Is it safe to dread my hair temporarily?

[Cheinei]

Im really frustrated with my hair today. Twists are so boring.

Would it be safe to dread twist my hair then comb it out in 3 weeks?
I think this would retain growth but the style will be short due to shrinkage. :/

OR

Would it be better to do some actual temp dreads with slight back combing, gel, and seal with a flat iron?
This version will look better but Im worried my procedure may be harsh. :/

 

[manter26]

I don't think either of those options are a good idea. I wanted one loc...had it for a few months and it just would not take so I combed it out. I did have to trim that hair afterward.

I think the healthiest option is loc extensions. You can do them with extension hair or yarn. Here's a YTer who had them in for a while; http://www.youtube.com/user/CassandreBeccai

 

[Cheinei]

I don't think either of those options are a good idea. I wanted one loc...had it for a few months and it just would not take so I combed it out. I did have to trim that hair afterward.

I think the healthiest option is loc extensions. You can do them with extension hair or yarn. Here's a YTer who had them in for a while; http://www.youtube.com/user/CassandreBeccai

Well the first option is more like a single strand twist with lock gel, seems safer, but it wouldnt be the look I want.
I refuse to go to salons for extensions and it'll be 15 hours before I finish it myself. Im using that as a last resort.

 

[manter26]

Well the first option is more like a single strand twist with lock gel, seems safer, but it wouldnt be the look I want.
I refuse to go to salons for extensions and it'll be 15 hours before I finish it myself. Im using that as a last resort.

I understood the 1st option of being a comb coil. Idk about leaving gel in for 3 weeks with no washing and no moisture. If it were me, I would do DIY loc extensions over a couple days. GL

 

[faithVA]

Cheinei[/USER];18370515]Im really frustrated with my hair today. Twists are so boring.

Would it be safe to dread twist my hair then comb it out in 3 weeks?
I think this would retain growth but the style will be short due to shrinkage. :/

OR

Would it be better to do some actual temp dreads with slight back combing, gel, and seal with a flat iron?
This version will look better but Im worried my procedure may be harsh. :/

I am not familiar with option 2, so I can't address it. Option 1 is how I grew my hair out pre lhcf. I kept my comb coils in for a month at a time with no matting issue and my hair easily dreads.

I no longer do this due to what manter26 mentioned about the lack of moisture. My hair didn't mind it but I probably did dry out my scalp more than I realized. However, with that being said, there are plenty of people who go weeks at a time without washing or applying to much water when they are trying to maintain a style. I know those who straighten their hair for a time will hold off. So you have to find a balance for yourself.

 

[PatTodd]

Wasn't there a thread yesterday titled something like my horrible hair story where the OP did temp dreads as a protective style? It didn't seem to hurt her hair.

Eta: oh wait, that was you! Nvm!

 

[dyh080]

Years ago there was a poster on this board who had a theory for retaining growth by starting locks using her own hair but she never followed up on it ( I think).

She thought about starting locks and combing them out every 3 months, right before they start to lock up.

 

[MrsMe]

Detangling that hair will get frustrating. I'm in the process of combing out my locs after 4 years and I'm going slowly at it so that I don't damage my leftover hair in the process.
I wouldn't recommend that you lock it as a protective style. How about 1 month? Does your hair seem to loc fast?

Sent from my iPad...excuse the typos.

 

[virtuenow]

I wear mini-twists for 1-2months at a time, washing weekly. They eventually start to look like dred locks-- but they come out easily. I get compliments on my "dreds". I'm not sure why you're bored w/twists, but dreds and twists look very similar-- so this may not take you out of the boredom if that's your goal. So in summary, washing/DCing your twists a lot will take them to the dred look that you so desire; but as long as you keep your hair very moisturized they will not actually lock.

 

[BrandNew]

Get some braids until you miss your hair again.

 

[virtuenow]

Years ago there was a poster on this board who had a theory for retaining growth by starting locks using her own hair but she never followed up on it ( I think).

Lol! She thought about starting locks and combing them out every 3 months, right before they start to lock up.

This youtuber 007newnew has the same theory and used twists to grow her hair out. Here is her blog about using twists/temp locs to grow hair: http://angelsringlets.blogspot.com/2011/10/using-two-strand-twists-to-grow-long.html

 

[Fhrizzball]

There's a youtuber that does what she call twa twists which are really small twists and she leaves them in for months at a time and they give a loc appearance with no long term harm. Also I would look into loose twists. Another Youtuber, I can't recall her name, does tons of them they they look like locs/loose hair to me and her hair retains wonderfully due to it. If you're not adverse to using extension(even yarn braids can give you this effect) you can easily do it without resorting to actual locs with can thin your strands and cause undo stress on your hair when you start to detangle and take down your hair. Crochet braiding is much faster than regular extensions as well and you can weave dreadloc falls through the cornrows to give you the look you desire even.

 

[Saga]

There's a youtuber that does what she call twa twists which are really small twists and she leaves them in for months at a time and they give a loc appearance with no long term harm. Also I would look into loose twists. Another Youtuber, I can't recall her name, does tons of them they they look like locs/loose hair to me and her hair retains wonderfully due to it. If you're not adverse to using extension(even yarn braids can give you this effect) you can easily do it without resorting to actual locs with can thin your strands and cause undo stress on your hair when you start to detangle and take down your hair. Crochet braiding is much faster than regular extensions as well and you can weave dreadloc falls through the cornrows to give you the look you desire even.

Her name is Cipriana form UrbanBushBabes, I was just coming in here to suggest the same thing.

When my hair was shorter, I absolutely LOVED finger coils as a protective style. I even tried locing very briefly, but soon learned that it wasn't for me, and took them out.

The longer your hair gets, depending on the curl type, it wont hold a finger coil as uniformly. So now I do the Loose-Strand twists, which give the exact same look and results. I wore them for a month and then take them down, they allow me to show my length while still protecting my ends.


Here's a tutorial for the method I like to use, because twisting at my roots creates matting and tangling I braid my roots instead like this youtuber:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiZqSEBiOJM

 

[Cheinei]

I understood the 1st option of being a comb coil. Idk about leaving gel in for 3 weeks with no washing and no moisture. If it were me, I would do DIY loc extensions over a couple days. GL

Gurl you crazy!? No No No! I couldnt go that long without moisture lol I HAVE to moisturize every day.

I am not familiar with option 2, so I can't address it. Option 1 is how I grew my hair out pre lhcf. I kept my comb coils in for a month at a time with no matting issue and my hair easily dreads.

I no longer do this due to what manter26 mentioned about the lack of moisture. My hair didn't mind it but I probably did dry out my scalp more than I realized. However, with that being said, there are plenty of people who go weeks at a time without washing or applying to much water when they are trying to maintain a style. I know those who straighten their hair for a time will hold off. So you have to find a balance for yourself.

This is the second option. Its just back combing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlIw5H0KtYs

Detangling that hair will get frustrating. I'm in the process of combing out my locs after 4 years and I'm going slowly at it so that I don't damage my leftover hair in the process.
I wouldn't recommend that you lock it as a protective style. How about 1 month? Does your hair seem to loc fast?

Sent from my iPad...excuse the typos.

When I first did temp dreads, I backcombed. Even that didnt tangle. As soon as my hair got wet it was easy. Was no more difficult than taking down regular twists.

This youtuber 007newnew has the same theory and used twists to grow her hair out. Here is her blog about using twists/temp locs to grow hair: http://angelsringlets.blogspot.com/2011/10/using-two-strand-twists-to-grow-long.html

This may be on track. Its just her twists look more twisty than dready. My hair is 3c somthing so that style will just look like regular twists on me unless they were reaaaaally fuzzy.

Her name is Cipriana form UrbanBushBabes, I was just coming in here to suggest the same thing.

When my hair was shorter, I absolutely LOVED finger coils as a protective style. I even tried locing very briefly, but soon learned that it wasn't for me, and took them out.

The longer your hair gets, depending on the curl type, it wont hold a finger coil as uniformly. So now I do the Loose-Strand twists, which give the exact same look and results. I wore them for a month and then take them down, they allow me to show my length while still protecting my ends.


Here's a tutorial for the method I like to use, because twisting at my roots creates matting and tangling I braid my roots instead like this youtuber:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiZqSEBiOJM

Her hair is awesome. It actually looks like dreads. But I cant figure out how shes pulling the look of by just twisting alone. If it did that it would look too twisty. I think its her hair type though.

I guess it looks like ill be teasing my hair tonight.

 

[manter26]

I think you should take back combing and teasing out of your vocabulary. I cringe when people do it on straight hair. I can't imagine the damage done on curly hair.

 

[ChocolatePie777]

Why don't you just get loc extensions?......or do you not want weave or the expense?

 

[Fhrizzball]

At least thanks to this thread I will be attempting loose twists.

Cheinei What it it about extensions you're adverse to? I'm sure if you research hard enough you can find someone to do it for you and the time it will take will be worth the desired outcome,no?

 

[Cheinei]

At least thanks to this thread I will be attempting loose twists.

Cheinei What it it about extensions you're adverse to? I'm sure if you research hard enough you can find someone to do it for you and the time it will take will be worth the desired outcome,no?

I dont know... Ive just always hated fake hair on people because it looks fake. No matter how good the hair its, you can still tell its not yours. I thought it was ironic because the point of weave is to give the illusion of real hair. erplexed

But thats just me... I know weave will do tons of good, but going against my character isnt what Im about ya know?

 

[Cheinei]

I think you should take back combing and teasing out of your vocabulary. I cringe when people do it on straight hair. I can't imagine the damage done on curly hair.

Yea I know its pretty bad. I cringe too. >.< But the last time I did it seemed not to do anything bad to my hair. Then again I only finger back comb.
You know when you slide your fingers upward on your strands and you can feel the cuticles catching onto your fingers? Like that.

 

[virtuenow]

There's a youtuber that does what she call twa twists which are really small twists and she leaves them in for months at a time and they give a loc appearance with no long term harm. Also I would look into loose twists. Another Youtuber, I can't recall her name, does tons of them they they look like locs/loose hair to me and her hair retains wonderfully due to it. If you're not adverse to using extension(even yarn braids can give you this effect) you can easily do it without resorting to actual locs with can thin your strands and cause undo stress on your hair when you start to detangle and take down your hair. Crochet braiding is much faster than regular extensions as well and you can weave dreadloc falls through the cornrows to give you the look you desire even.

That first youtuber is named AFR0ST0RY: she calls them twa twists after a tribe in Africa; and acknowledges that after 1-2 months the hair may slightly locs but is easily removed. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AJdu1UqfVo . She has as series of videos on mini twists. I followed her for my current set of super mini-twists.

 

[Just11412]

you only want to keep them in for 3 weeks? so why not just keep mini twists or do mini braids.

me i do mini-braids because I exercise and the braids stay in better. i can wash my hair better in mini braids with out the worry of them locking up. i keep them in 4-6 weeks. and i have had the best retention with them. i wish i had done mini-braids at the beginning of my healthy hair journey, i would be further along.

as someone that has had locs and then did the take down. do not do it. i had locs for almost 4 years. decided i wanted loose hair but didn't want to chop. took me 5 days and 115 locs to take down. i did it but it was torture and i will never do that again. my ends were so jacked up from the take down that i had to cut a few inches (several). it is just too much stress on the hair strands.

 

[AFashionSlave]

Just get some fake locs. I had some almost 10 years ago. They were crochet locs and it only took my stylist a little while to put in.

Here is the link:
http://afashionslave.com/2012/10/04/dont-loc-it-til-you-try-it-2004/

 

[Fhrizzball]

I just put in a set of small/medium loose twists with braided roots and I have 3c/4a hair with 4b only at my nape and edges. Depended on the look you're going for, you can get a loc like look. I guess I did mine entirely too loosely as it ended up looking more like a twistout than anything else from a far so it can be an acquire taste for many but I believe with trial and error you can get a loc like look though I wouldn't want to be washing and conditioning in this hair.