CARE
1. Washing Your Dreads
If you have real dreads then it is best to wash them once every 3 months – or less. Your scalp holds natural oils which are stripped when you wash your hair therefore, when you wash your hair on a regular basis your hair becomes used to being stripped of the oils and in return produces more oils and your hair will then become greasier, quicker.
This is unhelpful when you have dreads as it is very noticeable when greasy which makes you want to wash them more often! Regular washing of dreads will cause them to loosen and therefore you will need root work more often which is also not good for dreads.
Dreads can also go moldy if they are not dried properly so only wash your dreads when you need to, check out the ‘Crafts and Products’ section to purchase a Organic Home Made Soap Bar to make your dreads luscious!
Always bear in mind that everyone’s scalp is different therefore you cannot be sure that this will work for you. If you find that your scalp becomes too dry, itchy or greasy then you may need to change the amount of times your washing it or the washing product you are using. If you have any more questions please feel free to give us a call.
2. Chemical Products on Dreads
If you are going to use any products on your dreads make sure that you check what chemicals are in them before use as chemicals can cause more damage than good. Dreads need to be nurtured and chemicals will only weaken your luscious locks so think before you use. GO ORGANIC!
If you do decide to use chemical products then make sure you test the product on a small area of your skin to prevent any allergic reactions.
3. Waxing Dreads
Never wax your dreads, it may smell nice but it will leave a build up in your dreads which will be extremely difficult to get rid of. The sticky mess will also attract dirt therefore RUINING your dreads and creating poor hygiene.
4. Colouring Dreads
Due to hair colouring products holding so many different chemicals, it is not advisable to dye and colour your dreads, especially colours which have bleach/peroxide.
It is bad to bleach your hair but even worse for dreads which are already weakened through the crochet method of dreading. Bleaching dreads can cause the ends to drop off and this can weaken further and further up the dread until there is nothing left. If you are determined to dye your dreads then Henna is an alternative which should cause less damage. Always do a skin patch test to check for allergies.
5. How Often to Crochet your Dreads
Crocheting your dreads is a good method to use when tidying up and adding loose hair in to give your locks strength but it should not be done too often as it will weaken the dread and can also thin out the roots. Do not crochet your dreads more often that every 3 months and wash them beforehand to allow the loose hairs to show free so they can be tucked in properly.
6. DREAD ROT
Dreads are like sponges, when you wash them you will notice that they can take forever to dry. Because of this people sometimes tie their dreads up before they are fully dry to get them out of the way but such things as this can create dread rot and mould. Dreads must be dried through thoroughly every time they are washed, which is why I always recommend washing your dreads before you go to bed and then laying a towel across your pillow – then they should be dry by the time you wake. Another cause for dread rot/mould is over washing. As described above at number 1, it is best to wash your dreads no more often than every 3 months and if you are washing them every day then they will probably not have enough time to dry and therefore will be damp constantly.
Also make sure when getting just one or a few dreads you get them located at the bottom of your neck – if you get just one or a few dreads on the top of your head they are harder to keep separate from the rest of your hair. This can result in the dread sucking in the rest of your hair therefore being harder to maintain and can add another risk of dread mould/rot as the dreadlocks are harder to keep dry when situated on the top of your head.
7. TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT DREAD INSTALLATION
For permanent dreads I would recommend approx 35-45 for a full head which is an average amount that will leave enough hair at the root section to be able to carry the dreadlock for a lifetime. Any more than that could be too heavy on the root and can cause thinning out. This is not good when wearing temporaries as people will fill a head up with 60+ double ended dreads which creates a total of 120+ dreads which will be far too heavy. Can you imagine the weight and the pain that will cause, just holding the weight of the dreads in your hand shows how much strain it will cause to the root. I only make Single Ended temporary dreads instead of Double Ended dreads as I have seen the damage they can cause to people’s scalps and in worst cases I have seen baldness from constant wear of too many dreads. Don’t let it happen to you
How to Start Natural Dreadlocks
The best way to start natural dreadlocks is to simply leave your hair to do its own thing until it starts to form into sections of fluffy matted hair. Natural dreads start at their own pace therefore you should not wash your hair and you most definitely shouldn’t brush your hair. One extremely important key to natural dreads is that you must pull them apart into their own sections so that they become dreadlocks rather than one matted mess. Always try and leave them alone as much as possible (we know it’s hard!) – palm rolling and pulling apart are the only things you should be doing to them and you can replace any bad habits with either one. A good way to keep your dreadlocks smelling fresh when you have started your natural lock journey is natural essential oils – they are strong smelling and help greatly when you first hit ‘the greasy stage’ which can occur when you start them. Do not be afraid of this – it is normal and you will come out the other side! For any more info and/or advice please feel free to message us ☺️
Remember: There are many different hair types and it takes time to learn the ins and outs of your locks, everyone is different.