Hi from Estonia
Introduce Yourself
I love this post.
Forum Activity for @stephanie-krespach
new soap recommendation
Dread Maintenance
@Heather Have you tried sea salt water BEFORE washing and lathering up that way? Maybe thats the total wrong thing to suggest...but it seems to help me A LOT when i'm back in hard water areas. Also doing a weak acv rinse WITH the soap helps me too...but thats just me.
new soap recommendation
Dread Maintenance
hey guys! I use bs/acv most of my washes, but sometimes I like to switch it up with some bronners...or other natural soaps. I make soaps...and whatever, but I buy a lot of natural soaps too...(the boy works outdoors and showers frequently usually having to remove god knows what from god knows where). We are a no poo and sls free home, and have been since before I started dreading. We have a closed water system, and we pull our own water and filter it from the lake...so we choose to be extremely careful.
I came across this store and ordered a few bars about a month ago...we are still using the tea tree/lemon bar we STARTED with. We ended up giving most of that order away in gifts for birthdays/pick me up's/whatever. I ordered another order with small sample bars and some body butter (Not to digress..but that is HEAVENLY), and ended up giving most of that away to people who had told their friends, etc...and so on...I now have about 6 bars of the stuff...and I use it on my dreads, my face, my body - everything. It is castile soap, made with plant oils and lye...cold pressed, done the old fashioned way...it all smells SOOO good.
When I wash my dreads, I typically concentrate on my scalp - and since I live in such a dry area - this soap is amazing BECAUSE it doesn't strip any of the natural oils. Also, the maker lives in an area of Illinois that is NOTORIOUS for having hard water (limestone is everywhere)...and she (? i think...not that it matters) seems to have less issues. It might be worth a try. Though Ihaven'tasked, I would bet she would do custom soap orders too if you were patient with the soaponification process.
Comes very highly recommended from a very satisfied customer.
updated by @stephanie-krespach: 01/13/15 08:55:55PM
this is not a neglect dreads site
General Talk
To be honest, I do feel intimidated sometimes by how strong people come on here sometimes. I know everyone does it out of love - but I (personally) just am not asknowledgeable about dreads as some people are - that's why i'm here. But, I gotta say...I did some back combing early on...one time...and I pretty much felt like I had committed some kind of mortal sin by saying that on here.
People on here are SO passionate about dreads, and saving dreads from really harmful misinformation, and harmful practices - and it is admirable. However, it is also intimidating. I try to ignore the drama...and I'm not sure what exactly happened..or what is (still) happening...and I don't really care...life is too short and I'm far too busy to allow this kind of thing to affect me on a personal level. I'm just speaking up now.
I can't speak for anyone other than myself...but...it's not that I feel that I have in any way beendisrespected, or treated un-equally because I chose to do these things. I am glad that I was shown the damage I probably caused my hair...but because dreads are such a deeply personal and spiritual thing for most of us - when you trash talk someone's method - no matter how ill informed it may have been in the beginning...it feels like you are trashing the person. I've held back A LOT on here because I just don't want to be made to feel like i'm somehow inadequate because I used a back combing method at one point to section.
I think it's just a personal comfort thing...but when you speak ill of something that is at it's very heart and EXTENSION of the person (not just a fashion) it is difficult not to feel threatened by that. I know you are being honest, and you make your points well - sometimes it's just really blunt. There isn't anything wrong with that, but you also can't besurprisedwhen it hurts people, or when they react unpredictably to the blunt nature of the truth. You're talking about an extension of someone's soul...and human nature is to recoil and be defensive when we feel attacked. Weather that is your intention or not - it seems to be what is happening. You are speaking truth, but you can't be upset with people for how they react to it anymore than they should be angry at you for sharing...but thats just how people are.
I don't think you're trying to upset people, or have people feelunwelcomeor intimidated to join in...if that was your intention you wouldn't have made this site. It happens. People get defensive, especially when something is SO personal, and SO close to their heart. There isn't anything wrong with what you're saying...but things get personal easily when you're talking about something like dreads. None of us know you anymore than you really know us...I'm not trying to cause trouble, or start a fight...I'm just telling you what my experience is and I hope that it helps.
Best compliment you've received on your dreads?
General Talk
Thats awesome Ashley. I love sharing the dread love.
Best compliment you've received on your dreads?
General Talk
Thanks guys!!! My unruly dreads are misbehaving, and I had one really good day...then it was washing time and since that washing i've come up with loops, zig zags and all kinds if craziness. I know this just means that they are knotting and that they are doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to do...but sometimes the processsolicits a lot pf advice from the ill informed...especially where crochet hooks and felting needles are concerned. Usually i'm polite and tell them that these are not methods i'm using - and that my hair will eventually become exactly perfect no matter what it is...and they come back with "all dreads need some kind of help"..blah blah blah *insert harmfulpropagatedmisinformation here* and when I posted this I was looking to raise some positive energy because my dreads were being such rebellious little butt heads that day. It pushed me over the edge when some chick I DON'T EVEN KNOW TOLD me (not asked) that she was going to sit me down and "fix" my dreads with a crochet hook...because i was "neglecting them and they were becoming ugly and it was driving her insane"...she's one of those who knows everything because she USED to have a set of waxy crocheted locs for less than a year. I told her that I appreciated her concern, but that if she touched me at all without my permission that she would find herself dealing with the consequences...and that my hair was doing exactly what it was supposed to do and I was opting to leave it alone. It was like she'd never heard that from anyone before. Thank you for making me smile guys...i love this place for that. Keep the positive flowing!
Best compliment you've received on your dreads?
General Talk
Yeah. That is strange..the Jesus thing...but yeah...I was feeling really down that day for other reasons, and that made my day!
Best compliment you've received on your dreads?
General Talk
I just think its fun to share dread compliments. Recently an older lady (about 70) wanted her picture taken with me at work stating that she wished she's done her hair like mine when she was younger. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...what about you?
updated by @stephanie-krespach: 02/14/15 01:27:55PM
A Question for my Physically Active Dready Friends
General Talk
I cut up old t shirts that don't fit anymore or have outlived their usefulness...(holes, whatever)...and make dread wraps. I tie my hair back in a loose ponytail (make sure you use no rip elastic...or you can may your own hair ties...there are plenty of patterns for these) sometimes in small sections before a larger ponytail...then wrap it. T shirts are great for this because they are breathable andabsorbing. It's not the mostglamorousthing in the world, but it gives purpose to older garments that aren't wearable anymore and it does the job!
Looking for guidance on dread specific fibers.
Dread Accessories
thin and soft is most likely from an angora goat, so mohair...or its a wool blend with alpaca or bamboo which is super common in store bought yarns right now to make it more "skin friendly". If you sent me a picture I could probably look at it and tell you for sure. And it would only leave fuzzies if it wasnt treated properly prior to spinning and/or cared for properly...wool only fuzzes off and pills like that if its not taken care of properly (in my experience). It also depends on it its plied or not when it's spun.
taye said:
I do not know if this is true, but it seems to me that the softer fluffier wool like angora might leave fuzzies in dreads? I am not really sure what kind of wool mine is, The woman that made it used hand spun wool around the outside. The rest of the yarn she purchased. The yarn is really thin and very soft...not hard and coarse. Wish I could tell you what kind it was.