HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DREADLOCKS

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Washing

Dreadlocks should always be washed with a residue free shampoo or soap, which can be bought from a range of on-line retailers. You should wash your hair once a week or fortnight, washing more than this can make them more fluffy and eventually weaken them. There is no need to lather up the dreadlocks, you just need to make sure your scalp has been cleaned and that the lather runs down over the dreads as you rinse your scalp. Why residue free?

The knotting inside your dreadlock can be loosened by applying products that do not fully wash out, the residue can also build up inside your dreadlock and cause dread rot (which is as nasty as it sounds!)

 

Drying

Your dreadlocks should be dried thoroughly in between getting them wet to avoid any damp smell or mildew. After washing give them a good squeeze out before exiting your bath or shower, then wrap them in a big enough towel to cover the full length before giving them a further few squeezes. You can give them a palm roll if you have time. They can then be left to dry naturally, or (if they are made from human hair) you can blow dry them on a medium heat and with a diffuser. If your dreads are synthetic you should not apply heat directly, they do dry quicker than human hair, but if you need to speed it up make sure to wrap them in a pillowcase or some other fabric before blow drying.

 

Palm rolling and root separation

Rolling your dreadlocks in between your palms while they are damp will help keep them tight and smooth and stop them from becoming attached to each other. Some ‘fluffiness’ is in the nature of dreadlocks and as they mature and have maintenance carried out on them these small strands will work to strengthen your dreadlocks. NEVER cut hair off from the sides of your dreadlocks or at the roots as this makes them brittle and itchy and they will become thin and weak at the root. It is recommended that you make sure these loose hairs do not get tangled with those from other dreads so after washing it is a good idea to palm roll and make sure you have maintenance carried out by a loctician at least every six months. Maintenance will also re-establish your sectioning which makes sure your scalp gets enough air and stays in good condition. Tightening sprays can be used to reduce fluffiness and refreshing sprays for moisturising your scalp and giving a scent to your hair, but both should be used in moderation.