i used the backcomb method and i've been playing around: rolling, rubbing, knotting however i can and trying to keep them all separate. i was just wondering what i should expect in the next couple months. i read a timeline on dreadhead hq website but since i didn't wax my dreads or use any of their products, i'm not sure what to expect. from what i've read here, i should expect them to fall apart completely before tightening. i was wondering if i can get some personal accounts thanks
Hehe you took the same kinda pictures I did when I first had mine. Here's sorta what you'll be looking for. Day 1-Week 2: Extremely fragile dreads. Try not to wash them for a week, 2 if you can stand it (I only made it about 5 days before I got too gross feeling). I wore a touqe/toboggin (it's a hat kinda like a ski hat) for about the first month and a half when I went to bed. Keeps the poof down!! Month 1: After your first wash, you won't notice much difference. You'll just feel cleaner. Your dreads may get all squished in the back. It's pretty vital to make sure to keep them palmrolled daily during the first month, I did it when I woke up and before I went to bed. Month 2: They will start to tighten and do their own thing. Keep palm rolling, you might not need to do it so often now. At this point I washed them about every 2 or 3 days. Month 3: You'll notice they're even tighter, shrinking and poofing back out. Kinking and looping/flaps may occur. I started washing them every other day at this point. Month 4: Probably won't get much change Month 5: You should notice they're hardening up nicely Month 6: Maturity in dreads, most of them should be about as tight as they're gonna get. From this point on I hear they start to poof back out and stuff. If you're using wax, I recommend only using it during maybe month 3 which is kinda "halftime" I guess, just to help them tighten a bit more and keep all the loose hairs where they should be. After month 3 toss the wax. I only used a tiny bit in mine to keep them looking presentable for jobs, ect. If you're looking at DreadHeadHQ, i'd strongly suggest going with Knottyboy. I find they're cleaner and have better products. I use some of the Locksteady Tightening Gel every once in a while to keep frizzies down.
id completely stear clear of the gels and waxes if ya wanna keep your dreads youyr dreads wont completely fall out but will loosen before they toghten, some may fall out completely but thats ok.. dont belive that palm rolling is vital..its not week 1-3 play with em if u wanna you'll feel knots forming (natural) or feel the dreads loosen (backcombed) wash weekly or as needed 1-3 months lumpy loopy wild and crazy dread babies form looking more dreadlike (natural) the loosend backcombed sections should begion tightening into actual dreads(backcombed) months 3-6 loopy lumpy crazy dreads tighten thicken and begin to "behave" and become more well formed (natural) dreads begin to loop lump go crazuy flatten thicken and "misbehave" (misbehave by backcomed palroolled crochetted standards) and start havin a more unique personality 6-1 year..growrh and maturity.. all along wash weekly or as needed