Hello guys! I decided a few days after Christmas to start a set of dreads, using a method I'd call "neglect, but I help it out a bit". It's the perfect method for an impatient lazy ass like me, as it's both super easy and gives quick results. It goes like this, roughly: First 3 weeks: no combing. 3 week mark: hardcore backcombing to help the dreads shape up. 4 week mark: backcombing, not as hardcore as the first time but still. 5 week mark: crochet at the roots and where I saw/felt was needed. Since then, all I do is crochet once a week at the roots to help my dreads be neat and strong (plus it makes them fatter). As a result, after 2 months in the process I have locks! They're not mature yet though, so I expect them to shrink and change as time goes by, especially since the ends are not sealed. I can't wait to see the final result! Pictures to come soon. Bass
I'm happy for you, but reaaaaally, crocheting is not making your dreads stronger, quite the opposite - you cause a lot of hair damage and breakage this way and so weaken the dreads in the long run. Just let them be, you'll get better results. Although, I don't think there is such a thing as "final result".
Thanks for the advice! I had the feeling it made them stronger as they are so stiff after I did some maintenance. I don't over-crochet though, just when I see the roots are getting loose, but I guess I'll let them be even more now.
One of the tricks that I've learned about root tightening is wear a hat to bed. I have one that makes me look like a Rastafarian Dr. Seuss character that I tuck all of my dreads up into when I go to bed. When I wake up in the morning it sort of falls naturally and wraps the loose hairs around the root. C/S, Rev J
just leave them! and you're always gonna have loose hair at the roots, they are never gonna be dreaded on their own. crocheting them at the roots pulls out the hairs and consequently makes them thin at the top and weak when the grow out. if you have thin caucasian hair like my friend who crocheted they can even fall out. and if you don't have that sort of hair then there's no need at all. heed my warnings! haha.
Much thanks for all the advices guys! Things are doing pretty well, they're getting nicer every day. The beanie hat trick works wonders, I sometimes pull one on during daytime too cause I like the look and it's a good way to deal with the locks when they don't wanna behave, just tuck them in and it's all gone! I have a shampoo question! I would like to know if Castille soap would be good, I was already using it before getting the locks and love it. I would be kinda upset to have to toss it aside, especially since I have a lot left (we buy it by the gallon in here!), but if I really have to I'll get something else. Also, regarding dyes, do I use the same quantity as usual or should I expect to put more to cover all my hair and have a nice result? Please let me know!
Your castile soap should be fine. When I'm not using baking soda to wash my head I use Dr. Bronners, but you have do be thorough about rinsing all of it out. How often do you wash your hairs?
I've found with dying it that you will need more - with bleach not much more because it's thick and you don't want to rub it onto the inside of the dreads as it's hard to get out, but with any other dyes your dreads will soak it up and it won't go far at all. I recently dyed my short (less than 8in) dreads and it took two packs of dye and I was having to be super careful with it to get enough coverage, thought I was gonna run out before I was done! For longer dreads you'll need a LOT more. Buy more than you'll need and keep receipts so any unopened packs can go back
PlasticMonkeyLegs wow, that's a lot of dye! Thanks for the infos guys, this is all very valuable and helpful information!
Geeze! guess I'm only gonna be dying the ends next time haha i think it depends though cus my sister only usually uses two
i twist n ripped mine. i started with 60, now i have 54 or 55, i need someone to count them again. at the start i palm rolled them a little for the first few weeks. I tried to crochet some loose hairs but got so frustrated i just said fuck it! they are 5 months old and all of them are doing good and loopy except 2, they are a little slow. now looking back, palmrolling im pretty sure did nothing but set me back making me wait longer. wether you twist n rip, or backcomb, i wouldn't touch them except pulling them apart each week to make sure they dont congo like crazy. maintenance? maaaaaaaaan fuck that! just leave em be, just dont let them connect to each other. i wash them in a bowl of backing soda, then jump in the shower to rinse, easier than washing my hair before i locked it up! dreads, in and loving it.
don't really think you'll need to, they will do all of it on their own. it might drive ya crazy trying to always crochet them.
LOL I hear you! I felt in the back of my head that it was abusive, so since then I just don't do anymore crochet. They're doing better like that, locking and looping as they please and loving them more every day. I now have around 40 dreads, it's a good count considering I kept my bangs and have the left side of my hair shaved!
