I've decided to do my dreads tomorrow. It's taken me a long time, but I'm ready to do it now. I went out and bought some stuff today. I got hair bands to section the hair with. Three of these fine toothed combs that seem pretty tough. Some stockings for bedtime. Does everyone here think it's a good idea to put lemon juice and saltwater on them? Also, when do I spray it on, just after I finish them or like once a week or what!? My major issue right now is finding a soap/shampoo to use. I have some glycerin soap, would that be okay to use? Anyone know something cheap I can use to wash my hair in beforehand, I'm kind of on a budget so I can't afford to pay $15 for the Knotty Boy stuff. Does anyone know if you can get Dr Bronner's at the Wild Oats stores? Also, how long should I wait until I wash them once they're done? I had an idea that my hair might dread better if I crimped it with one of those crimper iron thingys, but I'm not sure about this. Would it be a bad idea to do that? I mean, my hair would be thicker and more corse after crimping so I was thinking it may help it along?? Also, will the normal plastic combs work or should I buy a flea comb or something? A lot of questions I know, but just a few answers would help me out. Thanks! Amber
Okay, well I can only answer two of your questions. When I did my dreads I didn't condition my hair for a week before, that way it would get pretty corse and dread easier. You may want to stop conditioning your hair before you dread. I waited 2 and a half weeks before washing my hair when I first dreaded. Just at the beginning of the dreading journey you may not want to wash your hair very much because it can cause the newly forming dreads to come out a bit. Also when you do end up washing your hair don't be worried if they look very messy and puffy after you get out of the shower. Mine get very puffy, frizzy and messy looking after I was them, but it always goes down in a few days. I would recommend using a metal flea comb. Good luck with the dreading process! It's a long but very beautiful/wonderful experience.
Well, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put lemon an salt water mix after your done.. but you wont really need to… and its fun to do every once in a while but its your personal choice it doesn’t matter too too much. Just go to a natural soap store, and get some 100% natural residue free soap... I don’t think this is a big deal either as long as it doesn’t have conditioners nor residue, oh and its a good idea to make sure it cleans your dreads hahahah. I use a 4$ bar of soap called the Rasta bar made from hemp and tea tree. Well I’m not too sure about crimpling it.. I wouldn’t though, you may just be wasting time, when it will dread just as easy, I say those normal plastic will only work for a short time.... I used metal flea combs and the metal pieces break and bend off iv went through 3 of them.. so the plastic one’s defiantly will.
Thanks for the replies! I haven't conditioned my hair in a while and it's naturally kind of corse anyway. I crimped it today to see what would happen and it did seem to make it really thick and even more corse. I think I'll test out a crimped piece and a uncrimped one to see which one does better, lol. Oh, I checked out both of your galleries and I just wanna say your dreads are amazing. lol Now I'm really excited.
Heya babe. Dpont use salt water quite yet because it does leave salt reesidue in your hair which you need to wash out (else you get that horrible sticky feeling in you hair like you've been swimming in a really salty sea) so i'd leave that for a while. With the lemon juice, thats up to you, careful it bleaches your hair in the sunlight. Mix it 1/3 lemon juice to 2/3 water in a litle spray bottle As far as soaps, i agree with Buddah, just get a natural soap with no residue. Glycerine soap doesnt sound too good because of glyseryn (it sounds like it would leave sticky ness in them) Just keep them clean and dry, avoid any greasy substances for them. I'd say make the sections quite bit, i made mine about an inch square and founf they made tiny dreads which didnt dreads too well untill they unravelled and re-knotted themselfs naturally, so i'd say between 1 inch and 2 and a half in square sections. Some people recomend stockings, personally i dont. I found the middle back of my head has wonderfully knotty dreads because thats what i lie on in my sleep and the movement of the dreads when i sleep. However if you'd rather keep really neat little dreadies exactly as you sectioned them then yea a stocking might be a good idea. Metal comb definatly!! Maybe wash your hair with salt water a few days before you dread, just dry it all out a bit
i just backcomed and i play with them alot and i did use rubber bands but right after i took the first shower i took them out and most of them stayed but once in a while i put a new rubber band just to second them alittle but they are doing well i love em
Congrats on your spiritual journey in becoming dreaded!!! I wouldnt waste my time with the bands-except to section em off at first. I tried to use the bands to round the tips, but after a couple of months I stopped using em and they had not helped at all. But I am a dumb ass and prolly did something wrong with em. I would also recommend not washing for a couple of weeks at first, and I used a stocking on em when I first washed em for about a month. Some people have had troubles using stockings while washin em, but I would atleast try it and see. Just remeber-Everyone's hair is different and responds differently to different methods. Experimenting with different methods is prolly a good idea-but make sure to check out what you are thinking about doing with someone who has tried that, but I can see you have already done that. And last but not least-you will always have all of us here to help ya out. Peace and Jah Bless Happy Dreading
THey're finished! I really like them, but they turned out a lot bigger than I expected. I have about 60 or something and that is after I ripped some of them apart. I've had them for about five days and they seem to be holding together pretty well. I'm posting pictures as soon as I get the internet hooked up again (just moved), because I obviously can't do it at the library! I'm thinking of washing them in another week if they look to dirty because my mom has talked me into coming home for a family photo shoot. lol She doesn't know about them yet, either though. We'll see how that goes. I'm scared to wash them, I'm afraid they'll all fall apart. I got some Dr. Bronners, but I'm still freaked out because it took over eight hours for me to finish them. No surprise there, though. I'm having a little trouble getting the ends to stay together and the roots are kind of poofy, but it's not really a problem. I can't wait to post pictures and get some feedback! Thanks for your help everyone! :sunglasse
