First off, this is not a product thread, or "how do I start" kinda thing. I have learned that with anything in life, some things work for some people and some don't..... Now that I have that out of the way,..... I have been growing out my hair from above my shoulders and it is now (5 years later) down to my butt I do not want to cut my hair but I am bored with it.... I need something different.... I am thinking about dreads, have watched some videos (thanks YouTube) saw some putting gobs of wax (ewwww) and some using a crochet hook (cool) I feel that I can not just let my hair go natural, I would get so annoyed and probably hack it off. (DreadPerm looks kinda neat) My only concern is, if I don't like my dreads, I will have to cut my hair (EEEK) Any tips or ideas for me? (other than wait and see if you still want them in 6 months) Also, I told my hubby I wanted to dread his hair (no commitment on my part that way LOL) but he is balding on top.... I haven't seen ANY partially bald people with dreads
I definitely wouldn't suggest a dread perm, and just like any perm it can go REALLY wrong. It is just chemicals that are exposed to your hair, which defeats the purpose of "dreads", being the most natural and free hairstyle in the world. Backcombing or Crocheting are good options. I can understand why you wouldn't be inclined toward the neglect method, out of fear of giving up. But, while dread perms may look better sooner, they arent magical instant mature dreads. real dreads will only come in time. And the good thing is, if you decide dreads aren't for you after you go through with whatever you do (I dont see why you would), its not the end of the world. Hair grows back. Whatever you decide to do, remember that dreads are all patience and time. Happy Dreading
if you don't like 'em after a few months, they'll probably be loose enough still to gently comb them out using a lot of conditioner. and as long as your hair is, you probably wouldn't lose much with that process, just end up with hair that's a 'lil shorter. i'd say your best bet is backcombing. and my guess is, with hair as long as yours, you'll be THRILLED with the lack of having to do ANYTHING to or with dreads. i LOVE only washing my head once a week, and always rolling out of bed with my hair looking great. (unless i fall asleep on wet dreads... then it's EEK!) whatever you decide, good luck! and dude, if your partially balding hubby wants to go for dreads, great! who cares about a bald spot lol! my lover has a receeding hairline, and hadn't brushed his hair for a long time and was starting to end up with dreads. but then he bought a comb and i brushed them out for him. i think it would have been cute, but doesn't really fit his personality. but i'm rambling now.
Thanks I was talking to a friend of mine earlier today, and she suggested teeny braids. That way I can see how it feels to have my hair all separated but it will come out with minimal hair loss (just watch out for the frizz after!) I wonder, can braids dread???? RE: dread perm: I know what you mean about the chemicals, ick, and probably expensive, so not for me. RE: balding hubby: he asked me if I was on crack when I suggested dreads to him LOL I have never said anything before, mostly because most of the dreads I have seen in real life look nasty and dirty...
Oooo... I just realized I never put my hair type in here LOL My hair is thick, my ponytail is about 5 inches around at the thickest point. Also, the top layer of my hair is very dry and "crunchy" and frizzy (unless I just washed it) and it is wavy. I think one reason dreads seem to make sense to me is because I have always fought to get the tangles out of my hair and it never does what I want it to do, it has a mind of it's own.. A little bit about me, I am 32, mother of 4, married for 13 years, stay at home mom
I've seen quite a few partially bald guys rockin dreads. Not sure what kind of advice you want though? Sounds like you're still debating, and getting dreads is a very personal decision. When I decided it was time, it was time. I had no doubts. I personally prefer my dreads to my long, flowy hair. I loved my long hair and had a lot of fun with it... but I knew when it was time to let it go. No regrets. plus, keep in mind they will be very high maintenance at first... especially with your length. But once they mature it becomes MUCH easier. At least that was my experience... but my hair type is very different from yours.
Long and flowy mine is just long and snarly... As far as advice, I dunno what I want either LOL If my hair was shorter, it would be easy, I would be on the path to awesome dreads already, the only thing that seems to be holding me back is that my hair is so long and it is the longest it has ever been and I don't want to be all excited about dreads and then my hair to be a horrible mess (or I can't stand the dreads) and I have to cut it...
Call me a purist, but I believe that natural is the ONLY way to grow dreads. But if you don't like your dreads, you can always comb it out. It might be a bitch to do , but it is possible...
I've been thinking..... My theory on getting my hair to the length it is right now has mostly been "benign neglect" meaning, don't mess with it, leave it alone and it will do it's thing. My current hair routine is wash like once a month, glob tons of conditioner on it, finger comb the conditioner thru, rinse VERY well, put in a bun, LEAVE IT ALONE untill a couple hours before bed, then take it down so it can dry somewhat... Guess what I do after that? I certainly don't brush it, my hair eats brushes LOL I leave it down for a couple days to enjoy the spirally waves, then once it starts to frizz, I wear it in a bun till it's time to wash again.... sometimes a ponytail or a braid... oh wait, I might brush once a week at the MOST.... Why am I having a hard time deciding if I want dreads????? Doesn't it sound like I have them starting on me ALL THE TIME already? Should I just skip the conditioner in my next wash and enjoy the ride? (why does this seem so scary? just because it is something new to me?) Thanks for all the input so far, I really appreciate it.
sounds alot like ya been ready to dread a long time now and like yad love the natural process just be lil carefull bout keepin iyt oin a bun all the time at 1st or u could risk 1 big knot..lol but yea jhust stop thre conditioner and let it start on its own every few days to once a week feel for clumps forming and seperater 1 from another maybe twist the sections a lil and just let it be i bet ya in under a month u start noticin a few strartin maybe wash lil more often at 1st at least just toget all the built up conditioners n crap out..
Ok, hope this works.... This is me and my hair a year ago, notice the massive POOF because I had just brushed it, and please ignore the goofy pose LOL this pic was taken to show off the sweater I made This one (below) is a couple months before that but you can see what I meant about the "spirally waves" that my hair does after washing... this has become the only time I actually like my hair
i have a similar hair-type... a little curlier. i let my hair dread naturally- no combs, no conditioner. now, my hair was shorter than yours and i didn't have to worry as much about it turning into a giant mess. also, i have ringlets- my hair separates into chunks naturally- does yours do that? you might want to backcomb, since your hair is long and you won't end up with super short dreads. but, backcombing... it would take a while and you'd need some really nice pals to help you. it would be a bit frustrating either way, whether neglect or backcombed. but you know, dreads take a while. anyway, you would look FANTASTIC with dreads. do it!!! difficult hair like yours and mine (tangly? dry? spiraly?) is difficult because it actually wants to turn into dreadlocks
Thanks for the compliments Yes mine does separate into little pieces on it's own, I did some twists the other day and they stayed in and actually started tangling at the roots on their own I actually have a mat (can I call it a baby dread?) forming at the nape of my neck, I haven't brushed for a week (which is nothing new for me, but I don't go around telling people cuz they think it is gross)
just start seperating matts so the 1 on the nape dont swallow more and more anfd your poff to a start
Update: it has been 20 days since my hair has seen a brush and boy is my hair taking on a life of it's own! I need to wash again today, my scalp is starting to itch. I had a discussion with my hubby about my hair and he actually gave me a straight answer... "I don't want you to do it, I like your hair the way it is" I told him, I CAN comb them out after awhile, they don't always HAVE to be permanent... He still isn't very fond of the idea but he has no idea I haven't brushed in almost a month I say too bad what he thinks, it is my hair and it lives on my head, I have to carry it around, nobody else. Has anybody else been thru this? Did your "significant other" start to like your dreads? Or do they still hate them? I love my husband dearly, but it is MY hair and I am going to do with I want with it... Here is a picture after being washed:
you are gonna look so good with dreads! props on going natural. just remember, it may seem at times that your never going to have dreads, but one day you will take a picture, or look in the mirror, or feel underneath your hair and realize that you do have dreads and they happened all on their own! good luck and enjoy your journey
