Conditioning
Dread Maintenance
wow, thanks this is really helpful. I'll try a few of them out and I'm sure one will work out. Thanks again.
Forum Activity for @lu-a
Conditioning
Dread Maintenance
I am black but the texture of my hair is soft and curly rather than "nappy" or "kinky." I guess its what you call "good hair" (although I hate that term) and is what mixed-race people usually get(although I'm not mixed race, my hair is just a pain), so it's more sensitive to conditioning. No, I'm not using sea salt. I hadn't even considered using it cause I know it dries out your hair lol
I was gonna try a baking soda mix to wash today for the first time, but I didn't know it helps with the dryness, and I'm def headed out for some tea tree and rosemary for my poor achy scalp lol. Thanks for the help.
Conditioning
Dread Maintenance
This is a two part question followed by a bit of background info: How long should I wait to start conditioning my dreads and what are the best things to use? I've only had my dread in for about a month and because I rinse them pretty often they are locking quickly. However, they are also getting extremely dry. Before I started my dreads conditioning was a huge part of my regular hair care as my hair is naturally very dry and I would condition them daily with a deep conditioning treatment weekly or biweekly, when I got lazy, because it kept my hair healthy and my curls full. but now I haven't conditioned my hair in over a month and I am starting to feel the effects, both in the texture of my hair and the condition of my scalp. It makes me want to condition today but I'm worried because they are still so new, I don't want the progress I've made to go to waste. Should I try just conditioning my scalp, and if so what are good products (essential oils, etc.) that would be good for that?
updated by @lu-a: 01/13/15 08:56:56PM
Natural Baby dreads
Introduce Yourself
lol she didn't enjoy those either. she was especially not pleased when she went on a trip to cali and came home to my new blue chelsea haha.
The difference though is that I didn't live with her for the majority of that stuff (and def not the 'hawk) but I recently moved back home to go back to school.
Natural Baby dreads
Introduce Yourself
Yes, my hair is extremely dry, that's why it joins so easily at the root. I've been separating (because i gave up ont the nylon and bands) but i have to do it every other day. It's kind of a pain.
And yeah about my mom, it's definitely starting to become a running joke.
Thanks for the advice
Natural Baby dreads
Introduce Yourself
I recently decided to take the plunge into dreadlocks and started them a little over a month ago. From the age of 16 I've done everything imaginable to my hair, from chelseas, to mohawks, to relaxers, to texturizers, to blue, red and purple. And then for two years straight I rocked the same look: a 'fro. Natural hair became really important to me but the fro was so difficult to maintain. So I looked into dreadlocks and this site was probably one of the most helpful I found. On January 27th I started my dreads with the rip and twist (or tear) method using only a comb and no product. While my hair is african textured, it is very soft and curly rather than "kinky" (no I'm not mixed, that's just my hair) so when I tried the twist and 2-strand twist methods, they just didn't hold.
The biggest problem I've had is keeping my roots separated as they haven't locked up yet (there is about 1 to 2 inches of unlocked hair at the root) I don't want to twist them as the twists come out as soon as they get wet even with a nylon (I rinse almost daily as I am trying not to shampoo very often) and I don't want to twist them that often. i tried rubber bands but most of them came out after a couple weeks and I noticed my hair locked up a lot quicker when they were out of my hair rather than in. So any tips or things I could try would be immensely helpful.
The second biggest problem is my family. The last thing I want to do is come on a public forum and complain about my mom, but I'm not sure how much longer I can ignore her comments without giving in and combing out my hair. Tips on that front would be helpful as well lol.
BTW, super stoked to be a part of the forum. I love hearing about other people's journeys and am always amazed with the solidarity I see amongst "dreaders"
updated by @lu-a: 01/13/15 08:56:51PM
T&R, can't seem to get knots close enough to scalp
Dreading Methods
Try putting a rubber band at the root (1/4 to 1/2 inch) and then twist and rip. It sounds close to the root but once you wash, your hair will loosen and the root will increase by an inch or so. I didn't do this but a friend of mine did and she said it worked great, but taking the bands out can be tricky if they're too snug (you might pull out some hair)
Self blunting locs
Dread Maintenance
Mine do the same thing. It's only been a month and about half of the ends have folded in on themselves, especially those in the back for some reason. You're fighting a losing battle, so I say just let em do what they wanna.
Dreads & racism
Life Issues Facing Dreads
I guess I'm getting back into this.
But because i don't actually want to discuss the construct of "race I'm just going to ask: Don't you think that in a discussion regarding the inherent racism of our culture and how it pertains to dreadlocks, thatforcing a definition (or rather, the denial of a definition?) of the word "race" is kind of counter productive? Like, dude, you are missing the point.
Also...seriously, you're going to compare the the idea of racial tension to having red hair? Your argument is lost on me because of it's sheer ludicracy.
One more thing, it's only a question of personal taste if your personal taste is racist. So I guess that makes the person that said "white people look betterwith dreads than black people" is a racist. But no offense. Even though I may have said some offensive things, I totally didn't mean to offend anyone (I hope you get that I am trying to make a point)
Jdwood said:
Humm I can see why some one might see this has "racist" but I think this is just a question of personal taste oropinion. For example if some one would say " I do not think red heads look good with dreads" would this be considered "racist"? Now some might say that red hairedpeopleare not a "race" but once again I must ask the question how does one define race?I agree that the comment maybe lacks a bit of maturity (no offence ) but having anopinionon looks is not being "racist". Racism in myopinionisbelievingthat there is such a thing as race when it comes tohumans. Sorry for going off topic.
Tex said:Wow someone here actually said white people look better with dreads and in the same breath said they are not racist? Where do you live where "black" people would yell at you for having your hair in a certain fashion? No matter how you try to jewel it up, saying that ANY race looks better with something is completely ridiculous. How can you judge an entire race simply on a hair style and say that NO ONE in that race looks good like this?
Thundersquall said:White people do not look better with dreads. Black people do not look better with dreads. It is the "individual" that looks better with dreads. You dig what i am saying.
Jessica Ann Hughes said:In my opinion, "white" people look better with dreads. I dont't know why. I'm not racist at all. I love everyone all the same, but I think it's because I see more caucasion people with dreads than african americans. Since mine are babies, I'm afraid of "black" people coming up to me and yelling at me for having them. Especially at school. I just did them so no one at school has seen me yet (kids at my high school are so bad. They will make fun of you over the littlest things). But yeah. I don't know what it is with people though. I guess since african americans think it's "their hairstyle" that they need to defend it? I don't know though. Everyone's different. Love and harmony to you all <3
Dreads & racism
Life Issues Facing Dreads
Not at all, I wasn't offended. These kinds of conversations are a daily part of my life, so one lifetime, so far. It's a very nice thought to think of people as humans, but culture and race does not separate us, it brings us together. Maybe i only believe that because of how and where I was raised, but experiencing other people, cultures, and races allows us to learn more about ourselves, as well as other people.
Don't think of it as separation, but as unification.
And the song is old, from their debut album "Blunted on Reality." It's really good, I recommend it to anyone that is into good hip hop.