Jan
8
2008
8
2008
One Year Dreadiversary
Filed under: My Story, Dreadlocks
It’s been exactly ONE YEAR since I said goodbye to my comb…and what a year it has been! I’ve experienced so many things in 365 days that it’s hard to wrap my head around it all. It’s been the year of changes. Our jobs and homes have changed many, many times, but for now…I will focus on how my HAIR changed…and how it changed ME as well.
I think back to the moment I looked in the mirror in Boulder after Becky dreaded my hair. Oh. My. Word. What have I done? That thought was quickly replaced with, “Ok. Here we go!”. I knew it would be a wild journey…and I was up for it.
Those first couple of weeks were really rough…I was pretty self-conscious of my new ‘do and it consumed my thoughts at all times. You don’t realize how much you depend on your appearance to help you blend in to the crowd or to make first impressions. I kept them pretty tame and pulled back all the time…I was too nervous to “let my freak flag fly” (as Miss Becky would say). 
And then one day I realized that I wasn’t thinking about them as much…I wasn’t obsessing about every little bubble or stray hair. I would get up in the morning and pull them back and be out the door. They were crazy and they were MINE. I wasn’t “Sara with the baby dreads” anymore….I was just Sara. I felt more comfortable in my own skin than I had for quite some time. Other areas of my life became less high maintenance…my make-up routine pretty much went away. I found that I quite liked a fresh face rather than a covered up one. Even when I had imperfections showing, I didn’t bother to cover them up like I would have before.
I even stopped painting my toenails. *GASP!*. Seriously. You have no idea how this rocked my world. I have had my toenails painted for pretty much my entire life. I think I might have been born with them painted. I was always jealous of women who had “naked” toenails. I always thought mine were too ugly to be seen in their natural state. But one day I decided enough was enough. If I could have dreads and stop wearing makeup, I could certainly give up the paint. And oh what a joyous day it was! I felt so free Don’t get me wrong, I like a prettily painted toenail as much as the next mama…but I just didn’t want to feel TIED to it…like I had to paint them for some crazy reason. Oh the fabulous side effects of dreads!
Like any hairstyle, dreads have their ups and downs. Some days I would look in the mirror and LOVE them, and some days…let’s just say I wasn’t feeling so much love. But, I have never once ever wanted to comb them out/cut them off…which really confirms my decision to put them in in the first place.
They are currently MUCH shorter than in the beginning…dreads go through a shrinking process as they lock up. It’s Most of my dreads are right at or shorter than shoulder length. There are several that refuse to go into my ponytail…so most of the time I have to wear a headband to hold them all back. The front dreads are VERY short…and only come to the tip of my nose when I pull them down in front. I do have hope, however. They have finally started to grow faster than they are shrinking! I can imagine that it will take another 2 years or so to get them to the point where I feel like they are “long”…but that is part of the journey. It will be interesting to see how they change in color as well…right now, my natural color at my root is really getting long, and the ends are really blonde (I’ve dyed my hair blonde since my freshman year of college). I would love to have all blonde dreads someday…but I’m going to let them do their thing for awhile.
For those of you considering dreads…the first year is definitely the hardest. There is much to be learned about yourself and even about those you love (in their reactions). They go through so many different phases…changing almost everyday. But it’s so rewarding…I love “knowing” my hair. I know every dread by how it feels! I definitely have my favorites…and Matt has his favorites too It’s hard not to touch them all the time because the texture is so fun now!
I’ve met so many friends online (and now in person) with dreads and there is just something special about the bond that you have with another dreadhead They understand the commitment, the frustrations, and the joys of having this crazy hair. It like gaining a new family!
My favorite part about having dreads has been not having to “do my hair”…which was one of my original reasons for getting them in the first place. The only maintenance I do is wash them once a week (or so) with Peppermint Dr. Bronner’s and rinse them with organic apple cider vinegar to condition. Sometimes I will palm roll them to smooth them out after I wash them, but other times I just let them go. So easy!
It’s been a wonderful journey so far, one that I wouldn’t trade for anything!
I’ve uploaded lots of new photos (it’s been awhile!) of my dreads. My sweet hubby did a little dreadiversary photo shoot for me. Check them out here.
Posted by Sara @ 6:47 pm | Leave a Comment
8
2008
Thank you for sharing! I have ALWAYS been in awe of dreads…and your photos and blog entry touch so wonderfully on their simple mystery! You have such a beautiful smile, and seem to be at peace!
Thanks you for sharing!!
8
2008
I am just sitting in front of my laptop, smiling broadly after having read your recent blog. Just this past night, while nursing J sometime around 4 o’clock I was thinking of you and your dread and that your anniversary should be coming soon. And there it is, in all it’s glory. For the moment I am speechless because there are so many things on my mind ( I really need to get off my a** and finally complete that letter of yours to send it on it’s journey over the ocean.)
Let’s just say that you are amazing me over and over even when there are times when I am disagreeing with you. I miss being in touch with you though.
Good luck with all that will follow on your journeys - we are always think of you, Bella and Matt.
8
2008
I needed this today!
Dreadlocks are going to be my graduation gift to myself once I finish school this May. I even have friends who have volunteered to help throw a ‘locking party’. And yet…
I have days like today when the thought of putting myself OUT THERE is just too much for my introverted self. What will people think? How do I explain it? This post reminded me why I wanted to have dreads in the first place. Thanks
8
2008
J’adore!! Fabulous!
8
2008
You look great in them. They make your eyes look more blue if that makes sense?
My question is this– sorry if this is ignorant… but do they smell?
8
2008
Amanda…nope, no smells
I wash them regularly, so they smell like yummy peppermint. It’s a common misconception with dreads though…that you can’t wash them. However, once they lock up, you can wash them as often as you want. The great thing is, your scalp normalizes when you stop using traditional shampoos (which mess with your pH and all that)…so I don’t have to wash it nearly as often as I had to pre-dreads.
8
2008
Love this post, Sara.
When hubby had dreads, I def. had my favorite ones. We even named one “golden petal”. (thanks to miss K.) Congrats for one year,my friend!
8
2008
Thanks for the wonderful post. I put my dreads in about 2.5 months ago and for the most part have really enjoyed them. Mine are much thinner than yours - I think there are about 130 of the little suckers - so they have been difficult to upkeep. I was wondering how you work on dreading the tips and at the roots. Mine have difficulty dreading there. The middle sections are doing fairly well. Congrats on making it a whole year and coming out with wonderful dreadies!
9
2008
Hi Kristen!
You CAN mess with them and do tricks to make them lock up faster…but it will all happen on it’s own as well…it just takes lots of time. Knotty Boy has a lot of tips for maintaining dreads if you decide to work on them. Love your blog too (especially the title!)…keep writing!
Congrats on your dreads! Just hang in there with them…I really haven’t done much “work” on my ends or my roots. They just do their thing…I’ve been told by many more experienced dready mamas to just be patient and let them be
9
2008
Happy Drediversary! Thank you for sharing your story. I learned a little more about dread locks that I didn’t know, and it was fun to see your photos. You are beautiful!
Peace & Love, Erin : )
9
2008
i’ve been reading your bloggy for a while now and love it, love your shiny happy soul and all the inspiration you give so freely. your photos are yummy, and i love a good dread story! the day i got mine done (on the street, in thailand), a beautiful dreadlocked girl from germany told me i probably wouldn’t ‘love’ my dreads for about 2 years…she was right! the frustration ends and they fully take on their own life around then…you don’t even think about them anymore because they are just you.
i’m hoping to the live lightly tour comes to CA!
9
2008
Loved looking at your dread pics. I love dreads but on other people cos I think I’m too old for them lol
Love your blog too - so cool.
9
2008
I think they are so pretty! I keep telling myself that I need to cut my hair off short, but I haven’t really given dreads consideration yet!
9
2008
Happy Birthday, Dreadies! Too bad my hair is too fat for dreads, or my Dreadiversary would be coming up next month! They look great, Sara. Yet another outward (visible)manifestation of the work God is doing on the inside!
9
2008
I love, love, love, love, love them! I love the color too…you have beautiful brown in there! Beautiful woman!
9
2008
Happy Dreadiversary! The look awesome, Sara. Have they been itchy at all? I backcombed dreads in about 10 months ago, and they were so incredibly itchy that I had to take them out. I would love to try again, but am afraid of the itchies!
Take care,
Erin
9
2008
Oh Pretty Mama, you shine on! Boy, are you right about what happens the first few weeks/months! Unfortunately I didn’t stick it out…the weird thing is that almost the same day I cut them all off, I realized I would grow my hair right back and do it again! Weird. I have learned so much about myself, and my need to be pleasing to others in the whole process! The growing my hair for dreads, locking it up finally, loving them, hating them, being confused by them, dealing with reactions, loving them again, thinking thinking thinking about them, losing them, and now, here again…plannning for them! Dreadlocks are wonderful teachers that way:)
The first time, I started mine with a kit from Knottyboy, but this time I am just going to have my dready mama friend, and a comb!
You rock those locks Mamacita:)
9
2008
You constantly inspire me with your posts and today is no exception! I gave you an award on my blog today, don’t feel obligated to take part, I just wanted you to know.
9
2008
I first saw your dreads when I was looking at your blog archives a few months back. And that, of course, confirmed to me that you were really as cool as I had originally thought!! You look awesome with dreads.
I can relate to all the feelings you’ve gone through on your dread journey this past year. When I was 19 (10 years ago), I decided that i was going to shave my head. My only reason was that I just plain wanted to do it and I figured, “If not now, when?” So I did it and oh man, as a woman with a shaved head, i went through all those same experiences: people staring, constant questioning (why would I want to shave my head? Was a lesbian? And no, I’m not!),and all the issues dealing my own vanity. Just like you shared, sometimes I loved it, other times I wondered what possessed me to do it. But regardless, it forced me to become less vain and less concerned with my appearance, because the simple fact was that once my head had been shaved, there was absolutely no going back!! I learned a lot about myself during that time, and though I’ll probably never shave my head again, I have no regrets that I did it back then.
Thanks so much for sharing yourself and doing so in such a transparent, genuine way. You are a constant encouragement to me!
10
2008
Oh how I ADORE your beautiful dreads! Thank you so much for this post. I loved reading it and looking at all of the beautiful pictures. You just radiate happiness and beauty, mama!
10
2008
congrats on the one year dread-a-versary!
10
2008
You GO GIRL! You have let your “freak flag fly.” I love it! And, I love dreads. I have ALWAYS wanted them…always. I am so proud of you as I find your blog and your lifestyle choices inspiring, encouraging, and envigorating.
10
2008
[…] blogs by Sara. She’s touring the USA in a vegie oil powered R.V. I just have to say “Go the dreads” and of course the vegie oil R.V. I asked hubby if I could get our car converted to veige oil and he […]
10
2008
P.S. Happy Dread=a-versary!
10
2008
Ok I really like your blog and I’ve had questions about dreads. te he Can you make them any diameter you want? My hair is really oily so how do you keep them clean? Do you have to not wash your hair while your starting them? I just don’t know if I could do it.
Even though I love how they look and love the fact that you wouldn’t have to fix your hair. Anyway happy first year with dreads! Major kudos.
Amelia
10
2008
Beautiful! Dreads always remind me of felted wool, which I adore. I love your head bands!
10
2008
Amelia…in answer to your questions:
*You can make them any diameter…although super skinny dreads are harder when you’re starting out to maintain.
*Oily hair is usually a symptom of using “normal” shampoo and conditioner. The soap strips your scalp and hair of the natural oils…and then you add it back with conditioner…and your scalp gets confused. When you have dreads, you use non-residue soap and you pretty much let your hair be dry (because that is how it dreads up). I had oily hair and scalp before dreads, but now it has normalized.
*When you are first starting them, it’s recommended that you wait about 2 weeks to wash (it’s really not that bad). I think I waited about a week and a half.
Hope this helps!
10
2008
I can’t believe it has been a year! They look fantastic and I am glad you are pleased with them, as they look awesome. Libby
10
2008
Just found your blog - love it! Love the dreads - does it hurt or feel weird to sleep on them? Look forward to walking with you on your journey.
10
2008
Sleeping is definitely different than without dreads…sometimes they get bunched up weird under my head and I have to readjust them, but they aren’t uncomfortable. Kind of like an extra pillow
10
2008
Painting toenails is completely overrated- it makes mine yellow, and cracked. They look cute for about two days!
Dreads, however, suit you beautifully, my friend! Love the pictorial journey… such blue eyes!
My hubby has blue eyes, but I’ve yet to get a baby with them… what’s a girl gotta do?
11
2008
Gimme a head with hair
Long, beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming
streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere daddy, daddy hair…
Blow it
Show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair…
11
2008
If I was as cute as you I wouldn’t wear makeup either! Dreads are so tempting…especially with 3 kiddos…but I don’t think I could do it..I’d be too worried of what others would think. You are too cute with yours though!
11
2008
Thanks for answering my questions! I wonder is there a site or info for people with oily hair to get it to even out? I also have curly (wavy really since I cut it) hair and don’t really know what to do to get it not to be wild.
Thank you,
Amelia
11
2008
I can’t get your email link to work. Email me, I have some dread questions for you. I can’t stop thinking about them!
flipflopmamma(at)gmail(dot)com
thanks!
11
2008
Where do you get the cool headbands, Sara?
11
2008
Chickadee…I’ve kind of gathered them from many places. Friends have made them for me, I’ve traded for some, Etsy for others. If you tell me which one you’re thinking about, I can be more specific
12
2008
Hi, my friend Suzy stumbled upon your site, and shared it with me, and I LOVE it, thank you so much for your writing and honesty, such a breath of fresh air to see things that I think actually written by another person!
Would it be alright for me to put a link to your blog on my own to tell others??
Thanks!
12
2008
Lorrie…a link would be great, thanks!
12
2008
Wow, you look great with dreads. While I could never pull it off, I completely admire your confidence and attitude!
13
2008
Sara, I just stopped by to wish you & your locks a happy one year anniversary from one ‘Lord lovin’, lavishly locked, life livin’ Christian to another :0)
Thanks for your comments on your page, I really appreciate them and am inspired by them! Blessings from Ontario Canada…
25
2008
I just found your blog and love it!! Love your hair to. Wish I could do that but not sure thin grey hair would look so hot!!:)
26
2008
[…] Sarah writes a blog that I read regularly, Walk Slowly, Live Wildly. Sarah dreaded her hair one year ago. She lives outside of the mainstream in many ways, but […]
20
2008
I just found you, and I am having dread envy! I don’t know if I could ever pull it off in my small southern town….Yours are gorgeous–YOU are gorgeous!!!
27
2008
Sara, how are you finding it to be so naturually beautiful without the makeup, haircolor,etc.? Isn’t is wonderful. Dreadies are like individual pieces of art that are forever changing. Thanks for being you and teaching us to do the same.
Cheers,
Heather
12
2008
Hey Sara thanks for sharing your dread experience! I had been wanting dreads ever since I was young (my parents said not till you move out XP). But anyway, with all new beginnings I felt it was time, & in January I began my journey.. It’s not even the 3-month mark and I’ve gone through mixed feelings and the struggles which I can relate to you.
They don’t yet reach my shoulder, my hair being only 9 inches when I started.. but they are really starting to lock up & I am so looking forward to the experience ahead.. It is a slow process, but a journey that begins with a single step — and I have already learned a lot about myself.
Happy Dreading!
14
2008
Your locks are beautiful! I’ve recently decided to lock my hair but I think I’m going to wait until my bangs are a bit longer - probably 6 months or so.
I read in your other post about your spiritual aspect to locking your hair. It’s nice to see another non-Rastafarian person refer to the spiritual aspects of dreadlocks. I haven’t quite figured out why I feel so strongly drawn to locks but I’m sure that means G-d has something to do with it. I know it will be an interesting journey once I embark!
Thank you for posting this inspiration!
22
2008
Wow, thank you SO much for writing this! I was debating over whether to dread or not to dread when I came across your story. It reminded me of exactly what it means to commit to dreads and I had the same experience as Sarah B. being a straight girl and deciding to shave my head. I now have such “normal” hair and I miss that feeling of being as unique on the outside as I am on the inside. You really reaffirmed the pros of having dreads and I am getting them as a graduation present to myself. I just wrote my psychiatric nursing exam today! I am going to enter this career being totally true to myself and I won’t allow myself to conform to someone else’s idea of professional appearance. Thanks so much for this! You really helped me get back to what I’m really all about
9
2008
Hello! I stumbled upon your post. The term I googled when I stumbled upon your entry is “cute things to do with dreadlocks” — haha. I’ve had dreads since the beginning of september last year, and I love them most of the time! I just wanted to comment and commend you for your great post. I have posted about my dreadlocks on the “blog” on the oh-so-coveted space [which i have posted], and people just think i’m lame… but it’s such a huge transition!
My hair was down to the middle of my back and all of my dreads are now shoulder length, which surprised me… every time I try to fix them they get shorter, but ah wells. I can’t wait for mine to be long either… your hair looks GREAT, girl!
16
2008
I’m not sure why you decided to dread your hair, but I’m African-American and do honestly feel they look and ARE best when worn by people of African descent. I’m not trying to be unkind, but just honest. Dreadlocks are much MORE than a hairstyle for the people of color that wear them. I see nothing wrong with a person who is white KEEPING their own hair texture (straight) vs. trying to alter it. My hair is NATURALLY kinky so it dreads all by itself. This is our heritage and birthright…not a fashion trend/statement. FYI, my husband is Southeast Asian/Russian so I’m not a hateful person at all just wondering why someone such as yourself has decided to emulate the culture/heritage of indigenous people…that’s all?
17
2008
ChelB: Thanks for writing! You can read more about why I dreaded my hair here: http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/2007/01/21/the-journey/
That post also discusses something else you brought up…and that is that dreadlocks are a heritage/birthright. Dreadlocks actually originated in ancient Egypt…and people of all nationalities have worn dreadlocks for ages. Anyone, of any ethnicity, can have dreadlocks simply by letting it “do it’s thing”. All hair will dread without combing it.
Personally, my dreadlock journey has been very much a spiritual one…not one where I am trying to emulate another culture. Thanks for your thoughts.
30
2008
Your journey is truly inspiring and it is wonderful to see your transformation as you travel along your path. May we all be as happy and at peace as you. It really comes through in your photos.
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