the first couple months are the hardest. just remember "this too shall pass". i would suggest taking the yarn out. palm rolling is going to be the best thing for your dreads. it will actually help them dread and insure that they shape nicely. some ppl prefer to do it while the hair is damp others while completely dry. you will find what works best for you. dry works best for me.

how often are you washing? i started out using dreadhead shampoo but now it switch between that and knottyboy as i find the dreadhead can be really drying to my hair. i would also say quit using the dread butta as it is for really mature dreads to add moisture. it is conditioning your hair which you dont want right now, its slowing down the locking process.

hope this helps. =)

Hi Lola :)

Yeah first thing I also noticed about your post was the Dread Butta....stop using that stuff! It's working against your locks matting...the most important thing in the initial few months is keeping your hair as dry and clean as possible. To remove the wax that's already in there will take a number of washes...wash your dreads with very hot water, as hot as you can handle...this will start melting the wax and eventually it will come out. Your best friends at the moment should be palm-rolling (I, too, prefer dry hair) and the rip n pull method, which will not only help create knots up the length of your dreads, but also help your tips dread-up nice and neat. The method also helps locks lock faster, from my experience (and I have dead-straight hair naturally...if I can dread these, I can dread anything LOL!) Excessive palm-rolling does not break hair, unless you're being wayyyyy to hardcore on your roots, and then maybe it's possible that you may get *some* breakage, but you'd have to be really showing them some punishment lol :P I use Dreadhead shampoo, and never recommend Knotty Boy (despite so many people loving it lol)...gave me the worst dandruff this world has ever seen, and the fact it has essential oils is a potential problem, especially for new dreads.

Keep at the palm-rolling, use the rip n pull method, lay off the Butta, keep em clean, don't stress. Baby dreads are a pain in the butt, but are worth it in the end! Keep us updated on how things are going...any problem you are ever likely to come across with dreads is fixable! :D xx

Just wanted to say a big Thank you to all that replied...the advice given was truly awesome and this is probably the most helpful site so far...so I'm here to stay and hopefully will make friends as time goes on. Tempted to post a few pics of my dreads but ahhhhhhhhh, i better wait a bit......at least till they look a bit better. Will take down the yarn twists and palmroll...............my only thing is should I continue using the dreadwax??????? If not.......any advice on products I should stick too??????

I've had my dreads two years this past April and I love them.....and let me tell you......the journey of the before, during and present was a bit of work, but like anything.....well worth it when done right. A little background.....my hair is SUPER thin and straight......doesn't hold a perm, curl......ponytails was the basic style. Then I went to get my dreads started.....backcombing and wax on the ends (which found out the wax is bad). Then I got rescued by a now friend and hair dressor.....and angle of the dreadlocks!

Now for the advice......dreads will have stages, like humans do.....the tuffest is the teenage and not the most fun time! Upkeep from start to adult is KEY......after that it is easier. If you go to the hair product oil, not sure what would be pc....but the African American/Black hair area and get this serum called Frizz Buster.....after washing your hair rub this in......just a little here and there....it will help....but the frizz is a common stage and best is just to deal with it. As for normal routine until the teenage stage is over.....twist twist twist......find someone who can help you out with this step.....or build up those forearm muscles! LOL Twisting is key to keep the dread getting it trained to look oh so NICE.....and everytime I twist em down I use Dr Miracles's 'Feel It' formula, Hot Gro....I find this at Walgreens and walmart. But after you wash your hair put the feel it formula on your fingertips....or the same company has a hot oil which is AHHHH SO NICE.....clove feel and smell....your scalp will LUV U! OK.......so stimulate your scalp and put a little between your fingers and from root to the end (but more important area is the area from scalp to where the dread really starts) and rub it in and twist it down....do this for each dread. I would do this at least once a week til the teen stage is done. DRYING IS KEY.....I repeat DRYING IS KEY.....dreads are like sponges/towels.....if you keep it wet and leave it in the corner it will mold and be GROSS.....not only the smell but you it rotting the dreads too. There are many dryers out there....I was lucky enough to have found one at a second hand store.....the old school ones the old ladies sit under when they get their hair done....of your dreads are short.....the bag attachment to your hairdryer works and travels well. Since I'm pass the teenage stage....which varies from person to person (6-1 yr for dreads to fully be matured aka dreaded). I twist down 1-2 times a week....I wash two times a week....this varies and I listen to my scalp.....itchy, little red bumps, flakey,etc.......and I sit under the dryer for 1-2 hrs....and have my bf squeeze em to let me know if they are dry or not. If a smell comes from your dreads....do a citrus rinse.....lemon juice....you can get bottles of it a the food store....BUT DRY DRY DRY those dreads. Downside to dreads is.....I miss a brush on my scalp.....so I have my bf scratch/rub my head....so nice.....or the Dr. Miracles' oil.......especially after a shower and sitting under the dryer.....talk about Stimulation!! And the drying and twisting time I need to set aside....if I want my dreads to look nice and not grow together twisting is key....so I've excepted it now...the drying part is tuff still to this day....setting aside a few hrs (shower, wash....I can give more info on how to wash dreads too, let me know...and drying itself). So I have a very comfy chase couch with my dryer set up and my laptop....surf the net, do things on the pc...headphones in for music......a book....really good before bed...cuz the warmness soothes me to sleep! As for conditioner.....I just started using it the past few months.....since I was told not to use it.....not letting the hair dread......I got use to not using it.....and my hairdresser told me I can now.....its awesome.....dreads are softer and my scalp flakes less (before my dreads my hair would get very oily between washings). Well think I rambled on enough....LOL. I have many pics from day one until now and I look and see how my dreads have changed....for the good......and when I look at my dreads I can see the different stages they and I guess I went through...stressful times,etc......adds character....I can point and say this is what was going on in my life a that time......like a time line! Hope this helps.....let me know if you have any questions or the such!! Peace-n-Love Sarah