How To Maintain And Care For Dreadlocks At Home
- Feb. 8, 2022
- Hair
Both beautiful and fashionable, dreadlocks, commonly known as locs or dreads, are such a great protective style for natural hair. However, a common misconception that you shouldn’t fall for is that locs require little to no maintenance at all when in reality they are by far one of the most difficult hairstyles to maintain.
The maintenance of locs is quite different from other natural hairstyles. They don’t need to be brushed or trimmed regularly. They just need to be kept clean and have stray hairs tucked back into the dread so they can look neat. The maintenance of locs also varies depending on the age of your dreads and the method you used to start them.
So whether you just got your locs done or you’ve had them for quite a while now, you need to take proper care of your locs for it grow longer and healthier. That is why in this article I give you a few steps on how to do so. Let’s begin;
- Moisturize your locs properly
As much as locs don’t require a lot of moisture like loose hair does, they still need to stay moisturized regularly. Keep in mind that dry hair breaks easily and the last thing you want is brittle locs. Frequently use a leave-in moisturizer or just water and seal in the moisture with a lightweight oil.
- Deep condition your locs
Once your locs are mature and worn out, it is recommended that you deep condition them every 1-2 weeks to keep your locs healthy, strong and moisturized. Remember that this is not a step for new locs but only for mature ones. This is because deep conditioning new locs will run the risk of detangling them.
- Avoid over-washing your locs
Locs are usually more prone to odors and buildup than loose hair. This though does not mean washing them daily as this can dry out your scalp and lead to flaking, itchiness, breakage and even thinning locs. Wash them at least once every 1-2 weeks to avoid this. Also this is only for mature locs and not starter locs.
- Dry locs thoroughly after washing
Most of the time the mildew smell that locs have are as a result of improper drying. Take an example of the smell dump laundry gets when they are left for a while without drying. To dry your locs you could chose to either let them air dry or to use a blow dryer on low heat. Also remember to avoid tying up your locs or covering them with anything until they are completely dry.
- Don’t twist your locs when dry
Frequent and repetitive twisting pulls your hair follicles and can cause the loc to fall out over time. Ensure you only twist when you are re-twisting and give your hair plenty of time, a few months, before interlocking them again. Also don’t re-twist or interlock too tight to prevent it from hurting.
- Sleep in a satin scarf or bonnet
As much as locs are strong, they are still susceptible to breakage and damage from friction. Sleeping while having your locs wrapped up in a silk or satin scarf will protect them and prevent breakage during the night. You could also sleep in a silk or satin pillowcase.
- Styling your locs
When styling your locs, it is important to keep your edges in mind. As your locs get longer they turn heavier and therefore they put a lot of tension on your hair which puts your edges at risk. So to avoid thinning, bald patches and damage, try styling your hair in styles that don’t put too much tension on them.
Photo by Larry George II on Unsplash
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