New kid here. Advice?!

Ive started my dreadlocks! My older brother has had his for two years, and I just love them. I just need some. About a week ago, I started backcombing...all by myself.....and now, Im still not done. and dont worry All, Im not using any products. I, so far, have around 20 dreadlocks, (or backcombed sections, because they are FAR from dreadlocks!) and about 15 to go... These things frusterate the hell out of me, or they did to begin with. They are loose, and frizzy, and all that, but Ive calmed myself down about it. I know that in time they will be just amazing. Im willing to give them that time without panicing over how they look. Besides, Im all for the messy dread look. I think I look awesome, frizz and all. But backcombing is just a chore, especially when no one will help me. Lets jsut say I dont have a supporting family when it comes down to it. Anyway, I would love some advice from people about the process itself, some reassurance, really. Ive really lost my train of thought. I guess pulling at your hair for weeks have a strong effect on your brain.


but! Like I said in that big ramble above, Id love some tips for tightening up my new locks, without the use of any products, and any other advice you want to throw at me about these things and your experience in the beginning.

(I am a female, by the way, and my hair is reddish-orange, and Id say 12 inched long at the longest parts.)

and Hello Nick and Mary, if either of you stumble across this.

 

oooh backcombing by yourself, i bet your arms hurt. i know what you mean about the unsupporting family, mine want nothing to do with mine =] my friend helped me backcomb mine, maybe you could recruit one or two to finish it off?

ermm. as for advice.. no wax, no crochet, no palm roll, no rubber bands... yadda yadda yadda. just leave them be, wash when you want/need, wearing wool tams can help

 

About the friends.....
I just moved to a whole new city to live with my fathaaaa.
*sigh* no friends.
how lonely am I?!?!

 

its all good, youll meet peoples soon =]
maybe you could use this as a project to go meet people to finish your hair.. bribe them with pizza

 

hellooooooooooo, congrats on the dreadlets but there isnt really anything that tightens them faster except crochet and most people will tell you to steer clear so I recommend patience

 

Time, time, time... If you're patient, dreads just happen. And welcome, newb. You'll laugh, you'll cry. The dread forum is not for the timid. Jump in and don't take any shit...

 

Ive heard some people talking about crocheting, and some love it and some dont, but exactly what is that? the only thing I could think of is using the hook to weave in loose hairs.

 

thats what it is =]

 

Here is a question for all: when and how do you wash your hair?
my brother washes his....erm...not very often at all. very far from the once a week suggestion. His arent smelly, and they dont look dirty at all. My guess is that your hair just gets used to it.

 

i wash mine once or twice a week, with just water. i havent used shampoo for about 8 weeks.... saying this tho, i last washed on monday and havent since

 

No one helped me backcomb... I ended up just backcombing very loosely and didn't backcomb some parts at all, and I think they look fine. And by fine I mean a total mess.

 

Wash it whenever it starts to feel greasy, because the grease will stall the dreading process. Other than that, it's really just whatever you're comfortable with.

 

My scalp never feels greasy.. I guess everyone's head is different. I washed mine today for the first time in a couple weeks. I usually don't like washing it because it gets all curly and frizzy afterwords, but I felt it was about time. I just rinsed my hair with hot water, sprayed in some tea tree oil (diluted with water), let that sit for maybe 5 minutes or so and then rinsed really well.

Now a bunch of my roots are all joined up and they have a faint 'clean' smell.

Good luck & welcome

 

how did your brother start his, is he not around to help? I like smelly's bribing idea with pizza. you sound like you know a lot already and have the right mind frame so I say just keep doing what your doing

 

My brother had our mum backcomb his for him. What an awful process that was for him....lets just say she isnt the most gentle being when it comes to hair. And she was no good at it at all! He says that he wished he would have just used the neglect method. My brother quickly offered to do them for me when I told him I wanted them (after two years of trying to get the OK from my mum) but my grandparents, who he is living with (or whom, I just dont know!) wouldnt allow it. My brother is already in deep trouble with the family, so he thought that going against them on this just wouldnt be good for anyone.
So I was left to do it all myself. That is okay with me, though, because I can get it exactly how I want now.

 

yes^-^you know what feels comfortable on your head and how each dread should sit. are you able to post pics?

 

My only fear is that my hair will just look like a big frizz mess for a few years, and not even slightly resemble dreads at all. It is one of my moods, and the other is just total not caring about how they look now, and focus on how awesome they will be in a while.

 

the more often you wash it, the faster your dreads will tighten up, when mine were coming in, it was because i was working out in the blueberry fields, and i had to wash out the pesticides every day before i left the field. i had lost my comb and only had a small, hard to get to mirrors in my bus. i dont know about any of the tricks people have for starting them, they seem to work too. but i would say wash your scalp everyday until they are formed and your used to them. after awhile you can go back to however u took care of long hair before, its about the same.

 

hm..pics....a fine Idea!
I will get around to that in the next few days probably....
I only have the back left to back comb, (If I ever get around to it) so from the front and sides, I think I look dashing.
although my little babies....have about three inched of completely un-dreaded hair at the ends, and no matter what I do, it just wont go away. Time time time...

pics eventually of my frizz mess =]

 

Rastapasta, that info is WAY different than what everyone else has told me!
I appreciate it nonetheless. I really need to wash my scalp alot, but I fear my delicate little babies cant take it.

.....mmmmm.... blueberries....