I want to dread my hair. I want to feel natural and free. I want to look in the mirror and have a reminder that I don't have to follow society. But I'm scared. I don't know why. I'm not superficial, I have a job that would permit it and a guy who's all for it. But I still am afraid. Were any of you scared before you did it? Waht did you do? Any ideas on WHY I'm so afraid? Am I just not ready? How do you prepare? This should be a big deal, it's just hair, but i'm drawn to dreads so much yet so scared to take the plunge.
i prepared myself by just braiding my hair for about 2 years but putting colourfull wraps and things in. However when the time is right for you you will feel ready. Do a lot of research into them how to go about doing them and looking after them. And if you really want to know your ready for them.... jsut stop combing... and stop conditioning. WQash your hair with only all natural products and the dreads will form themselfs... by the time they are there you will be ready and if your not ready you would have brushed them out
My dreads are still very new (under a week old) and I was scared at first too. It helped to identify what the fear was though. For me, it was because it's permanent and I was wondering what my family would think. I live 3000 miles away from my family and my mom is comming to visit in April, then I'm going to visit her in August. I am the only person in my family, besides an aunt, who is NOT conservative. And my aunt who isn't conservative isn't as....unusual...as I am as far as my family is concerned. Those were the only fears I had, aside from the oh so common, "will it look good or like crap?" So, for the first and last fears I told myself that if it looks like crap and I dont like it then I can untangle them and use a ton of conditioners and hair rejuvinators to fix any damage. And if down the road I don't like them then I'll just have one of those really cute short haircuts for a while. It's only hair, it'll grow back. For the fear of my family, well, I just reminded myself that I'm 27 years old, have fought for my country, am married, and I'm about to birth my second child. I am an ADULT. My mom may have many problems with my choices in style, and how I love to dye my hair odd colors (which I wash out before visiting because she asks...I do it out of respect and because I don't want to hear abou it) but those are only her opinions. I cannot and will not shape my life because two or three times a year that I see her she'll hate something about me. lol Basically, I felt really silly for being concerned about what she would feel about them. After that, I was left with the whole "fear of something new" thing which I think everyone gets from time to time. Usually the only way to get over that fear is to just do what it is you wanted to do in the first place. So, I dreaded my hair. I think I did the same dread over and over. Dreaded it and then took it out and then dreaded it again, for like 2 hours. One last fear held me back. My husband may not like it. Well, he doesn't like dreads anyway but I didn't want him not to like me because he doesn't like dreads. Stupid I know, since we're both very much in love and he isn't that kind of a guy. So, I dreaded a few, went downstairs and showed him. He was watching TV, looked up and said, "hmmm...looks good so far. Can't tell till it's all done" and then went back to watching TV. I laughed, went back upstairs, and finished. Ok, my point to this whole long post (sorry about that) is that you should address your fears and not let them hold you back from doing what you truly want to do. Your fear is totally normal. It's just up to you if you're going to be stopped by it or not. *big hugs* Jessie
hmm.. I'm not quite sure what my fear is. no one in my life is very conservative. I guess I don't want them to look like crap, but I have tons of scarves to cover up the crappy beginnning stages. I just put in my man's dreads almost 2 months ago. they are coming along fine. I guess I'll know when I'm ready. I want to put them in, but it doesn't feel like the right time. I don't know why. But I'll know when it's right
I think that's totally right. There could be a reason why now isn't the "right" time. *hugs* When you're ready, you'll know. If it feels more like a need to wait than a fear then chances are, that's all it is. A need to wait. Follow your intuition. *hugglies* Jessie
I wasn't really afraid to put them in. I loved my long straight hair but it was time for a change. It always got knotted and annoyed me to unknot it, and I couldn't do half of the cool styles with it that I could do now that I have dreadies. I looked at a lot of pictures of dreaded people online and kept on falling more and more in love with them. There was a girl on TV I saw once who I thought was gorgeous and had dreads and I was like...screw it, I'm just gonna do it. My man helped me out and I was in love with them from the beginning. It's only hair, and I'm in love with my dreadies. It's the best thing I've ever done to my hair...
I am so glad that I came across this post! I have been feeling the exact same way. I want dreads so badly, but I know that I need to wait for right now. I want my dreads to signify a life change. I am stretching my ears, as I am in the process of learning more about myself and I am developing spiritually. I like the way the stretching and the growth in my personal life is gradual. Anyway, I am afraid to get dreads, but when the time is right, I know that I can face my fears. Of course, I fear the rejection from others, but the major thing is that I want to make 100% sure that it's the right thing for me. Follow intuition, it's usually right.
wehn i had dreadlocks it was very hard to find a job, and very hard to be taken seriously by babylon. but looking back on it, i see that that attitude actually protected me from being involved with asshole bosses and getting caught up in deadend situations. ive heard and seen it being more acceptable for women to have dreads, cus some people will just see it as a cosmetic choice. i still miss my dreads, i cut them cus i felt i needed a cleansing, becasue i did something that went against my heart, now i feel cleansed, but i still havent let the dreads back. maybe someday soon . . . maybe when im older. when i chopped them though that was my only haircut since i was 17 . . . maybe i should dread them again . . .. hmmm....
I was never scared. I waited for a year and a half for my hair to grow out. I figured after wanting em for that long and wanting em more and more everyday it would work out. I am happy that I did, it has totally changed my lifestyle and my outlook on life and the world around me. Could you be scared of what the baldhead will say or the way they will look at you? I live in BUSH country unforunately and I think its funny how they stare(sp?) at me, I just stare at them like they are the weird ones-cause if you think about it, its unatural to comb and cut your hair. Just take your time and dont rush-dreads are also about be patient. Youll know when your ready if ever. And you know you will always have all of us hip dreadies to show you love even if your family and neighbors dont.
it's not my job or family or friends. I'm just not ready. I like my hair right now and I created a new funky stlye that I like. when I get bored with my straight hair, I'll do it.
