My Dreadlock Journey begins...

I think you should wait another 6 months or so, maybe more. You don't have enough hair, unless you started it by braiding.

Also, no conditioner.

 

Crochet dreads always look like crochet dreads, not that 99% of the general public could tell the difference.

 

Many Thanx for all the replies!!!
I think that I'm gna grow my hair until June/July month still and then see what my options are. All this would be dependent on the length of my hair at that time.
Seeing that I'm gna wait until then before I do anything to my hair, I was wondering: What does conditioner do to one's hair? Wouldnt a shampooed and conditioned head of hair grow faster than simply shampooing with RF shampoo? I also understand that a conditioned head of hair wont lock up as fast as unconditioned hair, so my next question: How long would it take, from simply just washing with RF Shampoo, to undo the effects the conditioner left on my hair? Lets say that July 31 is when I start with my locks (whichever method I do decide to use), how long before this should I stop with the normal shampoo and conditioner and effectively start with the RF shampoo? Once I start with the RF shampoo, is it still advisable to wash my hair daily like I currently do?

Once again I apologize for all the questions, but so far all I've been exposed to was wax wax wax and more wax. So this forum has actually opened my mindset and I'm seeing that other methods can be used too.

Thanx SO much hippies!

 

I think the whole "grows faster" thing is more to do with breakages in reasonably long hair. That is to say well conditioned long hair will break less and thus you'll shift the point of equilibrium between growth and breakages / falling out, growth would appear to slow down as it approaches it's "maximum" length, so increasing hairs "max" would make it gain length faster.

tl;dr: Well conditioned short hair wont grow any faster than greasy / dry short hair. (IMHO)

Assuming the above to be true, there is no reason why you cant start washing with RF now, and cease to condition.

Washing frequency is something you'll have to decide for yourself, new dreads will tend to 'fall out' if washed frequently (they pretty much do this anyway, just takes longer) when they are more mature you'll need a washing regime that ensures they are not damp for a significant fraction of the time otherwise you run the risk of mold / mildew.

 

So... I've decided that I'm gna let my hair grow some more. I also decided that, with the current length of my hair, it wouldnt hurt to get my hair braided until they are long enough to get some decent locks!

I also would like to thank Merrivale for pointing me to this thread
http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/s...t=350218&f=209 ... it helped heaps!!! I just read through all 33 pages!!!

 

I'm not gna stop researching this now that I've decided to grow my hair some more so, seeing that wax is out for me, what are your views on using Shea Butter instead? I've seen a youtube video with someone using something called Shea Loc....

 

BUMP...


Anyone???

 

If you're going to braid it, why not just leave it and let it become dreads?

 

I wouldn't put anything in my hair, your hair will lock on it's own. You don't need it.

 

no shea butter is probably not too good. it seems like it would also be difficult to wash out. and is semi-waterproof.

 

UPDATE:
Still growing my hair.I pop in on HF from time to time for inspiration. For the last 2 months I've been having my hair put in cornrows since the gel I was using wasnt doing anything anymore...
I've got a full on 'fro now! I'm still undecided as to what method I'm gna use...

Keep doing what you guys and gals are doing! This site is a great place for inspiration!!! When I take my cornrows out I'll post some pics of my 'fro

 

W H A T ! Bro, Ahoy and all, but you're South African ... what you asking peeps in the US and UK about being dread???

Only jokes, if ya want hemp shampoo, gimme a yell and I'll tell you where to buy it ... different types, hemp and lavender is the bomb, although hemp and aloe is cool too

Hit that f'n beach with a vengence too ... otherwise don't do anything ... the climate here does the rest, regardless of hair-type

1Luv

 

Hey dude...
Not much peeps around Goodwood side who knows much about dreadz man. Everyone keeps on telling me "Beeswax". This seems to be one of few places on the net that gives good info on starting dreadz.
So... you got dreadz?
Where in the Mother City you from?

 

Scratch the question about do you have dreadz...
Busy checking out your albums now!

 

Oooooooo ... Goddwood ... Fireman Turf ... ja, not gonna find much long hair around there

Ditch the wax idea, you definitely won't need it here, we got sea water / sea air

It's difficult to say what's best ... getting a head start, like back-combing or just leaving your head to do it's own thing ... I prefer the latter, artificially parting one's hair just doesn't sit well for me, but loads of other peeps with awesome locks back-combed ... so ...read the info sticky on this forum, peeps have packed it with heaps of info.

I'm in Rosebank atm ... kinda just moved back to SA from London, but I'm from PE originally

I guess the underlying Principe with all the dread talk is that how cool one's locks are in the future is based on how little one does from the start

1Luv!

 

Nice one man...
I've read through the FAQ's a while back already. Going "natural" isnt an option for me since I work at GW and need to deal with guests on a daily basis so my hair needs to be kinda neatish. I've decided that as soon as my cornrows come out that Im gna back comb a bit, then crochet and then just leave it do do what it wants to from there and then see what happens.

 

Cool Bro ... just watch that crochet hook, a latch hook is less damaging

1Luv

 

trying to upload pics...

 

So its been just about a year that I've been growing my hair. I didnt paln on growing it this long before I started my dreads but got a bit carried away with experimenting with my new "long hair". Here are some of the styles I've been playing around with for the last 12 months.
I cant seem to find any pics of me with really really short hair... like how short it was exactly a year ago. I'm sure I'll find those pics and when I do I'll post them up too...

Here goes...

Afro:


Just got back from getting some cornrows:


After cornrows were taken out:


Plaits that I've really grown to love:

 

Plaits after a week...
Getting them redone...
Plaits looking all tatty after two weeks...

These pics were all taken over the last 3 months...
I might get them plaited one last time before I commence with the dreads...

:afro::afro::afro: