I am. I think it is appropriate and somewhat necessary in order to fulfill my assignment as expert on all things Jamaican.
So here's my first step: Get the dreadlocks started.
Hooray! A reason to neglect my hair for a while. I am not a big fan of my hair. It frustrates me daily. So I'm giving dreads a try. My first instinct was to just do nothing to my hair (maybe wash it once in a while) and let the dreads just come on their own. That seemed like the easiest route to take. After doing some research online, I discovered that this method actually has a name. It's called the Neglect method. It can take up to a year to establish the dreadlocks and they may not even look like dreadlocks during that time. I want dreadlocks, not bedhead for a year.
On to Plan B.
Backcombing. Sounds easy.
Or I could try Twist and Rip, Twist and Pin, Twisting, Dread Braiding, or Brush Rubbing.
So many choices. Twist and Rip sounds painful. I don't want to have to buy pins so Twist and Pin is out. Twisting sounds like it might be easier than Backcombing. I'm pretty sure Dread Braiding involves professional help and I'm not sure I can find a salon that specializes in dreadlocks in Utah County. Maybe if I tried. That would be work though and I'm just looking for easy at this point. Brush Rubbing sounds like I'll need to buy a special brush. I'm not down with that either.
So Backcombing it is. I know. Twisting sounded easy too but I thought I'd give Backcombing a try since it's first when you put them all in alphabetical order.
All I need is residue-free shampoo (since the best way to ruin your dreads is not washing them), a metal comb and some rubber bands. I think I might be able to find all that stuff around the house. Well, maybe not a metal comb. I do have a few cat brushes that are metal.
If I like the results I might just invest in some DreadHead wax for maintenance. If I'm not happy (and I can't imagine that happening) then I have several options for getting rid of the dreaded dreads.
Shave my head bald. Again, this sounds like the easiest way to go. I choose this one.
Cut the dreads to about 3 inches. Then soak them in VO5 conditioner and comb them out. That sounds like a lot of work and pain. Plus, do they even still make VO5 conditioner?
Soak my whole head in VO5 conditioner and comb it out. My research stated that this could take several hours. Work, pain and time. Probably not going to happen. Plus, I hate my hair. Why waste time on it?
I was a little worried at first about how I might look with dreadlocks. I found out on www.howtodread.com that dreadlocks look very nice on Caucasians. Good to know. I'm sold. The best part about all of this is that if I have any questions the internet can't answer for me, all I have to do is call my big sister. She used to have dreads. I once asked her why. She said she got tired of brushing her hair.
That's a good enough reason as any. I can't wait to feel the ocean breeze flowing through my gorgeous dreads.
Not dreadful at all. Thanks Uncle Bim and Aunt Bim.
