Hi Iris, welcome to this great site. It has all the information to get you started with healthy dreads. Do all the reading you can, ask questions, and we will get you started. No matter the method you use, let your hair separate naturally for a couple of weeks as dreads look better without a grid lock design from forced separating. Peace
Roots need to be loose, if they were tight they would pull on the scalp when moving around. So don't worry about them. Loose hairs will eventually be fed into the dread. You are only 1 year in, they are not yet mature, so they are still on their journey.
If you don't like the loose hairs you can always do a criss cross wrap with embroidery thread. Just lay the loose hair alongside the dread and then wrap it. You can choose embroidery thread the same colour as your hair to not be noticable or you can add pizzazz. The criss cross wrap still allows the hair to finish maturing, as it is not tightly wrapped all around the dread. There is a video on here that shows how to do it.
Craft stores, sewing stores and dollar stores sell the embroidery thread.
Rubber bands are never good for dreads. The heat of washing will make them go gummy and sticky. They can be swallowed by the dread, forever rotting inside. They can damage the section causing a weak spot where they are.
have you decided how you want to start>?
Welcome
welcome well lets get u started 1st read the dreaducation page
then take all your combs and
throw them in the trash
no turning back..now yoir on your way
Hi Iris, welcome to this great site. It has all the information to get you started with healthy dreads. Do all the reading you can, ask questions, and we will get you started. No matter the method you use, let your hair separate naturally for a couple of weeks as dreads look better without a grid lock design from forced separating. Peace
Welcome and Happy Dreading.
Always, Hippie Love
Welcome and Happy Dreading.
Always, Hippie Love
WELCOME TO DREADLOCKSITE!! wishing u a peaceful loving blessed journey:D may i say i think u r naturally beautiful
no need for so much eye make up hun 
Roots need to be loose, if they were tight they would pull on the scalp when moving around. So don't worry about them. Loose hairs will eventually be fed into the dread. You are only 1 year in, they are not yet mature, so they are still on their journey.
If you don't like the loose hairs you can always do a criss cross wrap with embroidery thread. Just lay the loose hair alongside the dread and then wrap it. You can choose embroidery thread the same colour as your hair to not be noticable or you can add pizzazz. The criss cross wrap still allows the hair to finish maturing, as it is not tightly wrapped all around the dread. There is a video on here that shows how to do it.
Craft stores, sewing stores and dollar stores sell the embroidery thread.
Peace
Rubber bands are never good for dreads. The heat of washing will make them go gummy and sticky. They can be swallowed by the dread, forever rotting inside. They can damage the section causing a weak spot where they are.
I am also from Ontario, the Niagara region
Welcome and Happy Dreading.
Always, Hippie Love