In view of the summer season, here are some tips for taking care of your dreadlocks. Here in Malta we have really hot summers, so it is good to continue remind people that the sun's UV rays are harmful both to scalp and hair. Protect yourself with a hat or a scarf as much as possible!
How often and when should I wash my dreads?
How often you should wash your dreadlock hair depends on
your lifestyle. There is no general rule, some people wash it once a week,
others once a month. However, the best rule is to wash it when you
feel it dirty or stinky. Wash your hair in the morning or during the early
afternoon to give it time to dry. It is not a good advice to go to bed with
damp dreads as they will smell and harbor mildew.
How do I choose the best shampoo?
Your shampoo should be free of chemicals, perfumes and
conditioners. Look at the ingredients list on the bottle of your shampoo. Avoid
anything containing PEG - it is a conditioner, and avoid mineral oil or petrolatum – synthetic
oils only greases
your hear and do not nourish or moisturize. Remember, most shampoos are made with chemical
conditioning ingredients that remove knots – which is exactly what you want to
avoid! Ideally choose a shampoo with natural ingredients, such as Tea Tree, Peppermint,
Coconut and Jojoba.
tea tree or melaleuca alternifolia in latin
How do I wash/rinse my hair?
You should only be concerned with your scalp. Gently
massage your chosen shampoo in the scalp and forget about soaping up your
locks. After shampooing, make sure you rinse your dreads thoroughly. Shampoo
residue makes dreads look dirty and heavy. Do not tie up your dreads while
still dry or damp, but leave them loose so that the air can circulate. You
should also take care on what type of towel you use as regular towels will get
lint caught in your dreads. Better choose microfiber towels.
How do I keep my dreadlocks smelling
good?
To maintain healthy and good smelling
dreads, moisturize your dreads with natural essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, mint or jasmine.
The best way is to mix the oil with water in a spray bottle and spray your hair
and scalp. If you have an itchy scalp, apply tea tree oil to it and it will
work wonders.
What about swimming with dreadlocks?
Sea water is good for your dreadlocks
as the salt helps to tighten loose locks. However, make sure that the water is
clean. If it doesn’t look clean, resist. If you are at a swimming pool, then
it’s ok too as chlorine will not damage your dreads. The only thing to be
careful about at swimming pools is the sun tan residue from other swimmers that
regularly sits on the top of the pool – this oil will definitely loose your
dreads.
How do I keep my dreadlocks looking
great?
You should palm-roll your locks after
every wash to keep them straight and smooth. But, as your hair grows you will
experience loose ends, bumps and lumps which need to be tightened and fixed.
The best way to fix them is to visit a professional dreadlock stylist (also called a locktician) who will
help your personal dreadlock maintenance routine and keep your dreadlocks
groomed and looking great. Usually the root maintenance should be done every
3-5 months, depending on how quickly your hair grows or how much frizzy your
dreads have become.
Wishing you a happy summer!
