☮ soaring eagle ॐ

I don't know if you saw my post below, I included pictures. 

They do say it as an insult, but I don't let it get to me. I love my hair and I am starting to really love it when it's at its bushy-ist. I am including some before and after pictures of my scalp. In the freshly interlocked picture it's beads of water on my hair (I had just sprayed it because it HURT.)

Some background:

I started my locs 10 years ago, in a salon (yikes)! I would get them re-twisted every month or so. 7 years along, in November 2018, I was made aware that my hair was thinning. I immediately stopped all maintenance.

As you can see, I still have really thin spots on my scalp, 2.5 years after stopping re-twists. It is hard to see from the front, but when I take a picture with my cell phone camera, under the heavy bathroom light, it is obvious. Is there any possible fix, or am I doomed?

I have tried biotin (didn't work) and minoxidil (caused a rash). In your experience, is this traction alopecia or male pattern baldness? I don't think it is baldness, because the thin spots follow the part lines of my previous retwists.

Thanks!

Hey Soaring Eagle,

Here are the alopecia (what I think, at least) photos. I added them to a separate post so I can delete them later for privacy.

Hi Soaring Eagle,

I am interested in speaking with you about my current traction alopecia woes, however I am concerned about posting my pictures and information on a public forum. Is there a way to chat with you via direct message?

YipYip

Thank you so much. My scalp is in good condition, I'm only 10 months in and I'm happy I woke up before permanent damage. I wanted to loc my hair for freedom and to honor myself. But when I saw how obsessed people were with MY hair "neatness" it made me want to run. They said things like "your hair is too curly and frizzy" and sure, that might be the case but I like it. 

So I am going to stop interlocking. Let see how this new journey goes!

Thank you for the warm welcome and response! I know I should stop, and I want to but I'm worried because they are so small. I have attached a picture for reference. Also I should mention that I do it every 6 weeks ("interlocking") I have THICK hair but I know over time it will thin.

Hi, thanks for letting me know about my pictures! I thought it was weird that it was posting the default picture too, but it also said that I needed admin approval so I decided to leave them up. I'll repost them.

@soaring-eagle it is about 8 inches 

hey @soaring-eagle It has been two months since I started my journey. My hair is thin. I wash with water throughout the week and "locking up tea liquid dreadlock soap" once a week. I use my finger tips but not the nails to wash. I don't rub my head with a towel after but I squeeze out the moisture.  I don't believe I have the need to start separating right now. I was wondering if what I am doing sounds alright. I also still find myself hoping my hair will dread... I guess I feel like my hair type won't.