They're about half-locked, so there's more to go to make this locky thing happen. Of course, how to take the next steps is going to be important, particularly if I want to do explore the options in anything approaching a systematic fashion.
stop trying to fix them. the more you work on them the longer it will take for them to get really tight..after a year or two you can blunt your tips if they dont do it on their ownThat's what Cherubim666999 said on my six-month dreadlock update video. It's an argument I've heard before. Messing with them, including the usage of products like wax, slows down the process. I'd be better off letting time, and the compression of many nights of sleep, do the work. Naturally, they will lock on their own if I just let things be.
 |
| An after-and-before shot. |
Ignorance is bliss
I didn't know any of this when I started my locks. All I knew was how a metal comb could put the locks in, and how using wax to keep them compressed (frequently at first but reducing in the number of applications over time) helps accelerate the process, leading to the tight, stray-hair-free locks I was looking for more quickly. I knew that there was an alternative; I had considered and discarded a full neglect method as an option. The only thing I didn't know about at first was the controversy.Wanted: Doctorate of Dreadlocks
So I started waxy, then I gave wax up. By October I wanted my wax back, because my hair felt like it was falling apart. That could also be a sign that wax is bad news in the first place, but I didn't have enough evidence either way. People swearing up and down that wax is good or bad is terribly interesting, but what I really wanted was some actual research on dreadlock techniques and their effectiveness.So that's my plan for the new year: I'm going to go back to using wax on half my head, and leave the other half be. I'll still wash the whole head as always, but the right side will go back to an alternating cycle of one week of wax, one week of palmrolling, futzing with the crochet hook, and generally screwing around in the hopes that I can make the locks tighten up faster.
It won't be exactly scientific, but at least it will be systematic. In another six months or so I should have some idea of which method works better.
Ooh! Yes, I'm excited to see how your experiment pans out!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'd like to ask your permission to share your blog with my favorite LiveJournal dreadlock community (http://get-up-dread-up.livejournal.com/) as your share your experiences with and without wax. The debate rages there as well, thought most GUDU members recommend against it. Some, a friend of mine included, specify that petrol products are bad, but natural beeswax is good. I admit, while I prefer to forego wax on my locks, I'm very interested to see your findings, and to share them... if you'd allow. ;)
If you want to try pulling the existing wax out of the no-wax half (for SCIENCE! **grin**), the deep clean recipe I use is supposed to be good for that. For wax removal, they recommend you start by soaking the waxy locks in boiling water first (though how you're supposed to do that without burning yourself if you have shortish locks, I'm not sure). Once the wax is softened by heat, run some fresh hot water though your locks to try to rinse some of the softened wax away. Then try this:
Large bowl of warm water
3/4 c of baking soda
20 drops of tea tree oil
4T of lemon juice
2T of salt
Stir until all is well dissolved
Dunk all dreads in until completely saturated, then wrap in a plastic bag to keep the mixture in and let sit for 1/2 hour to 1 hour
Good luck! And do keep us posted!
~Dianna
Dianna,
ReplyDeletePlease do share! My dreadlock journey is evolving into a laboratory, so there's no reason why others shouldn't benefit from it, or at least cheer and jeer me on!
The recipe you gave for wax removal includes a number of ingredients I already use. As you probably know I started with some products, and some of them I have been replacing more with natural variants. I spray my hair periodically with a salt-and-lemon-water mix, and once my shampoo runs out I will be using a baking soda/tea tree oil recipe.
I don't think I will ever have to use the de-waxing recipe, however. First thing I read about wax is that if you use too much it's a bad thing. When I used it the last time it was always gone after no more than two washings. Maybe I just read the instructions, or maybe my hair doesn't take to wax well, but I don't have the waxy yellow buildup problem. I think that's the core reason people are opposed to wax. I can't yet say that it's actually beneficial, but in my experience it's not the evil that some folks swear it is. Maybe it is entirely based on hair quality.
One recipe type I will be trying at some point is for removing the locks without cutting them off. I'm skeptical, which is why I want to try it at the end of the line, but that's still over four years away.