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Dreadeversary #10

This past week marks my first decade being a dreadhead. 10 years. Wow.

A few years back, just got maintenance!

I love my locs. They are an integral part of me. I can’t imagine me without them anymore.

Salmonfest locs!

While Cletus was here she colored two of my locs with henna. They’ve turned a lovely shade of fiery red. I wouldn’t mind a whole head of them this color!!

Red dread.

They are in need of maintenance again but that will have to wait for spring.

Happy Dreadeversary to me!

#dreads #dreadhead #locstolove

A Story Of Locs and Things

Last January (2020) my Loc Lady was back home for a visit (she moved out of state a while back) and I happily made the trip up to Eagle River to meet her for maintenance. Mo rode with me and we had a good time on the drive up. It’s quite the drive, about 3 1/2 hours.

Since COVID hit my Loc Lady hasn’t been able to come back and we’re not sure when she’ll be able to. So I’m stuck with unruly, messy locs that I keep covered up for the most part. A year and a half is way to long to go between maintenance me thinks!

Fast forward to a friend of a friend knowing a gal that does Loc maintenance in Wasilla. So I’ve got an appointment for maintenance, day after tomorrow, and decided that I needed to do a deep clean. Gosh it’s been too long since I did the last one. 🤔 Even though I wash my hair weekly, I’m not exactly sure when that last deep clean was to tell the truth.

So I settled into my shower basin and started soaking my locs in a baking soda solution, (for those curious creatures), for about 15 minutes

Then I rinsed with an ACV solution.

Then a good rinse with fresh water and finally a lemon juice-essential oil rinse.

It will take a day for these babies to dry thoroughly. However, I feel better already.

Now I’m all ready for my new Loc Lady to work her magic! Can’t wait for beautiful locs that I don’t have to cover up.

Thing 1 is riding up with me this time. We had planned this road trip for her birthday but we had to reschedule. We’re looking forward to the mother/daughter time and I have a special surprise for her birthday!! Shhhh, don’t tell!!!

Expect pics to follow!

#aklife #dreadlocks #locs #dreadhead #reallife #thisisme

Dreadiversary

I started this dreadful journey some years back in 2011. I can’t believe that it has been 4 years now. A lot has changed in those 4 years!

I’ve learned a few things along the way:

  • Some people do not like dreadlocks, and feel as if they need to tell you, as if it matters to you if a perfect stranger disapproves of you life.
  • Some people do like dreadlocks, and enthusiastically tell you, young and old, male and female.
  • A person can look nice and well groomed with dreadlocks or without them.
  • A person can look like hell warmed over with dreadlocks or without them.
  • Dreadlocks are not just a hairstyle. It isn’t something that you change on a whim. It is an investment. A lifestyle.
  • Dreadlocks are a lot of work! Ha! What was I thinking??
  • Dreadlocks are awesome. I already knew this, but now I have lived it.
  • Fabulous people have dreadlocks! 😉

Some of the things I’ve heard over the years:

  • “I don’t like dreadlocks for me, but they are fine for you.” ~ Lil Bit, age 6
  • “Tiger lady” ~by an elderly gentleman.
  • “Is that her real hair?” In a loud “whisper” by a lady.
  • “I love your hair” ~by many people over the years
  • “I’m jealous of your hair” ~tatted young dude at the gas station just the other day.
  • “I really like your hair” ~by a little girl in a church youth group just last night.
  • “If I had hair, I would have dreadlocks.” ~a man in line at the bank with short cropped bright yellow hair. We went on to become acquainted thanks to small town, social media, and hair!

I have had far more positive reactions to my dreadlocks than I have negative. The negative comes mostly in stares and upturned noses. Their loss. You don’t go on a dread journey to win a public opinion contest.

If I could do it all over again… I think that I would tell myself to doooo eeeeet  much earlier than what I did. So instead of 4 years of locked living, I could be like a decade now. 🙂

So thanks to those of you who have helped me on my journey: Amanda who knotted me up, my sister, my mom and Thing 1 for countless hours of maintenance. And for all of you beautiful people out there with locks who inspired me. ❤

Dreads on the Kenai

Dreads on the Kenai