I started these locks 21 months ago, they have matured so well. A joy to work on them today.
Tidy Up Fri 7th Aug ’20
homage
Tidy Up 4th Aug ’20
Today’s tidy up. Wonderful afternoon spent outside on the stern, Tom watching fish swimming at the water surface and spotting Kingfisher darting about the bank. Great to catch up with this top chap.
We’ve not washed our locks for 2 years!
May 2018 we stopped washing our locks and so far, for both of us, scalp, new hair growth and the locks, have never been healthier, look or felt better.
The first 3 months was about breaking the cycle of washing, which to be honest, wasn’t difficult. The first 3 months both heads went from dry and itchy to oily. The 4th month, everything calmed down and balanced out, scalps and new hair growth began to look and feel healthy. Jumping forward to the present day, Philip’s and my locks look and feel great, we are happy with the result and will continue, not washing.
We didn’t do any research or follow any guidelines, we simply used common sense.
- We both have active jobs. Philip works outside in a dusty, dirty environment. I have a physical job and again a lot of my day is outdoors. Philip uses a head-tube to protect his locks, I tie back and put my locks up and out of the way.
- Sweat. When not at work, we allow the locks be free so air can circulate. It is necessary to regularly maintain the locks stopping them from matting and clotting together. It is important we check each other’s scalp and locks regularly, to make sure that the scalp is healthy and the locks do not smell, so far they haven’t.
- It rains a lot in the UK, we live on a boat, moving every 14 days, come rain or shine. We have to chop wood, carry water plus other jobs to do with sustainable living. Living day to day, we do not let our locks get wet or damp, especially in the winter. Philip’s and my locks are very long and dense, takes all day for both heads of locks to dry, so to prevent them from getting musty and mouldy, we protect them from rain and the damp outdoors.
- When we go swimming, we rinse the locks in clean water only. Obviously only swim in the warmer season, locks dry much quicker and thoroughly from the sun.
- We do not put any oils on our scalp. After almost 24 months of letting the scalp and hair do it’s natural thing, we don’t need to.
- From day one, at no time, did Philip’s or my locks smell!
Why did we do this? We wanted to at least give it a go, worst case scenario, we would have to wash our locks again. Not being fans of cosmetics, we began to feel passionate about letting hair self clean, results are amazing. We do believe ,for us that is, that the washing with soaps, was more of a contribution to itchy heads, dry skin and oily hair.
This blog entry is by no means an effort to persuade peeps, to stop washing their hair, this is simply, Philip’s and my experience, and we would like to share it with you.
Fresh locks with blunt ends 8th March ‘20
Fresh locks, with blunted ends. Amazing day, privilege to start these locks for spirit of true courage. An inspiring day, thank you for trusting me.
My locks
Cultivating my own locks for approx 12 years, no hair extensions. Patience is a Virtue.
Fresh locks 1st March ‘20
Fresh locks today, love the transformation and the happiness in self expression through change. Look forward to the first tidy up in 3 months.
Tidy up 28th Feb ‘20
Installed these partial locks 3 years ago, wonderful to see how well they have matured.
Unregulated Trade In Human Hair For Extensions ~ Human Exploitation
I will not get involved With Hair Extensions………..
Initially, this blog entry was to inform mostly, on the subject of Sādhana (commitment to spiritual life, the means of realisation), and why I will not get involved with hair extensions. Since learning more about the human hair extension industry and it not being humanely regulated, then it is far more important to prioritise and begin this blog entry, regarding the industry’s exploitation.
No One Asks Questions
Where is the hair coming from?
Who donated their hair?
Is the hair from an adult or a child?
Was the hair cut/shaved as a religious offering?
Those having their hair cut/shaven as a religious offering, do they know that their hair is being sold for profit?
Is the religious profit going back into the community?
Did they donate willingly?
Is a hair broker involved, are they FairTrade, did they pay a fair price to the individual for their hair?
Was the hair cut from someone living or deceased?
Despite a label, can you be 100% sure, the hair is human hair?
I have listed the links below to help you.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jun/25/india.theobserver
http://www.markglenn.com/news/where-human-hair-extensions-come-from-india-children-pay-the-price
India & Thailand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlZ1SWLBfPE&t=616s
China
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/national/black-gold/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4grRL7eB9vA
India & Russia
Venezuela
Ukraine
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/28/hair-extension-global-trade-secrets
Sādhana
I will not get involved with hair extensions of any kind, that includes extensions that are already installed. I lock hair purely for spiritual reasons, things such as hair extensions, contradict the ancient teachings to which I have committed my life and live daily.
Asmitā
Asmitā translated: ‘I’ amness, which relates to the Ego and is listed second in line, as one of the five afflictions that cause suffering. The ancient teachings guide us towards recognising all five afflictions, however for the benefit of this blog entry, we will remain focused on Ego. The teachings help us to know when the Ego benefits us or not. Vanity grows from Ego, which does not benefit and inevitably causes disappointment and unhappiness.
I appreciate, that when one chooses to lock up their hair, the initial installation and subsequent months of maturing, will challenge Vanity. The ‘wanting’, for one’s locks to look and feel amazing from day one, can be consuming, leading us to make decisions, that result in internal regret. Therefore, please allow me to bring to the surface, some important considerations before making a costly commitment.
Dharma
Patience is a Virtue. The Goal is not the focus, the focus is *why, *how and *what happens, as one illuminates towards the goal and ……. this needs patience. Your hair will grow long enough for you to lock up, then over weeks, months and years, your fresh locks will reach the mature goal, of this there is no doubt.
*Why, and maintaining the integrity and the essence of Why.
*How, this is the hardest part, this is patience.
*What, we learn about ourself as we grow and mature.
Sanskrit word for Virtue is Dharma. Dharma translates, ‘essential qualities: highest duty’. Dharma is how we act in the present moment and is a product of our personal Karma. Karma is a product from past memories.
Ahimsā
A moral observance that is a great vow, Ahimsā translates as ‘non-harming’. There are no ethics in the hair extension industry and its trade, it is pure human exploitation. Please read the opening of this blog.
Science
Hair is used in scientific research in the context of DNA, to find out about the genetic make up of the person the hair came from.
Karmagenes ~ There is also a DNA for characteristics, ie, the inherited personality traits of a grandparent. Scientific research is now being done to investigate characteristic DNA and the links to mental illness. Also comes under the umbrella of Epigenetics.
Mysticism
A Shaman practice; in order to take on the characteristics of their spirit animal, the Shaman wore the skin/fur/feathers of the animal. Therefore, if one is wearing the hair of another human ………
Recent fresh locks and tidy-ups Aug to Dec 2017 #jatadreads #dreadlocks
A few of the heads I’ve done from August to December 2017
Important Fee Notice
I’d like to begin with saying a huge thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their JataDread journey. I am sorry that I have to do this but my hourly rate will be increasing to £20 as off 1st January 2018. I don’t like having to do this but my study fees have also increased and I use all the money I earn from locking hair to pay for my Yoga studies. I hope you all understand.
Yogashanti
JataDreads 