Working out/dreads?

Hi everyone, I workout a lot and just started my dreadlock journey, I backcombed somewhat just to give them a headstart, I've been washing my hair like every 3 days with tea tree oil soap I bought from trader joes, I was wondering if my hair would mess up if I workout and don't wash? Or what should I do, is it better if I just wash my hair? I wanted to try and wash less often so I'll start producing less oil but IDK?

 

Youll probably sweat too much and your hair will collect oils, making them prone to undo.

So it's best you keep washing every three days or so.

 

oily hair is going to slow the process more than washing your hair. its something you have to deal with if your workout or play something like football.

hair is hard to keep from locking, as long as you don't brush it you should be good. stripping your hair everyday and trying to get it to readjust is another thing... you might want to keep using soft soaps (softer if you can find anything that is) and see how things are a month or two down the road. thats all i got

 

Except for dealing with extra oils id imagine working out would help, or at least the extra movement and salt in your sweat would minimum cancel out the extra oil. Then again, all the movement might make the backcombing come undone, but fuck that anyway.

 

Alright thanks for the help everyone! I just wanted to have an idea of what I should do

 

I work out pretty hard for most of the year. I backcombed a few months ago, and I find that it's best to wash "as needed." If your scalp can handle it, wash with baking soda. The baking soda will cut through the grease and gunk on your scalp in no time.

The baking soda leaves hair dry and coarse, and promotes dreading. I would only recommend using the tea tree oil shampoo if you have a dry scalp, sensitivity or scalp problems associated with dryness.

Yours is a unique challenge, because as someone dreading their hair, you should be gradually spacing out your washings. As someone exercising, you need to wash often to remove smelly sweat and body oils. So you're going to have to be smart about balancing the "spacing-of-your-washings," and the societal "requirement-to-wash."

Try the baking soda.

 

Ok I'll try that, do I just mix water with baking soda in a bowl and pour it on my head or what?

 

i think every three days is good.

the sweat will also be good for it because of all the salt...

you should definitely keep it clean. if not, it will begin to smell... yuck.

 

Yep! I recommend experimenting with it. Start a batch small of water and baking soda. Mix it up. Repeat adding water or soda as needed. I would say make it the consistency of a light salad dressing, and pour it on. I massage it into the scalp with my fingers, focusing on the skin (not on the dreads). Remember to rinse 'forever,' cause the b-soda can get stuck in more matured locks. Experiment with it. Since the baking soda is all natural, so you can't really go wrong, and your hair and scalp will feel squeaky clean!!!!

 

I think im gonna wash my hair mondays, wednesdays, and fridays, how does that sound?
I just tried the baking soda a couple hours ago and my hair feels really clean, my scalp was itching even after washing with the tea trea soap and it seems like it stopped now. Only thing im worried about now is the dreads in the back of my head are pretty much loose, some hairs feel thick, cause theyre not completely seperated, but they're not locked up how they were, I guess some hairs are still together, but should my hair lock up with time? I have wavy hair and it's barely like 5 inches long, I don't think I've mentioned that before, if you need some pics I can put some up maybe you can tell me what I should expect in the next few months.

 

I dont think you need to schedule it too much really. You dont really need to think about that much, if you dont brush your hair its hard not to get dreads. You probably could not wash it and still get dreads eventually.

 

awsome, I just gotta try and be patient! And yeah, now that I know, I regret all the times I brused.lol

 

Ya wash when you feel the need, and even if your not actually "washing" it feels really good to atleast get your hair wet when you take a shower.

 

Allow me to address a couple issues:

First is your concern about the back of your hair. Don't worry about that. Most people experience the rear dreading and locking way before the top/sides/front. The reason is that the back of your head gets the most time 'exposed" to your pillow at night. Even if you sleep on your sides/stomach, the rear will always see some time on the pillow. Plus the rear is where shirt collars, hoods, and other apparel will rub up against. Also the growth patterns for human hair (especially males) grows faster in the rear. Usually the rear dreads first, so if you are having uniform dreading, give thanks, and consider yourself lucky that you don't have sides that take forever like the rest of us. Also, your hair is only 5 inches long, give it some time.

Stressing washing: The other people on this forum tell you not to worry about washing your hair, etc. etc. The only reason that I've given you the challenge of washing your hair interval-like is because you want to GET to the point where you can go without washing for longer periods. Yes, if you didn't work out, I would just say go as long as you can without washing. But being that you are trying to train your sebaceous glands into regulating oil and other gunk- you should have a heightened awareness in regard to it. It shouldn't take much effort, but I think you've already got the grasp on it. Try like you said [every other day] for a few weeks. Then try altering your washing cycle to wash it it every third day, etc.


:cheers2:

 

Ok, yeah I was worried I would have dreads on the top, and sides of my head and the rear just flat. It looks kinda lame right now.lol And it also looks diffrent then the other sides cause my sis only helped me section my hair, I pretty much backcombed myself and the back was a PITA, I couldn't do them that good so I just left them like that.

 

Another question, on the days I don't wash my hair, I still shower, and I was wondering if it was best to wet my hair, or just avoid getting my hair getting wet? I don't know if it will help the locking process since my hair seems to get curlier, or it would slow it down, or it wouldn't matter?

 

For the most part your hair will dread if you let it. I wouldn't worry about getting your hair wet. I go running 3-4 times a week and I don't hesitate to wash my hair if it feels dirty. And I am currently in the early stages of growing natural locks.

 

my hair and scalp gets wet every morning, dont worry it will be fine for you too. the only things that will stop locks are grease and a brush, other things just slow it down. water is not one of them.

 

Get it wet. Doesn't matter...

 

if you get them wet without washing and have curly hair, it's been my experience that they lock up even better without any slippery soap or anything....

something you could also try is getting a 100% wool cap (if it doesn't make you itch too much) and wearing it, or rubbing it in a circular motion on your scalp to help the roots lock up.