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Post by EmilyBuff on Aug 30, 2014 20:54:25 GMT -6
In order to try to document the history of dread extensions, we'd like to ask everyone to share their stories of when and why they got into dread extensions. If you have any memories of "ye olde" dread extensions makers, buyers, wearers share those too.
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Post by Laylee on Aug 31, 2014 6:17:02 GMT -6
I first found out about synthetic dreads in 2000 when I went to a festival. I'd wanted dreads for years before that, but when I was at the festival I saw a girl with amazing blonde dreads. Too intimdated to go and talk to her my friend did it for me haha. The girl said they were synthetic dreads. I didn't even know you could have dreads that weren't real (?) then! After that I started to pay more attention to the alt hair world and was really inspired by cybergoths. I don't, and have never, looked like a cyber goth, but I always admired them. Maybe because their look was so extreme and ballsy. I also used to lurk on HEF and read all the info I could on natural and synthetic dreads. I would look at all the pictures of dreads that people made, and photos of all the gorgeous girls wearing them. They looked so happy and sure of themselves, and I wished I could be like that. I kept finding reasons not to get dreads though. I even went to see Gracey (I think it was early 2008) when she still had her Wool Hair Habit shop above Red Sea Tattoo on Oxford Rd in Manchester, UK. I worked in a chippy at the time, so that was my excuse again!! I'd always been bullied at home and at school so in all honesty I was just scared that i'd attract more negative attention because of society's misconceptions about dreads. In 2009 I did get some dread falls though. Black, platinum blonde, turquoise, and purple gorgeousness. I got them from a girl on Myspace who was a go-go dancer for the big hard dance events and made falls on the side. I don't remember her name unfortunately but she lives round Norwich way and was really nice! Of course I never had the guts to wear them. I lived in Bristol, UK, at the time, where EVERYONE seems to have dreads, all natural dreads though, so I was scared of what people would think if I came out with synthetics. I wore them in my room and took some selfies. I showed them to a friend at the time to ask their opinion on if I suited them or not and one thing I will always remember them saying is "You look sooo happy!" Fast-forward to 2014. Nightmare of a year in every way possible!!! But because I've gone through so many ups and downs this year I think that's what pushed me to finally get dreads! I remember thinking "F**k this! I'm sick of watching everyone else have all the fun!" So I contacted Merry and ordered my first set! It's a gorgeous set of natural colours, and I've recently ordered some accent kits too because I fancy some colour. So will be getting one accent kit of reds and one of turquoise and purples (I told her to do whatever she wants so can't really describe them haha). I got my dreads installed by Gracey in July. I instantly felt so much better about myself. That night, despite everyone saying you'll have the worst nights sleep ever when you first get dreads in, I actually slept like a baby, and woke up the next day happpier than i'd been all year. I felt like I wasn't hiding anymore, I felt comfortable in my own skin for the first time in my life, and like I wasn't trying to blend in and be someone I wasn't. I thought it would attract negative attention, and sure people do stare alot and sometimes mutter something, but when I'm out in the streets and clock people staring all I can think is "You're staring because you don't have the balls to look like this!" And it's true. People just want to blend in because it's easier. Just like I did in all the years spent procrastinating about getting dreads. Negative comments come from people who are envious that you have the courage to be yourself and stand out from the crowd. It takes guts to be yourself in a world where everyone is being bombarded with media images that tell them they should be someone else. So big up to all the dreaded beauties out there who have the balls to stick their middle finger up to society's idea of beauty and are living life by their own rules. PS. I'm sorry that I sound so insecure in this post. I know it must be annoying to read if you're a ballsy dreadhead! But that really was me up until this year. Just an insecure, self-conscious wreck. Funny how a hair style can change all that though hey?!
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Post by rivetlicker on Sept 15, 2014 3:12:05 GMT -6
Don't worry, we were all once afraid of being different! A certain popular beauty blogger *cough Biohazardous Beauty cough* was a MySpace friend of mine many years ago because of our NIN fandom. She posted some pics from her Halloween dread falls that she made and linked me to Cypherlox, where I promptly bought my first pair of goggles. I still have them. I had a job at the time and pretty much disposed as much cash as possible to become a Cybergoth. It's all her fault! I had seen a lot of Cybergoths around before I knew it was a thing, this had to have been when I was still 17 and studying music. I had classes with a few goths and saw a lot of them around campus. Back in those days, dreads were expensive and super secret. In 2007, I made my first TERRIBLE dread falls. I kept practicing and improving when I found the LJ dread communities, Quinnsters and the Heavenly Hair forums. It took ages to join HH, but I made it in! After I had lost my job, I got a decent tax return and invested a significant proportion of it to buy hair supplies. I then started selling, but I got really sick, so I had to stop. I started making tutorials in 2008. I went HD in 2013. Stupid Biohazardous Beauty, ALL HER FAULT! AND NOW SHE HAS ME INTO MAKEUP AND I'M DYING HERE. www.facebook.com/BiohazardousBeauty
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Post by Laylee on Oct 18, 2014 7:47:14 GMT -6
Are cyber goths mostly responsible for how popular synthetic dreads became? I've always loved the gas masks and goggles, especially the masks! What ideas were behind cyber goth hair styles?
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Post by rivetlicker on Oct 29, 2014 1:58:18 GMT -6
Are cyber goths mostly responsible for how popular synthetic dreads became? I've always loved the gas masks and goggles, especially the masks! What ideas were behind cyber goth hair styles?
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