Help a newbie figure out how to start dreads

Hi there. I just found this forum and I like it so far. I tried to search for "short hair" threads but I'm so impatient when I want answers.

My hair is short right now. The top is probably three inches but the sides and back are probably only 1.5 inches. Also, my hair is fine and thin.

My questions are:

I think the top is long enough, but are the back and sides too short?

Does the rip and twist method sound suitable? Would it work on the short parts?

Would bleaching it help?

Any tidbits of info you've gained through experience would be much appreciated.

 

I think you should read the FAQ, then get back to us...

edit: what the FAQ doesn't mention is that you're going to need about 6 inches before you have any solid tangling happening. You can't rush these things. I suggest just committing to not combing or running your fingers through your hair as well as learning about the BS that is the normal cycle of washing your scalp and hair with shampoo multiple times a week. With short, thin, hair you might see something happening in a year or so...

That'll soon get sorted...

 

Thanks. I did read the faq as well as a bunch of other info I found online. There is a lot of differences in opinions and I was hoping there would be someone who has done it with shorter hair (I found an old thread on here the other day where a girl had 2-3 inches of hair and started her dreads just fine).

I have been lo poo for a couple months now and when I start I will switch to baking soda/vinegar washes.

 

I started my dreads with more than double the length you're describing (still pretty short)and I had a lot of trouble getting tnr sections to stay together. I only ever made any progress when I decided to stop messing with it and let it do it's own thing as it gets longer.

If you try this method with really short hair you face the problem of your sections being too tight and not being able to move around at all. There has to be some movement within the dread in order for hairs to move around and cause friction/tangle. Once you make all your sections you have to wait a very long time for them to loosen, tighten, loop, twist, and tangle until they actually take on the characteristics of dreadlocks. If you rush to start your journey too early you face the possibility of stunting your actual dreading process if you don't do it right, and it's difficult to do it right with such short hair.

My suggestion is that you let your hair grow and leave it alone. If you never brush/condition it your hair will begin to dread when it starts to get long enough. If you find you don't like the neglect method then you can try tnr when you have more appropriate length.

 

Your hair is way too short girl. You need to grow it out. What have you been doing to it cause it sounds kinda messed up. but grow it out longer, then don't wash it for about 6 months and just start twirling your hair, next thing ya know, walaa, dreads..that is what I did

 

I think its kind of misleading to suggest that someone not wash their hair for six months. I suppose with some hair types this would result in dreadlocks but there's no correlation between dreads and not washing. Most people wash their dreads at least every week or two, and during the dreading process it's good to have clean hair as grease in hair prevents friction, which is key to forming dreads.

 

Sorry about that. People do it differently. It is what worked for me

 

I'll try neglect. Does it matter if it's always under a hat?