Hey people! I just want to say that if you really want dreads, you have to know that you want crazy messy hair that does what it wants when it wants. No matter the method you use or how you "maintain" them, your dreads will lock up how they want and you don't have much control over it at all. Trust that if you just love them they WILL love you back!
It is a beautiful thing! I often see people posting about how they think their hair looks "bad" or it "isn't locking" and worry if they are "doing it wrong"... If you stop brushing and wait long enough, they will become dreads. Keep them clean and separate if needed and let them go, it feels sooo freeing. That is all. They will lock up, in time, maybe not all at the same time. They will look like dreads someday. I promise.
You don't have to twist or backcomb or crochet, but if you have, it's ok. Let them be and they will please you! I am almost 8 months into my journey and I won't lie, I had concerns. My dreads aren't yet mature, but I can see them well on their way. The best part is, moreso now that I've left them alone to do their thang. The less you worry, the more suprises you get the next time you think to check 'em out.
It's ok to wash whenever you feel the need, it's ok to separate if they start clinging together, it's ok to have loose roots and bumps and loops, they will lock up, they really will. They will look kind of crazy for some time, but they will turn to dreads, these are all good things.
It's ok to put beads on whenever you want, to take them off, just if they are long beads make sure you move them occasionally to prevent mildew. (Lavendar also prevents mildew spores so it doesn't hurt to add a few drops to your wash).
You can wrap and unwrap them, but if you want a long-lasting dread wrap, maybe wait until they mature. You will know they've matured when there isn't much change happening any longer. This can take up to a year or more if your hair isn't coarse.
It's ok to hear people saying ignorant things, you don't look like everyone else if you have dreads and that is OK. It is allright to educate them or let them be. You aren't everyone else and they don't have to approve. I hope this helps alleviate some concerns even a little if at all. Love your dreads, don't let anyone stop you, they will love you back!
I did TnR and I'm almost at 7 months now. They came out almost completely within the first couple months, I tried re-twisting at first and did some damage. I let them go completely and now I have all I can do to stop them from dreading together or "congoing"
Really, the time flies once you forget about them and let them be, you stop noticing any frizz and start seeing and feeling them really dread and it gets exciting. Letting go may be the hardest part, but the most rewarding. I'm well on my way to having crazy beautiful dreads and think you will be too. They do what they dojust let them do it and separate if they start to tangle together. Best wishes to you!
If I had a spot that really looked like it swallowed a plum and wouldn't dry, I would be concerned honestly,
I might have to help that spot a little, I'd probably pull it apart. I think if it looked like it swallowed a grape, I'dleave it be.
Rain Bow said:
I also think it is important to understand what we meant by lumps- as Sissemor said, we are not talking normal, charming bumps and zigzag, but giant lumps that makes the dread look as if it swallowed a plum.
And I believe there is a big difference between phatties/ fat spots that are propperly dreaded and locked and then the lumps we are referring to, where the hair is just layered and compressed.
I know you do
And I also know that not everyone does.
Perhaps a definition of "lumps" is missing from my first post. I'm not talking about bumps and zigzags, which should be obvious. I'm talking about real lumps - areas on the dreads that are at least 3 or 4 times the width of the rest of the dreads.These are indeed huge lumps, to me at least. And they're not really dreads at all - at least mine weren't, they were just hard and made up of overlapping loops with minimal knotting, extremely different from the rest of the dread.
Yes, tighter and looser spots on TnR is exactly what I thought might be able to cause the types of lumps I mention.
who says lumps are aesthetically not pleasing?
i love my lumps
i dont think any of those factors matter whatsoever except s=light possibility if u tnr too tight and theres looser and tighter spots
lumps would need to be huge to cause trouble
ive never had any issues with lumops getting musty
only beaded areas
and parts i might have slept on or hadd in a thick pile while drying
