Post by Dreadlocktruth on Aug 22, 2017 19:58:30 GMT
Should I Use Wax?
Here at DreadlockTruth, the simple answer to this is a resounding NO!
Waxing is a hotly debated topic in the realm of dreadlocks but the truth is that there is usually a common factor with websites that recommend the use of wax vs those that recommend against it and that is whether those sites sell the stuff or not. The fact is that you will be hard-pressed to find an un-biased source recommending the use of wax and that is for a very good reason.
Hair needs to move to be able to knot. Picture yourself driving in a car with both your hair and the windows down.... at the end of even a short ride, you would probably have to comb a few knots out of your hair whether you were on a dreadlock journey or not but picture covering your hair in wax and taking that same ride and you'd expect quite a different result, right?
Wax acts as a glue which holds the hairs in place and whilst, to the untrained eye, this may give the temporary illusion of more mature dreadlocks, in reality you're hampering the process by restricting that movement.
Wax is also hydrophobic, meaning it is not easily removed from your hair just by normal washing since it can not dissolve in water. To remove wax you will need to literally melt it out with a very hot shower or some intense blow-dryer sessions, taking multiple attempts to merely remove most of it whilst what remains continues to attract dirt, dust, lint and other various foreign bits to live inside your locks. This has been observed and documented by many users of this forum who have removed one or more of their dreads after many years and found them to have a waxy center, even if they only used a tiny pea-sized amount.
A lot of websites will tell you that it is impossible to have dreadlocks without using wax or that the process of obtaining dreadlocks will be made faster by using it. This is simply not the case and we ask you to consider the source as most of the places that say dreads require wax are websites, salons, or stores that sell it and are looking for a profit. The truth is that wax is completely unnecessary in the locking process.
Do I Need To Buy a Locking Gel/Accelerator?
Not at all. There are incredibly inexpensive and natural alternatives to locking accelerators and tightening gels, should you feel you want to try them out.
Aloe Vera gel is a great way to smooth out any frizzies if you have a special occasion such as a wedding or a job interview for which you want your dreads to look a little tidier and you can source it directly from the leaves of the plant which are simple to grow. However, if you don't have a green thumb, you can buy aloe vera gel at most health food stores but, unless labelled as 98-100% aloe, avoid the kind that comes advertised for sunburns; they are full of chemical additives that you probably don't want setting up home in your locks.
As for locking accelerators, the key ingredient is usually salt water and can very easily be recreated at home. Simply combine water, sea salt and an optional drop or two of essential oil or a squeeze of lemon juice and voila! You'll be getting towards mature locks that bit quicker and you have some extra money to spend on a nice tam or something.
For extra hippie points, take a dip in the sea to achieve a similar turbo-mode effect on your progress.
Should I Use Rubber Bands?
Whilst they're a key part of the starter process, you should not use rubber bands as a long-term part of your locking process. They can have a similar effect as wax in terms of restricting movement but in a more concentrated area which can cause weak spots to form as the hair around the bands lock up but the hair within them struggles to. You can also find, over time, that your hungry dreads will begin to swallow the bands as they thicken and you'll be left regretfully picking at sad corners of the broken rubber to no avail.
If you have shorter hair that is more prone to coming loose in the shower then bands can be employed to help prevent this by applying them to the tips, but it's recommended that they be added and removed on a wash-by-wash basis until no longer needed.
Here at DreadlockTruth, the simple answer to this is a resounding NO!
Waxing is a hotly debated topic in the realm of dreadlocks but the truth is that there is usually a common factor with websites that recommend the use of wax vs those that recommend against it and that is whether those sites sell the stuff or not. The fact is that you will be hard-pressed to find an un-biased source recommending the use of wax and that is for a very good reason.
Hair needs to move to be able to knot. Picture yourself driving in a car with both your hair and the windows down.... at the end of even a short ride, you would probably have to comb a few knots out of your hair whether you were on a dreadlock journey or not but picture covering your hair in wax and taking that same ride and you'd expect quite a different result, right?
Wax acts as a glue which holds the hairs in place and whilst, to the untrained eye, this may give the temporary illusion of more mature dreadlocks, in reality you're hampering the process by restricting that movement.
Wax is also hydrophobic, meaning it is not easily removed from your hair just by normal washing since it can not dissolve in water. To remove wax you will need to literally melt it out with a very hot shower or some intense blow-dryer sessions, taking multiple attempts to merely remove most of it whilst what remains continues to attract dirt, dust, lint and other various foreign bits to live inside your locks. This has been observed and documented by many users of this forum who have removed one or more of their dreads after many years and found them to have a waxy center, even if they only used a tiny pea-sized amount.
A lot of websites will tell you that it is impossible to have dreadlocks without using wax or that the process of obtaining dreadlocks will be made faster by using it. This is simply not the case and we ask you to consider the source as most of the places that say dreads require wax are websites, salons, or stores that sell it and are looking for a profit. The truth is that wax is completely unnecessary in the locking process.
Do I Need To Buy a Locking Gel/Accelerator?
Not at all. There are incredibly inexpensive and natural alternatives to locking accelerators and tightening gels, should you feel you want to try them out.
Aloe Vera gel is a great way to smooth out any frizzies if you have a special occasion such as a wedding or a job interview for which you want your dreads to look a little tidier and you can source it directly from the leaves of the plant which are simple to grow. However, if you don't have a green thumb, you can buy aloe vera gel at most health food stores but, unless labelled as 98-100% aloe, avoid the kind that comes advertised for sunburns; they are full of chemical additives that you probably don't want setting up home in your locks.
As for locking accelerators, the key ingredient is usually salt water and can very easily be recreated at home. Simply combine water, sea salt and an optional drop or two of essential oil or a squeeze of lemon juice and voila! You'll be getting towards mature locks that bit quicker and you have some extra money to spend on a nice tam or something.
For extra hippie points, take a dip in the sea to achieve a similar turbo-mode effect on your progress.
Should I Use Rubber Bands?
Whilst they're a key part of the starter process, you should not use rubber bands as a long-term part of your locking process. They can have a similar effect as wax in terms of restricting movement but in a more concentrated area which can cause weak spots to form as the hair around the bands lock up but the hair within them struggles to. You can also find, over time, that your hungry dreads will begin to swallow the bands as they thicken and you'll be left regretfully picking at sad corners of the broken rubber to no avail.
If you have shorter hair that is more prone to coming loose in the shower then bands can be employed to help prevent this by applying them to the tips, but it's recommended that they be added and removed on a wash-by-wash basis until no longer needed.
