Alright, so you’re curious about getting dreads in Portland, huh? Lemme tell ya, it was a bit of a journey, not just a quick salon trip. I’d been kicking the idea around for ages, probably longer than I should admit. Finally, I decided, yeah, let’s do this. Portland seemed like the kind of place where you could find someone good, you know? Artistic, a bit alternative. Or so I thought.
Finding the “Right” Person
First up, I dove into the search. Man, oh man. You’d think in Portland, with its reputation, finding a decent loctician would be a piece of cake. Wrong. I scoured the internet, asked around, peeked at so many Instagram profiles my eyes started to blur. Everyone seemed to be a “natural hair specialist” or a “dreadlock guru.” But then you’d see some questionable work, or the prices would make your jaw drop. I mean, I was prepared to invest, but some quotes were just wild.
I messaged a few places. Some never got back to me. Others were booked out for months. It felt like trying to get into an exclusive club or something. I almost gave up, thinking maybe it wasn’t meant to be. Then, a friend of a friend mentioned someone they vaguely knew who did them on the side, more low-key. I figured, what the heck, let’s check it out.
The Big Day (or, Several Hours)
So I booked an appointment. The day came, and I was a mix of excited and nervous. The actual process? Well, settle in, because it took forever. I mean, literally hours. I sat there while my hair was sectioned, twisted, and coaxed into what would hopefully become dreads. My scalp wasn’t exactly thrilled, let me tell you. There were moments I was definitely questioning my life choices.
The person doing them was nice enough, we chatted a bit, but mostly it was just the sound of hair being worked on. I tried to read, fiddled with my phone, but eventually, I just sort of zoned out. You really gotta be patient for this stuff. It’s not like getting a quick trim, that’s for sure.
- Sectioning: This part alone felt like it took an age. So precise.
- Twisting/Backcombing: Ouch. Not gonna lie. Some parts were more sensitive than others.
- Waiting: Just sitting there, feeling the pull.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it was done. I looked in the mirror. It was… different. Definitely a shock at first. My head felt tight, and the new dreads were sticking out all over the place. Kinda like a baby porcupine, if I’m being honest. But they were there. I’d done it.
Living With Them: The Real Deal
Then came the real learning curve. Washing them for the first time was an adventure. They tell you about residue-free shampoo and all that, but actually doing it? Whole different ball game. And the drying! Oh boy, they hold so much water. I walked around with a damp head for what felt like days.
Maintenance is another thing they don’t always spell out fully. It’s not just “wake up and go.” There’s palm rolling, managing new growth, dealing with frizz. I spent a good amount of time just figuring out what worked for my hair and my new style. Some days they looked awesome, other days, well, let’s just say it was a “hat day.”
Portland was an interesting place to have them, though. Got a few nods of approval, some curious stares. Mostly, people just went about their business, which was fine by me. I wasn’t doing it for anyone else, really. It was something I wanted to try for myself.
So, yeah, that was my dreads Portland experience. It was a process, full of ups and downs, and a lot more work than I initially thought. Would I do it again? Ask me in a year. Right now, I’m still just getting used to them. It’s definitely a commitment, not just a hairstyle. That’s the real takeaway I got from all this.
