Fine haired and having trouble

I have really fine hair and I just got dreads (back combed and crochet hooked) about a week and a half ago. I tried showering and the whole entire back of my head came completely undone. So now I'm refraining from showering so they don't fall out again. I'm thinking about wax, because in this it sounds like it could work... But I really need some advice. Help?

 

Read the FAQ, you can find it here (along with other pertinent information): **Read this BEFORE POSTING or risk being flamed!**

Backcombing will often 'fall out' before it actually begins to lock up. In the end locks are all about time, not what you do to your hair (besides washing it). It is important to keep your hair clean, so please keep showering... and wax is definitely NOT the answer. If you want badass locks you just have to hurry up and wait

 

You may have washed you hair a tad too early. However, you should just leave them as they are, time creates dreads, not wax. You've done the basis, now just don't touch them for a year and voila!

Welcome to your dready "journey".

 

Thank you so much! How long should i hold off on showering? My scalp is becoming super dry and obnoxiously itchy, so I put almond oil on it to see if it gets better and to hold me off until I can shower. I'm just scared they will completely fall out again ):

 

Any sort of "oil" may not be the best thing to be putting in hair you want to lock. I personally have had mine for 6 months and still get pretty itchy/flaky, I find that a spray bottle with one tablespoon of bicarb soda mixed with boiled rosemary can settle some of the itchies, but everyone is different. The trick is to try to extend time between washes as much as possible, but if you feel like you gotta wash, then you gotta wash.

 

just wash it when you feel like you need to. At first you'll feel the need to wash more often because of the itchynes, but it will go away with time after the first month or so.
For the first couple of weeks I washed mine every 2 days, then every 3 days, now every 4 days. The idea is to get your scalp used to longer periods of not washing, this way it'll secrete less natural oil, encouraging the locking process.

welcome and good luck

 

When you do methods to encourage locking (backcombing, crocheting, twisting, twisting and ripping) as opposed to going the natural/neglect route, they are going to "fall out". they will go through months (and months) of tightening, loosening, tightening, lossening etc. "Not showering" (which I hope you mean not shampooing) will not help you in any way. Your hair needs to be clean for it to lock, especially if you have fine hair. Grease is not conduscive to locking. Make sure you are using something with no residue (bronner, baking soda, etc.) and no conditioner.

Wax...well to save myself the words...will not help you in any way. It will make your hair look locked up, while it actually prevents it from locking. Plus it's just fucking gross.

also, if you have altered your washing routine or started new locks your scalp is going to be itchy for a few months. Putting oil on them of any sort is going to destroy your knots. Try aloe gel (pure, no alcohol or witch hazel) to moisturize your scalp and hair. It washes out and is not greasy.

 

Thank you all so much for the help. I'm still really scared to wash (they are gonna completely fall out) but I trust you know what you are talking about. No wax and no almond oil. I'm gonna go hunt for apple cider vinegar and wash and I'll get back to you!

 

BC'ed dreads *will* fall out, and they *Will* lock up. You'll start to notice progress at about 6-8 months, so until then forget you have hair ^^ I backcombed mine too (2 years and 7 months ago), and to begin with they were itchy because of the change of washing routine. I have always stuck to a week between washes, and my scalp has gotten used to that. My hair doesn't get greasy now untill a week and a half, and sometimes I've stretched it to two weeks. I don't use shampoo either, just water- my scalp got used to that pretty quickly.

I also used to wear the crotch of a pair of tights over my dreads/head in the first few months to stop them falling out, but it happened anyway and I looked like a right tit doing it, so if you have had advice to do that, don't, cus it doesn't work Oh and neither do rubber bands.

Bc'ed dreads will fall out, and they will lock up. Don't be afraid. It is good that they are falling out. Don't be so precious! It's just hair afterall ^^ You will have awesome locks this time next year. The best piece of advice any member here can give you is CHILL OUT and be patient ^^

 

Vigi's post said it all really, but...

Wash your hair. It's far better that you wash your hair, and they "fall out" than not washing, giving you "the feeling" that they're staying together. The reality is, you won't get any real progress and you'll that have shit loads of dirt and grease in your hair from the start. Ewww!uke:

 

ive had dreads for nearly two years and my scalp still gets itchy and flaky. dont stop showering, thats just gross..

 

oh, also remember that vinegar is a conditioner so you may get some more looseness from it.

but, please do wash em lol.

 

Thank you all so much! I rinsed with water today! Itchies are gone (for now anyways.) and I feel good.
I am very patient. I'm just a little concious about what others think (did that make sense? What I meant is I'm always scared of what people will think)

I'm very excited for next year and the beach this summer now (;

 

don't be afraid of them coming undone, because there is a 99% chance they will anyway. I had my hair backcombed and within a week or so almost all of em had come undone. i just said 'fuck it, if my hair wants to lock up it will.', and all I did was wash with doc bronners and forget I had hair. That was about 2 years ago and f-ing love how they turned out.

If you're really worried about how other people will view your hair, I would:
1. wear a hat more often, def. don't wear one all the time, but wearing one for an hour or two in the morning would tame my hair for the day.
and 2. re-evaluate your decision to grow dreads. I'm honestly not trying to discourage you from growing them, its just if your 'always scared of what people will think', then you need to think about the fact that you will be judged based on your hair. to what extent depends on where you live and the kind of people you surround your hair with, but you will be judged. If I can offer some words of encouragement, two things that growing dreadlocks have (helped) teach me are patience, and not worrying about what people think of me(outside of my close friends). so hopefully you decide to give them a chance to grow out and you learn to not be pre-occupied by other peoples thoughts.

 

If you are worried what people think then keep the dreads, for me it's a great personal battle and confidence builder to be able to walk around knowing that you stand out.

The transition from:
Young, naff dreads, feeling self concious
To:
Mature, kick ass dreads, feeling awesome.

Is a doubley awesome transition.

 

Go play in the surf, will work wonders for your dreadies!

Jimbo's got it! Dreads can be a life lesson too. Just stick with it and chill out. Take up a new hobby or something involving your hands to keep you occupied and not touching your head!

 

It's more relatives rather then people at school. But yeah, i am starting to ignore the fact that I have hair. I'm going out to find doctorr bronner's soon. Thanks all for your guidance and advice. I was really misinformed before. I've been reading and its keeping my mind off the itches.

 

Just tell your relatives that it's just hair. Would they rather you cover your body with tattoos? I do both, but luckily I rarely see my relatives haha

 

Well basically I'm letting my hair dread naturally. But my hair is pin straight and doesnt need to be brushed. It hasn't gotten knotty at all in the pAst week and I've been massaging my scalp in the shower and have a wool sweater on my pillow. Nothing yet. Shouldn't it at least be somewhat tAngled after a week? ):

 

Fuck yea