14 months natural dreads timeline
Member Journals and Timelines
Wow! That IS fast! Looking great.
Forum Activity for @mamaemmelia
Sections Parting (Awkwardly) Near Cowlick/Back of Head
Dread Maintenance
Hey there. Just wondering if anyone can give me some wise words about how to handle (or get over) the fact that I've got this flattened, spotty place on the back of my head where all my sections seem to spread apart, leaving me with this awkward empty-looking space on my scalp. I'm assuming it's from sleeping on that particular part of my head...which is sort of hard to control. But does anyone have any advice about how to deal with it? Should I sleep with my hair pulled back so that my dreads don't train themselves to give me a part back there? Does *anyone* understand what I mean by that?! I'm only in my 2nd week so it's not an emergency or anything =) but I'd like to know if there's anything I can do.
updated by @mamaemmelia: 01/13/15 08:56:06PM
Dreading fine hair
Dreads Hair and Scalp Health
My son's super fine baby hair kept dreading up when he was between 8-16 months old (stopped only because I cut it)! So, just to echo everyone else...yours will definitely dread. =)
Comparison: Backcomb/Crochet/Wax vs. T&R/Neglect/No Products
Dreading Methods
Absolutely - it totally changes the experience. =)
Crystal O. said:
Great to hear! It is enjoyable to just let go and watch them grow!
Comparison: Backcomb/Crochet/Wax vs. T&R/Neglect/No Products
Dreading Methods
Thank you!
Amber Claire said:
Welcome, look forward to seeing some lovley dreads.
Comparison: Backcomb/Crochet/Wax vs. T&R/Neglect/No Products
Dreading Methods
I crocheted dreads for my mom last summer & when I found out about this site, I called her immediately & told her to stop crocheting, root twisting, & screwing around with them. She did, & her dreads are doing well, but like SE said, it'll definitely take some time. It's all about patience, this journey is!
Chelsea LookWhatTheCatDraggedIn said:
I myself am on my second set and share the same story. I crochet my dreads in the begining of my journey and they do not change. However my roots are beginning to dread up and the root end of the dread and it's kind of a wavy patch and I'm digging it. Of you don't do anything they become nice.I wish I had never crochet!!
updated by @mamaemmelia: 07/22/15 08:05:25AM
Comparison: Backcomb/Crochet/Wax vs. T&R/Neglect/No Products
Dreading Methods
Thanks, man! I'll definitely update. =)
soaringeagle said:
im gonna feature this and hope u update as youyr dreads progress
really want to see the difference at 10 months
and track your attitude throughout too
experience is as important as end results
Comparison: Backcomb/Crochet/Wax vs. T&R/Neglect/No Products
Dreading Methods
Hello fellow dreadies!I'm new to the site but have a few words to add to the mix about the differences between backcombing/crocheting/waxing your dreads vs. a little twist & rip & neglect.I started my first set of dreads back in March 2010. I didn't know a lick about dreadlocks other than the fact that I wanted them BAD, & I wanted them FAST ("Quick, before dear Mr. Husband changes his mind!"). I had a friend with dreads, & she & her sister helped me out: they sectioned, sprayed, backcombed, crocheted, waxed & palm-rolled the crap out of my hair. It took 6 hours. I had a headache for days. My dreads stuck up on end ("clown dreads" like SE says somewhere on one of the discussions here, or "cat poop" like my hilarious husband called them). They eventually laid down, but I was doing maintenance constantly. They fell out a lot, & as far as I was concerned, that was bad. So I crocheted (ripped & tugged & rolled & poked)them back into place. They LOOKED like dreadlocks, they really did. Over the next 10 months, my hair grew, but my dreads looked...the same. They felt solid, they were pokey, uncomfortable, & with all the root twisting I (thought I) "had" to do, I had a sore, sad, itchy scalp.& then I couldn't take it anymore. So I COMBED them out. Yeah - combed them. 10-month-old "dreads"......they COMBED out. Easily. Except for all of the gooey, hideously disgusting wax & dirt inside of each & every one of them. Ew.Anyway, I knew I wanted to get dreads again but I was a little disturbed by my previous experience & still didn't know that I'd gone about it all wrong. I figured I'd wait a while till my hair was longer, assuming that most of my locking (or lack thereof) issues stemmed from the fact that I started my dreads with such short hair. & then a friend directed me to this site. & I realized there was hope!& that brings us to right now! I chose to randomly section & twist & rip my hair. I'm only about a week in, but I have experienced a huge difference already. First of all - no pain. I always believed that dreadlocks could only be acheived with pain - how wrong I was! I sectioned/twist & ripped my own hair (with the exception of sectioning the back - I had a friend help with that) over the course of two days. There was no anxiety, no false belief that I was creating "InstaDreads." I loved it. My little boys ran around my feet as I worked, cheering me on & asking to touch my hair every once in a while.I've been using SE's baking soda/essential oil wash with the ACV rinse & my hair is happy, healthy, soft & clean. No, there's no true locking yet (there won't be for a while), but what I've done is set my hair up to do its thing. All I need to worry about now is separating (to prevent congos), washing, neglecting those sweet dreadies & pouring myself into loving the people who surround me without worrying about my hair.There is such liberation in letting go - no products, no constant maintenance, no stress.So there you go =)
updated by @mamaemmelia: 01/22/20 09:33:16AM
Advice about sectioning please!
Dreading Methods
I sectioned all but the back myself, & it wasn't too difficult. Also, no pain! Just a soothing, slow process of putting my hair into a good position to dread. Doing it myself was very rewarding - just felt a little more personal that way, & I knew that no one was going to crisscross my roots or anything like that. I chose to go pretty thin, considering that the dreads will thicken up as they mature. I sort of did a brickstack kind of thing, but wasn't too concerned about the exact shape of each section. Just staggered each section a bit & now I'm just leaving it be. Some sections have let loose a bit, but I'm trusting my hair will do it's thang! That's my two cents! =)
updated by @mamaemmelia: 07/23/15 07:08:38PM