To get dreadlocks?

[Spidermama]

I have ALWAYS wanted dreads. Always.

I am caucasian btw.

Tonight I found myself googling then texting around. I now have an appointment to see someone tomorrow about getting dreads.

OMG!

She does them by weaving and twisting and doesn't use any wax or sticky products.

My hair has always been a bit crap. Now it's greying it's even crapper. I love dreads on other women so figure this is a shot to nothing.

Dare I ask, what do you reckon?

i think you need to accept that it something you should ahve done in your early 20's but the moment has passed

Spider - I know the feeling. I have the same dilema about getting a tattoo. In the end I decided that because it was sooooo permanent, I would need the 'absolutely not' moments to disappear completely before I would go ahead with it.

They never did so I never got one, but since having DD I occasionally think about getting some words done relating to her.... (and so it starts again LOL )

Having said that, dreads are not permanent.

Could you 'plan B' it? E.g. get your head round the idea of having a really fab, really short do for a while if you really hate them and have to have them cut off? Not sure of your style but maybe an urchin crop like winona ryder used to have or a v short funky bleached blonde do? I just re-read your OP and if you hate your hair as it is, might not be so traumatic to go for such a radical change if the dreads don't work out/you get bored of them?

Well i lived with a rasta for 6 years and his hair was amazing but he was black and very beautiful!.I also worked in Antenna in Kensington for years and they are the masters of monofibre dreads which can look amazing if they suit you.i have to say though if you are going to have them then Brighton is good!I personally saw a few middle aged tragedies at work with them so only really like them on west indian hair but life is short and if you have always wanted them go for it!

2.bp.blogspot.com/_CSXwjXekHhI/Sjgy_yv0Z_I/AAAAAAAACmY/TOVeV5J9Vqw/s400/2310931756_a533315f7f.jpgthis is quite pretty spider

Yes she looks lovely. She's very young though.

I thought this would be less risky as tis neater.

That is very discreet!

at all the hair compliments.

But honestly I do not look 'fantastic whatever'. I had real self esteem problems when I was younger and for about three years almost literally was unable to look at myself in a mirror. I used to self harm and also pull out my hair to the point where I had a bald patch for a year when I was about 12. I thought I was hideous - I wasn't a particularly pretty child anyway and was badly teased because of it.

When I first had dreads it was more out of neglect than by design, but I realised they suited me and started to maintain them after a while. It was quite healing because I finally started to accept myself and get a bit more confidence.

I cut them off when I had DD - ex didn't like them, and I had what I now think was PND. I regretted it almost at once - the loss of them, plus PND and baby flab and all the rest, pushed me back into negativity about my image. Now I've got them back again I feel fairly happy with how I look though it doesn't take much for me to start wobbling about it again. They are the one bit of me that I feel genuinely and consistently good about.

I suppose my point is that if you feel confident about how you look then that matters more than anything. If dreadlocks are what you want on your head then bloody have them - look after them so you don't get a dog-smelling-mono-dread, and happy swishing

Awwww QofFE here we all were drooling over your perfection and gorgeousness and then you have to go and spoil it letting us know you are a mere mortal.

Sorry about your confidence crisis and I'm really glad you seem to be making a really good recovery from it. May that continue.

I've put the brakes on my rash dreads decision for the time being mainly because the woman who was going to be doing it was appearing less and less reliable and as she's very very expensive I thought I'd stand back and rethink for a couple of weeks. So really I lost confidence in her.

I've already found someone else who charges half as much for almost the same thing and he works within a salon. The time taken and the technique (ie knotting and rolling - no wax or products invovled) are exactly the same.

I have been canvassing RL friends and I have to say they are less than enthusiastic on the whole. However I deliberately asked my rather straight friends because I wanted to guage the reaction.

Also DH doesn't like the idea.

I'm really sad that the whole thing is off for now. I got so excited.

QoFE. how beautifully honest.

oh spidermama. do what you want. if you absolutely hate them, then shave them off and get a wig for a few months. - it's only hair. it generally grows...

i think it's a bit like baby names - mention them ahead of time and people will pull faces, but once it's done people would get used to it pretty quickly. but if what other people think is a big factor in this it might not be for you?

Oh those slideshow pics have made me want dreads now

Spidermama, I do love that dreads in a bob kind of look. It is only because of the kind of people who usually get dreads that they have certain associations anyway, you could start the trend against that! 10 years from now it could be the new Boden...or something!

I am just waiting for my student loan and then I will get the not-quite-totally-commited-but-love-the-idea synthetics!

My brother at 50 had dreads.
it was not good
seeing his white scalp through black and grey hair was hideous.

I've been assured there would be no scalp visible but it remains one of my fears as I do have some greying and grey roots would simply not be an option.

Mind you that's the case with or without dreads.

Cesario when did your brother first grow dreads? Has he since combed/cut them out and if so how did that go?

He shaved them off one day!
he had them for about 2 years I think

Hmm. Not very inspiring then.