Fixing my mistake and moving forward

[annabelle]

Hello,

I am a new member of this forum and hope y'all can offer up some advice.  I started my dreadlocks using the crochet method about a year and 3 months ago.  I chose that method because I thought it would be better for work reasons.  I started out doing maintenance once a month and then went to once every 6-7 weeks.  The last time I had maintenance was in April.  I have decided that I no longer want to have my hair maintenance done with a crochet needle as I have read so much about the damage it does plus I feel like it makes my hair way more bristly (my own made up word).  Has anyone here transitioned away from the crochet needle who could tell me if this transition is possible and what I should do to keep my dreads moving in a healthier direction?  Any advice would be so appreciated!

[Deleted]

Welcome to the forum darlin'! I would be cautious doing maintenance with a crochet hook... if possible. I completely flucked up my first set of locks by trying to keep them tidy with a crochet hook. After losing much length due to excessive crocheting, I cut them all and had to start over. I know that those who are experienced can do great maintenance on dreads with crochet, but depending on hair type, it can be quite damaging. I don't do any maintenance after a year now, but if I did... it would be sewing with a needle and thread. No hook to break strands. Here's a nice video that might help
Much ♡

[annabelle]

Thanks for your response! I was going to a salon that uses the crochet needle, but I have stopped doing that, and now just want to let my dreads go do what they need to do. I regret starting them this way, but at the time I thought I needed to do it that way because of my job. I hope I can let them recover and start knotting naturally on their own. On another forum I was told that it would take a long time for them to undo whatever was done by the crochet needle and that I might need to lightly condition them with jojaba or something to help loosen them up a little so that they could knot back up on their own. I guess time will tell if I can keep these and move forward or if I have to start over.

[lipstic]

The only time you must start over is if your parting is undesirable or if they developed mould... I would suggest leave them alone and let them do their thing. We have all made mistakes along the way. And some of us (me) thought starting over was the best way to go. It wasn't. I wish I would have just let them be, but I too was scared it wasn't work friendly.
Now that I'm a few years into my second set I make sure the roots don't get too tight, so I can still work with them with out looking like a have a palm tree on my head. I just tie them back when I go to work and I have a few updos that I use when I don't want my dreads to be in your face (like at a job interview).

[elysiumnz]

Jun 24, 2017 16:14:11 GMT lipstic said:

The only time you must start over is if your parting is undesirable or if they developed mould... I would suggest leave them alone and let them do their thing. We have all made mistakes along the way. And some of us (me) thought starting over was the best way to go. It wasn't. I wish I would have just let them be, but I too was scared it wasn't work friendly.
Now that I'm a few years into my second set I make sure the roots don't get too tight, so I can still work with them with out looking like a have a palm tree on my head. I just tie them back when I go to work and I have a few updos that I use when I don't want my dreads to be in your face (like at a job interview).

thanks for this post cos I'm 6 months in and mine are crochet. I really like the look and all but as with the author I worry bout the health of my hair. I have bn thinking of stopping the crocheting gradually, kinda ween myself. thanx for all the advice