Week 50: Braid/Basket Weave Style on Thick Locs

In love with my thick little baby locs. After combining them a few weeks ago I noticed I have a really prominent centre parting that was starting to look a little odd but last night it sort of sparked my inspiration for this quick style.

The night I tried this I was utterly impressed at how cute it was. So I wore it the next day too.

Then I realised the school girl hair bands weren't very befitting so I bought some smart, black ouchless bands instead.

DREADLOCKS ARE...

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Month 11

Exactly three weeks shy of my one year dreadlocking milestone. My locs (at various progressive stages following my last entry) are awkwardly but certainly developing. I don't know how I feel about it all recently. They're nothing like I'd imagined them to be. I feel sort of disillusioned by the whole process and again the focus falls on thick dreads. My research up until this year had mostly covered how thinner dreads are formed and my anticipated time scale for progress for thinner locs has skewed my vision a little now tha they're thicker. There's not the same amount of information and personal documentation for thicker dreads, they just seem to happen.

February in London (before combining)

March in Slovenia (after combining)

A few days later back in the UK

But in reality it's not that simple and thick dreads are incredibly boisterous, epecially when started on short hair. I keep reminding myself that all dreads tangle, matt, shrink, swell and condense and that non of it occurs linearly. I keep telling myself that if I leave this untamed, unruly mess of hair alone for just another day it'll get better. It does get better, slowly. Whether I watch my hair or not it's still happening slowly. But at least it's happening. It's strange to observe the subtle changes. My newly combined locs feel and look different to the others. The others feel more...established. And the fact that I can tell says a lot for how far they've come.

This month I washed my hair like before; spray bottle of diluted shampoo to the roots only, gentle agitation, a soak and even gentler rinsing. I could only wait 2.5 weeks this time as my scalp was too dry and dirty from my travels. Shrinkage is still lingering but as I only wet my hair once a month it's manageable. As my bottom row gets longer I'm having to remove lint that attaches to the tips). Although I have gained length I've also reached that first growth stage where it never seems to pass your ears.

I still adore dreadlocks so I'm going to wait it out.

retwisted in February

retwisted again in March

Oh and does anyone know where I can find unique wooden and/or metal dread beads online? I've scoured Etsy and although there is a generous selection most cost a fortune with p&p. Thanks.

DREADLOCKS ARE...

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Combined: Twelve Became Six

The thing about this constant "adjustment phase" that I'm going through is that when I started out last year I was incredibly impatient. I wanted to start my dreads immediately after cutting my relaxed hair off and the 1 inch I started with didn't make it ideal to be choosing section/dread sizes and partings and what not. So I started with a set I didn't know I'd be unhappy with because the majority of what I've learnt has been happening during the journey. Looking back it wouldn't have been possible to create the thick deads I have now with the length I had then anyway, also getting them done at a salon didn't give me full control. But all alterations aside, I am glad that a year later I still want dreadlocks. The important thing is that they'll loc up when they're ready.

I went a head and combed the 12 dreads out and lost a good amount of shed hair but I retained most of the length.

They look huge by comparison but as no one has noticed, even though they're at the front, I think they must blend quite well. At current count I have 57 dreads.

D'you know, the minute I combined them I worried that they were too big...

...days later,

I love 'em.

Newbies:

combined the two in the back

DREADLOCKS ARE A LIFESTYLE

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Combining: An Ode to Dreads

Ode to my thinner locs

How you grew was never easy nor a burden,

I have come to know you as my loc'd companions growing like innocent vines over night.

What time it has taken cannot be lost from this journey of mine.

You're the roots of a tree that will one day bloom in reflection of your wonderful beginnings.

The section in question is right at the front and contains 12 dreads. They've actually loc'd completely and have matured beautifully but I've become somewhat dissatisfied with their size. I'm certain larger dreads are for me and sadly these twelve won't get much thicker than they are now.

Because they've come so far I've avoided combining them but surrounding dreads now look waay thicker by comparison and this section really stands out once they're all retwisted.

I'm writing this post not to complain and then simply combine them. I want to remember that these 12 were the first to dread up and they've given me a glimpse into how my future loc's will frame my face. I've been so pleased with them and reaching this bench mark feels so rewarding but I know when they get longer I'll want thicker dreads flowing in their place. Combining them will form new, meatier locs and they'll thank me one day when they see how pretty they have become.

a couple in the back too

I had intended to just grow them out and intertwine the new growth at some point but I've already attempted to comb out one and it was near impossible without damage. If I don't combine them now I'll have to contend with two headed loc's in the future that I'd just end up cutting.

Oh, I recently watched YouTuber LeslieMonique who documented her equally emotional dread combination. She has now had dreadlocks for 4 years.


Next post: Photos of my newly combined locs...  Combined: Tweleve Became Six

DREADLOCKS ARE A LIFESTYLE

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Washed Locs: Pictures

Here are the pictures for Washed Locs and a Product update. I was very happy with the results using this cleansing method. As you'll see I still had a "unravelled fro" appearance afterwards but I think it photographs worse that it actually was. They'll probably be this way until they mature.

During

shampoo at the roots

After

 

soft and clean

Retwisting

 

air dried

Finished results

 



the clips flattened my dreads a bit

DREADLOCKS ARE...

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