Natural Dreads – More Dreadlock Maintenance

If you work in a kitchen or somewhere that produces a lot of smells try wearing a bandana or hat to cover your hair from smells. Washing it as regularly as you can with dreads, can help prevent permanent smells, if your hair starts to get a little gross and smells funny, wash it. As long as you’re not using anything that detangles and softens you’re in the clear of keeping the shape of your dreads.
Now at this point you may be wondering what happens when your hair starts to grow in and you have an inch or so of straight hair, and then dreads. Take the dread and pinch the root with your index and middle finger, then start rubbing it around in a circular motion. This will create of a wad of knots which you can then tend to and smooth out one by one. You can also use a bit of product in this instance such as dread wax or dread accelerator.

Another way of doing this same thing is by wrapping your roots in a rubber band. I stress this; not too tight. If you tie the rubber band on and still have a decent amount of easy movement, you’re good. If you have to snap the rubber band at all to get it to move, loosen it. Repeat the same motion as when you were pinching your roots with your two fingers. Only now the rubber will assist in the knot making process. I don’t recommend trying to untie the rubber bands after you’re done because you might pull some knots out. Just cut and pull them out instead.

Viola! If you’re using dread maintenance products and take care of them properly, you should have mature dreads quicker, with better results in looks, feeling and durability.  :) Generally the wait time for mature dreads is 18 months. Using the right products and techniques is important, to see more information about the maintenance products we carry look below!