Maintaining Dreadlocks
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Maintaining Dreadlocks

By: Jo Mannix

Dreadlocks need some ‘tlc’ and commitment as they can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to form into real dreads. To keep your new dreads looking cool, well-groomed and healthy now, and well into the future, read on.

New Dreads

  • Proper care for your dreads is important in the early stages to get the dreads well-locked up and formed into real dreads in the shortest space of time.
  • New dreads will stay quite waxy for a couple of days so make sure you sleep on a pillow case that isn’t special to you or your family during this time.
  • Your new dreads will delicate during this early stage so tie them back if possible for sleeping in order to protect them.
  • New dreads need time to dry out, so don’t shampoo for the first week.
  • After this first week, you can shampoo your scalp with a dread shampoo when you feel there’s too much oil or dirt on your scalp. Don’t worry about washing your head as you can re-wax loose hair from your dreads when they’re dry.
  • Shampoo encourages your dreads to lock up by removing oil that helps knots to slip out.
  • A good way to dry new dreads is to press them between a towel.
  • For the first 2 to 6 months apply wax to the dreads twice a week in order to help the dreads stay together.
  • It’s preferable to wax when your scalp is freshly clean and your dreads should always be completely dry before you apply wax. Wax applied to wet dreads can lock in moisture and this can lead to mildew growth in the dread.
  • All subsequent times you wax will use less wax than when you applied to freshly backcombed hair for the first time.
  • Use your own common sense when it comes to how much wax to use, only using a very small amount to start off with where it’s really required.
  • Cast an observant eye over your dreads every few days for the first 6 weeks in order to see if any locks need some extra attention because they’re becoming loose. The remedy is to backcomb, twist, and wax the section to get it well bound together again.


Ongoing care for dreads

  • Wax will be needed on your dreads at reducing frequency as the months go on and your dreads mature.
  • You’ll need to focus on getting wax into the roots so new growth will integrate into the dread
  • Wax is valuable for keeping your dreadlocks well-groomed and not too frizzy.
  • Real dreads will be very dry so any wax you add to mature dread will only be noticeable for about a day after application.
  • You should always backcomb and wax new growth to get it forming into the dread followed by a good palm roll.
  • Palm roll is essential to good-looking dreads, as it keeps the dreads strongly bound together, and looking nicely groomed. It should be something you do regularly as part of your day-to-day dread maintenance.
  • Palm rolling involves rubbing the entire dread between the palms of your hands, it needs to be done forcefully so you can feel the friction from the rubbing on your hands.
  • If you’d prefer dreads with stubby ends, read the information provided in the how to dread article. You’ll need to backcomb the dread well, and rub it around in the palm of your hand to get the hairs at the end thoroughly knotted up.
  • Also make it a habit to pull apart any stray hairs so they knot up in the dread, really helping the locking up along.
  • A loose hair tool can be useful to get loose hairs back in the dreads.
  • Ensure you are attentive in getting your dreads dry whenever you get them wet, and always before putting wax in.
  • Shield your dreads with a hat or the like if you’ll be in an environment with strong odours or with a lot of insects and dirt.
  • It can be advantageous to use a product on your dreads to get them locking up better and staying tight. Knotty Boy and DreadheadHQ both sell these products if you’re interested.
  • Knotty Boy also produce a couple of sprays to help itchy scalps and frizzy dreads, and which will also make your dreads smell pleasant.


Good luck with caring for your dreads, all you need is a little bit of dedication and attention to keep them healthy and happy, and we hope you love how great dreadlocks make you look!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Jo Mannix - www.idare.com.au - Alternative Hair Care including hair Dye and Dreadlock Care by Knotty Boy, DreadHeadHQ and Manic Panic


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