I'm taking a swimming class this fall; I decided it's time I learned, and I didn't have time this summer. but my dreads take up to 12 hours to dry fully and I was wondering if anyone here had tricks for dealing with that when swimming; the class is MW from 12-1, and I work afternoons/evenings. I've been in and out of the pool all summer, but mostly in the evenings/on weekends when I could wrap my hair afterwards and get it mostly dry before I had to go anywhere. would a swim cap be useful? my dreads are a little shorter than in my icon (I usually cut them at the beginning of the summer, but they grow fast). also, any tips for moisturizing to prevent excess breakage from chlorine would be appreciated.

x-posted to naturalhair

has anyone used these on their locs?

okay so i'm 4months into my loc's

but they are at that stage where i can't do anything with them but dye them and yea thats it... they are fuzzy, have lil buddings at the ends. not heavy yet so they just poof out. 

someone give me some words of encouragement cause i think i'm about to go insane!

I figured we needed this. Now, it'll be easier to find tips and tidbits from earlier posts.
Hope you like the new digs. :)

Hey folks,
I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for shampoo recipes? I'm trying to make my own natural shampoos for myself and I was wondering if anyone knew of a good website or resource, especially for us with naturally kinky hair.

Thanks in Advance for all the suggestions,
--Z--

Hello all! My name is Jahmila! I'm just here showing my dreads! I am a spiritual dread that isn't doing it for style, nevertheless I lurk this community and LOVE natty's!

<3

( Empress )

bless.

Hey everyone... i'm 3months into my loc journey, i started my locs by twisting one strand of hair around the amount and size i wish to have, then the following month i latch hooked my locs.

my hair is very dry. and i know this is the fuzzy stage. and my ends are now buddin. question

how can i get more moister in my locs. and what did you do at this stage?

i also have a fotki album if u wish to view my pics.
http://public.fotki.com/NubiaX/

Just in case anyone else was having the issues I was having with their hair being a little too thick to handle, I just wanted to let you know that quite by accident, I came up with a pretty good solution. First of all, I decided to continue to use the latchhook method to tighten my hair. It had been about six months since I last latch hooked my hair and my hair wasn't even thinking about locing the traditional way. I took me three 2 hours sessions to tighten my whole head. As far as how often one should tighten their locs using the latchhook method, what worked for me was starting out tightening my hair every two weeks and doubling that every year. I normally wouldn't wait six months to tighten my locs, but 3 to 4 months is a pretty good level of frequency once your hair reaches a decent length. You cannot tighten too often or you cause breakage and thinning and we all know by now that I have the opposite problem of breakage and thinning.

What I did to get my ponytail right was to section my hair into three parts. I pulled each section to the center of my head and put on a ponytail holder, just the scrunchy things. Don't use rubber bands. I anchored the section further towards the center of my hair with one bobby pin. I did all three sections the same way. I also anchored the three sections to each other with bobby pins so it would look like one ponytail and not three sections. Then I took a larger band and wrapped it around my entire hair. It is there for show, to cover up the three scrunchies. I did make it as tight as possible though and I'm very happy with the results. I could see myself curling it or doing a bun. At this point, I'm not really willing to take that on.

Honestly, I don't really like my hair lose and hanging done, especially now that the longest sections are hitting the middle of my back so I'm really enthused to be finding that if I put out the effort, I actually can control it.

I'll be moving to Chicago in the near future and would greatly appreciate if any Chicagoans could refer me to really good salons that specialize in natural hair. PLEASE?!

...there are some that still aren't loced, and some areas (in the back) that have refused to grow more than an inch or two!

Help!

I'm having some issues with my hair. My locs are about 4 or 5 years old.... maybe more, I don't even remember. I started them from buds. They are to my armpits length wise. My locs are relatively thin, meaning I've got 100's probably. I have maintained them using the latch hook method and overall, I have been extremely happy with this method. I don't like covering my hair at night and I workout and sweat so my hair is damp almost daily. I like washing my hair really often and I can't sit down for 3 hours and re twist every time I wash it.

The problem is that my hair overall is EXTREMELY THICK! It is very hard for me to style my locs because I have so much hair and frankly, I am working on my new business and I don't have a lot of money to go to a hairdresser. As an example of the thickness of my locs, when I put my hair in a ponytail, I can't use a traditional rubber band. Too small. I have to use a rubber headband instead as a substitute for a traditional rubber band. I am used to maintaining my own hair and for the most part I do a good job but I can't control my hair. It's too much for me, it's overwhelming me. Even a simple ponytail is a hit or miss proposition. Sometimes I can get it to look "right" and sometimes I can't. Hanging straight down, about 85% of the time, my hair looks great, but there are days when I just need to do something with it and it's very hard for me.

A ponytail or clipping it back off my face, once a headband are about all I've managed as far as styles are concerned. My question's is are,

Because the latch hooking method is a relative of braiding, do you think my locs would be more flexible and manageable if instead of latch hooking, I twisted my locs. (In other words, maybe my locs wouldn't be so tight).

If I twist my locs instead of latch hooking them, how often can I twist them without them breaking off?

Do any of you actually sit and palm roll your own hair and pin it back?

Would the twisting or palm rolling hold considering how often my hair becomes damp through sweat and washing it?

How long does it take you to do your whole head?

Is it awkward for you?

What do you use to hold your hair. I've always twisted my hair with nothing but Aloe Vera Gel, but let's face facts, that's not a good holding agent.

P.S. I get compliments on my hair all the time so don't think I'm walking around looking crazy, I just want more options.

. ...i had to share...

Has anyone tried the shampoo and conditioner?  I tried the moisturizer and I really like it, but I'm more so interested in the other two products.

x-posted to naturalhair

Did someone here once say that they used coconut milk or oil to condition their locs? Anybody got the link?

Hey everyone! Quick question...

I've gotten my hair curled once before and paid $75 for it.  Needless to say, after watching the process I'm positive I can do it myself.  My cousin's wedding is coming up and I've officially decided I want to curl my hair.  So what are the steps necessary?  Can anyone help me out?  Is there any special way I'm supposed to roll the curler around my loc?  And I'm assuming I should do it immediately after I wash my hair and then sit myself under the drier (well that's what was done when I went to the shop).

Please help. I fell in love with the way my hair looked after, but I refuse to believe that I have to rely on a professional to get my hair to look that way again.

From Natural Hairstyles to Straight Hair Maintenance and everything in between. Blackhairopedia.com is a new Black Hair Directory, providing you with a central place to find and promote the Best Black Hair Websites online. But there is more to this site than just Hair, find some of the best Bath & Body products, cosmetics and skincare lines for women and men of color. Along with the latest Black Beauty and Fashion magazines, blogs, and books. Blackhairopedia.com showcases the best Black Beauty and Fashion sites the web has to offer.

View - Dreadlocks Sites in Directory
Official URL: www.blackhairopedia.com

in lieu of the last post @ naturalhair , here's an article about "ethnic" hairstyles in the workplace.

the end quote truly rubs me the wrong way; lumping dreads in w/ mohawks as both are "distracting", therefore inappropriate. yes, i'm biased...but dreads are that distracting? really?

Hey everyone,
my name's Tarona - from Holland - 22 years old and I'm new!


I have nappy hair - and I am wanting my dreadlocks back.
I want them to have good thickness, not too fat not too skinny.
I was wondering what is the best method for people with natural nappy hair to dread their hair.
For people with slick hair it's usually the back combing method and rubber bands and blabla what not.

I want my dreads to look well taken care of and neat since I often work with people of good status, and I just don't want to look sloppy - but still with that natural flavour.

Please help me!
And illustrations are very much welcome - I am very visually dependent :D

Thanks!
Have a great day!
Jah bless.

Hope you don't mind me showing off my locks before I introduce myself:

( For your viewing pleasure )

i've been dreaming and admiring locs for as long as i can remember...and i've finally started the process of going back to my natural state. i've cut my hair off, thus removing the chemical bits. has anyone started this locs this way? and what's your advice for the process? i think, as soon as there is length, i'll begin twisting it.