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Dready Mamas 2013 - Page 5

post #81 of 118
2/16/13 at 11:24am

I just applied to join:)

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post #82 of 118
2/16/13 at 11:25am

and you just approved me-lol:)

post #83 of 118
2/27/13 at 8:57am

I'm new here!

I just read about all of the 2012 thread.

I put in dreads around Thanksgiving last year and took them out around Christmas.  I was frusterated, itchy and they were loose and frizzy.  I think it's time to try again as soon as I can get a friend to help and a free weekend.  My husband and I put in my dreads last time around.  I've gotten my hair very used to using my bar shampoo which I make now and love it.

 

post #84 of 118
2/27/13 at 8:02pm

simple times, they look great! How did you start them? The beginning stages of dreads can be tough as it takes awhile for your scalp to adjust and for your hair to find it's way but it is so worth it. Welcome!

post #85 of 118
2/28/13 at 10:22pm
Thread Starter 

*sigh* I want dreads so badly, but I don't think I could stand my husband's criticism right now

post #86 of 118
3/1/13 at 10:27am

aww becky... that just sucks:/ I first mentioned the idea of getting dreads in the fall of 2006. Hubby said that was disgusting and gross and blah blah blah blah. So I didn't do it. And I was pissed at him for a good long time:/ At some point he decided dreads were sexy instead of gross (he credits angelina jolie in Gone in 60 seconds...) okay then... (and ftr, I am totally one who would say do it anyways, its YOUR flippin head...) I totally get it though:/ I dont know if you have mentioned, but is he not into the dreads themselves, or the process? 

post #87 of 118
3/1/13 at 1:35pm

Mine are twist and rip.

post #88 of 118
3/1/13 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjruiz_415 View Post

aww becky... that just sucks:/ I first mentioned the idea of getting dreads in the fall of 2006. Hubby said that was disgusting and gross and blah blah blah blah. So I didn't do it. And I was pissed at him for a good long time:/ At some point he decided dreads were sexy instead of gross (he credits angelina jolie in Gone in 60 seconds...) okay then... (and ftr, I am totally one who would say do it anyways, its YOUR flippin head...) I totally get it though:/ I dont know if you have mentioned, but is he not into the dreads themselves, or the process? 

Well, he didn't seem to have as big of a problem when I did my twist and rip dreads, but when I was growing in my neglect dreads he was very vocal about his distaste in them. I think he dislikes the transition the most....

post #89 of 118
3/2/13 at 1:40pm
Could you just put them in again? Now that your scalp is healthier? Doing backcombing or twist and rip?
post #90 of 118
3/2/13 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 
I COULD but I dont want to. :/ I want it all natural.
post #91 of 118
3/3/13 at 8:09am

Ok mamas, I'm losing steam. My dready adventure has only been a year but it may be coming to an end. Boo. Actually, though, I'm happy with the decision & am looking forward to massaging my scalp like a crazy woman! 

 

So....how?? My first thought is that I have no patience to comb them out but I just watched a few youtube videos & am considering giving it a go. Has anyone done this? I thought about chopping it & having a sassy short 'do but the more I examine my hair, these things are knotted pretty close to my scalp - about an inch all around. Eek! So combing out may be on tap. Correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like using a single point (not a comb!) on dry hair is the best method. I have a feeling this will take quite a while but I'm hoping to give myself as many hours/days needed, working on them when I can. 

 

When I first started dreaming about taking them out, the summer solstice seemed like a good goal. But alas, I'm now hoping for a vernal equinox transformation!

post #92 of 118
3/3/13 at 11:29am
Koru, I've got no ideas how to comb out dreads. I'm all about the sassy short do - I wore my hair an inch or two long several times, and I love a good pixie cut on most anyone. Can you just let the roots grow out a bit more before cutting? I just think about how damaged the hair might look once combed out; I know when I get rid of my dreads, I'll cut them.

Otoh - I haven't been maintaining my dreads because of a horrible family emergency (it's all fine now, but touch and go there for a while. No death, thank goodness). And so, my hair took a back seat for 3 weeks and now I just sat down with it yesterday. They've locked up so much! The ends are almost totally blunted! Yay for progress! Bonus points BC we are going to visit my parents in a week and they will see them in peron for the first time.
post #93 of 118
3/3/13 at 11:29am
Double post!
post #94 of 118
3/3/13 at 11:49am
Thread Starter 
You should totally shave your head. :P
post #95 of 118
3/3/13 at 2:57pm

I've combed out 5 dreads at the base of my neck & WOW, what a process. My hand hurts. I'd say it takes 30+ minutes per dread....and I have about 75. Do the math. If I decide to keep going, I need to pace myself or I will have carpel tunnel, for sure!

 

I go back & forth between wanting to unknot them or just chop them off. I've had super short hair many times so it doesn't scare me....but I'm not quite sure it's time. You know what I mean? My newest thought is to continue combing them out but keep in a handful of my favorites. thumb.gif As I unknot them, I'm starting to feel the attachment. *shaking my head* 

 

If anyone cares to know, to unknot them I've been using a comb with a single metal pick as the handle. To start, I trim 1/2" off the end & then painstakingly stick the metal end into the tip of the dread & pull down, unknotting little by little by little. It feels fuzzy & "unhealthy" at first but it silkens up. Once I wash it, I imagine it'll feel totally normal. And I have the hugest ball of dead, lint-filled hair. If I have them all undone by the equinox, there will be a fire to commemorate this journey!

post #96 of 118
3/4/13 at 2:40pm

For those of you who have had dreads for a long time, how long did it take before your dreads really started looking like dreads?  Mine are about a year old now and they're looking better but they're nowhere near where I had hoped we'd be this far in.  I still have tons of loose hair that either worked it's way out or never got incorporated.  I keep telling myself to just trust and wait and they will come into their own on their own time, but some days it's hard to be patient.


Oh and hopefully in a couple of months I'll have a dready bell picture to add -- we're due in October joy.gif

post #97 of 118
3/4/13 at 3:08pm

After 18 months mine finally looked like dreads (mostly). It really depends on how you start them. Natural dreads take much much longer. I still had a bunch of loose hairs that I knew were not ever going to dread in so I actually snipped a few of them off (mainly the ones sticking out the sides ) and it looks much better. You can also try crocheting to neaten things up if you want.

post #98 of 118
3/5/13 at 9:11am

I started with twist and rip and I have never been able to get the hang of crocheting.  I have tried several times, I just can't seem to get it.   I might try snipping some loose hairs and see how that works.  Thanks :)
 

post #99 of 118
3/8/13 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by koru View Post

I've combed out 5 dreads at the base of my neck & WOW, what a process. My hand hurts. I'd say it takes 30+ minutes per dread....and I have about 75. Do the math. If I decide to keep going, I need to pace myself or I will have carpel tunnel, for sure!

 

I go back & forth between wanting to unknot them or just chop them off. I've had super short hair many times so it doesn't scare me....but I'm not quite sure it's time. You know what I mean? My newest thought is to continue combing them out but keep in a handful of my favorites. thumb.gif As I unknot them, I'm starting to feel the attachment. *shaking my head* 

 

If anyone cares to know, to unknot them I've been using a comb with a single metal pick as the handle. To start, I trim 1/2" off the end & then painstakingly stick the metal end into the tip of the dread & pull down, unknotting little by little by little. It feels fuzzy & "unhealthy" at first but it silkens up. Once I wash it, I imagine it'll feel totally normal. And I have the hugest ball of dead, lint-filled hair. If I have them all undone by the equinox, there will be a fire to commemorate this journey!

Koru - this lovely lady combed out all of her dreads, and hers were a few years old. (She cut a bit off the ends but they were still long). Here is her blog post describing the process and all of the products she used...http://www.deniseandrade.com/category/dreadlocks/

post #100 of 118
3/9/13 at 9:47am

Well friends, the journey is over. I've had the flu for 5 days & spent many hours sitting on the couch, unknotting my dreads. It was the most tedious thing I've ever done in life & can't believe I actually thought that was a good idea. Ha! I left in my favorite one, though, so I'm not completely dreadless. 

 

I'm shocked at how thin my hair is. At first I thought it just felt thin because of the heavy dreads but I'm not so sure. I definitely lost tons of dead hair while taking them out but it feels like about half my actual hair came out, too. Gah. It will thicken up & grown back, I know, but it feels weird because I normally have a ton of hair. I have an appointment later today to have my hair styled....I'm thinking a funky stacked 'do, longer in the front with my beaded dread hanging down (and soon to be wool wrapped). 

 

I'll post photos when it's all said & done. Thanks for walking with me, friends!

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby