Forum Activity for @michaelllllll

All of my dreadlocks have congoed into one big dreadlock at the roots

Help! Save My Dreads

Ive had dreadlocks for over 2 years, and while they have matured well.. I haven't really cared much for them. Over the past half year - a year, my hairs been in a ponytail pretty much most of the time and im starting to realize that my roots have all congoed together. Its like i have an inch of matted hair thats joined togehter, and all my dreadlocks are growing from it....its starting to get to a point where my scalp hurts alot and mold and stuff can easily thrive in the matted part. What should i do? Ive tried everything to rip them apart but its too congoed together. Should i comb out my dreads? If so, is it even possible to comb out the matted portion? i want to avoid shaving/cutting alot of my hair out

thanks for the help!

Michael

updated by @michaelllllll: 01/13/15 09:54:55PM

Newbie wanting to get dreads

Introduce Yourself

Hey man, I havent been on the site for a while, and when i got on today the first thread i saw was yoursas an asian (chinese) person myself, i can COMPLETELY relate the frustrations of trying to dread our ridiculously straight and thin hairnow provided my hair is ALOT shorter, it was about to my shoulders when i started using the crochet method.when i first crocheted them, they looked really good. but the process was long, painful and my scalp didnt stop hurting for almost two weeks. thats when things started going to shit pardon my language if you crochet, your dreadlocks will get REALLY REALLY REALLY messy, and start de dreading cause thats what our aasian hair does. my dreads now ( 5 months in) have very thin weak roots, many places undreading and completely undreaded, and overall not the best condition. basically, i suggest you learn from my mistakes nd go the natural route if you want the best dreads possible and dont care about people commenting on them (ive had tons of comments saying my hair "dirty" but who cares right?).

Maybe certain hair types won't dread naturally? or will take a ridiculously long time?

Dread Maintenance

thanks guys! you guys have given me hope haha

Maybe certain hair types won't dread naturally? or will take a ridiculously long time?

Dread Maintenance

Alright so I had my dreadlocks crocheted in... and i know that is supposedly terrible for your hair so i didnt maintain them and are letting lock naturally.Except they are not locking.. after around two months lolBasically i have really straight, fine, asian hair. I grew my hair out for 2 years (no combing, residue free shampoo) and i had one tiny knot that could be combed out with one brush through. So i gave up and crocheted them in... but after a month of tightness a few have basically already unravelled fully and the rest have a ridiculous amount of hair that are coming out and refusing to dread.all this messy-ness is causing my dreads to not even look like dreads anymore... and my job is on my back about cleaning up my dreads.so my question is... my hair is just not the natural hair type to dread easily at all... so should i start crochet maintaining them?
updated by @michaelllllll: 01/13/15 08:50:03PM

Swimming in salt water

Dread Maintenance

p.s., my dreads got REALLY soft too after around 4 days.. i was scared at first but now i kinda really like them soft.. more comfortable sleeps haha

Swimming in salt water

Dread Maintenance

Hey! im in almost exactly the same boat as you (minus the salt water swimming)But my dreadies were also crocheted and backcombed in about 2 weeks ago.. and they originally looked alot like yours (really tight and no loose hairs). After about a week though, the loose hairs were everywhere haha... I dont really the think the salt water had any negative effects, its really the negative effects of crocheting them in.But we are both still in the EXTREMELY early phases of dreading LONG way to go haha... i bet their going to look SWEET in the near future

Will super straight, fine hair lock up by itself?

General Questions

thanks so much!is there any shampoo/soap you guys recommend for my dreads?

Will super straight, fine hair lock up by itself?

General Questions

Hey I'm michael, and i just started my dreadlocks about a week ago using the backcomb/crochet method. Before that, i hadn't brushed my hair for over a year and all i had were two tiny knotted sections of hair lol... i have really fine and straight asian hair.Now i have pretty long, pinky-thick dreadlocks and i love them! My question is though, since my hair is so fine and straight.. will they ever lock up? Its been a week and their still pretty tight, but some of them are starting to get REALLY soft, is this normal?Oh and i barely do any maintenance, aside from the occasional palm rolling and counter-clockwise rubbing with natural lock powder. Ive only showered once so far and its been with a clay-based dread soap bar.Is there anything i should be doing maintenance-wise or cleaning wise?Thanks for your help! :DMichael
updated by @michaelllllll: 01/13/15 08:48:26PM

Hey!

Introduce Yourself

Hey!ahh yes... asian hair and dreads damn our super straight and fine hair haha...I know many people on this site disapprove of the backcombing than crocheting technique because it is "damaging" but to be quite honest, with our asian hair, the neglect method takes a ridiculously long time. If it even works in the end... i just didnt brush or condition my hair for about a year and half (not with the intention of getting dreads though) and all i had were a few tiny knots in the back.I did start my dreads using the crochet method, and it seems like its working. my dreads look extremely mature for only one week, and they seem to be doing alright. (ill attach a pic)all in all, i would not push you to try the crochet method, but i feel that for hair types like ours, its the best way. nothing else would make as tight, safe, and beautiful locks short of wax (ughhh), but i would not recommend a crocheting maitenance as it can be damaging.but good luck with your dreads! im in the same boat :P