grow long beautiful dreadlocks

So I’ve had locks for 5.5 years now. I’ve had to cut off about six inches because the ends were getting ratty. The major problem now is breakage. My locs are getting thinner and shedding hair. It is a constant battle finding the right moisturiser that doesn’t have a bag of carcinogens or oestrogen mimics. I’m not ready to take them out yet, however. I want to see what they will become next

So here’s what my hair looks like now.

Today I have 1 year old dreadlocks!!

This lock loves to stand straight up for no apparent reason whenever it feels like. It’s still all good though.

I’m thinking of wrapping a few of them with yarn or thread for a while. Some of them have a lot of loose hair, especially at the front. Sometimes I have problems with my hairline (due to too much tight braiding back when I was transitioning from processed hair). I’m afraid that the locks at the hairline may break off if there is too much loose hair that’s not incorporated into their roots. Also one of the ones in the back has a lot of loose hair due to my over-zealous lint removal campaign. I’m over that now (especially since I try to cover my hair every night).

I no longer use baking soda in my hair. It’s starting to bleach my hair a little. This is a problem because I adore jet black hair.

so I made a collage of my progress.

Saturday was six months since I have been cultivating dreadlocks.

Here’s a photo of the back of my head. I had them curled because I was supposed to go out.

I live in a very dusty town plus I’d say roughly 80% of my wardrobe is cotton. With the help of my sister I spent three hours this weekend removing lint from my hair with tweezers. I also deep-cleansed my hair (perhaps a little too well?).

I don’t mind the effort though. My locks are worth it. This sounds strange but I’m beginning to believe that locks are magical things. Since I got them I feel my personality changing somehow. I am becoming more pantient, more gracious, more aware. Isn’t that the strangest thing?

I have decided to twist my hair less frequently so my locks don’t get too thin or weak. The longest I’ve gone without twisting is three weeks. My hair didn’t look nearly as scruffy as I thought it would.

I am going to try twisting every 3 weeks for now. When my hair gets fully locked I’ll go longer without twisting.

To aid me in this I have bought several new scarves and hair accessories to use on the really frizzy days.

Here are some photos of my hair at month 4. I really need to learn how to photograph hair.
Photo 1

Today is 4 months since I have been locking my hair. Yeah me!

I don’t think my mother likes them though. I do..