Preparing your mind for dreadlocks

Are you ready for dreadlocks? Dreads are awesome but, like a pet (that you wear on your head), you really have to commit cause, like a pet, they need lotsa love and time for maintenance when they are new.

BTW, if you're new to dreads and you like videos check out Dread Vlog 1, it talks about what you should know before you dread, good stuff...

 There are some things you should know and be aware of before you jump into your dreadlocks journey.

First you gotta relax and realize that dreadlocks are more of a process or journey than a one day, do it all at once kinda thing. It's like being in a band, you've gotta do a little work everyday to keep up with it. Dreads have ups and downs as they mature. Some days everything is looking suh-weet and some days they look....well....crappy. The bonus here is that mature dreads ALWAYS look good, so no more bad hair days :)

The next thing you should know is that people will probably see your dreadlocks before they see you. Yep, just like judging a movie by the dvd case. (this approach works far better with movies than w/ people) The point is that some people are going to have a preconceived notion of what a person with dreads is like and if that notion is negative it's up to you to change it.

Next, in a lot of places dreadlocks are somewhat novel, you might be one of the few people they've ever seen with dreads. Naturally, they will have lots of really awkward questions, like "Do you wash your hair?". I mean under most circumstances that would be down right rude! So you need to be prepared for this. They will ask how you started them, what you put in them (and usually this is the most surprising one, because most people think about toothpaste, poop, and peanut butter). You will get better at answering these questions over time. But sometimes it can be really hard not to completely lose it ROTFL at what people come up with.

Another thing you should know is why you are getting dreadlocks. There is no right or wrong reason for dreadlocks, so don't let anyone convince you that their reason is "better" than yours. And there is also no right or wrong way to make dreadlocks, so don't let anyone convince you that one method is better than another. There are only easy and hard ways to make dreadlocks, but it's your choice on how you want to make them and how much time it takes for them to lock up. What really mattes is what you want and what works for you. Some people get dreads for a spiritual reason, some for fashion, and some because their just a hardcore juggalo. Whatever your reason, stand by it, and be prepared to back it up.

BTW, Since dreadlocks are a journey that your starting, a changing point, now is a great time to start other journeys that have been on your mind. Take up rock climbing, learn another language, or quit smoking. Now's the best time to start.