Crocheting dreads vs back combing?

Hey guys, I've got quite a dilemma.
After saving my hair up for nine months, reading up alot of forums and stuff online about dreads, I'm kinda torn. I want semi-thick, kinda puffy dreads - is the best method to achieve this back combing? Now I KNOW this takes time, and I'll be patient, be careful to take care of my hair and not to use wax.
How is crocheting vs back combing? I've seen some dreads made with a crochet needle, and they all look so thin and full of kinks, but on the other hand I hear it's less painful and requires less maintenance. Will crocheted dreads become thicker and more "puffy" with time? Or will they stay tight, thin and "kinky"? Thanks for an awesome forum you guys

 

I don't know the answer, but I know it didn't hurt to have my hair backcombed... not once. Best is if you find pics of the dreads you like so ppl can share what they think was used to create them. I think crochet and backcombed would look similar, if maintained, in a year anyway.

HTH

 

it hurt like a son of a bitch to get my hair backcombed, took 8 hours, but you get through it and its grand after a day or two. i cant say anything about thickness only that with dreadlocks as you lose hair it gets stuck in the dreads and over time as more new hair knots in they get thicker, i heard a lot of people saying crocheting requires upkeep but again im not sure about this method, i backcombed and then pretty much left my hair alone.

 

This is the texture I want in the end. What do you think is the best way of achieving that?

 

I never felt any pain. A few times the comb slipped and it still didn't hurt. Maybe my scalp likes pain...

 

that may be it, the top of my head, at the back was the worst part, i was close to tears, but it was definetly worth it

 

The pic isn't showing.

 

im glad you asked this question. Ive been wondering myself about crocheting, but as a combo. My dreads are very young, just passing the one month mark and i was wondering if crocheting would make them look more neat? Another question i have which probably will sound weird but how do you crochet and what kind or size needle do you use?

 

Backcombing for me was a bit like getting a tat done, it hurt a fair bit but you can kinda relax into it and it doesn't bother you 99% of the time after that.

I have heard it said on here the crocheted dreads have a certain texture to then, I dont know how they behave when you let them do there own thing. At the end of the day if your after a specific "look" then your going to be fighting against your hair trying to do what it wants, so you may as well see what it wants to do and then see does you like it.

 

thanks for the replies you guys

meh, my picture ain't showing - but I guess you all can imagine what semi-thick, puffy dreads look like. is that kind of dreadlocks achievable by crocheting my hair into dreads?

 

there is no such things as vs. first you backomb, then you crochet. this is the process. this was how my dreads were made. and crocheting made by somebody who does not know how to crochet will leave kinks. but if you know what you do it will make your dreads look just thight.

 

I beg to differ, you don't have to back comb to start dreads. There's a studio in Oslo that dread your entire hair with a crochet needle.
http://www.dreadsioslo.blogspot.com <--- they do, and this is the studio I want to go to - but I'm also thinking about going to a studio that does back combing, and would wan to hear your opinions on it.

 

crocheting is for fixing the unpetrfections on your dreads. making them not so fluffy and puting all those hairs back in the dread. it is something like a comsmetical procedure for the dread. of course you can go without it, you can just roll your dreads between your hands= different people different choices.
i don`t know about you ...but look at this photo. this is the kinks you are talking about ? it looks more like a braid than a dreads. i would not go to a sloon ever!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Om7NDN7ierM/SnsYw5smMiI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/7z3mvhyMfWI/s1600-h/DSC00721.JPG

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrYVa9sXcDM

see? it's not just maintenance, it's also a way to start dreads. I want your opinions on wether I should go to a saloon that uses a crochet needle to start dreads or not. I know what crocheting is.

 

yes but first they backomb, don`t they > after the backombing comes the crocheting.

 

Quite observant aren't you. I am perfectly aware of the process, but as you too will discover, the hair dresser is making her dreads with a crochet needle. He back combs it, but they are not dreads when he is finished back combing, are they? Instead of twisting and dreading the hair with the back comb method, he back combs the hair in sections and then crochet the sections into baby dreads.

My question was, and still is, "Can semi-thick, puffy dreads be achieved by going to a studio who crochet dreads?"

 

Semantics.

The backcombing that is done prior to creating crocheted dreads is minimal. It is not the same as most ppl would expect from backcombed dreads.

I'm gonna try and find the dreads that the girl posted on here. She left shortly after sadly...

 

Finally found it..

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=363657&f=209

 

i have never heard or see a dreads started with a
crochet method. like crochet all the way? that is new (to me)
backcomb then crochet that's the two method that i used
just like greengirl.

 

There is no such thing as puffy dreadlocks.... Thats just backcombed hair. Dreadlocks are tight and hard.