To dread or not to dread?

So I've thought of dreading my hair for a long while now, but haven't done it yet. My hair used to be pretty long - about to my waist. I cut it and now it's a tad below my shoulders. The reason I haven't done it is because I'm worried about it turning out like crap, if I'll look horrible with dreads and employment reasons. My job right now wouldn't mind too much, but after this job, I don't know how they'd take it. Damn social standards always get in the way.

I know if I were to do it, I don't think I'd want big fat dreads. I like the look of the smaller ones. I think my hair would be a good "candidate". I have extremely thick, curly hair (thanks to my Cherokee genes, I suppose). So, does anyone have any input, suggestions, advice or anything? I just don't want my head looking like a rat nest for the first few months.

 

are you planning on going natural because that would take longer and it will probably look crazy the first couple months

 

I don't know. I really don't know much about the whole process.

 

If your debating about getting them this much, then you shouldn't bother

word

 

you could always backcomb a few in the front to see if you like how it looks on you and then take it from there. If you do dread just be prepared...cuz the first 3-4 months are the worst! Your hair will be carazy. But it does get better with time. Could always use aloe to tame the frizzies and stuff.

 

oh and youd be surprised at how many people are cool with it[job wise] as long as you keep them clean and sport them with confidence. I work with little kids and I thought that maybe some of the parents would freak in the begining but because Im good at my job nobody cares and they all love me. So, if your good at what you do or will be doing then that will take precedence over your messy hair....Im sure of it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I may try that and see what it looks like. I may just say the hell with it and let it dread up naturally.

 

Well if you want smaller more controlled dreads you will either have to watch it when its dreading and make sure you wont get huge ones that mongo... or you could section off your head and back comb it. That would give you kind of an idea of the look.. and then if you just looked at it occasionally to make sure no mongo formed then the natural process will either finish off the dreads or unravel the dreads and start its own but the section should stay about the same i believe.

 

Words of wisdom right there man....

 

Not true. Dreads are a commitment! I wrestled with it for almost a decade!!! Well my career for one would of gone to shit. Not til I decided to stay at home with my kids that I was able to "free" myself enough to do it.
If you don't want your hair looking like a rats nest....maybe twist and rip. Looks like your hair is about the same length as mine when I began. I backcombed, and the "white snoop dog" for me only lasted about 2-3 days since I wore them in a bandanna and it squished em down.
Much luck in your decision making...and yay to another dreadie in Virginia!!!

 

i think if you look at the dread info desk sticky, theres links to other threads. read around a bit, cause theres a ton of info about the different methods you can use.

big fat dreads are easy to avoid - you can backcomb or twist and rip to get them started, which will give them a small kick start to being dreads and youll get the amount you want and the approx size you want. if you go the natural root, youll have to rip them to prevent the huge congos forming.

use beads & wraps to keep the sections
use aloe to tame frizzies

if you want uber dreads uber quickly, find someone who crochets them. i know a girl who does them and they look amazing (even though i dont like crocheting dreads) they look good, neat & tidy from the get go, and youll get the sections you want

errrrrrm. the current length.. if you backcomb you might lose quite a lot of it, depends how tightly the backcombing is done. i have no idea about initial shrinkage with t&r cause i didnt do it

and yeah! theyll look like shite for a few months =D mine are nearly 6 weeks old, theyre loose, frizzy, nothing like the dreads i hope they grow up to be.. but its all part of the process & fun

i have rambled enough.

 

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Thanks for all the suggestions. They're really appreciated.

Okay. I'm going to go for it. I think I'm going to take the twist and rip route, and I figured, even if it turned out looking like a rats nest, my hair usually is one because in the morning I typically just throw on a beanie or bandanna

 

replace the beanie with a wool tam and youre onto a winner =D

 

i love your hair now.
that length and everything, dont dread

 

i kinda agree tbh.. youre quite cute as you are =]

 

Yeah I like your hair now too, but dreads are always yum I had thought about dreads almost a year before i decided to do it. The only doubts i had just before we did it were because of the length i would be loosing. Ive always had long hair so i wasn't sure how i would feel, but after we twisted and ripped my hair , i felt fine. I do wish it would grow faster but it's all about patience with dreads.

 

Already have people trying to perturb me! lol

Thanks for the comments, but I'm fairly certain I'm going to try it out.

 

Okay, tomorrow I'm going to "start the dreading process". I think I'm going to go with the twist and rip method. Anyone have any good instruction? It seems pretty daunting with my mass of hair. Everyone I asked to help refused to "ruin my hair".

 

you look like jack white... maybe?