Long-term dread plans?

Just wondering what kind of a dready future everyone sees for themselves...is this going to become a forum full of soaringeagles one day? Is there anyone planning to never cut their dreads and just let them grow and grow forever?

Before I started my dreads, I was on a mission to grow my hair long anyway. Due to shrinkage, that's been set back by a couple of years, but I'd still like to let my hair grow. I'll probably let my dreads get down to around my arse or maybe a bit longer for a while, then after that I will probably cut them back a bit and maintain them around mid-back length for practicality. I do intend to always have my hair in dreads though.

What's everyone else planning?

 

Im planning on letting mine grow and grow and never cutting them.

The only thing that might be a problem would be getting a job but im seriously considering spending my life volunteering around the world so having dreads wont get in the way.

 

great thread.

i had a boy cut (think andy warhol lol.. it was red and blond) this time last year. i started growing it out again before summer ~ my hair grows very quickly and is strong so i rarely hesitated to try out dramatic hair styles and crazy colors. i wanted to grow my hair long before dreading, but decided to go for it in late october of last year, pretty soon after my birthday. i think i'll be growing them to mid or lower back. after that i will maintain the length. if they start to feel unclean or cause me scalp problems, i will crop them, probably leaving myself an inch or two of hair, and just let it grow out, maybe dread again, maybe not.

i am a fairly image oriented person as i am a performer and spend time on stage, hopefully more and more in the future. i don't care a great deal what others think of me, but i have very high standards for myself. i want my dreads to reflect my being and my soul. if/when they stop doing that, off they go.

 

I think it's highly unlikely that this forum will become a forum full of people with SE's length of dreads. From what I've seen online and around in the real world most people cut, and probably within five years. I've read so many things online by people who having just started growing dreads who swear they're never going to cut them off ever, and then cut within about two/three years or sooner. I've only seen very few people on this forum and the other forums that have actually gone past five years. Maybe it's just they don't post anymore, but I think they are far and few between in comparison to the amount of people that start growing dreads.

As to the reasons why not, I guess for a lot of people it's down to the career, and also just time for a change or a combination of both.

As for myself I always said to myself I'd cut when I finished my studies (end of this year) It seemed to me like a good point to start afresh. I am however revising this plan! I'm not sure I'm going to be ready to cut then. Basically it's probably going to come down to whether I can do what I want to do and keep my dreadlocks. If so then I can see myself keeping them for longer.

As for how long would I let them grow, well If I wasn't in a relationship then I'd probably let them grow and not bother cutting them, but I know my girlfriend will lose the plot if I were to let them grow past my ass. At the moment they're somewhere at the middle of my back (roughly). Same goes for congo's she goes nuts if she realises I haven't been pulling them apart. It's kind of a compromise. I keep my dreads as long as they don't go too out of control.

 

Cool. I know what you mean about the high standards for yourself whilst not caring what others think. I generally go around with the assumption that everyone thinks I look silly, and I really don't care. Even if there was a certain appearance that the whole world thought was terrible, if I was happy with it in myself I'd still go with it.

So dreads are very much "just" a hair style for you then? (Albeit one that currently reflects your being and soul ofc )

 

i would like to grow them until my hair starts to go grey.... woo grey roots!

In my current job no-one has ever mentioned my dreads, so providing i make it past my probationary period, my career wont be a reason to cut....

I had long hair for about 6 years before this, so im saying 6 years max , but who knows anything can happen...

 

I would like to think that I will have mine foreva'! But after seeing my daughters look of horror when I met her boyfirends uptight parents for the first time. She will probably cut them off when I am in a nursing home

 

Nice thread Amy

Plans Plans Plans... Is it good to plan?
I for one now I will have to cut them at some point.. well trim...
For me work will be a major factor. As long as I can get my hair in a protective helmet i am sorted and then in the future as long as i can have it tied back looking smart I am sorted.

For me it's too early to say (only been a month and don't have dreads.. have a nice mat )

The decision to start this journey was also a turning point in my life..many changes; coming off anti depressants, getting engaged, planning on moving out etc etc...

So as they develop I develop...
Health mind health head

Raawr!!! - It means I love You in Dinosaur

 

Lol Mabster you're a unique one

I get the turning point thing. Was something like that for me when I started dying my hair pink in 2003.
Yep I think health really does start in the mind...

Hehe you're hair already looks like it could be a struggle to get into a helmet

 

'Unique' I like that
Much nicer on one's soul than being called 'odd'

Was there any reason as to why you started dying your hair? BTW it looks fantastic!!

Well... It's surprising what once can get his head into....

 

im taking my dreads to the grave

 

I for one at least want to have them going into and out of my 30s. There is something to be said about the souls of people who have and keep dreads for a long time. I've never met a mean spirited dreadhead thats for sure. When I first got them I was concerned for possible recieving negative comments from co workers. I didn't want people to think I was intruding on a "black hairstyle" (yes i've overheard this argument one too many times)
but I have never gotten anything except positive comments. Well with the exception of one "it looks like a bunch of rat tails" but that was from an elderly woman with dementia (i work in a long term care facility)
I think my dreads are really starting to suit me and as my new coworker who ha immigrated from africa said the first day I saw her "i love you blond locks, you would be very popular in my country"

As long as I continue to love my locks and they don't hinder my prospects at work (although i'd gladly stay home and have a bunch of kids) than I'll be keeping them. I'd like to say I'd have them to just above my bum, but really I think it depends in how heavy they get. I don't want to have constant headaches carrying around so much weight....but really at the rate they are growing I'm sure I'll adjust to the gradual increase in weight.

Huh... so basically I'ma gunna keep my dreads unless there is a great reason not to!

 

I plan to grow my hair back to the bottom of my back again. My hair was that length prior to dreads. The front of my hair is much shorter than the back, I plan to grow that probably down to my ribs.

Im unsure if I will ever cut them, but right now I do not intend to.

 

Well what I was trying to say was omg Mabster you're a freak, but in a nice way I'm shockingly poor at delivering compliments and usually end up insulting people when that's the last thing I meant to do

Um, yeh there kinda were reasons for dying my hair, but not the broadcasting-in-public-forums (fora?) kind of reasons. And thank-you Made the mistake of dying it black once...took a long time to clear that one up. It's been blue too - got a pic in my albums there.

Silly colours feel like my natural hair colour.

 

I'm a long-hair person, so I don't plan to cut. Ever.

 

great thread Amy hun. I plan on keeping my hair dreaded for a long long time. I want a lot of kids so don't know how I could handle it when it grows past my feets. Don't want them tripping over them all the time! I think I'll have them till I'm in my 30's too

 

Well, you never know what the future will bring but for right now, I want to keep them forever. I don't think I want them past my knees just because I think it would be a pain. Grey dreads would be AWESOME. I think it would reflect wisdom, patience, spunk, all qualities I hope to cultivate in old age.

 

yes and no. they are something i have wanted to do for ages and have begun before, but i didn't follow through with it because i delved into these forums and realized i was misled in using wax. they are a hairstyle, a spiritual journey, and a lesson in letting go. right now i am filling them with the greatest energy and they are so happy and thriving. as long as they continue to enhance my journey, i want them around. could very well be for the rest of my life

 

Lol. I plan on having mine forever too and hopefully that wont be the outcome for either of us!

 

I can't imagine ever going back to straight hair.

If I cut, it will be to start a dye-free second set. Presumably at a point when I can accept my grey hair. :leaving: