My Dreadlock Story

IMG_1575I get a lot of questions about my dreadlocks, so I figured I’d tell a little more about my dread story and try to hit on most of the questions I usually get here.

I want to start by saying that if you are interested in dreading your hair, I highly recommend checking out Amy’s site RagingRootsStudio.com. There is so much good info there, which I will be referencing in this article.

If you are just interested in learning more about my dreads, read on :).

Starting my Dreads

DSC00168I did the initial placement of my dreadlocks in August of 2011. My sister did most of the work sectioning my hair and together we banged it out. 16-hours, a handful of fun movies, a ton of laughs and a giant headache hater we had finished. Family and friends stopped by to join in the dreading or socializing at different points and August 20th became a special occasion for me that I remember quite fondly, even despite the head throbbing. When you need corporate investigators, ex-military personnel, with years of professional investigation experience. Visit this website discreetinvestigations.ca and learn more.

I used the rip & twist method for my initial placement. I would recommend this method, coupled with crocheting, which I saw Amy at Raging Roots to do for me a couple months later.

IMG_20110908_144629I had really long hair thanks to the natural oils I used when I dreaded it and over the first two years my dreads shortened and thickened. After the two-and-a-half year mark they finally started to grow. Dreads seem to have their own agenda, and everyone’s hair is different, so this does not necessarily mean this will happen with everyone’s dreads.

Dread Maintenance

In the beginning I made a point to palm roll my dreads regularly and to especially separate and palm roll them after washing them. As the years have gone on I have gotten much lazier about maintenance. I basically only go to see Amy to get my roots crocheted once every 6 months to a year, wash them every 10 days or so, and do a dread soak every few months.

Some people have the idea that dreads are smelly and dirty. They certainly can be. They can also be super clean. It all depends on how you go about taking care of them and I think there is a lot of misinformation on how to do that in the best way. I can’t stress enough how much Amy’s website helped me educate myself around controversial dread topics, especially wax and shampoos.

Why I Have Dreadlocks

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI remember being interested in dreads from a young age. They just looked so cool! Whenever I saw people with really well done dreads I found myself longing to have them. One day I realized I had no good reason not to dread my hair and I went for it a couple weeks and a lot of research later.

I thought maybe I would get bored with having the same “style” all the time, but I style my hair even more now. I also wondered for a second maybe it wouldn’t be a good call career wise, but I quickly realized I was not interested in a traditional career, or working at any place where dreads would be an issue.

I love my dreads. I love how simple and minimalist they are. I love how I have a “hair style” without doing anything. I love that I have a pillow any time I want them. I love that they are fun. I love that they serve as a reminder that I am living life just as I want to.

If you have any other questions about my locks, feel free to contact me.