This was week 3-4 and I think I re-backcombed the side ones. I did some others as well too, after a few more weeks I think, and also when I was joining some of the skinny ones together, but I can't rememeber the exact point and can't be bothered to find more pics Anyways, I'm not saying everyone should go around doing it... but since everyone always says not to, I thought I'd offer another perspective, since it can help and doesn't always mean the death of dreads etc.
but, you can admit that any progress that those locks made in the first 3-4 weeks may have been destroyed by re-backcombing, right?
Yeh it may have been, but fortunately in this case it wasn't. Re-backcombing helped in this instance. That's my point: that it can help. I'd still generally advise against it, but wanted to illustrate another side.
I really think it's total preference, I don't like bc on my self but I've seen nice dreads that were started by bc. To each their own. I do think that bc can be helpful but also experienced where it wasnt so helpful. I think by always sharing experiences and keeping a respectful open mind towards people choosing the methods they think is right for them is what's cool.
Yeh sure. I started my dreads in total ignorance, other than everything said on the DHHQ and KB sites...e.g. total ignorance lol, and I wouldn't backcomb if I started my dreads over.... but to those who did backcomb, maybe in the last couple of weeks, to whom everyone is saying don't re-backcomb, as though it might destroy everything, at least this shows it may not ruin everything. Yeh. I'm bored now lol
the thing I'd worry about it after 5/6 years of having them that re-backcombing could have caused more unnecessary damage and could make them snap.
my friend backcombs the roots of her blokes dreads and his havent falled off =] when i backcombed my old dreads [if they had loose sections in the middle] theyd properly fall apart, a good few inches of hair just snapped right off =/ so yeah, it can and does work, and might help,, but in my experience it didnt =]
I think your dreads look great amy. I don't think rebackcombing is a problem, but rather a matter of preference. I personally do very little to maintain my dreads because I want them to look natural. I embrace all the loops and bumps and loose hairs, so I would never want to do anything to get rid of that. But everyone likes different looks, if your dreads don't make you happy then there is no point in having them. I'm fed up with the dread elitism as I'm sure you are too. Everyone likes a different dread look, like whitemarley who took out is dreads because they didn't look uniform and perfect, or natural philosophy who thinks beavertails are works of perfection. What's important is that your dreads are YOU, not what anyone from DHHQ to knottylocks told you they should be. become as informed as possible, then choose your own path.
Although... I find the idea of doing any further backcombing after dread maturity a bit odd... I would only have thought of doing it in the first few weeks whilst the hair is still loose.
