Dreadlocks are a low maintenance,
highly rewarding hairstyle. Forget the stupid stereotypes that dreadlocks are ‘dirty’ or you should wash them ‘rarely’, dirty dreadlocks do not dread properly and are horrible!
The most important thing to remember is that a clean
dreadlock is a healthy one!
After lots of trial and error, I
have found a cleaning routine that works perfectly for me. I have tried so many
different hair products that it has burned a big hole in my pocket. My easy
guide will show you how to effectively care for your dreads, without breaking
the bank. The only products I now use are shampoo, conditioner and oil sheen which
total around £7.50 altogether.
- Use a ‘natural’ shampoo or one
with the most natural ingredients as these won’t leave residue (build up) in
your hair or on your scalp. The residue will clog your pores and follicles and
result in an itchy flaky scalp; this will slow down your hair growth and the
ability for your hair to dread properly.
- Avoid using products aimed specifically ad dreadlocks. I know this sounds stupid but trust me...they are full of chemicals which do no good for your hair. Everyone I have spoken to who has locs warns me about this.Just stick to natural, affordable products. Dreadlocks are a natural hairstyle so why laden your hair with horrible chemicals? Its just another niche market for businesses to exploit thats why products such as KnottyBoy and Dreadhead HQ are so expensive.Dont even get me started on these companies!! (Ill talk about this in another post!)
- The shampoo I was recommended (by
a lady with gorgeous, long, perfect dreads) was Mane ‘n Tail. She said it works wonders, its affordable and it leaves no residue.
If you suffer from dry scalp, you should try the anti-dandruff version.
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-You can also try is Dr. Bonner’s Shampoos and Conditioners; I heard they’re
really good for dreadlocks!
- Only start using conditioner once
your dreadlocks have matured. Conditioner is used to moisturise and de-tangle hair…you don’t want to
detangle baby locs!
- If your dreads are new,
especially the twist-ins, you should wash your hair gently to avoid your hair unravelling.
A good tip that I followed, was to use a stocking cap (or for a free
alternative, just cut off the legs of a pair of tights and use the top section)
on your head and massage the shampoo through your hair. Repeat as necessary. Make
sure you rinse your hair thoroughly too.
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| A stocking cap |
- No one knows your hair better than you so wash your hair as frequently as you need too. I tend to 2-3 times a week.
- If you have an active lifestyle and work out
often, wash your very regularly to avoid sweat build up.
- Gently towel dry your hair by
squeezing your locs, this will get rid of excess moisture. You can air-dry you
hair from there or blow dry your hair on a medium heat.
Make sure your hair is completely
dry to avoid mildrew/mould. This is rare but it can happen in medium/thick locs.
To avoid this, blow dry your hair to the point where you think its dry then
blow dry it for a further 10-12 minutes just to make sure!
- Avoid thick hair oils and crèmes.
These contain many residues and chemicals which, contrary to what it says on
the bottle, will dry you scalp and clog up your hair and trust me they do.
Instead use a light oil sheen* such as ‘Luster’s Pink’ or ‘ORC’s Olive Oil
Sheen Spray’ in your hair and gently massage it into your scalp (Apparently the massaging action will help
increase bloodflow into your scalp and aid hair growth). The best ones have SPF/Sunscreen
as well as many natural oils listed in the ingredients. *For Caucasian hair,
oil sheen is not necessary, just make sure you regularly use conditioner in
your hair; Oil is needed for Afro-Caribbean hair as it consists of dry roots
which constantly need moisture.
- On hot days, carry a small spray
bottle of water and gently spritz your hair.
-Sleep with a silk headwrap on or on silk pillows, this will keep the moisture in you hair, cotton absorbs moisture.
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| A big silk headwrap |
- You must make sure your hair is moisturised
and conditioned well as this will help your locs to grow long, strong and
healthy.
- Moisturising your hair will help
prevent problems such as an itchy flaky scalp. It will also make your hair look
and feel gorgeous!
If you need any more advice on dreadlock maintenance, ask me! I’ll be posting more dreadlock related posts so stay tuned!
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* You can find the products mentioned in this post at your local hair shop or online. Prices range between £2-50 - £4 each.
** Do not use beeswax!! It will completely gunk up your hair and any amount of shampoo will not remove it!
4 comments:
Thanks for the information. I used to use the beeswax in my hair and over time it did build up like you mentioned. Eventually I had to use Dawn dishwashing liquid to break through the dirt and grease. I eventually let go of those dreads and started all over.
I really like DreadHeadHQ shampoo. I like it because it contains sodium lauryl sulfate. A lot of people dislike this substance but I actually prefer it- my hair just doesn't feel clean without it. I've tried Dr. Bronners & Knotty Boy (both do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate) & they do not make my hair feel clean to nearly the extent that DreadHead soap does. However, it would make my life easier to be able to buy shampoo at the store instead of online so I appreciate your Mane & Tail recommendation (& I'm glad that it, too, contains sodium lauryl sulfate!)
Also, if you have Caucasian hair, DO NOT USE CONDITIONER! I don't know why on Earth the author recommends this, but conditioner will ruin your dreadlocks. This is a well-known fact (in fact I think it's true regardless of whether you have Caucasian or twisted dreads... conditioners are a dreadlock's worst enemy)
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