How I did it: Everyone's hair texture is different. Mine knots very easily, and if i don't comb it out once a week, i get little dreads forming on the back of my head.

Every time I have started a set, I grab small sections of hair and back comb it until it is good and knotted, then rub the knotted clump between my hands like a piece of clay. The first few weeks, I slept with a bandana on my head, and every morning I would re-backcomb each dreadling. Since my hair is prone to knotting, it didn't take more than a few weeks for each dread to get knotted pretty well. In my experience, it is best to let nature do what it wants and only rub each dread like a playdoh snake, and separate the dreads that are trying to mesh together.

Lessons & tips: I can't speak for another hair type, but I've never needed dread wax or any type of product. Anything that you put on your dreads, stays in them. The first time I dreaded my hair, I used wax, and it was sticky and messy and ended up living inside of the dread forever. The only product that I use to aid the dreading process is a salt water spray.

To wash your dreads, my favorite is Dr. Bronners Pure Castile Peppermint Soap. There are many scents available, but peppermint has that cool fresh feeling! Dreads should be washed often (once a week) as oily hair will only slow down the dreading process.

Don't worry if the ends and roots of your dreads don't knot up. Roots usually never knot up, as the hair at the roots haven't had the time to get meshed with your dreads. and end don't usually dread up until your dreads are mature.

Resources: If you are on Livejournal and really want to dread your hair, the group get_up_dread_up is a godsend. Almost any question you have is answered in the Memories.

Nov 26, 2008, 03:38PM PST | 2 comments | 5 cheers