OMG, help needed!

Hi guys,

feeling really rotten at the moment.

I have been using bicarb of soda for the last 5months, and my locks are around 8months old..

Today for the first time since i started, i used dreadheadhq soap..

After they have dried from hair dryer and air, i felt them, and it seems like most of the "loosness" has turned to complete straight hair..

Now I have most of my dreads that feel like they have just been heavily conditioned, and half of the length of some dreads are completely normal straight hair..

I have no idea what to make of this,, either the bi carb wasnt washing properly and the hair has been been "glued" together all this time, and the dreadheadhq stuff has given them a real clean,, or the stuff is a conditioner..

i have no idea what to do,

All the best

Alex

 

dont used the soap it most likely has conditioners in it like most other soaps and shampoos, you should get some thick styling wax if you want your locks to be normal again

 

Sorry Wow, Wax isn't an option for me..

The dreadheadhq surely cannot be a conditioner,,, surely..

 

ugh.. NEVER USE WAX.. wowhendrix doesn't know what he's talking about.

get some castile soap.. like dr bronners. no need to waste money on fancy "dread" soaps and shampoos that don't actually help you dread.

 

I agree with boogabaah don't EVER use wax.

Loose hair is normal at five months if you backcombed... DHHQ shampoo isn't the greatest to use, Either go back to bi carb or use ANY shampoo that doesn't have conditioners, Lush have some great shampoos in bar form or 'big' which is a seasalt shampoo. Dr Bronner's is also good as is T-Gel.

 

Ye don;t worry I havent used wax.. [i did for the first 2 weeks, does this matter??? ]

I am at 8months, so i don't understand how my hair texture has gone back to plain straight,, I just know that I am months behind where i should be,, simply my hair just does'nt want to dread

 

Pics before and after would be beneficial. Are you playing with your hair? When I had my first set they all completely fell out. I would say give it time and make sure you keep your hair clean to help dreading

 

If you're neglecting it might take years

 

How long is your hair? Length is important when it comes to dreads. The dhhq soap won't do your hair any harm - If you have a moral / skin issue with the soap,SLS, chemicals etc. blah, blah, blah then don't use it, otherwise you'll be fine to continue to use it. Most people report it to be to drying on the skin rather than conditioning. My main problem is that it's a rip off and there are cheaper alternatives which work just as well. The only difference which made me slightly suspicious of it is that less hair was in the hair trap in the shower than when using other products. It is also very concentrated, so if you do use it, I'd advise to dilute it.

Going back to lack of progress. Well, are you fiddling with your hair? Seriously, don't fiddle with it! Keep your scalp clean. If you live near a beach go swimming lots, let your hair dry in the sea air and sunshine. If you don't, you can just buy some sea salt from the supermarket and either use it with the bicarb, or mix some in a spray bottle. Some people will probably go nuts and say don't do this it'll cause breakage... Moderation is the key, if you feel your hair is getting too dry, then lay off it for a while. It's not rocket science, use common sense! It's not as good as the real thing, but will probably help.

Last point, backcombing, neglect, twist & rip, whatever, dreads take time. Be patient and they'll get there.I personally don't believe there is much of a difference in timescale between methods to mature locks. Just that backcombing, t & r etc. gives you the feeling (and other people who don't know anything about locks) that you have dreads already.

 

Thanks guys,

Soaring eagle is saying that becuase I used wax on weeks 1-2 thats why my hair is not dreading at all..

some locks are fine, others not so well,,

i started them pretty short so they are not that long even now..

I am starting to get doubts and the whole cutting them out and starting again is springing to mind,, but i don;t see that as a sensible solution?

 

Dude you used wax for a couple of weeks, 8 months ago. It's all gone.

 

I wouldn't pay too much attention to SE, he likes to exaggerate.

 

Bullshit.

I used wax for 7 months and I've met anyone in real life with better dreads than I.

 

What do you suggest I do guys? maybe my hair just wont dread you know?

 

Leave it a year then come back and ask again if no hair has dreaded.

By the way, I'm too lazy to find it but on youtube there is a guy whose dreads didn't dread for 3 years. So I wouldn't worry if I were you.

 

Your hair will dread, you just need to be patient. I saw your thread on SE's site. Your hair looks short in the profile pic (assuming that's you). Keep your scalp / hair clean, and give your hair a chance to grow.

Have a look at this thread as well, there are some valid points in it.

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=384124

 

I'm going to have to say.... No.

When you neglect, it may take time, but when something locks up, it locks damn good. There's no "fall out", there's no strait hair concerns, once it's locked you know there ain't nothin' happening to it.

Sounds like backcombs, done as "right" as backcombs can be done.... Amirite, OP?

 

chillax

my dreads pretty much entirely fell out after 8-9 months, and now theyre super tight and lovely (2 years)

 

Just have patience. (My hair dreads well in less than a year because I'm [relatively] impatient and keep the maintenance up, if I neglected it would take a lot longer and they'd be a lot messier, which some people prefer)

 

Soaring Eagle is a dick, ignore him, just because you used wax once doesn't mean you can never get dreads, Wax can and is washed out all the time, i used wax as did most people on this board for the first few weeks until they found their home here and learned what to do.

Relax, wait, don't comb anything, you will get dreads, (its how hair works)