Ok guys, I've been lurking all day, so I'll join up and spill my story. So I came VERY close to jumping on the dreadheadhq bandwagon and getting a stylist to rub goop all in my hair, and then I found this place. I have now formulated a new game plan: Section and backcomb them to the best of my ability and then con my sister into doing the back of my head. I'll order dr B's tea soap and wash them once a week. I'll also use some non-iodized salt/water solution on occasion. I think I'll try to section the hair into pencil sized locke's. Here's the catch, I realllly need them to look somewhat presentable. I'm not so unfortunate as to be plugged into the corporate grid, but I do want teachers to not discriminate against me. I'm studying politics and philosophy, and I just have one more year of undergrad. After that its to grad school and then academica. (A side note, my research interest is in anarchism; perhaps part of my intrigue with dreads is my striving for freedom in every facet of my life from mindfullness meditation to my political views in the tradition of William Godwin). If nothing else, my parents will shat upon me if my hair goes too ballistic. I totally respect everyone doing the all natural approach, but it just isn't practical for me. As I understand it, keeping nice cookie cutter lockes will require palm rolling pretty much every day? Does my game plan sound viable? Any advice on making them look relatively even from the beginning would be great. I look forward to posting pics of them as they progress. I will be leaving for mexico soon and I will probably wait to embark on the dread journey until I'm back (around August 8th). Just to give you a rough idea of my hair, I'll post a reallly douchebagish picture of me, because its the only one I have floating around on my photobucket that represents my hair all that well. I shaved my head completely bald a year and a half ago. I have not done anything to it since other than wash it. ed: since I don't yet have any replies, I thought I'd insert a question I forgot to ask. When I do the sectioning/backcombing method, should I try to leave my part in, or totally work it out? Are there any pro's/ cons with keeping a part? Cheers! James
Hey, Sorry I wont be of any help to you haha, just thought i'd stop by and say good luck with you hair. Im pretty much in the same situation as you. Im going to be a Junior at the university next year and this is my first time getting dreadlocks (I just started another thread, almost quite like this) and it cannot be outrageous as I have every up my behind telling me not to do it, yet I know in a couple months they will be envying the dreads. I too will be doing the backcombing method if everything goes planned. Good luck, let us know how they turn out! I'd very much like to see the end result.
I'd have to say if you want to avoid the messy hair look and go for even dreads your best bet is to get them done by someone who knows what they are doing. I started mine with a friends help and I didn't take my bandanna off in public for 6 months they were so messy. It took a good 2 years before I really thought they looked like presentable dreads. To some people thats the whole part of the process and looking back on it I don't even know how I made it through the "messy years" but I did. I do know now that if I ever was to cut them off and grow them again I would go to my dread girl and have her do them. I've seen dreads she has started and from day one they look like they're 2 years old so neat and presentable and her fee isn't all that high either. I'm in Toronto if your interested in info on her message me. On your other question, don't keep your part. Good luck on your adventure!
I don't really understand....what's the problem with dreads, messy or not, if you're in university? Will anyone really care that much? I mean, it's university, isn't that kind of thing expected from students, no matter what program?
my dreads are decently presentable after 2 months, just show them a lot of love and attention. haven't been in class since i backcombed so i'll be sure to let you know what it's like. but i'm not worried. everyone's pretty interesting-looking in their college years it seems.
well, I definitely want to be in as much control as I can of my dreads as they develop. I'm going to buy some dr. bonners tomorrow while in town. I know the natural approach is the general consensus around here, but if I am going to try to make them develop as evenly as possible, is palm rolling the best technique for that?
well my advice is do what i did, get soemone to do it via the crochet method, i know its not the natural way, but they will look uniform and neat initially "cookie cutter" if you will. I have let mine do what they want and they are gradually looking more natural as some of the hairs have loosened and found their more natural positions, but you can always get them maintained....
I never expected a good tip on a good anarchist philospher in this part of the forums haha. i'm studying sociology, anthropoloigy and philosphy, with some interest in anarchism myself. do you really think your teachers will discriminate against your for your dreads? that's too bad dude. anyway your plan sounds pretty good to me. what exactly do you mean with keeping a part? i know the person who did it for me backcombed my hair pretty much all the way down, leaving a centimeter or two free, or maybe not even that. anyway, good luck with your journey man
Yayy for anarchism. I've read wayy too many books about anarchism.. The classic being 'Demanding the Impossible', by Peter Marshall (who was kind enough to take me into his home and feed me lunch while I was in England). As far as teachers discriminating, I think its quite possible. I live in the Southeastern US and I know for a fact that several of the teachers are of a quite conservative bent. I know its not the way things ought to be, but it could set them against me, if nothing more than at a subtle, subliminal level. I want every opportunity I can get, as my dream is to one day teach in a research one university. While the natural look might suit me in retirement, I want the cookie cutter look as of now. I will most certainly look into the crocheting method, thanks for the tip Is there any website that gives a set by step of crocheting? Thanks for all the help thus far guys. All Best, James
well i kind of went to a lady in london who did it for me, shes on myspace i think her username is dreadlockslondon, you could try messaging her, if not maybe youtube or something for vids?
Just out of curiosity, I went to Satan's website to see what they had to say about it. Is this anything to do with crocheting or just more misinformation? http://www.dreadheadhq.com/make_dreadlocks_maintain_crocheting.php
well first of all, it's tough to keep dreads looking what many people would call "presentable", but good luck. when you're going natural, the hair sections itself. but if you are backcombing, I would say just keep it parted as close to your natural part as possible.
How about this, does this article sound legit? Seem like something a newbie and said newbie's sister could figure out relatively easy? :cheers2:
I've totally lost my marbles, I meant to post a link in the previous post... http://www.lifeinkl.com/2008/05/26/how-to-make-dreadlocks/ Anyway, I'm going to try that method unless anyone offers a pressing reason not to. I'm the proud new owner of a bottle of dr. bonners tea tree soap, a flea comb, size 10 crochet hook, and a box of small rubber (elastic for your brits) bands.. but don't worry, they're ONLY for the initial sectioning It will be aug 10th or so before I embark on the adventure, and perhaps I'll do a bit more research in these wonderful forums before then :cheers2::hat:
