~~ Dready Mamas 2012?~~ - Page 11

[Chicky2]

So you decided to take the dreaded plung after all, eh?  Good for you!  And good that your so isn't like that in all areas!  Thanks for posting.  I have bangs, too.  :o)

[Becky Wheeler]

When he came home last night, he saw me in front of the full body mirror in the living room doing my dreads. His shoulders fell and he said "You're not doing it, are you?" After that, he didn't have anything to say about it. We talked just like normal and I kept twisting and ripping. :) I've got about 8 sections to go! 

[Becky Wheeler]

All done! :D Now for dread care. What works best for you ladies?

[keylimecutie]

I need advice once again... I have had my dreads for almost 5 months. The top of my head is dreading up beautifully ( kind of kinky but they are actually dreading and shortening). However the whole right side of my head has come undreaded. In the last month I have tried to palm roll, backcomb ( my hair seems immune to this now... I can back comb all I want and the next day it has fallen apart), I have tried neglect the last 9 days just wearing them up, in a bandanna or elastic ( I am a nurse and have to wear them up at work). I wash them every 4-10 days in baking soda depending on how my scalp feels. It just boggles my mind that some are doing great and parts of my hair is flowing free... I am thinking about throwing in the towel... But it makes me so sad to think about it! I need advice, encouragement, etc. do you think the twist a rip method would be a good way to go?

[Becky Wheeler]

Keylimecutie, I would try the twist and rip method. Especially if your hair is naturally straight. I've heard of people having problems with their hair staying dreaded if it's straight.

[koru]

Keylimecutie, I might try washing more frequently to keep the hair as oil free as possible. My dreads fall apart around the base of my neck and temples & I'm sure it's because those areas tend to be more oily and/or they get touched more with my oily hands when I'm putting them up or whatever. Odd that it's only happening on one side of your head, though. Do you sleep more that side? Or maybe you sleep more on the other side & it knotted up faster with the friction?

[Becky Wheeler]

So I had posted before about hubby not liking dreads and he would not like them on me. Update! He says I look good with them! You have no idea how happy that makes me! It's really liberating to do something I want with my body and have it accepted by a loved one!

I am also in love with my dreads! And I know I'll grow to love them more as they lock up! 

[delicate_sunshine]

I'm so glad he liked them!!

[Becky Wheeler]

Me too :)

[ShadowMoon]

That's so great to hear!!! Your dreads look awesome by the way. Great job! 

[Becky Wheeler]

Thank you! I have a problem though! I have heard that I can't use regular shampoo's and ever since I have dreaded my hair I've been using baking soda and water. My hair is SO OILY! We're broke, so I can't get any sort of 'dread shampoo' until Monday. What do I do? Also, some of my dreads are coming out. I used the twist and rip method. Should I just hand rub the loose strands or use a crochet hook or something? I'm afraid of them coming all the way out. 

[koru]

Such a relief that your hubby likes the new 'do! They DO look lovely. Strong work!

It takes a while for the scalp to adjust when switching to BS washing. Stick with it, though, washing everyday for a while so your hair stays dry & knots up easier. The oil production will balance out in a couple weeks. Definitely don't use regular shampoo! They all have conditioners that loosen dreads....especially babies. You can try aloe gel and/or a salt water spray to keep your hair dry, too. 

Palm rolling is always helpful, even with the T&R method, so do it as much as possible. A crochet hook won't really help until they start knotting up tighter, though. I understand it can do more harm than good in the early stages. (Correct me if I'm wrong about this!) 

I've had my dreads for 8 months now & after a short stint of hating them & being this/close to chopping them off, I serendipitously ran into a guy who referred me to a salon that maintains dreads for all hair types. Woo hoo! So.....I'm heading to the salon & for some maintenance in a couple weeks. I was told that one good maintenance session will keep them looking good for 6-12 months. I am SO excited!! 

[Becky Wheeler]

How exciting! Yeah, yesterday, I was hating how oily my roots and scalp felt and wanted to take them out. And then I did BS and ACV and it felt fine until a few hours ago. Do I need to do BS everyday until the oil production slows? I was reading some more about dreads and it said when they're new not to have them in a direct shower spray because they can come unraveled. Looks like I'll be having baths for a while.

Also WHAT do I do about a big empty spot in my dreads?! I did them by myself, so I really didn't foresee this being a problem. Do I take a couple dreads out and make them a bit smaller so I have hair to put into a dread in this awkward, empty spot?! 

Edited by Becky Wheeler - 9/2/12 at 5:42pm

[scruffy too]

I didn't know MDC had a Dreads Forum... Neat.  Thought I'd share a picture of mine - it's a few years old - my dreads are now at my waist.  Looking forward to reading this whole forum and seeing everyone's hair

[Becky Wheeler]

This are beautiful dreads, scruffy too! I can't wait to see pictures of them now!!!!

[delicate_sunshine]

Went to the beach this weekend and hung out in the saltwater and now my dreads are really starting to shrink up!  They haven't really shrunk too much before this.  I'm glad that they're tightening up but I'm not really fond of the new length.  I had long hair so my dreads were down to my back to start and now they're up to my chin!  Oh well, all part of the journey I suppose :)

[Buddhamom]

I am no longer dready, but when DH did mine he needle felted them as well as palm rolling and they got REALLY tight quick.  BTW, I have poker straight baby fine blkonde hair. They were hard like pipes by 3 mo. due to the needle felting and they got pretty fat even though they were thin when started. 

Namaste!

[Becky Wheeler]

What is needle felting?

AFM: My hair always feels oily. I'm using baking soda, which has been a big transition from shampooing and conditioning every 2-3 days. What do I do about my oily hair? Won't it make my dreads slip out?

[rjruiz_415]

Hi! I did my dreads at the end of may, and they are crazy, but I love them! I had that same crazy spot in the center if my head, and it scared the crap outta me... My guessed is that when I did them, I pulled the hair on the right side of my head to the right side (to grab and back comb) and did the same on the left side, so it was just pulled apart... Once they settled down the spot was gone...I think. I have pics from when they were done, 1 month, and 2 months. There are like 50 billion, but I will try and post them later when I am not on my phone.

[Becky Wheeler]

Originally Posted by rjruiz_415 

Hi! I did my dreads at the end of may, and they are crazy, but I love them! I had that same crazy spot in the center if my head, and it scared the crap outta me... My guessed is that when I did them, I pulled the hair on the right side of my head to the right side (to grab and back comb) and did the same on the left side, so it was just pulled apart... Once they settled down the spot was gone...I think. I have pics from when they were done, 1 month, and 2 months. There are like 50 billion, but I will try and post them later when I am not on my phone.

Thank you! lol It's easy to get discouraged when there's a problem like that! haha