dreading question

i am white with semi oliy fine 8 inch hair
i plan on using the backcombing method to get my dreads
i want them to be about this big
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/323153900_5258265930.jpg
how big do i make the sections?

 

hard to tell, will depend on your hair and how its backcombed i would think. Remember that they will shrink in length and swell as they mature and there is no gauge to the extent due to every ones hair being different. I would suggest experimenting.

 

okay
thank you
but just generally
would 3 inches be too much?

 

Those look like pretty standard dread sizes and similar thickness to mine. I would go for 1 inch thick squares for the sectioning which is pretty much the norm i think. Just remember after you have backcombed they wont be the size you are after until they have tighten up on their own.

 

fuck squares unless u want to look like a checlkerboard and those look closer to 1/2 inch to me
dont bother with squares they look rediculouse insrtead take random secions and go for it just be sure not too much hairs criss crossed at the roots
3 inch sections will cause huge hughe dreads, too big to get your fingers under em to scrape the scalp clean
a 3 inchsection will cause a dread about as thick as your arm

 

njow these wernt backcombed just left to go natural, but the average thivckness art the roots is about pencil size and the absolute biggest just about 1 inch

many are lil thinner then that guys a few quite a bit thicker
more natural look will come from less rigid sectioning and varios sizes..ranging friom thin to thick

but keep in mind once u go thicvk u cant go thinner but once thin thicker is easy as hell just let em congo

 

thanks
how do you let them go natural?
whats that process entail?
nice dreads by the way...

 

Yep, if you want naturals go with what SE said. But if you want dreads like the photo you just showed, to me they look like they would be 1 inch squares.

 

what about waxing them
from what ive read on here today there have been mixed feelings on waxing
advice please
sorry to ask so many questions
ive just been growing my hair for a year and a half
dont want to fuck it all up and have to shave it all off...

 

For me and I think the general consensus is stay well and truly clear of waxing. It feels gross and makes your dreads look like candle sticks. Plus you'll pay for it later, it is really hard to get out, and when left in can cause major problems.

 

wax is pure xcrap its definately the cause of most dread problems
dont use it..

natural throw away your comb
the end

well not 100% as it starts dreading feel around for clumps forming and seperate 1 from another so they dont grow together into 1 huge dread
the sectioning happenes on its ownbut u can control the size by rilpping big secrtions into smaller ones
then all you do is keep it clean and give it time
with 8 inches it shouldnt take too long but nmight take awhile u said your hairs oily? use thyme as a tea to cause less hair oil production (spray tthe tea on the scalp) also use sea saltsprays to dry oit the hair (acvoid the scalp as it cajn be iritating)


and hes right that guy may have used squar sectuins hard to say with it pulled back but they do look rediculously uniform
generaly a more random shapoe section will giver a smoother more blended look
squar sections the 1st ..well upo to a momnth or so you;ll have distict square areas of exposed scalp that look so dumb
more random sectioning there wont be those sharp outlines

 

allright
thanks man
i think thats about it for now...

 

precicesly
there are those who argue its worthwhile for pure vanity reasons to look like u have dreads frim day 1
but all u got is stiff sticky masses of glued together hair that cant move and really dread
they also say use it to control froizz whicjh it does by again glueing hasir in a slimy mess but aloe vera works way way better and will come out in alittle rain harmlessly

wax can be trapped in the core for years after u stop waxing..and being sticly every bit of dirt thst it contacts will stick to it
water too which leads to mold


it has no legit use exceot it can make u look like u have gross sticly dreads fast..but it really slows the dread process
and very few dreads last 3 years or more if waxed


if u look in my album youll see what natural dreads look like..necver tiuched bt y wax or comb
and honnestly mine seemed to form very fast
i did throw some beads in siome whicj h helped em dread in no time

 

okay
but how do you start the natural process?
how do you start the knots to form?
my hair is fine and knot free
do you use a sweater to start and pull apart from there?

 

stop conditionming stop combing
a wool hat helps yes so does sea salt sprays
timne and patience are key
if your hairs oily
make thyme tea and rince your hair with ity letting it stay in a bit ..it will make u produce less oilsd
have u conditioned lstely? if so ..deep ckeanse to remove residues (look at 1st opost in wax sticky)
once yourt residue dfree and u use a lil sea salt to dry it a bit ..ewear a wool tam aliot topromote knots and sleep on it to compress knots..give it time
fine thin hair 8 inches maty take a lil bit altho the length ios good
its hard to say tho some with really fine hair straight as can be say iot dreads fast
just wash with a non residue soap or the deep cleanse and shake it dry (like a dog) and let it be
try it 6 weeks or so and see how well it works
some dread in weeks others months and a rare few can take up to a year
espexialy if they start short
(under 4 inches)

one thing that can help alot is throwing in a few beads

if u look around for early natural update threads u will see some have very well formed tight dreads in 2-3 weeks..othgers have bedhead messines for a few monthsThe knots form on theyre own and by theyre own will
going camping a fewweeks and forgetting all about your hair will help
my freind chevy had dreads in a week that way

you mentioned a sweatter..thats the same as wearring a wooltam, it helps alot..just till they are formed u should be conceise of any tendenyt to over combine
u can rub your head with woolofcourse to get craazy knots gouing but the sectioning may be haphazaerd as a result.. 1 big knotty mess which then can be ripped into sections
but i thingk wearrijg a wool hat theres a less agreesssive rubbing and instead promotes the hairsd rolling ariund eachorther to form sections
depending on your hair it may happen slow.. 1st week sliught bit of sectioning 2nd week lil knottiness but delicate 3rd lil more messy sections with lil bit of loopiness and so on it happens before your eyesm mot moticible changes daily but over weeks


playiong with it alittle can help or hurt ..be sure to not run fingers through the hair, but alittle twiddling or twisting or fiddlingwith it gently can cause movement whicj causes knots

lets see your hair as of now
forgive the horrible spelling im barely aeake just struggling to stay awake long enioyugh to answer your questions

more tomoro

 

no problem with the spelling
your helping me out alot
i dont mind one bit
thank you
so wash my hair with residue free shampoo
then sea salt to dry it
and the thyme tea to get rid of the oils
do i put rubberbands in my hair and then put on the tam
or just let it section out by itself?
what stores can i get residue free shampoo?

 

let it section by itself, rip the sections if they get too big (start to congo)

 

I sectioned, staggered them, and my head does not look like a checker board. I wasn't precise to make each the same size, I have some that are too thin I believe and some that are thicker cause I got lazy and my arms were wayyyy tired.
You do what you feel is right for you....sometimes the advice on here is just really not worth the read. I have yet to see these photos of natural tight dreads at just 2-3 weeks. Lord not even black folks have it that easy.

 

Sure don't.

 

If considering wax just talk to mammajo and pmeister. They both had hideous waxy results. I have horrible oily hair and tried going 100 percent natural. 1 month into it I still had nothing. So I backcombed some and left others to go natural. I didnt really section the backcombed ones, I just grabbed chunks and backcombed but it still left big bald spots inbetween dreads that took about a month to fill in. Sectioning is good I suppose if you dont mind the bald spots for awhile. My dreads are na couple days short of 5 months and they are just now starting to stick. The natrural ones are not dready yet but sticking together really nice and the backcombed ones have stopped slipping out and are taking nice shape. So either route you take, its gonna take a whole lotta time and patience. remember that! As long as you keep your hair clean and give your dreadies love you cant really fuck em up...its just knotted hair any way you look at it ya know? In terms of shampoo, I experimented with many different things and nothing seemede to work great with my hair type so now I just rinse with hot water every other day and dump rosemary tea on my head once a week....and I swear by it! I have no dandruff and no oilyness. Its wonderful. Anywho...whatev you do just remember that it takes time and your hair will go through many funky phases in the begining regardless of the chosen method...so be ready for that, stay patient, and keep your eye on the future! Whenever I get down on my messy locks I check out the inspirtation thread...it helps big time! Good luck!