Forum Activity for @alicia-s

starter knots sizes?

General Questions

Right now if I hold the section together (not twist, but just see how big it is when they are not loose and everywhere) it is small, like half of a pencil maybe? If they stay the same size then I'll let it get bigger and see what happens. I was just afraid that they really bulk up and then I'd hate it.

I have super long hair, so I'm surprisingly used to getting stuck in doors, or having hair snag in some unfortunate place like the flip lock of a door, or the hook on the inside of a car thing for dry cleaning, the couch, a drawer, a rubberband my kid spontaneously tied to a chair... I get snagged a lot lol

starter knots sizes?

General Questions

So since it's small now should I leave it be, not divide it smaller, and then see if it gets bigger and just stop it before it's bigger than I like??

Is there any such thing as TO small? I really like the look of smaller dreads, but I don't want to risk them being so small they are fragile if that's possible.

starter knots sizes?

General Questions

So very long hair and kite flying on a blusterous day and i already have one good section going and a few tiny babies! by good i mean it is an obvious section, by no means would i say i have a dread.so, im curious now, if i want smallish dreads how tiny should i make sure my sections are when i seperate them? should i figure that they will double in size as they grow and dread?
updated by @alicia-s: 01/13/15 09:35:49PM

How to start with VERY long Hair

Dreading Methods

thanks lxchel! I'll not cut it and we'll see how it goes from here!

I'm so excited for the jorney to see what my hair becomes!

How to start with VERY long Hair

Dreading Methods

One more thing: My hair length now is about as long as I ever intend for it to be, so should I get a cut before starting? especially since I like the natural ends that aren't blunted? Can you cut dreadlocks after the fact to keep your hair at a certain length?

I'm debating donating some to Locks of Love before getting started, which will give me a shorter starting length, and more time for grow room before it's longer than I like.

(I tried to edit my previous post to say this, and then it got stuck at saying "saving" and now it doesn't show up, forgive me if this shows up twice.

How to start with VERY long Hair

Dreading Methods

How do I know which sections needs to be and which are not? I know some hairs will just naturally want to be together and dread, how do I know which are which? I don't want to be counterproductive and be separating dreads that want to be together.

Is there anything else I can/should do to help then section well? I've seen pictures where people clearly in the early stages have yarn wrapping or beads that seem like they are just helping hold sections together.

With washing I just truly wash when it needs it. My life is pretty settled and bland and sometimes my hair just doesn't need washing that often. Should I wash it anyway??

Also, when do people start putting in beads and things? I know I have a ways to go, a long ways, but I really love the look of some of the deco dreads with yarns and beads and things. When/how to I get yarn to work in too? Can you do that with the natural method? if so how and when do I do that?

Oh, and I have a picture of my hair I can share. It's right after I took out my braid, it's been a few hours now and it is sectioned differently from just being down. I'm working on getting a picture of that.

How to start with VERY long Hair

Dreading Methods

So I've decided I want dreads, and it seems like a natural fit for me to use the natural method. I've been part of the natural hair movement for years, using no products, natural shampoos, no heat drying or styling, then a year or so ago switched even to no poo, using baking soda and vinegar method. That was my official step in natural hair. Now I've decided to go a step farther and get natural dreads, which hopefully is possible for me. The only reason I question if it's reasonable is that I have VERY long hair. I sit on the tips of it when I sit down. I just measured and it's 34 1/2" long! I'm at the exact moment where I say "Okay! I'm doing this! What now???"

Can I manage to get decent natural dreads? Or will I be setting myself up for a beaver tail just because of the sheer amount of hair?

For my hair as it is I wash it anywhere from once a week to only once a month, depending on when it needs it. Then I leave it to air dry if possible. If not possible I loosely braid it into one long single braid.

For daily maintenance I brush it and rebraid it, or put it in a bun. I almost never leave it down, just because of tangling and such. I'm guessing step one is to start leaving it down?

Can I successfully get natural dreads while starting with so much hair? Any special tips? What do I do from here? Can I still comb it, or should I finger comb only?

I'm sure I'd be far less nervous if I wasn't starting out with so much hair! lol

updated by @alicia-s: 01/13/15 09:35:42PM

+16 months, Neglect Dreadlocks Timeline from short and curly hair

Member Journals and Timelines

Your hair reminds me of my sons hair. He's not dreading his but his curls are a lot like yours, only curlier in spots. Some of his curls are so tight they're smaller than a pencil and right now at about 4 inches long some of them don't even form a full circle. Today at the store someone told him he has an awesome afro, lol, though I'd call it more of a poof ball than an afro. Good luck on your journey!

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Introduce Yourself

Lola if you really feel it's time to change them then do, but don't panic and take them out because of it. Despite how you started you've been working on dreads for a year! I'd hate for you to regret it! Everyone here just wants you to have healthy hair and nice dreads that aren't costing you a fortune. Even if the salon did anything damaging there can be ways to fix it. You don't have to give up your dreads unless want to. I'm sure everyone here will always be glad to see you, whether you stick around now or take a break and come back later.

Untitled

Introduce Yourself

Hi Lola! Welcome to the site!