Jason's Timeline - starting July 2016

[jasonmonty]

I've often been impressed by good sets of dreads. The thought of growing my own has finally hit the threshold of actually doing it. I searched the net and lurked around here for a while to gain some knowledge. It was a gradual start. I'll claim the first part of July was preparation and mark the birth date as 26th July.

Early July: Stopped using conditioner and spread out the time between washes, but the shampoo still had some residue. So a week later moved onto a clarifying shampoo, plus threw in a BS/ACV rinse. The result is my hair just became a fluff ball.

18th July: False start. Had decided to section & twist n rip. Got part way into it, and life threw a lot of time constraints. As a result I rushed the sectioning and was far from happy with it. Felt like I was fighting my waves and curls instead of going with it. So brushed it out. Kept my hair tied back for the most part and thought about the next step.



26th July
Day 1: Neglect with assistance.
Tossing out the sectioning idea, I decided to let my hair do what it wants for the most part. Plenty of waves and curls has meant I've fought against my hair for most of my life. Time to turn the tables. I let my go where it wants to, and see how it flows. As it sections itself, I've added in some light twist n rip on the bits I've liked to help keep it in that way.



August
1 Week
Some potential showing through. Some hairs are finding friends and beginning to hold hands. Later in the week I added a bit of encouragement with the obvious groups.



2 Weeks
The groups are there, they all seem to be on the thin side of the scale, but I like that. I'm not a fan of the halo of fuzz that sits over the top, but I know I just have to suck it up and wait.



3 Weeks
Well it's a universal mess on top of my head. It seems to look different every few hours. For the most part not looking like dreads, just like I've stuck my head out the car window on the highway.


1 Month
Leading in my hair seemed to lose any definition or hint of future dreads and was just a frizzy cobweb. I fought the urge daily to try and fix it. So I went completely hands off (only washing and tying up for work). I received quite a few "WTF is happening to your head?" or "you seriously need a haircut," comments from friends and family. But then in the last couple of days some magic has happened and a good number of sections have formed with the hairs in them keen to lock and actually look like I'm on the right track. Amazed at the rate of changes.




6 Weeks
My hair seems to be doing all the work by itself. Quite a few knots are starting to form, some of the frizz is either being merged in or starting to create their own little sections. Plenty of thin locks forming, but I'm also starting to get a few thicker dreadlings as nearby sections mix together. I've hit the point where others recognise I'm dreadlocking.





7 Weeks
They're doing their own thing



8 Weeks


2 Months
The best decision I made was to leave the hair do its own thing. I've noticed the hair seems to go through a bit of a cycle at the moment. It spends a couple of days looking like its all getting tighter and heading where I want it to, but then it really loosens off and looks like everything is coming apart and becoming a fluffy ball. That only lasts about a day and then it tightens again. I seem to be taking a step forward with each cycle. I've expected I would need to do a bit of separating by now, but except for 2 crossovers from opposite sides of my scone, I haven't done any. The sections seems to be forming nicely themselves.


2.5 Months
Loops and knots all over the place. There seems to be some more structure in the dreads and it seems the beginnings of some true tightening has happened. Some have clearly shrunk up and feel more solid. The need to do a bit of separating has arrived. Not much, but I now need to pay attention to the back to make sure it doesn't all combine into one massive dread.

--------------------------------------
3 MONTHS
Plenty of "I'm over this" thoughts lately. Most of the changes in the last couple of weeks seems to be hair unlocking. The majority of hair underneath has managed to work it's way out of sections and even looks like I've brushed some of it. On the positive side some locks have tightened up a lot, mainly at the top and back. So really my head is full of contrast. I know it's all part of the process, but I wouldn't mind being able to skip ahead a few months. Anyway, photos...

Taking advantage of gravity...

A buff style headband does the trick when out running...

[jxbx]

Right on!

[arose]

It's so hard to wait! I like your plan with the sections.. Letting them sort themselves out.

[jasonmonty]

Thanks jxbx
arose I think you're right, I don't want to wait, but every bit of advise from those who have been through it says that's just how it is. So I'm trying to put trust in the process. I hope the plan works out. Time will tell.

[fairytaleartist]

Mine looked similar at this stage, well done on starting your journey, looking great so far

[danzia]

Looking great!!!

[jasonmonty]

That's great know fairytaleartist as your dreads are looking awesome.

Thanks danzia

[fairytaleartist]

They will work their magic just leave them to do their thing and all will be well.

[jasonmonty]

Three weeks in and enjoying the constant changes and frustration of the mess.

[wells]

three thumbs up dude. this is basically my approach too. plus I intentionally ride with the windows down and my head out

the thinner sections will increase in girth as they grow and get friendly with their neighbors. it's easier to combine them than to try and split if they are too big.

enjoy your slice of I-don't-give-two-fvkcs pie

[jasonmonty]

Thanks wells. As I was wondering if this approach would work out I found your timeline and seeing your progress gave me the green light. Thanks for the advise on the 'thin-to-big' I'd been wondering about that a bit. The pie is quite tasty.

[mreliel]

starting with short dreads is tough, keep at it. They'll turn out great!

[jasonmonty]

1 Month Update is in. Plenty of doubt through the last week, but the some positive change in the last couple of days.

Thanks mreliel and everyone else who has commented. It helps when you have those moments when you think its not going to work.

[wells]

Oh and the madness is just beginning too buddy. Spot on for one month!

[jasonmonty]

Thanks wells . Started seeing some hint of what looks to be future dreads within the madness is encouraging.