Few Questions About Crotcheting and Loops

Hi,

I've had my dreads for about 4-6 months, some older than others. They've been made through a mix of natural, backcombing, and twist and rip (hah I like to experiment). Right now they're all pretty locked up and pretty tight.

Anyways, I'm flying back to school soon, and I want to get them neat. I realize that most of you say leave them alone, but thats just not me. I enjoy trying to maintain em and get them to lock the way I want them too. It's just my style of having dreads and letting them go wild isn't. So I'd prefer answers that aren't just "do nothing, that's the way dreads are meant to be".


So first question. Anybody crotchet their roots before? I tried it on some of my front dreads, and after loopin 2 or 3 times, the roots felt real tight and the best part was I could force them to go backwards if I wanted instead of hangin in front of my face, which I prefer. I know it only last for like 3 weeks but thats not a problem. But does it greatly hinder the locking process around the roots? Will those little braidlike knots it forms ever disperse into the regular fine knots like the rest of the dread, or do i have to uncrotchet them?

Do you have any other suggestion for root control? Clockwise rubbing seems kinda useless to me. Is it possible for the roots to lock up on their own, or will there always be that inch of undreaded?


Second question is about loops. My dreads have formed a ton of loops. I don't mind that much but after they are fully dreaded I want them to be as smooth as possible. I found that if I palm roll while I take a shower, the loops dissappear back into the dread. Will this really hinder my locking process? I don't care as much about slowing the locking process as much as being smooth at the end, but this might just be dumb.



Alright, thanks alot, I appreciate any advice and experience you can shed me. This is the best dreadlocking forum I've found.

 

i dont know about the crocheting part.

but you should have about an inch of loose hair. if it was dreaded to the scalp, 1. that might hurt, 2. they probably would be sticking up (i think).

for loops, if you use a latch hook (its a sewing instrument and stick it through the dread (starting on the side its not dreaded) and then put the loop hair into the hook and pull back out, it should go back in. and knot its way in there after time.
that wont work on all loops (at least i cant get it to) but it makes them disappear and works really really well.

 

Crocheting only to put loose hair back in the dreads, otherwise just keep on rubbing (works the best a few days after washing with me). If you want to get rid of loops you can use a felting needle, it puts the loops back in de dread and keeps the thickness. I think palmrolling will only make them less thick.