Dreadlocks.org

Great example of a dreadlock removal WITHOUT cutting your hair.

This is Elizeu, and he is wicked awesome!

In a couple of years, you’ll be calling him Dr. Elizeu, once he’s finished up his freakin’ PhD in science! Yeah, dude. I so wish that Becca had been here so that Theoretical Science (her true calling) and real, actual science could go head-to-head in a battle to the death! (I’d bet on Becca – she fights dirty. No offense. )

Here’s the handsome (soonish) Dr. after six hours and sixty three dreadlocks. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about a spike in Computer Science enrollment at the university level in the next couple days! We spent all day chatting back and forth about all kinds of stuff – even though I brought up the inevitability of the computers rising up to kill us all a la Terminator. (He was very nice about it.) Now I head home, and totally not worry about my GPS trying to kill me.

Cross Post from: Scissor Ninja. A specialist in dreadlocks, synthetic dreads, and hair extensions, Kris spends her days rocking out killer hair from behind the chair at the The Dreadquarters.

When I start dreads for someone, I typically won’t see them until their first maintenance appointment – usually at around the three month mark. Today I had the opportunity to poke around in Kate’s lovely locks, only one month old. (This was especially nice of her, since she actually showed up to get her bangs trimmed.) I thought I’d take the opportunity to show you folks an update on salon-started dreadlocks, 30 days later!
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If you click the link above to Kate’s first-day locks, you’ll see that just like I always promise, they’re laying much flatter to her head than when just completed. The areas in between the dreads have filled in as well – no more soccer-ball grid! With a bit more damp palmrolling, these are going to felt up beautifully – they’re halfway there, at just a month! Best of all – she loves them! Doesn’t get any better than that.

Cross Post from: Scissor Ninja. A specialist in dreadlocks, synthetic dreads, and hair extensions, Kris spends her days rocking out killer hair from behind the chair at the Knotty Boy salon.

Sometimes, despite the best of intentions, your hair can get a little out of hand. I’m not talking “loose hair, a little bit of joining” like my last post, I’m talking “Oh wait… why do I only have one dreadlock now?”. There is a crazy amount of misinformation on the subject of dreads, and you need to be discerning about who you listen to. You would not believe the insane theories I’ve heard surrounding starting dreads and maintaining them. (I’m not going to get into it right now as that would deprive me of an excellent rant subject for a later post, but as a general rule you can safely avoid vehicle fluids and food, all right?)

Today I want to explain what goes into Dreadlock Repair and Reconstruction services. It’s one of the more “wow! awesome!” services offered at the shop – it makes a huge difference in how people look at their hair. R&R is a step up in intensity from Root Maintenance, and it covers a whole lot o’ dissatisfactions we see regularly. In repairs, I’m looking for folks with semi- mature/mature dreads who have neglected to maintain them, or worse – were never told how to by their stylists. Besides reattaching broken locks and strengthening weak spots, I can fix these common dread problems:

Matting between locks

Major joining

Undreaded sections

Irregularities in shape

Before

After!

Before Reconstruction

After Reconstruction

And even after joining up most of her dreads, she still had about 50! After a few days the gaps become less visible, and the tightly woven locks start to lay flat. You have an almost-new head of dreadlocks! If any of these pictures look familiar, come on by to chat about it. I’ll see what I can do!

Cross Post from: Scissor Ninja. A specialist in dreadlocks, synthetic dreads, and hair extensions, Kris spends her days rocking out killer hair from behind the chair at the Knotty Boy salon.

Yeah, don’t think I haven’t heard that before. And yeah, some people are content just letting them do their thing, but don’t feel like that’s your only valid option. Fact is, dreads don’t start out perfect. More accurately, they don’t stay perfect. They move, they change, they bunch up, they shrink, they expand. All the time! That’s totally fine, and 100% normal. If you got your dreads started with me, I know you’ve gotten the palmrolling spiel and I’ve put the fear into you about not doing your homework… but we’re just rolling into Fall around here, and for those folks who’ve neglected their noggins for the sake of sun and fun? It’s time to pay the piper. (Psst - the piper is me!)

So, why do you want to come in and see me? (other than my sparkling wit and dazzling smile?) Root Maintenance is like the cleaning lady you only shell out for once a season. Sure, you’re not getting out of doing the dishes or vacuuming – but it’s nice to hand the heavy lifting to the pros once in a while, right? Maintenance is especially helpful to the newly dreadful, but I’ve got plenty of long-time clients who come in when they need to spruce up a bit. When I put in a set of locks, I recommend seeing that person once every 3-4 months for the first year, and as needed after that. When you come in, I’ll be working in 3 key areas:

* re-sectioning dreads at the scalp and tidying up joins
* re-tightening undreaded roots
* re-incorporating loose hair at the scalp

These 7 year old dreads belong to Sylvia, who hung out in my chair yesterday. They look amazing (on the way to her knees!) and she maintains them well herself. She wasn’t looking to reinvent the wheel here – she just wanted to clean up the sections and tighten up the roots. (We also touched up the greys on top, but that’s a story for another piece.) So, a couple hours later, here she is – same dreads, just tidier and easier to maintain at home.

You don’t have to “just deal” with messy dreads! So, if your boss is looking at you sideways, if you’re a bridesmaid in your sister’s wedding, if you don’t wanna look like Sideshow Bob at Prom?
Come hang out in my chair! I’ll leave the GameBoy out for ya.

Cross Post from: Scissor Ninja. A specialist in dreadlocks, synthetic dreads, and hair extensions, Kris spends her days rocking out killer hair from behind the chair at the Knotty Boy salon.

Yay! Today’s the day I finally got to meet Jeff!

We’ve been emailing back and forth over the last couple weeks gearing up for the big dread sesh today. I totally knew what look Jeff was going for when he came in, the x factor being what he and his hair already had going on. (Knowing someone wants lots of smallish dreads is daunting enough, but without a personal consult I don’t know if I’m looking at 4 hours of work or 10.) Jeff’s hair was pretty dense, with coarse strands in a nice wave, so I already knew that I could get good sized locks without having to sacrifice a smaller section size. As for the coarseness, I’d have to do a test row.

There’s a misconception out there that coarser hair is easier to dread. Sooooo not the case. I’ll take fine hair over coarse any day of the week. The coarser the actual strand is, the more resistant it is to doing what the hell I tell it to, and staying put. Itabsolutely will dread up, but it’ll take more diligence to keep it that way. I’ve had coarser hair unweave itself in front of my very eyes, and had dread sessions take double the length as I had to crochet everything twice! I have a few tricks up my sleeve for dealing with resistance, hence the test row. Luckily, the first few sections dreaded up a dream; no need to bring out my bag of tricks. We got rolling proper just after 11am.

We finished up tonight at 5. I think I counted 64 dreads, a number we’re both happy with, and in a couple of weeks the coverage is going to be awesome. He’s pretty stoked to show them off, which sorta makes me a proud mama… which is a bit weird, I admit. (But not as weird as ‘Dancing With Cats’, and Jeff’ll back me up on that.)

Cross Post from: Scissor Ninja. A specialist in dreadlocks, synthetic dreads, and hair extensions, Kris spends her days rocking out killer hair from behind the chair at the Knotty Boy salon.

Really great video taking you through the creation of a beautiful short, braided style for locks.

well done new211!

How do you find the job of your dreams with dreadlocks when you hear many negative comments about them? Creating a professional image with dreadlocks is the key as well as improving your skills and work experiences.

Never judge yourself negatively because of your dreadlocks. More than anything else, they should empower you to excel and succeed in all of your endeavors including finding the job of your dreams.

Be very clear on the job you really want. Get a job description and imagine you with your dreadlocks in that position. Write down three compelling reasons you want this job or career. With living expenses, list heartfelt dreams and goals this job will help you achieve. Make it a habit of reading your reasons often. This helps to keep you motivated.

Approach the search for your dream job as a full-time job. Do something every day such as scanning online job sites, reading the classifieds in local papers, and working on your resumes. Create a job searching to-do list every night or early morning.

Be relentless in searching for the job you’ll enjoy and bring you satisfaction. Many people with dreadlocks have found rewarding jobs and careers. Get advice from them on how they got their jobs.

Before you begin to search for the job of your dreams, do a reality check. Do you have the needed experience, skills, certification, or college degree for the job? If not, figure out a way to get them. There are online courses available, local colleges in your neighborhood, and opportunities to volunteer to get experience.

Here are 5 steps to help guarantee success in finding the job of your dreams with dreadlocks.

1. Create a Personal Work Profile

- Get a notepad or open the word processor on your computer and make a list of every job and place of employment. Ensure their contact information is correct. Keep a list of dates employed and salaries of past positions.

- List all job skills and training experiences. Include degrees, completed training, certificates, and self-taught skills.

- Add accomplishments, goals achieved, and responsibilities of previous positions. Computer skills are important. Note the type of computer and software you are experienced in.

- Get references from previous employers and co-workers. Give each one a call to verify use of names, addresses, phone numbers, and availability.

2. Write a Winning Resume

- Use the information from your Personal Work Profile to create a professional resume. Get samples from the Internet, bookstores, and libraries to create effective resumes, cover letters, references, and salary history. Ask a friend or relative with the job you want to review or compare resumes.

- Create electronic copies of your resumes for sending by e-mail and posting on Internet jobsites. The two most popular forms are Microsoft Word documents and Adobe PDF.

- Keep copies of your resume with you at all times. Store them in a folder, flash drive, briefcase, car, and secretly on a computer at work. You should always be ready to hand-deliver, mail, or e-mail your resume immediately.

3. Post or Send Resumes Weekly

- Post your resumes to employment websites such as Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, local newspaper websites, and company websites.

- Send out five to ten resumes a week every week. Make sure you follow up to ensure the targeted company received your resume. If the company has not contacted you after you sent your resume, send an e-mail or call. This also gives you a chance to reassure your interest in the job.

- Keep a log with the company name, address, date, contact person, and follow-up dates.

4. Network Online and Offline

- Practice TTP (Talk To People). Broadcast the job you’re seeking to anyone and everyone you know. Strike up conversations at grocery stores, school, church, parks, or anywhere people gather. Attend job fairs, business functions, seminars, and happy hours (try not to get too happy, your purpose is to network).

- Take part in online chat rooms and discussion forums. Many are hosted by professional associations in the field or industry of the job you’re seeking. This can also be a great way to find open positions.

5. Keep a Positive Professional Image

- Set aside one good suit for interviews. Find a place to keep starched shirts, pressed suits, and shined shoes. If possible, keep interviewing clothes in a travel bag in the car.

- Groom your dreadlocks. For men, make sure you edge all facial hair such as mustaches, sideburns, and beard. Most importantly, make sure your dreadlocks are clean and fresh. Tie your dreadlocks behind your head with a black hair band.

Women can be more flexible since most companies consider long dreadlocks a female hairstyle. For both man and woman, a professional image with dreadlocks is very important. A loctician or image consultant can give you ideas on styling your dreadlocks before you go to the interview.

- Make sure the messages on your answering machine and cell phone are informative. Write a script, rehearse it, and record it several times until it’s perfect. Make sure you state your name slowly and clear. Call potential employers back as soon as you hear the message.

- Practice interview sessions. Think of potential questions the employer may ask and rehearse your answers. Practice how you sit, speak, and use eye to eye contact by sitting in front of a mirror.

Send a thank you note immediately after every interview preferably the next morning by mail or e-mail.

You must be prepared at all times. Tennis great Arthur Ashe states, “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”

Last, but not least, be bold, positive, confident, and daring. Letting your confidence show wins many points with the interviewer. Groom your dreadlocks, develop the right skills, and have a professional appearance. You will be closer to the job of your dreams.

Author: Jeffery Bradley

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Ariel came in for dreadlocks today! She popped in for a consult last week, and when she took her hair outta her cap I just about fainted. That is a lot of hair. Thankfully, she assured me she wasn’t looking for a bazillion tiny locks, so I was reasonably sure I wouldn’t have to clear my week.

So, as I had my morning caffeinebomb, and Ariel had what looked like a homemade raspberry smoothie (probably not designed to make me feel like a diabeetus-bound sugar junkie) we rehashed the day’s plan. Turns out that while she’s sticking to the plan of not getting really small dreads (phew!) she now wanted really BIG ones. Hey, no problem, I say!

Except there’s a problem.

Ariel’s a small girl. I couldn’t make her sections very big or she’d end up with twenty locks, maybe. Extra large sections can look great to start out, but once they grow out you’ve got a ton of loose hair between very few formed dreads – definitely not the “lions mane” she was looking to rock! So, like the grownups we are (well, like she is) we made a compromise. I made the sections a touch larger than i normally would, and she gave the okay to give up her length.

Normally with the techniques I use, my clients end up losing anywhere from an inch to a few inches, depending on the state of their ends – far less than in the traditional backcomb-and-wax method. Most people are happy to sport a tapered dread to keep their length, and some folks straight up prefer the softer finish. With Ariel’s hair, I backcombed far tighter than was strictly necessary to lock (pushing all her length to the scalp) where I could weave a tight, fat dread with a blunted end for consistency. We’re both totally stoked on how it turned out!

All too often, people with dreadlocks are viewed as having dirty hair or being unclean individuals. They are considered people that have this whole spiritual thing going on and have an attitude about life. Get a better understanding of dreadlocks by having some of your burning questions answered. So, what are some burning questions about dreadlocks that can be answered here?

Are dreadlocks for Rastafarians only?

Dreadlocks are for anyone that desires that hairstyle or lifestyle, as some would say. Rastafarians usually wear their hair very matted and use no type of culturing or maintenance for the upkeep. They basically wash their hair and leave it to dry and lock on its own. However, I have seen individuals that don’t consider themselves Rastafarian lock their hair the same way. It really is a personal preference for the individual. However, anyone can wear dreadlocks whether they are Black, White, Chinese, Asian, etc.

Are dreadlocks considered spiritual?

If wanting to start dreadlocks is an inner choice that is made for an individual, then I guess it can be considered spiritual. However, dreadlocks are for anyone that wants to start them. Dreadlock wearers I know just got to a certain point in their lives where they wanted to make a change. They wanted to enhance their lifestyle and it just so happen to include starting dreadlocks.

Are dreadlocks nasty and dirty?

Personally, I wash my hair 2-3 times a week because of my active lifestyle and my personal choice to have clean hair. However, some individuals prefer to leave their hair unwashed for an extended period of time (3 months or longer) to allow their hair to lock. However, this is NOT sanitary because it causes the hair to stink horribly. Many dreadlock wearers I know wash their hair every week or every two weeks, depending on what information they have been given about maintaining their dreadlocks. It’s really a matter of preference for the individual but cleaner is better, in my opinion.

Do I have to go to a dreadlock professional to get dreadlocks?

No. There is so much information available on the internet about starting dreadlocks, that I would advise an individual to do their research before spending money to go to a professional and have their hair locked. Certain dreadlock styles require a certified professional, but I would advise doing the research, saving the money and doing your hair at home.

Are Dreadlocks expensive?

Depending on what type of dreadlocks you want, the cost can vary. They can be free if you decide to do them at home like I did. However, some professionals can charge $65- $800 to start them, and $35/hr for maintenance. The higher costs come from certain micro locks that have to be installed and maintained by a certified professional that uses a special tool to start and maintain them.

Do I have styling options with dreadlocks?

Yes! I love this question because depending on the size of the dreadlock, you can have the very same styling option as someone with straight hair. For example, I can wear my hair in ponytails, pin-ups, hanging, etc. Additionally, I can roll it, wear it curly, or use a blow drier and let it hang straight down. The options are unlimited when you get the micro sized dreadlocks because they are so spongy and flexible. It really depends on the individual and how much maintenance they are willing to endure. My hair takes a lot of maintenance frequently because of the tiny locks, and the mere fact of me wanting to keep it looking fresh and stylish.

Are dreadlocks for me?

It depends on the individual. I would highly recommend considering all options and doing your research before taking the leap into dreadlocks. It takes a lot of commitment, patience and acceptance of the hairstyle and what others may think of it. I know that my hair is probably cleaner than the average dreadlock wearer because I make sure of it. However, some people may not think so because of myths they have heard about dreadlock wearers. Be sure you are ready to accept you and have confidence in your ability to look good with your dreadlock style. Not all people will accept the style and can/will judge you before they even know you, because of negative things they have heard about dreadlock wearers. Be willing to live with it and push forward. If you don’t think you are ready for some potential false judgment about this hairstyle, then it is not for you. You will know when you are ready and nothing will stop you when you get to that point.

Do your research about the dreadlock hairstyle, before making it become a part of your lifestyle. Dreadlocks become a part of who you are and should not define you, but you should define who you are. Remember, the hairstyle only compliments the individual wearing the style. Be sure you remain awesome, even with the potential change in hairstyle, and you will make it work for you!

Copyright (c) 2009 Dawgelene Sangster

Author: Dawgelene Sangster
Article Source: EzineArticles.com