[IMPORTANT UPDATE >>Don't Use Dreadlock Wax<< ]
Well, I ordered a new pot of wax, this time from Knotty Boy, but there was still probably a week to go before it arrived. The lack of wax started to show in the form of a lot of long loose wispy tips and increasing scruffiness. My dreads didn’t look too bad though; I was more concerned about them in principle, knowing that really they should have a lot more wax on them to train all the stray hairs into the dreads.
Reasons Not to Run Out of Wax:
They Still Rock Though 
Oh yeah, the little dreads at the sides. Remember they originally had an elastic band at each end and looked really stupid, and I said we had taken them out and re-backcombed them without elastics….well they survived washing, somehow, despite being so tiny and comprised of virtually no hair. Here’s a pic of them before they went through the wash, I think, looking very beefy and tough. They’ve thinned and stretched a little now, but nevertheless meet the all-important criteria of still being there! 
I’ve removed nearly all the elastic bands now. Even when the dreads seem a bit delicate or like they’re starting to unravel from the tips, if you have a go at actually undoing one you will see there is a big difference between fragility and imminent collapse. Reassured, I decided that in the end the loose bits are more likely to knot themselves back up if they can move around.
No Wax = No Fun
With no more wax left, I really wanted to avoid washing my hair again until more had arrived but it was just too long to wait. Three-week-old dreadlocks probably shouldn’t be left waxless. Mine certainly didn’t enjoy it and neither did I. Had to spend ages palmrolling and tip-rubbing them after washing as they were the loosest they’d been and the tips were all over the place. Even after hours of maintenance to get them as solid as I could, I still basically had a head of floppy frizz. Here’s a pic where you can see the palm-rolled and tip-rubbed group on my right side, compared to the bunched up ones that are still a mess. The palm-rolling etc helps but is no replacement for a nice lump of sturdy dreadlock wax.
And yesterday my nice big new pot of Knotty Boy Dread Wax finally arrived Yay! I gave my dreads another wash to freshen them up (which really made them look desperate) before coating them in lots of waxy goodness.
My Dreads Clinging On For Dear Life
Bees Are Cool
…and so are well-waxed dreads In fact, I think I maybe over-did the wax again this time. But I applied it really sparingly. This Knotty Boy stuff is definitely a bit different to the Dread Head HQ version, so maybe that’s why (more on that subject in a later post). Still, after way too long without wax (ok it was only a few days but it felt like aaages) I’d rather be over- than under-waxed right now. Felt a bit uncomfortable with the greasy solid spikes look, so had my first sleekly tied back day:
Who Needs Pantene Anyway?
[IMPORTANT UPDATE >>Don't Use Dreadlock Wax<< ]
Comments
Comment: from b
Time: November 7, 2008, 4:21 pm
Your dreads are clinging on for dear life because you have clearly FUSSED THEM TO DEATH. Dreads need time and your ..root (or lack thereof) situation is only going to get worse. Leave them alone or they WILL fall out, EEK!. Real dreads at 3 weeks should look a mess. Wax is going to hold your hair tight, restricting movement and in turn restricting knotting. Your dreads will take forever to hold using wax and you will use more and more and more because your dreads are not dreading! You may not think that its that bad - yet… You will never get wax out of your dreads, the product may say that its removed by hot water. This is partly true, some is removed, some is melted deeper into the dread where you will NEVER get it out. You apply more, and more is melted deeper. Still not bad enough? It gets worse. After sufficient time (maybe a year? maybe more or less) the wax stuck in your dreads is going to dry out -completely like clay - you are going to have hard rods of gnarly rough hair sticking out of your head, some will be bent and not really straighten - I think you get the picture. There are ways around this - you can stop using wax and do your best from here to get rid of ALL of the wax in your dreads, if you keep washing your dreads with hot water they will loosen and you should be able to remove it all while still keeping your seperations intact. Keep in mind that people you see with dreadlocks have either a) seperated and neglected their hair (still wash it, but use soap and no conditioner, backcomb to start if you need to) b) used wax and have only had their dreads a short time (they look good because theyre smashed together with wax) or c) used wax and kept their rock hard dreads until there was enough growth to cut the tips off and finally have real dreads. There is of course the other very large group who just cut their dreads off when they were shocked what they turned in to.
I’m not trying to scare you or dishearten you, I am genuinely worried that you are wasting your time, money and beautiful hair!
Dread wax is a scam - do some surfing (knottylocks forum is a good place to start)
It is used by salons to create “instant dreads” - these are not permanent, as i said before the wax actually stops it from dreading. Like any store or any product - the aim is to make MONEY so theyd be absolutely stupid and out of their mind to tell their potential customers what it actually does to dreads.
The best thing you can do for your dreads is to leave them alone (assuming you dont have any wax in them already), and avoid all residual products (shampoos) find a natural non residual shampoo if you can or you can use soap which will dry your hair (not damage) and help knotting (remember dreads are knots). You can condition once your dreads are well formed but is not really necessary.
Oh one more thing sorry this is so big - wax will make your dreads impossible to dry completely (which you should make a point of doing every time you get them wet), meaning they will be wet inside for extended periods leading to mold and mildew, funky smells and.. you guessed it, cutting your dreads off.
Check out the KnottyLocks forum, there are TONS of people who have been through this and lots of dreadies with lots of useful advice. And unlike KB or DHHQ wax - It’s free so you know its not a scam.
Comment: from Amy
Time: November 7, 2008, 6:12 pm
hey thanks for the big concern! only…if you had read on a bit further you’d see i’m over four months into my dreads and quit wax a while back! lol
yes, it did make all the difference
thanks for the good advice though, i’m sure it will help other people reading this
Comment: from Katie
Time: January 20, 2009, 4:53 am
I think your dreads turned out awesome. I hope you are still rockin the bed head! I like your style, let the haters hate. Somebody has to do it. LOL
PEACE
Comment: from Herefordshire Deradlock Girl
Time: March 13, 2009, 2:49 pm
Hi,
I went back to dreads in Dec 08 after a year back with normal hair. Till Dec07 I had dreads for 4.5 years and I successfully brushed them out! Took ages and I cant believe I got rid of my beautiful long blonde dreads! I soo want them back now!! My hair is similar length and condition to yours so its great to see someone else having the same issues. I have given up waxing as they are ‘on their way’ & are presently full of bobbles and a bit wild, but i know they will settle further in a few months. Miss the length though, having to wear them in bunches as they are too wild for my job if left au naturel!!
Kind Regards from Herefordshire Dreadlock Girl
Comment: from alisha
Time: May 6, 2009, 3:09 am
um…im new to this whole dreadlock thing but um.. do you think its possible to do dreads in the back of your head instead of in the front[or your whole head]?
Comment: from Amy
Time: May 6, 2009, 6:38 am
Hi Alisha,
You can have dreads wherever you want. You’d need to mind not to catch them when brushing any un-dreaded hair, but yeh, it’s your hair so you can do what you like
Comment: from Rob
Time: August 21, 2009, 6:12 pm
hey don’t use wax as an excuse to hold your hair together, there’s other ways you can keep new dreads together like a crochet hook, youtube some videos and learn how to use one right and it’s better than wax could ever be, plus your dreads will feel more natural
Comment: from Frog Vagina
Time: January 28, 2010, 1:04 am
Paragraphs are not there for show, they are there because it separates topics and make it easier for the person to read especially on a screen.
Who honestly wants to read line after line of information please if you read this heed advise and make it simple.
(this is a comment for everyone to read. Not the publisher of the no wax bit)
Comment: from Amy
Time: January 28, 2010, 10:20 am
Erm thanks Vagina…! lol
Comment: from fin
Time: March 4, 2010, 9:31 pm
i want dreads my mum is phoning up now for some help because my hair is so messy
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