Forum Activity for @callum-wheatley

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

The only suggestion toward sunburn is because this condition started up and worsened as I was away on holiday, I did only slightly burn my forehead while there, but didn't really notice it being much worse on my hairline. And the white patches I have now don't seem convincing as sunburn. Thanks a great deal for your help and advice into psoriasis, Rawsum.I'm going to look a lot more into this over the weekend,Dreads are still slightly sticky, but drying better than I imagined so far.Can't wait for the next wash!

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

There's rinse number 1! I'll try and take a similar photo for each wash until it's almost clear.This was 4.5 litres of water with about 3/4 cup of B.Soda, peppermint, tea tree, lavender and rosemary oils, which was mostly poured onto my scalp, and left to sit for 30 mins.I'm ready to go again!
updated by @callum-wheatley: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

Wow! That felt great, if not only just to have had my head directly under the shower head for the first time in 7 years!! And we have an awesome shower that I've never been able to fire right on my scalp.There no flakes at all at the moment, but the front area has started to appear slightly cracked again. As we dried me off, myself and my washing companion both commented on how it only looked sunburnt now, and then saw your comment, Eva.I had thought of that before, but didn't want to get carried away with wishful thinking. I didn't manage to get hold of any Aloe Vera today but do have some Aloe Vera moisturiser which I may pop a small amount of.I also set the waxiest, hardest dreads in a large bowl of boiled water to get a start on breaking those down a bit. They went so soft in the water it was obvious the wax was softening, and a fair bit of wax came out, mainly only from the ends of the dreads, bringing a bit of hair with it. When dry, these clumps were worryingly dusty and full of sediment. Although, not quite as disturbing as the colour of the water running off my hair, we rinsed over the bath with the plug in and watched the brown water collect as the baking soda rinse did its thing.Wringing the dreads out in the shower for the second rinse had a khaki coloured milkshake oozing out, and then rinsing after a short vinegar soak this milky bi-product was almost clear in parts.Bloody good to see this progress already, still a long way to go, but I can certainly get used to this peppermint cloud following me round. What other oils are recommended for a fresh & fruity post-wash smell?

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

Ok,I have Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil and lavender oil.I'm about to try a quick hot/near to boiling water soak to try and free up some of that wax before I get hold of my Body Splash. I'm then going to go with my first baking soda rinse and soak, and then the cider vinegar rinse.I'm probably going to go more toward SoaringEagle's 'super clean dreads' recipe and hopefully not shock my scalp too much.Going to have to find a cheaper oil store online too, there was a couple more oils in town that were recommended to me which I didn't get due to the price. Also had a few more people saying it's looking more like psoriasis too, so I got myself some vitamin D and E. Might have to see how this progresses before seeking medical advice.

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

Right, here's the buggers....

Not at all pleasant and making me quite self concious when talking to people now as it's so noticeable. It's spread quite far out of the hairline too, and the majority of my scalp doesn't seem to be half as bad as the edges.I've emailed Avena and hope to have a couple of 165ml bottles on their way to me soon enough, although i might have to start treating my scalp this weekend as I can't wait much longer! Eager to battle these flakes as soon as I can, I'll just have to keep the waxed parts of my dreads as dry as possible.
updated by @callum-wheatley: 02/05/15 10:12:49AM

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

Lovely, thanks guys.Well sun drying is definitely not an option here in England! The mrs' dryer's going to be getting a lot more use than it did before.So, I'll tackle this wax and try free up some of these ends then. Although that smell was only when they had been exposed to water everyday for about 3 weeks, it soon stopped but I guess it's lying in there waiting to be woken up so I'll try and get as much of this freed up before taking the wash to it.As there is no wax and a lot 'puffier' dread at the top, would I be alright to start this wash on my scalp only straight away?I've always been proud of my tidy nub dread-ends for the past 7 years but I guess it's time for a change, for the best!Is Avena Bodysplash the only recommended product? Struggling to find any for sale on UK/Euro sites,

Washing advice needed for flake-ridden fool.

Dread Maintenance

Hi,Where to start... I've had dreads for just over 7 years and, what I've since learnt seems to be an ultimate sin, I used wax a few times through the first year or so of dreading.What else might rile a few of you, I washed my hair only a couple of times in 2005, having started dreading in the summer of 2003. Despite many peoples' belief I had no problems with my scalp, itching or otherwise. My dreads were never smelly, greasy or bothersome (proved by the annoying dicks in bars who insisted on sniffing and poking my locks and seeming surprised by their non-scent and superficial cleanliness)My scalp had started to become irritated a couple months ago and then after dunks in the sea and a beating sun on holiday a few weeks back, I have had dandruff from hell. The feel of needing a full wash is like never before, and I have flakes forming and falling so fast it's like a nativity scene on my shoulders.I've never felt the need to join a dreads forum for advice or help before, but now I give in! I'm going to accept and attempt any potions, mixtures and products anyone can throw at me...think of it as your own project, the most convincing and nicest sounding technique will probably be tried first but I'm nearing desperation and ready for anything!I've been applying a Rosemary & Thyme mix a few times a day to the scalp at the front of my head, which has given temporary relief so far, but the flakes and itches return within an hour or two of treating. The worst dandruff is at the front of my head, mostly as it is so visible. But the very back/bottom of my head is probably the most irritating for itch and flake-count, both areas incidentally are the only spots on my scalp which get wet daily in the shower.A few of my dreads are absolutely solid at the bottom, which is where my fears of sitting/rotting water lie. So drying my dreads is my biggest concern as the wet-dog-whiff that followed me round after the couple washes in 2005 was a nightmare. So I guess it makes sense to keep washing from now on until my hair adapts and gets used to the process. Loosen them up a bit maybe and eventually get rid of the nastiness in there, and look forward to fruity smelling locks for the future?Any advice on first tackling unwashed dreads, tips on drying those solid ends would be great, but mostly the best, fastest and most effective treatment for megadruff would be appreciated.Go easy on me...Regards,Callum.I have a few recent photos in my profile, but may provide close-up scalp images soon.
updated by @callum-wheatley: 02/14/15 07:39:17AM