go with the neglect method.

Wow these are pretty rude statements in my opinion. Locks on African Americans are sometimes a different thing then dreads on a white person. They have different purposes and different meanings. Most African Americans can't go natural, it's the nature of their hair type. These are just ignorant statements.

As for this thread though... I say thick

Daveovthedead said:

Yea it's pretty lame. thats why I always hate it when people say dreads a re a black thing. I barely consider what black people have as dreads. They might as well have a weave

Thundersquall said:

That is so true particularly if you watch NFL see how many black players have those pencil thin dreads/twists its insane. Dont know why that is either cause thicker dreads i think do look better on men.No personalityin their haircause it all looks the exact same.

Daveovthedead said:

ummm thats a really hard question to answer, but for me personally the thicker, not necessarily overly the top thick, but thick nonetheless dreads have a more natural look to them. It seems really common for black people to have thin dreads. The thin ones at least the way they do them end up looking fake and too well manicured. Plus the fact that a salon does it takes I think most of the beauty out of having dreads in the first place.

welcome which forum was it?
i bet the meanness was only 1/2 the problem the other 1/2 being bad advice
so im curius which forum it was and also what u think u learned there cause chances are 1/2 should be unlearned..lol

but actualy those are both the reasons this site was made ..all other sites had that combo of nasty ppl and bad advice

i dont use acv... it caused buildup and smell

also... baking soda with warm water works better than baking soda with cold water.. just compare the fizzing!!... its great to use to rinse afterwards, though.

dr bronnars leaves residue in a lot of waters so I wouldn't really bother. happened to me. and if you do use it you HAVE to dilute it, its very powerful.. 12 parts water 1 part bronnars. even then I still had buildup

i let baking soda soak (1-2tbps per cup of water depending out how dirty I feel) for 20 minutes while im surfin the net.. I use 3 cups at first with hot/warm water.. then I go into the shower, pour another 3 cups on and let that soak as I wash for 10 minutes and then rinse it with warm (not as warm as the first soak) water.. after I feel it's almost rinsed I then change to freezing cold water and make sure there's no baking soda left behind..

the only time I've had issues with baking soda, and smell/oil/buildup were the issues, it was because I either didn't use enough cups, let it soak long enough, and i used to rinse in between the baking soda which didn't allow it to truly soak in my hair. it's very important to rinse all of it out afterwards.

lastly, buildup of oil can occur if you don't wash your tam/hats regularly. cause then it just puts old oil right back on your hair.

EDIT: Bar soap causes residue too so that doesn't exactly help baby dreads.. mature dreads it won't affect quite as much.

also, essential oils aren't all that helpful unless you're treating a particular condition.. oil in general doesn't help dreading.

I know it leaves buildup. thats why I want to know about the bar soap.