I've decided I'd like to dread my hair, but...

[tongs]

Hello everyone! First of all I'd like to say it's great to be here, this is my first post on these forums.

I've been growing my hair for around 5 years now, with no serious intention of having dreadlocks until recent. I started growing it out of laziness and eventually stopped cutting it altogether. I've gradually been washing (and conditioning) my hair less and less.. now, people either cringe or are shocked when I tell them I was my hair every 3 weeks or so. Maybe about a month ago I've just brushed it sometimes and rinsed it with just water every week or so.

So the reason why I've been so interested in dreadlocks just now is that I've been travelling in South East Asia for 3 months. I've met a lot of people with dreadlocks, most of them didn't really appeal to me since they looked very common. Then in northern Thailand I met a Caucasian girl, who said she's had dreads for 5 years now. What made me look twice was that she had thin locks, but maybe only 80% of the surface of her head was dreaded. Also, she let the new growth grow a bit more than others, about 2-3 inches. And on top of that, the last 3-4 inches of her hair was combed out. I hope I explained this right. So out of the total length of her hair, maybe only 8 inches of it was locked , with s few inches on both the roots and tips.

I really liked this look and have been thinking/reading blogs/watching videos on everything dreadlocks I could find.

I've done some research, and unknowingly have started the neglect method.. seeing as I don't really brush my hair.. but I don't wash it as often as others. It's a bit greasy at the scalp but not as much as people would think.

So I'm not sure what to do now. I'd want to have some baby dreads sooner than later, but I can wait. I'm not sure if I should brush out my hair now, and form some new ones with a different method.. or let them be and brush out the tips? I really would prefer having something like the girl's style I mentioned above.

Some additional info on my hair: my parents are both Filipino and I have very coarse hair that is a bit wavy, not curly or straight. It's about 25 inches long, basically down to my waist.

Length
This is after my girlfriend straightened my hair so it's just for reference of the length.

Neglecting, step 1
This is a pic I snapped to show that my hair is starting to lock. I've shied away from this method because I'd prefer more uniformly shaped/sized locks.

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated, and thanks for reading this long post!

[jxbx]

First off, dreads take time. You can accelerate the process with backcombing, T&R, etc...but nothing is better than natural/neglect IMO even though my last 3 sets were T&R'd.

Second, I suggest washing dreads/hair at least twice a week.

To maintain thinner locks, I had to make sure bunches of hair didn't form a large dread. In order to do so, I'd separate many in two especially in the early stages.

Dread roots need to be loose roughly 2-3 cm from the scalp. If they dread closer, then the tightness can cause your scalp irritation and soreness.

Dread ends can go either way. For me, there's always a litte bit of the end that's unlocked unless I just cut it and the new end was in a good locked-in section.

Welcome btw, enjoy the journey!!!

[tongs]

Thanks jxbx!

This might sound like a weird question, but is it possible to eventually have the first 6 or so inches from the root completely straight, and the rest of the hair as dreadlocks?

[jxbx]

May 31, 2016 19:09:33 GMT tongs said:

Thanks jxbx!

This might sound like a weird question, but is it possible to eventually have the first 6 or so inches from the root completely straight, and the rest of the hair as dreadlocks?

Yeah...I think that's possible. The problem is nature will tend to want to lock. I'm speculating here, but if you started with a backcomb or a T&R method 6" below the root you would get the look you want, but as time wears on and your locks mature...I'm not certain that can be maintained without some sort of intervention.

[Deleted]

just a quick observation (not remembering how old yours are but...) my neglect are well almost 6weeks. they are tending to lock up more at the bottom half first, so yes, I have had like 6inches of straight hair at the root end.

BUT!!! here's the trick! get out some wool and rub that thing all over your scalp. It works immediately to help knotting, but do this for a few days, and the knots will finally start to hold where you want them. Just don't forget to separate!!!

[tongs]

Thanks for the replies!
haircare, I'm thinking I might want those several inches un-knotted.

A few more questions.. sorry, but I have so many!

Do you use any type of needle or tool to separate from the scalp, or just pull them apart?

Also, suppose I want only a section of my head dreaded.. just the back part, back of the neck to about the top of my ears?

Hopefully gathering all this specific information can steer me to my own right path

[Deleted]

yes, I'm great to answer ...well all of these, but specifically the partials (I have partials hehe)

but first, follow up question/comment. why do you want those unknotted? for a ponytail or something? I am not sure you can do this??? i mean, the hair will knot eventually? (someone else might be better for addressing this)

Q1: no needles or tools for separating. just hands! this is up for debate as to effectiveness, but I ALSO twist mine gently just so that I can see the sections. It does smooth out a bit of the knots, maybe why it's debateable for effectiveness...but i like the tidy look.

Q2: wait, what is the question? can you do just only a section? OF COURSE! and tbh, this is exactly how I'm doing it with my new partials...although my first set of partials, I do have a few on the top. One is pretty obvious and should be removed...but I'm kindof attached to it now <3! but the others are pretty easily hidden. I digress


yeah, I learn by mistakes haha! but uh yeah I have more knowledge now with this new set. Partials are good for impulsive types like myself. you always have more hair to experiment with again! hahahhhahaaa (I'm just always excited talking about partials...I'm kindof the "lone wolf" here on this site. )

[tongs]

haircare, ah yes!! I didn't know what they were called, yes partial locks are what I'm interested in. So I guess I'll just brush out the section of hair I don't want any locks?
For the follow up.. it was just a thought, to have the new growth just come out straight for about 6 inches

[jxbx]

tongs, yeah..that's gonna be tough IMO. If you go, natural it's gonna wanna to lock wherever it can. I think if you T&R or backcomb, you can define up to what point you want to dread. Then just keep combing from the root to that point, leaving the rest to do it's thing. Good luck!!