arrays-of-art asked: First of all, I'm in love with this blog, thank you so much for taking the time to answer all our questions! My question is, what's your input on the twist and rip method? I only have a few, I combined both backcombing and the twist and rip. Also, I have to keep rubber bands on my roots, as I have extremely smooth straight asian hair, and I'm afraid the roots won't lock up :/ Thank you again!

Get those bands out of your hair RIGHT NOW. Like, NOW. Don’t even finish reading this first! Rubberbands are pretty much the number one way to keep your roots from knotting. Rubberbands hold the hair tight together, so it cannot move. If it cannot move, there is no friction, & your hair doesn’t knot. Period. Are they out of your hair yet?

I have the exact same hair texture as you. It is naturally bone-straight, silky, heavy, can’t even hold a curl. Like a blonde china doll. & it absolutely, 100% can, will, & did knot. Without anything in it at all. 

Okay. Moving forward. You’re very welcome, & thank you.

Personally, I despise R&T. It tears & breaks your hair, so you are starting off with weak dreads from the beginning. It also doesn’t blend nicely with new growth, because it looks odd & “braided” instead of like smooth ropes of knotted hair. Because of the way it knots, it is very difficult to remove later (so you’re more likely to shave your head, instead of comb out your dreads should you ever tire of them). So…based on my personal dislike of the aesthetic & that it’s really not good for your hair, I wouldn’t recommend it.