Dread Update

I know I haven't seen a lot of you since I have put my dreads in and I know you are dying to see how they are doing! *wink* Here is the most recent pic.

                                 

 Front and Back

This is the day of my "whenever I feel like it' washing.

I have had them since October 2010 and it has been a journey so far. I put them in by starting at the bottom and working my way up in small sections. I would work on one section a night. I started back combing and twisting and then I used the crotchet method. Which means I took a small crochet hook and twisted the dread I was working on and stuck/weaved the hook in and out of the hair (this takes hair from the bottom and brings it to the top giving it a sturdy, knotty base).

When I first decided to put them in I was really gung-ho about working on them all the time and keeping them as perfect as you can for dreads. I did work on them every few weeks for the first month or so, but it got way too tedious and time consuming. My poor arms were always sore! The more I read online and looked at pictures, I realized that leaving them alone works the best.

I was washing them twice a week because my scalp was so itchy! I started off using Dr. Bronners Lavender soap and heavily diluted it with water. I just washed my scalp and rinsed with water. (I do actually wash the front of my hair with shampoo and conditioner because that is my only "normal" hair left.) I found that the Dr. Bronner's was REALLY drying my scalp out and that is why is was so itchy all the time. I would try different shampoos for 2 weeks to see how they would work for me.

Next came the dandruff! I have never had dandruff before in my life prior to this (everyone said it wasn't that bad, but to me it was a bit embarrassing). I gave the Dr. Bronners a rest for awhile and was using diluted baby shampoo. But that started the dandruff and itching again. A friend then gave me LUSH Happy Hippy body wash and shampoo. I know this isn't the most "natural" thing to use on my dreads, but it did not make my scalp itch and didn't give me dandruff so that was a major plus on my end!

I have since decided to not really wash my hair unless I really feel the need to. In other words, I just leave them alone and rinse them with water once in awhile and let them air dry. I also spray them with either a sea salt mixture or Bumble and Bumble surf spray to tighten them up.

About a month ago I was like "what am I doing??!!" But after getting over the fact that dreads really are not supposed to be perfect and that they take time to tighten up, I decided to keep the routine going and just look at other long term dreadees for inspiration.

Right now I am happy to be on my dread journey and really like them. As for everyone else....well, they can just keep staring! They are here to stay!