Hello all, I am new here - Only just found this forum and had a good snoop around. Yesterday I got my hair dreaded (Yes I didn't do it myself, wish I did now to achieve the style I want and still have money) I was rather spontaneous about it - I can't plan anything now due to having a daughter lol. Anyhow I have a couple of questions I hope you can help me with : Because it was done 'professionally' to the books they sectioned my hair AND used Wax... 1. When will the sections look less ridiculous and more uninviting to those who want to play a game of chess... 2. The Wax has made them look too neat, I was wanting more of a 'scruffy' dread look - how can I achieve this now? My hair is locked properly... (I think that is the term) 3. I really want to decorate my dreads. What can I do? What sort of beads are good? etc Thank you for your time.
Did your "good snoop around" include reading the faq? If not, have a look at it, see link below. http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=364273&f=209
Hmm, yes I foresee a difficult time ahead for the OP Seeing as I'm feeling helpful today I shall answer your questions in a sec.
1) The sections will go away with time as the dreads fill out and the loose hair covers the sections up, (unless you keep maintaing/waxing them religiously), not really advisable. 2) The term "now" and dreadlocks rarely go hand in hand. Washing the wax out would be a start to achieving a "scruffier look". And, no your hair is not locked at the moment, this comes with time, you could if you wanted to, wash them a few times and comb them out and start over. It might not be necessary to do this, if you don't want to continued washing will probably get it out, however it might be better in the long run if you do. 3) You can use whatever beads you like, I used to have some wooden ones which came from those those things you attached to car seats that were supposed to be good for you back.
So should I now just leave them well alone. Stop twisting them with the wax in etc.. Basically stop 'maintaining' them and let them do their own thing?
If that is what you want, yes. I would certainly not advise using wax, it's not necessary and can lead to problems in the long run. As for other maintenance, it really comes down to personal taste, most people here will advise against maintenance, but if you want to maintain then you can, just don't overdo it. Some people will say it weakens the hair by maintaing dreads and also defeats the point of dreadlocks. At the end of the day though it's your head and if you want to, then screw what anyone else says. My own personal opinion is that washing is the best maintenance there is, as long as you're washing with the right things.
Okay.. Well it sadens me a little that I spent all that money just for a lesson lol. Oh well gives me a starter point I guess, somewhere to start and gives me a new hobby. I will correct these dreads and make them beauts! Thank you for your time Merrivale.
i dunno about those sections. if they are not staggered like bricks you're probably always gonna have a bit of scalp action. also, you were twisting them? did your charlatan of a hairdresser tell you to do this? what heir type do you have? (i ask because twisting is pointless unless you have the har texture to hold the twists) melt the wax out
Ahh.....locticians... It's not necessary to have it done by a professional. Section and backcomb, and neglect. Or just neglect. I'd say are the best options, but then again I have baby dreads and am also pretty new tot his. It will take quite a long time for your new dreadies to lock and be beautiful, Id say like 8 months depending on your hair. Just forget you have hair,is the best advice and let it be wild and free and knot and clump on it's own.
man, your first probablem is that your a fuckin robot, relax, dont think so much about it, just, let your dreads be dreads, dont use wax, dont do anything to them untill your ready, haveing dreads isent a hair style, its a life style. the best thing i can say to do is dont shower for at least 2 weeks since your dreadies are new, and where a wool hat or something like that to bed, it helps stick the dreeeeeds together. peace
you can shower. wash with bar soap ( doc bronners ) its natural and has no sodium lauryl sulfate in it. ya wool hats or pillowcase for sure hooks your dreadies up. and dont forget it not bout the look as much as it is what they mean to you. mind me asking why you decided to lock yo hair anyway?
Look up removing wax, and I guess maybe give it a while to hopefully get set where it is, and in a week or so go after the wax. Or that's what I'd do. After that, just use a wool blanket on your pillow and wait, and if you rip dreads apart (read: gently pull dreads with side by side roots in opposite directions to move knots to the base of each and prevent them from sticking together... less rip than the name suggests) it wouldn't hurt. But I expect you'll be ALMOST to square one before you dread much, when waxless, depending on exactly what they did. At the best, it will still take months to be properly locked and tightened.