must...bitch...(dread length problem, Soaring Eagle, I'm looking at you!)

Argh! My dreads have reached another of those really annoying lengths, that's in-between everything good. I need a good bitch, and maybe some support/advice... especially from those of you (don't know if there's anyone around except soaring eagle <lovin you>) who have longer-than-mine locks.

They are constantly getting in my way. They've gotten long enough that when I tie them up like I usually do, the ends still hang down annoyingly and get in the way. But they're not quite long enough to tie them up with an additional "fold" without the structure falling apart completely (and having to re-tie your hair every half hour is a hassle!) Also, trying to tie them up more securely, either with the dreads themselves or a scarf or anything, gets me all headache-y real quick.

The worst is in bed, though. I've tried nix-ing the pillow and just doing the dread pillow, I've tried pushing all the dreads out of the way up over my head, I've tried everything. But every night I either get a stiff neck or keep waking up all night to my dreads getting caught under me or my husband.
(That's the worst, when he's sleeping soundly on one of my dreads and I can't move my head and I don't want to wake him because he's been working a lot and getting little sleep lately.)

They even get in the way during SEX, because they keep getting stuck under me and immobilizing my head, which gets uncomfortable!

Ahhhhhh! Sorry, had to get that out lol. Seriously, though, if any of you have some helpful advice to give... something to do to keep them out of the way without too much tug-pressure on my scalp (which I think, along with the weight, is causing the headaches) to keep them out of my way... either while I'm working or sleeping etc..... I would wear a tam but it's just been too ungodly hot for that.

On the lighter side, I can hardly believe how much they've grown in the last year! They went from being about mid-back, to pretty much lower/bottom-back. The longest/lowest ones at the nape of my neck have reached butt crack.

 

well, my dreads aren't anywhere near as long or as heavy as yours, so i can't really relate, but damn, does that sound uncomfortable. i know you are the queen of crafty, is there any way you could fashion a hat that would support some of the weight, keep the ends from flopping around, and not make your head all hot and sweaty? some kind of modified headband, perhaps? you could probably do something really awesome with loops to tuck sections of dreads in.

 

I'm sure you won't get a good solid answer until Soaring Eagle happens by, but maybe you are in an awkward stage, and soon they will be long enough that you can just make a large braid or roll them up into a drawstring bag to keep them out of the way?

They are so beautiful though, I often stare at your hair when you aren't looking.

/end weird stalker stuff

 

Thanks ladies! lol, I'm a wee bit hormonal today so since I woke up I've been flying off the deep end at every random thing in my path! Good idea on coming up with something new for headgear Katie... I'll think on that. I really do think it's just one of those in-between stages that you hit every once in a while. At least some of these problems will probably go away in a month or two... but it's not getting any shorter lol so I guess I'll need to start planning ahead for more length and weight all the time!

And many thanks for the compliments, too. Sometimes it gets really frustrating in every which way to have the hair I do... but the more time goes by, the more energy into it... the more history absorbed... the more attached I am!

Now if you'll kindly excuse me, I need to go tear out my uterus with my bare hands!

 

yeah, that's the crazy thing about dreadlocks for me - you can't cut them when they get long and heavy. well, you CAN, but not if you want to keep your knottiness in tact. i've always wondered what happens when your hair gets so crazy long, and i think it's about time we redesigned some headgear to make it easier on our poor necks and backs. after all, i'll probably have the same problem as you in 6 years. if you want any help brainstorming, i'd be glad to do it!

 

wear like a baby sling and put your dreads in it might look a bit silly but it would probably work well!

 

my friend has long locs too. When she sleeps she hangs them over the back of the bed to keep them out of the way. Only problem with that she's found is with the cat, playing with them or climbing them!

 

how about making like a head wrap with long looong thick ends on it. You could then wrap the ends around the dreads so they are kept together at the back of your head!

 

Ha ha ~I'm hearin ya mama!!! Mine are always getting in my way when sleeping and during sex too lol!! I use 1 of those thin elastic HEADBANDS as a hairtie (doubled or trippled), it's not as tight as a regular elastic so it doesn't tug at your scalp. I usually have it up in some kind of bun type thing when I sleep or when it's hot......? Only thing that I've found that doesn't give me a huge headache ...and yes~ I am not looking forward to the weight come a few more years as well!!!!

Much love~

 

kyndmama, your dreads are beautiful!

 

Thanks I will soon be doing my annual pic update...... getting really long and phatty