Hey everyone! I'm new here and I had a question and was hoping someone could help since you guys seem to know a lot about dreads... I have been neglecting my dreads for a few months now (I can already see them forming! yay!) and I just wanted some advice on how to make them the best they can be. I have already been told to avoid combing all together but to keep my hair clean. The thing is, I have known a few people who have done it the neglect way, and have ended up with very uneven dreads. Is there anything I can do to avoid this? Basically I was hoping for dreads that look more like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZZIGQH01SE and less like this: http://com3.runboard.com/bknottydreadlockforum.f4.t14898 Any help is apreciated.. thanks
you really can't expect any certain kind of result. how the locks form is mainly based on the individual's hair. how curly your hair is, how long, how thick, how healthy, how oily and more things will change hows the locks turn out. the biggest difference i see in those is that buddy number one has smaller locks with less frizz will buddy number two has bigger locks with more frizz. frizz is different for everyone but there are ways to calm it down. you can control size, but it can be tricky. how curly and how thick your hair is can affect how your locks will tighten and form so its hard to say how fat/slim they will get from now to a couple of years down the road. if you want locks like buddy number one you will make sure the locks don't congo too much and maybe separate every morning. other than that all you can do is try using hair wraps, twisting the locks together and using beads on a few you would like to combine.
Well, ultimately you won't know until you try it. However, in my experience, my dreads are forming up the way my hair clumps when it was wet before I would comb it. If you have enough length, try washing your hair and seeing how it divides itself. My dreads are VERY thin, very very very. For instance, I am thrillled when folks notice I am growing dreads, if that is any indication. So it is possible for naturals to be thin. Just keep them from congo-ing up. However, if you have super curly hair that forms massive ringlets it might be another story. My hair was stick straight combed, and only mildly wavy uncombed.
hmmm, I actually prefer guy #2's dreads. They have more life in them. To each their own though right? But otherwise, I think you've already gotten some great advice. Thats the great thing about dreads though, they're all unique, so just learn to be happy with the ones you are growing
The way to keep natural dreads more even is to separate them on a regular basis. You really need to stay on top of it. It's entirely possible to have "neat" natural dreads (of course, it takes many years to get to that point). That said, no. 2's dreads are pretty badass.
If you're going to go the neglect method then you just really really have to stay on top of it. I'm not a fan of the neglect method personally. There's celebrating your hair's natural state and there's looking a hot mess.
yeah #2 has badass locks, if your going to be fussy about size / distribution then I would suggest you backcomb, or if your already matted then maybe cut them into dreads and stick some elastics at the roots and let them grow in like that for a few months. As i said recently in another thread I backcombed in what I thought were quite thin locks and they are coming in as fat bastards so long term they are pretty much going to do what they want anway.
pypes... he already said he was going neglect and it's entirely possible to end up with neat, nicely formed dreads the natural way with time, care, and patience. If you didn't go natural then why pretend to know how it works? Also, elastics on the roots is never a good thing as it weakens the hair and restricts movement.
I would like a mixture of the two examples. The second guys locks got so big and REAL, and for the first guy who "claims" he went all natural, I don't believe him and nor do I think they look very good.
