I have dreadlocks. AMA

[DreadsVanLocksDarling]

Not that it matters, not that it's a big deal, not that you (should) care but if you've ever wanted to ask someone with dreadlocks a question or if you think of any now, feel free to ask me.

Anything at all, doesn't matter how it comes across. Happy to answer

@zatarontoast

Thank you so much for this thread OP, I find it a totally fascinating topic! The questions I have have already been asked (mostly about how you would 'unloc' them if you wanted) but also do you need to wear that headcap thingy (so sorry can't remember the name) at night to keep moisture in your hair? Also have you had much hostility/negativity because of them? I'm not sure what 4c locs look like, would you be willing to post a photo?

Started off wearing bonnet (the headcap) or scarf to bed years ago before locks but half way through the night, it's found its way to the other side of the bed. It just didn't work plus the tighter I wrapped it to keep it from escaping, the tougher it was on my edges and I ended up loosing hair. So haven't worn them for years. It didn't seem to make a difference to our hair on or off anyway and our hair seems to enjoy being let loose more than restricted unnaturally.

Hostility, not personally. Negativity, a little from family.

Can't post a personal photo but have some photos (from the internet) of what they look like.

What do you do when your DD brings home headlice? It happened to me at least once a year and was a nightmare with DD's long hair and DS's curly wire hair. Luckily mine was short at the time as they passed them to me and I was crawling!

I wear mine like this or with Alice band. Mine look like this but darker. Edges looks similar too.

That looks gorgeous and it's fascinating looking at the hair types. I love your analogies too about locking into each other and gardening terms.

Mine is as small in size as this and closer to the colour but shorter. It's the same length as the first one if they rest on her breasts.

Mine has a very dark brown hue that you can only see in the sun or light.

This isn't DD but they may as well be twins. Looks, hair and everything.

Having struggled to accept my hair as it is and not as the trends or hairstyle magazines promote, you probably wouldn't believe how much I wish I had found my own way with my hair years ago.

Very enlightening, thank you.

@twobrews

Do they ever make you feel claustrophobic? If I've had my hair tied up for a while or when I wear it curly so I've not combed it I get a real urge to really scrub my scalp and run my finger through my hair

Not at all and i tend to get claustrophobic easily. Funnily enough, I was never able to run my fingers through my hair unless I had braids. Now I easily can and I enjoy doing so. When I do and I feel a snag, I separate it gently or use a scissors if it's not easily pulled apart without hurting.

It's my favourite pastimes while watching something. By the time I get rid of all the snags, usually less than 5 minutes because I'm always doing it, it's a free road 😃.

I can't always go down to the roots because there's always little tiny hairs still growing and I don’t want to bother them. I'm about half a cm close to the roots and having locked strands to play with at anytime without worrying i'll mess up my hairstyle is enjoyable.

Good thread. I used to have locs as a teenager. Im white but have very curly hair that naturally formed into ringletts then locs. Used to wash and dry them properly then cut them all off. My question is do you ever dye your hair?

My exes locs used to smell really damp and musty and they took ages to dry when he washed them. Do you ever use a hair dryer on yours?

Fab thread and thank you!
I've always been jealous of my black friends who can change their hairstyle dramatically and frequently. I often joke my white girl hair is boring in comparison.

I have always been a bit fascinated though - it must take hours for their elaborate styles - you've enlightened me to the hard effort it takes. This is a big ask for young girls and plays heavily into modern desire to look just right.

In response to your AMA, I remember when my niece was born, a head of (white) soft curls from her dads side. We all have straight hair in my family and as sisters, we plaited and played hair a lot. There have been some learning curves on my sisters part on how to deal with curls!

I have a close friend with extreme curls (again, white) and she has the constant desire from other people to touch her hair!

So I haven't asked you anything but I can absolutely relate the the fact that we love to touch each other's hair!

To finish.... I holidayed in Africa a few times - Gambia, Tunisia, Morocco. I am a natural blond, long straight and glossy ish.
They all wanted to touch my hair!

And I remember at Uni, finally being friends enough with a black guy and asking him if I could please feel his fro.... he glared at me and I felt a blush but then he said too right white bitch. What does blond feel like?

Those pics are so beautiful, I would have assumed that those were 'artificially' made, they look so incredibly neat and I can't believe hair naturally forms like that. As a gardener I absolutely adore the gardening anologies, your latest post about stray hairs holding on for dear life to other locs is giving me images of a tropical ravine, with vines clinging on to sister vines. I'm so disappointed my own hair doesn't seem to share the love!

Good morning all! Sorry I didn't mean to disappear last night. Had a migraine and couldn't look at my phone anymore. I'm back now to continue

DD and I were looking at the pics and she says my edges are more like the younger girl's and hers look more like the woman in the first picture. She's right because her hair and edges are coarser than mine (though her locs are still similar to the girl's - thick but may be slightly darker).

I was using the woman's edges to show how loose the roots are than to show my texture

@GreenPlum

How long are they? Are they heavy?

Mine are on my breasts if I move them all to the front.

No, not heavy. Though the thicker the lock strands or pieces, the more you feel the locks. I know from the way mine feels compared to DDs.

@WunWun

Have you ever had headlice?

Once in primary school. DD has never had them, although she was home educated from 6 years old.

@zatarontoast

I'm not zealous about uniform sizes, just don't want to have a head of 3 huge loc pieces. Not my personal preference but that's what mine would probably do if left alone completely

My mind is literally blown at reading this! Does this mean that having your hair in locs is actually less work than if it was not locced?

Haha yes if you're freeforming. I don't have to worry about new growth, fuzzy hair, roots, edges, conditioner, strengthening products, protein products, hydrating products, moisture balance, growth and length retention, smoothness, frizz, humidity, weather or someone playing with my hair (I wouldn't want someone doing so if I spent ages to make a style that could be easily messed up).

My hair is stronger than it's ever been, doesn't shed and I only have to wash, oil it a few times a week and casually separate and brush it because i choose to. 'Non-cheating' freeformers don't separate the hair at all.

Are you when you see white people with locks?

How long has it taken to grow your hair to the length it is now?

Does 4c hair take longer to grow or do the v tight curls just make it seem like it does?

What happens if you fancied a trim? Could you just chop the ends off yourself?

How do you feel about white people having dreads?

@Nookable

How long do they take to dry after you've washed them? And do you do anything to dry them or just let th air dry?

They take about a day to dry fully. I usually towel pat and squeeze them dry (I don't wring them though, just squeeze enough to stop any drips). By the time I'm done, they're damp and not soaking wet. I apply the jelly and let them air dry. It all takes about 10 minutes or less to do. Afterwards, I usually have a towel round my shoulder to trap stray drips. That lasts for about an hour or 2 and it just gradually dries by the end of the day.

If I'm going out, I use a dryer but I don't dry it fully. Just about 80%. It needs time to soak up the moisture and drying it quickly and fully with hairdryer would mean I may as well not have put water on it. I would be left with very dry greasy hair as opposed to soft, moisturised hair.

Before locks, my hair didn't retain moisture the way it does now. It was soft but by the next day, it would be bone dry. I suppose the locks help trap the moisture in for longer.

@AvoidingRealHumans

Are you a rasta?

No

Great thread! I am in my first year of semi freeform locs (started with 3c/4a mixed race hair)

@RaininSummer

Surprisingly interesting. I too didn't realise that the hair would naturally loc in this way.

I too didn't till I started. Don't know anyone personally who has freeforms. I know many who do faux locs. I had one many years ago but they are like braids - you just use extensions to mimic locks.

Watching our hair go through this process without help and seeing what it really is like on it's own has been like witnessing magic

@ihatesandpits

Could you post a picture I absolutely love dreads and would love to have them but being white Im worried how it would come across and possible abuse I've seen received

Pictures posted, though not personal ones.

Examples of freeform locks that aren't separated. Each head of hair is random and unique to the person. No, according to society they are not nice-looking but a tree isn't particularly aesthetically pleasing compared to what we deem to be so, is it? It's just a lovely tree in its own right- nature doesn't make mistakes.