Ok, so I know there are a million pages here, I have read most of them last night. So that, combined with my previious experience and OCD reading and learning, asking about dreads i really shouldnt have to ask..... However I will ask anyways. I am gonna be dreadie again very soon, I really just had to be open and honest with my hubby. He still thinks I have NO time for maintenance, however, I think he has no idea what he is taking about. He doesnt like that my hair was all loose and stuff (you know those first 6mths to a year) LOL Well that's his problem..... UHHHHH back to the question: What maintenance routine should I use, to make my locks look a little "less"messy, so I can just show hubby they are beautiful? I will be backcombing, (just cause its easier to do for me than neglet, I can't can't do it) sorry, if that makes me a fake dread, than OH WELL NO WAX, but I am not opposed to other all natural products, (homemade/handmade is a super bonus) PLEASE PLEASE help me out here, I am really trying to find myself again in these dreads, but I also have a husband and child to keep happy Many thanks!
so wait what do you want?!! Just wash your hair with dr bronners and call it done. As you said no wax with is a big plus Back comb ftw if you have to look clean. Um that is abotu it, nothing else you can do really.
So no palm rolling, or root rubbing? or any advice at all? Jeeez, so much for a dread forum eh. Just wanted some tips and a maintennace routine from some ppl who actually have dreads at the moment since its been a couple years for me. Thanks though, guess I will just backcomb and see if the local loctician can offer me any maintenace tips.
BTW, thats what I want, some advice/answers to the question I asked. Thanks again.... Trying to get it all in one thread since I have a 2 yr old that gives me about 5minutes of online time! rude obnoxious ppl with no advice need not apply
from my own experience and basically having to conform somewhat to society and work.... after back combing i just would wear some wort of small wrap to keep them all going back and laying down. not covering my whole head either... i did get to spend alot of time rolling mine,,, i spend on average 4 hours of riding time every day..... i only use natural stuff on my head... and just gently put a bit of tea tree or other oil on occasion (on my hand n thru my hair)... they are not messy except for the new growth n then subsequent dreading of the newbies n to most folks unless ya really look at my head closely its just a different do....n i do wash atleast twice a week in the winter and most everyday during warm temps.... seems to be working ok for me....
When you backcomb, get it as tight as you can. Also, if you really want to cut down on the mess, use rubberbands or elastics on your roots and tips. You'll only need them for about a month, and they really cut down on the loose hairs at both of those locations. Be very vigilant about them, though, you don't want to leave them in your hair. There are several recipes for sprays and others such concoctions on this site that, if used sparingly, can help them to smooth down and tighten up. As you mentioned, there is rolling and all that. I try not to do it, but occasionally I can't help myself. One way to help round your ends and smooth your... shafts? We gotta find a better word... anyway, to smooth the lock out in total, is as follows: Do you remember making balls out of play-dough? That rolling motion you do with your hands? Do that all along the length of the lock, being sure to work in the loose hairs into your hands and the lock. Work your way out to the tip, and really do it there. These are some of the short-term ways I knew to mitigate frizzies and such. Other than that, just follow what my name says. Namaste Additionally, as was already stated, keeping them covered for the first several months helps tremendously in encouraging them to lock up, take shape, and lose the frizz.
aloe every now & then salt water rinces occasssionaly be patient enjoy the mess tell hubby if he dont like it he can sleep on the couch a few months..lol
Hehe, thanks everyone, I really could care less about all the mess right, and I want to be patient an d do it my way, but being married is all about compromise sometime, so I gotta try to keep both parties happy and healthy, ya know. I am not looking for perfect, 1 day dreadlocks, I know much better than that! LOL Thanks for all the tips, I may just wait a few more mths to appease the hubby, I don't think I am "quite" ready just yet, I want some more length, but oh those babies will be soooo welcomed! I will post pics and update as I go along. I have already crocheted a softee hat and bought a shit load of nice wooden beads, LOL
one thing i would say, if you still wanted to try to "clean" em up, would be these dental floss threaders for people with braces. if you google "floss threader" in the image part you'll see what i mean..lol^^. they're real nifty when it comes to getten some of those loose hairs back where they belong^^. i don't do it a lot cuz no one else seems to mind, but there have been a few times i needed a little clean up so i bought some and they were great^^
Just thought I'd tell a funny story here...my hubby was opposed to my messy dreads, so after much conflict I couldn't live with those dreads anymore as they became the center of so much pain and conflict...so I combed them out...for hours. So, after that he felt horrible. We've talked and talked and now we have somewhat settled it. But it doesn't change the fact that he hates messy dreads (dreads that are less than a year or two old basically)...so now that I can "be myself", I am doing dreads again...but I'm going neglect method this time. lol So, just let him be glad that yours won't be as messy as they could be.
LOL, that is pretty funny. I think we have somewhat settled it too. I have agreed to wait a bit more. I think in 6mths I will start them, that way my daughter will be a little older and I will have more time to "maintain" them as he puts it. Hmmmph, things we do for our husbands eh? LOL
