Natural Dreadlock Care and Maintenance

We have great respect and nostalgia for dreadlocks. Kandra’s husband had dreadlocks for 20 years. He cut them off when the children were grown as a symbol of a new chapter in his life. The internet wasn’t around to provide all the answers back then, so they learned the hard way how to keep his locks clean and nourished.  We want to make it easier for anyone with locks and let you know that we can help; here are some tips for proper Dreadlock care.

First, a little Dreadlock History (because we’re a fan of history, and it really does make everything more interesting):

Over the past few decades, it seems that dreadlocks have been associated with all things Jamaica to the point where most people think Jamaican’s invented locks, but that is not the case.

The earliest evidence of dreadlocks dates back as far as 2500 B.C. when “The Vedas”, Hinduism’s oldest scriptures depict the Hindu God wearing locks. Ancient Egyptians also wore locks, which appeared in drawings, tomb carvings, and other artifacts. Mummified bodies have been recovered with their locks still intact.  Dreadlocks can be traced to almost every civilization in history, no matter the race, you will find a connection to having dreadlocks for spiritual reasons.

Today dreadlocks can be created several ways with the “comb twist” method being the most popular. On average the locking process takes 3-6 months with comb twisting and after about 2 years the locks become mature. There are “sisterlocks” that resemble micro braids and are typically worn by women. There are “brotherlocks” that are slightly thicker than sisterlocks and are typically worn by men. And much thicker than both of those are the “traditional” locks that feel heavier but require less upkeep. 

Tender Loving Dreadlock Care

If you have dreadlocks, proper care is essential to keeping them amazing and tight. Here are some tips to keep your dreadlocks manageable and great looking, and we’ve packaged up a collection of our natural products to make tending to your locks a snap.

Dry your locks thoroughly:

If you don’t have time to let them air dry completely, use a hairdryer on low heat. Make sure they are completely dry before trying them or bunching them together.  Leaving them damp will encourage mildew and other nasties in your lovely dreads.  This will cause them to stink (it’s called “dread rot” and it’s not a pleasant thing by any means).

• As soon as you turn off the shower or get out of the water, wring them out, start higher up and work your way down. Wait 10 seconds or so and you will realize they are full of water again, wring them out again, you may have to repeat the process 3 or 4 times until you don’t get steady drips.
• Next, wrap them in a towel so it can absorb some of the water; leave it on for about 10 minutes.
• After that, use a hairdryer to finish the drying process. If you live in a warm climate, you can avoid the hairdryer and spend the afternoon in the sun!

You can also buy a “dread dryer” which is a hairdryer made for dreads. We’ve never used a dread dryer, but if you have, let us know if you recommend them or not.

Practice night care:

Using a silk nightcap helps keep the moisture in your hair and protect it from pillow friction. Locks tend to shed a lot, so this will also help protect the edges and your scalp.

Be patient:

Maintaining dreadlocks is very different than maintaining other natural hairstyles.

• Contrary to popular belief, clean dreads lock up and tighten faster than dirty dreads.
• Combing is not necessary, stray hairs need to be tucked back into the dread so they can lock with the rest of the hair.
• Dreadlocks look better and better over time. As they mature, they become tighter and smoother, so they will require less maintenance.

 Keep up the proper maintenance as they grow, and you will love the results!