Dreadlocks

[spelf]

hmm, sound slike what naked ninja says! but if you mean that they're untangling, I once read that you could pull one of those panty-stocking things over your dreads... don't know if it would work... but you could try... and take a picture whilest at it 

[tygra]

I noticed that most of the problem areas were on the part of my hair where i was sleeping. Does anyone have any ways of solving this?

I once read that you could pull one of those panty-stocking things over your dreads.

so i actually did the pantyhose thing when i had my dreads, mostly after i waxed em just so i wouldn't get gunk all over my nice pillows etc. i would separate my dreads into two pigtail type dealies (no elastics though, just gathered them in two sections) and then stick one section down one pantyhose leg, and the other down the other leg. then i'd wrap the two leg parts around my head and knot them at the top or whatever. it looked HILARIOUS and my mamma made fun of me, but it totally did the trick!

[jellybones]

hmm, sound slike what naked ninja says! but if you mean that they're untangling, I once read that you could pull one of those panty-stocking things over your dreads... don't know if it would work... but you could try... and take a picture whilest at it 

i meant they were untangling, sorry. 

[spelf]

go for the pantyhose 

[Souldier]

They were about 3 week old in that picture... I definately do not miss them at that stage. So fuzzy, squishy, and poofy. I almost can't believe they used to look like that. Weird... You really can't tell from the pictures.
Anyway you really can't base what your dreads will look like by looking at others dreads... Litterally I've never seen 2 identical sets of dreads. They all have their own characteristics... so there is no way of predicting what your dreads will look like at what stage.
The only thing I could suggest telling your mom is that at the end of the day... it's just hair. If worst comes to worst you could always try combing them out or even just cut them and your hair will grow back. No big deal. It's not like your getting a nazi sign tattooed on your ass. 

[mayerlove]

please dreaducate me!

When you wash your hair what exactly do you do? wash the scalp and each dread? sorry for the ignorant question- but noone i've ever known has had them. and i'm thinking about getting them.
also, i have very oily hair-but with dandruff- aka seborrihic dermatitis. can i still dread my hair?

[Souldier]

You just wash your dreads like you would wash normal hair, just focus on your scalp a little more. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE RESIDUES.
As for your scalp problem, maybe you should first get that inline with your family doctor because I'm thinking it would be hell to deal with your condition while having dreads. I'm not trying to discourage you but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be a good experience. So get that in check first and then go for it if it is still what you want.

Most of the time people suffer from dandruff because of what they are putting in their hair. Switch shampoo... and if you're really serious about locks, try using a dread-friendly (non residue) shampoo for a while before getting locked up and ditch the conditionner. This may not only help with your dandruff but it will also get rid of all the nasty buildup on your hair which will make locking up easier.

Here are some links to dreadfriendly shampoos:

http://www.enchantedsoapworks.com/
(owned by a very cool lady who knows what she's talking about)

http://phunkybrewster.com/Herbals.html
(look for the dreaddy soap bar - phunky has some of the most outrageous dreadlocks I've ever seen and she is one of the nicest people around. She hangs out on knottylocks.tk and always gives cool recepies and advice)

http://www.drbronner.com/general_shop.html
(I've heard many great things about dr.bronners soap. Never used it, but most of the dreaded people I know do)

www.knottyboy.com

http://www.giovannicosmetics.com/
(I've heard nothing but great things about their tea tree triple threat shampoo)


Another thing you may consider is an apple cider vinegar rinse (which i mentioned somewhere in this post) or a rosemary rinse (boil a handful of rosemary in water on the stove till it gets dark and then strain, let cool, and pour over your scalp). This may help with your dandruff. My bf used the rosemary rinse and it worked... and his head looked like the North Pole.

Yet another thing you could do is go see your doctor and get some medicated shampoo that treats it. Selson Blue works wonders..

[mayerlove]

yep! i've been to the doctor's and i have selsun blue right now. i don't think i'll be able to get dreads until i move out (in a few years) so i have time to work things out. thanks for answering my questions!

[Baddscorpio]

Your hair in that last pic ninja reminds me of Sideshow Bob, I think that's his name,  on the Simpsons.

[ragamufyn]

Holy 16 pages of dreadlock info!  I guess my dreads are around 8-9 years old.  I started them using the ol' wash without conditioning and wore a wool tam for the first 6 months.  I heard natural fiber hats are best for starting dreads cuz they stimulate the hair to knot up vs. acrylic hats.  Can anyone verify this?  Then about a year into the project I discovered a whole lota blonde haired kids over at Knotty Boy with dreads and tried some of their products. 

When I started I just let them form themselves and pulled apart the pieces that looked like they wanted to separate.  If I had it to do over I think I would have sectioned my hair and rolled and twisted it for a better manicured look.  It's just that I have pieces of hair from all over my head now locked up together in one dread! oops! 

Soooooo, I was thinking of bleaching and dying a couple dreads like, hot pink, maybe, but have always wanted to keep my hair as natural as possible.  Now that I see the fake dreads people are making and am thinking that that's probably the way to go for me.  Any suggestions on how to attach a couple to some dreads?  I guess it could be removable, right?

Here's a picture of my dreads a few months ago.  Sorry for the Wonder Woman handbag shot.  It's the only good picture of them I could find at the moment!