Comfortable roach ties?

[Str8Dancer49]

Hey all..... what do you guys use to tie on your roach?

I used to use the stick through the third braid, but recently switched to ties for 3 reasons - 1) too many years of abusin' my scalp lock is gettin me a bit thin up there, 2) I got a 3 year old son, and it's just faster to get everybody dressed if I don't have to worry about braiding my third braid, and 3) some of my new accoutrements for my roach just look better with it sitting a bit higher up on my head like it does when tied on.

However, after the last couple of dances when I tied on my roach, my neck just looks rugged - dang look like I got a bad case of "Haskell rash." The ties I have are just rubbing lines into my throat. I got what I tought were fairly soft but thin shoe laces, but still look like I got attacked by a hickey queen!

I'm trying to avoid leather ties, as those just won't last w/ sweat, and will just get crusty and rub me raw again...

Any suggestions? What do you guys use to tie on your roach? Comfort is the key idea here.... (of course that's a relative term when you're tying strings around your own throat! haha)

[shinobmatt]

try tying it looser or as loose as you can go it doesn't hafta to be hickey tight to stay on. i use both methods for my roach it just depends on how much time i got to get ready.and you just gotta find the strings that you like best. top string needs to be tight but the bottom string around your neck can be looser. hope this is helpful

[CHEROSAGE]

I use regular t-shoe shoelaces. Usually in blue but has been in white, such as now.

I have one lace attached to the spreader which ties under the chin. The other lace is attached to the roach about the back of the head. It is placed about ear high as the roach sits on my head, centered. The back tie loops around the front lace and ties in the back of the head. It is not necessary to tie the back one very tight but the front one should be snug. Don't cut off the circulation ato your face.

Just an idea and some thoughts.

[Historian]

I use the scalplock braid and a roach pin method to anchor the roach, and the end of the roach is tied around my neck with a flat, cotton, sneaker (tennis shoe) lace.

I know this one dancer, who attached strips of velcro to the end of his roach, and when they wrapped around his neck, it looked like a sidesitched choker, cause he had painted the outside surface of the velcro in a beadwork pattern. It looked interesting, but I don't know how well it worked.

[Ron S]

I tie mine the same way as Cherosage. I use thick (wide) athletic tennis shoe laces available at Walmart. I once tried the synthetic boot laces. Tore me up! Not recommended!
Ron

[1badazzndn]

A roach maker just told me what he uses- braintan buckskin. he says its more comfortable than anything hes ever tried. im havent tried it yet, but i may for my back tie.

[ADcRezFamily]

A roach maker just told me what he uses- braintan buckskin. he says its more comfortable than anything hes ever tried. im havent tried it yet, but i may for my back tie.

Same thing I've always heard.

[Historian]

There's only one drawback from using brain-tanned deer-hide thongs for roach ties. When they get soaked with sweat (that is assuming that you dance hard enough to work up some sweat), they will stretch and the roach will become loose. So although brain-tanned deer-hide thongs may be comfortable, you may have to re-tie the roach from time to time.

[walela49]

do they still stretch if you cut across the grain instead of along the grain...that's the way i make my crown ties (across the grain)...but the backs of girls' heads hopefully aren't sweaty like that! lol