Forum Activity for @sukibug

Feeling the need to "tidy up"

Introduce Yourself

I do have some wraps and tend to wear them head-band-style, as I find that when I wrap my entire head I look like I'm undergoing cancer treatment instead of sporting a fabulous look.

Do you have any suggestions for wraps?

Pictures...as I was just hunting for a picture to use here for my profile, I realized that I really don't have any! I'll have to fix that...

Thank you!

Knottysleeves said:

Pics? I'm sure they don't look nearly as "untidy" as you think.

I do government consulting and I've always worn my dreads in updos and wraps... never had a problem, ever. Wraps are great because you can even do them in a way that hides the dreads entirely, if that's what you need.

Feeling the need to "tidy up"

Introduce Yourself

Of course, in my rational mind I know the truth with which you speak. And after a few moments of introspection, I think I've realized that my insecurity is less related to my hair and more related to me fear of stepping from my own self-induced removal from society back into the "real world."

So...consider my need to "tidy up" resolved.

There still does remain a small need to tidy, though...but it's related to the fact that I've been washing my lovely locks with Doc Bronner's, a soap I've used for years. I read here recently how Doc Bronner's with hard water causes that white mineral build up in dreads...which I'm experiencing. Is it possible to rid my locks of this build up?

soaringeagle said:

theres absolutely no need to tidy up and conform all you need to do is if the subject even ever comes up is be prepared with an explanation as to why you shouldnt or cant

dreadlocks are a religiosds or spiritual expression not only in rastafarian but virtualy every religion and spirituality

that means that dreads are a protected right..but..only if u do not give in and maintain to fit a professional image

in order for the dreads to be concidereed a religios right they must be treatted properly which means neglected and alowed to form as they will,

now you can voluntarily offer to compromise as long as when u do compromise your belikefs u also compromise your ability to argue its a religios right and then they can not only ask you to tidy them but cover them cut them anything they want cause you are basicly signing away your rights by not standing up for them

now ways to tidy up wothout compromising the dreads updos tye em back cover em french braid em bun em aloe to control frizz

btw we have doctors and nurses here with natural dreads in fact we have rocket scientists teachers and ppl working in law firms

ive worked in oddices ive been on the board of directors (of a few non profits) had to deal with poloticiand wealthy patrons yuppy types galore and never did a thing to tidy up or try to impress em but they were impressed cause i always went above the call of duty and did a lil extra personal touch to everything i did ewhenever i had free time really its what u do and how u do it that matters not how iu look

Feeling the need to "tidy up"

Introduce Yourself

Hey all.

I've haunted this place for a few years, since before I started dreading. My dreads will be 2 years old at the end of the year; my New Year's resolution two years ago was to stop brushing.

My husband and I both have dreads. His are...old. Since he's thinning on top and I have soooo much hair, his advice does not apply to me at all.

And I need some help.

When I decided to dread, well, I'd wanted them ALWAYS, but found myself at a spot in life that allowed me to freely welcome this desire into my world. I was starting my own business, a business that didn't require me to "conform" to society's (albeit hogwash) standards for professionalism.

Anyway, my dreads have been allowed to form as they wish, and...they've most certainly taken on a life of their own. I love them.

I've also realized an over 10-year dream and obtained a certification that forces me to do business with doctors and nurses and hospitals and such...folks that I've found to be quite judgmental about appearances. I do pretty up-do's with my dreads and feel very comfortable with them, but I can't help but wonder that if I tidy them up a bit, if they'd be a bit more acceptable to those with whom I would like to do business.

My question is...HOW??? How do I turn this mass of messy magick into something a bit more conformed?

Mind you...conformity is NOT a strength of mine, but the reality is that I DO need these folks to earn an income that doesn't require a J-O-B.

updated by @sukibug: 01/13/15 08:51:18PM

*UPDATE* almost 3 months and no knots

Dreading Methods

I've always just used Doc Bronner's, but I think at the time I was starting, some friends came to town and left behind their some mainstream store brand shampoo and conditioner...and I guiltily used it. I didn't really do anything special. Just stopped brushing. I did have a couple of tams that fit right at the base of my neck, further facilitating that nape-area knotting.

I must admit, too, that after the knotting started and my head was *mostly* knotted, I braided the parts that were not knotted into tiny little braids.

And then, too, since they all started forming low on the hair strand away from my scalp, I'd loop them through each other so that loose area at my scalp was tight.

This all probably isn't a part of the full-on natural method of letting them form, but...it was like letting my midwife break my water with my middle child's home birth. I still had a natural home birth, just had a little help to get things going. :P Most of the knots had already formed, I just supplemented a bit.

Heather said:

i'm so glad to here that. i do notice my hair having more of a grip to it lately. the hair at my nape is where it the curliest so i'm expected the my first knots will show up there first too. how did you wash your hair in the beginning?

thanks for the encouraging words:)

SukiBug said:

Your hair looks like mine when I first started, and sounds like it, too.

I remember that I was pushing that three-month mark and still had NOTHING, but my hair was becoming more full. Then I started to notice a couple of dreads that just kind of snuck up on me in the back of my head, near the nape of my neck...and then they started multiplying like rabbits.

*UPDATE* almost 3 months and no knots

Dreading Methods

Your hair looks like mine when I first started, and sounds like it, too.

I remember that I was pushing that three-month mark and still had NOTHING, but my hair was becoming more full. Then I started to notice a couple of dreads that just kind of snuck up on me in the back of my head, near the nape of my neck...and then they started multiplying like rabbits.

What method of dreading is this?

Dreading Methods

They look like they started as braids to me.

Personally, I think everyone's dread journey is what they make of it. *shrugs*