Bye-bye dreadlocks...

[UnderTheRainbow]

Well well. I kept them for over a year this time, but I finally got rid of my dreads (again) last night.
I have super-curly hair, so I let my hair dread naturally. There was a lot of extra fluff that wouldn't dread, and some parts that just didn't. I was getting really frustrated with it, and the fiance suggested that I should maybe try to "fix" them... I told him if I did that, I would end up getting even more frustrating, and just cutting them all off. He loves longer hair, so he said he would help me brush 'em out. Big mistake on his part, they're a huge pain in the arse to brush out (as anybody that's had dreads probably knows, or anyone could imagine, really) but we got them!
And managed to save my hair! Umm... kinda. It's a few inches past my shoulders now, but like I said, it's super curly... if it were straight, it would be half way down my back.

So now, I feel like a bit of a traitor, because I loved them and all... but I'm happy to be rid of the fluff and have the curls back. At least people *really* like playing with the curls, and I love having my hair played with... so I sit here with super curly hair that now smells like lemon and aloe, and I know that most of my friends are going to shit themselves when they see it... it was a spur-of-the-moment thing last night, so nobody knows yet. They'd never expect it.

I keep teasing the fiance. "Well, I'd better be ready for you to want me to take my piercings out and start wearing makeup and dressing more girly..." haha. I know it would never happen (unless I wanted it) but it's just like losing a piercing and not getting another one for a while... you start to think, "What the hell is happening to me?!"

The moral of the story is, brushing out dreads is a pain in the arse and it will make your head hurt in more ways than one. But there's no way in hell I'm getting rid of any piercings.
So, rest in peace (or the washroom trash can) to my dreads, because I'm known by EVERYONE (yes, even my friends and fiance) as the crazy hippie with the crazy hair, because it's always super curly, or dreaded.

I feel really naked. :o

[treehugger]

Wow, what a big change. How did everybody react when they saw it? I've never had dreads (like running my fingers through my hair I guess) but I think it's amazing you were able to save your hair. :) Congrats. If that's appropriate, anyway. We should write Hallmark...they definitely need a card for just such a situation!

[LIBRA]

That would be funny, a Halmark card to say goodbye to your dreads!!

Sorry and congrats, I guess! I am curious to know how everyone reacted too?

Well good luck with your new do :p

[BandAide]

I can't believe that you had them for a year and was still able to brush them out. I also have curly hair, but when it was time for my dreads to go... there was NO brushing of them. Unfortunately, they had to be cut down to the root. I was MISERABLE. It was almost three years ago and my hair is midway down my back now (curls included.) When it's a little longer, I'll let it knot up again. Like you, I let it go naturally.

Good luck to you in your unknotty state. Enjoy yourself.

[UnderTheRainbow]

I think I was able to brush them out because... well, I wasn't, really. The fiance was just THAT determined to save my hair, haha, he doesn't like short hair on girls at all. I know I would have hated it if I had to cut them off, but I wasn't really willing to spend that much time brushing them out... it took us 3½ hours.
And yeah, I miss them... I don't know WHAT to do with my hair now, haha, other than leave it alone. It feels so much lighter now, though, haha... I kinda missed having curls flying everywhere and hanging in my face and all, anyway.

As for how people reacted... I've only seen a few friends since we did it. They were all pretty damn surprised, but they all say it looks good and they missed playing with the curls, haha.

[shaina]

i have super curly hair too and there would no way in hell i would be bale to brush dreds out if i had them i can hardly brush my hair after a week of not brushing it much less a year

[morningsunshine]

I've always wanted dreads but my hair is very long and very straight, like the sixties hippie chick hair, and I don't want to have to cut out all of those dreads and start over again! :( The grass is always greener on the other side, I suppose. It would be so perfect if dreads were always brush-outable, but I guess the committment is half the point of dreads, at least that's what I hear.

[UnderTheRainbow]

haha, yeah... I was REALLY lucky. My hair is about 2" past my shoulders now, which isn't the shortest it's ever been, but pretty damn close. I barely helped, because I didn't want to fight with them... all you need is a fiance that's determined to keep you from cutting all your hair off, haha, they WILL find a way to brush them out.
But I sure lost a lot, too. Some of them *did* have to be cut out... but it isn't really noticable, I just keep my hair pulled back now until it grows out again.

[redthewitch75]

I just recently got my dreads..and I love them...but I don't think they are properly dreaded...It really just looks like my hair is kind of matted together? I don't know how to describe really. I used the KnottyBoy wax, made it about a week and a half before I first washed my hair, then used a bit more wax...I think I will continue with this process for a bit longer, as I am thinking my roots need a bit more maintanence before I can let them go on their own. But, I definitely think there is going to be no way for me to brush mine out, ever! I also have curly hair, but it always knotted so easily on it's own anyway...so, as I never want to experience short hair again, ever, I will just continue happily and patiently with my dreads. I just wish they looked more dread like and less like I have gone without brushing my hair for a few days. So, anyway...congratulations on reclaiming your hair...what matters is that you are happy with or without your dreads! :D

[LIBRA]

I have heard from lots of people not to use wax, just let them dread naturally. Maybe thats whats up with yours red??

I dotn have personal exp but thats just what Ive heard.

[redthewitch75]

I've heard it both ways...I don't know if the wax helps my roots or not(keeping them together a bit more during this first few weeks.).

[freakyfairy]

i used to have long curly hair and i was going to dread it but then stupidly one night i let my friend give me a make over and now it's cut above my shoulders.... *sigh* oh well...it still looks good...just not how i would have wanted it....

[feral]

Hey Red! I have also heard that using wax isn't that great for dreads. What I have discovered through personal experience is that when dreds are still young (up untill 6-8 months) they need wax to look good. When they are young the wax doesn't build up that much, and can still be mostly washed out. I love the knotty boy products, though. Their Locksteady gel is great for those times when you don't have enough time to wax all of your dreddies. And until they are either extremely mature or have grown out, they will look like matted hair, because that is pretty much what they are.

:hippie: :bandit: Peace & Love :bandit: :hippie:

Feral