This is a little story on the first time I HAD dreads. I think I am mainly writing this for the newbie, but maybe others will read and enjoy it as well. [just so every bodys on the level: I am a 29yo white dude] I decided to go for dreads and started growing my hair out in Nov.08. In preparation, I did two things to promote hair growth. The first thing was washing my hair normally with regular shampoo, but I would condition with a 'premium conditioner' (6-8 bucks a bottle type stuff) and I would mix up the brands once in a while. The second thing I did was get my hair trimmed at the tips once a month or so (usually by my wife). Basically I wanted the healthiest head of hair I could muster. Not rocket science, I know. In early November I had a shaved head and in July my hair was on average 7" long and I went to a shop and had it Dreaded. I stopped with the conditioner a week before the appointment. The last thing I did at the suggestion of a dreaded buddy was wash my hair with Sunlight dish soap the last two days before dreading, just to really dry things out. NOW whether or not you think this is a good idea is up to you. I am not looking to get flamed okay? Now, I wanted a really good 'job', so like I said I went to a shop. Bee's braids to be exact. Its cost me 350 which was fine by me. Obviously a family run biz, the main lady in charge was 'Bee'. A 50-something year old heavyset Jamaican whos accent was so think I could barely understand her, but her daughter and a helper (caucasian) did most of the work. I asked about wax, and Bee explained: "Its a personal thing boi, and thats all it is. Ive been hangn' dreadlocks a long time, sometimes I use da wax, sometimes I dont. Simple. For you, wax, unless you dont want it but then then its gonna be more time and more moula." That was pretty much the end of that. Which I was fine with. They didnt however section off my hair, which I might have preferred, again citing time and money also suggesting that 'no sectioning' would result in more character, and they were right. The whole 'shop' experience was awesome. It took about 4 hours, the two 'stylists', both co-ordinated with each other about the 'look' they were going for and switched sides a few times to keep things even. I felt completely welcomed. I straight up apologized for not being able to understand through the accent and they laughed. So I had dreads. I felt so 'urban' on the train out of downtown. Ipod, mirrored sunglasses, dreads... A cute girl gave me the 'once over' and I thought 'that didn't take long'. The first three days with my puffy dreads were 'normal'. Most of the people who I interact with day to day were already aware of what I had been planning. There wasn't going to be any problems, I am self employed by definition so I had nothing work related to deal with. Save for clients, who almost always thought it was cool. On day four, the fluffiness was fading. I started rolling day eight or so and then 14 was the first time wet in the shower. By day 12 the honeymoon was over... When people ask me what they should know about getting dreads, my first answer is this: "Think about the most possible work you could ever put into your hair, the absolute MOST you could possibly deal with, then add another 50%. After that your close to the real thing". It was work. Which wasn't a bad thing, I was ready for most of it. Work which paid off because in 6 months my hair was about 42% locked up. I had a routine which included 8-10+ hours of rolling/wk, salt bathing, 'knotty boy' shampoo, and tightening gel. I did use wax on varying levels, I will say this about it: For me, sometimes wax was helping, and sometimes it was clearly making things worse. Also I alternated between two brands which had their own individual effects. I found using wax to be very technical in relation to my rotating routine. 'Type A' wax would have a certain effect specifically two days after a salt bath, but not after a shampoo for example. Too much of the wrong wax at a certain point in the routine turned into a nightmare. YOU LEARN to get a 'feeling' for your dreads and what it is they need. Dreads is people too you know. Like anybody else I went through it all loose roots, loops, dreads growing together, tips unlocking (my favorite one to deal with cause its easy), but the hardest thing to deal with? 'Bad dread days', and when you're first starting out you can get a fair share. But on the good days its all worth it. I ended chopping them off sadly at about 10 months. ONE main reason was complex and out of my control. MY wife and I (and Daughter) needed to find a new place to live on a sudden emergency basis. This would have been a bitch anyways, but bad dread days were not helping. I can undoubtedly say that a few potential property owners looked at the dreads and 'saw' something I wasn't. Also I can say that I wouldn't have gotten the place I live in now IF I had have had dreads at the interview. THE OTHER big reason was I came home from a bad work day, looked in the mirror, and I simply had enough. The thought of spending one more minute, rolling dreads, just so they look 'less' crappy in the morning was enough to make me want to murder. So wheres my trimmer? I decided about a month ago I was ready for round two. So here I am saying 'hello'. If you are thinking about dreads and have never had them, rock on! Be ready for some work though (in some cases). You also need people to boost you up and help you stay positive when you think your on the edge. Dreads are awesome! But you need to have a 'reason' (I did), without spirit behind your dreads, you're singing a love song with no emotion behind the lyrics. Thx to any readers Blessings.
Agree with that but all you went through sounds like a nightmare to me, so much work! I've had my dreads for 6 months and all the time I spend on them is when I wash them
I couldn't decide whether to be sacastic or kind, so I'll pass on both and be random. Your album pics are very small, I can barely see you. Also, I like beer. Thanks.:cheers2:
Wasn't a nightmare at all really. The amount of work I choose to put into my dreads was a direct reflection of how I wanted them to look. Really tight and clean, as fast as possible. And thats pretty much what I got. If it wasn't for the stress added by the whole having to move thing I probably would have stuck it out.
Yea I dont know why that happened with those pics ... I will have another look at posting fresh ones... I probably did something wrong. beer is good. ...k there are better pics up now.
This is so true brother. I grew mine so I could stick them in places they should never be ONE LOVE! Or some shit like that
i like this story obviously you don't have to work on them so much but i get it. looking back at my last set i feel as though i would have been happier with them if i had done some sort of maintenance here and there. are you going to a salon again? or are they already in? i'm glad you had a good experience, i can honestly say 99% of the salon experiences i've heard of have been like, the worst time with the worst possible advice.
