Washing Your Dreadlocks
Washing once or twice per week is pretty normal for some dreadheads, however others can get away with washing every other week without experiencing scalp buildup or oil issues. Depending on the time of year, how often you're outside, and how much you sweat - you can adjust your washing schedule to what best suits you and your situation. And remember, don't just stop washing your hair because you're afraid it will untangle your knots - clean hair will always lock faster and better than dirty/greasy hair.
The easiest way to wash is by mixing your surfactant of choice with water in a 2:1 ratio. Keep your mixture in a spray bottle for an easy way to apply the surfactant between your locks at the scalp. Once you've sprayed your roots down with the 2:1 mixture feel free to scrub a bit, and then rinse. It's extremely important to rinse and rinse well!
Drying Your Dreadlocks
Once you've finished washing and before you even leave the shower, feel free to twist your hair and squeeze them until you stop noticing water trickling down from them. This will get the majority of the water from your locks so you don't wind up using multiple towels to dry. When you do finally reach for a towel I highly suggest using a quality towel to keep from gathering lint on your locks.
Personally, I always wind up blow drying mine for three 20 minute intervals until they are mostly dry. It's extremely important not to leave your hair damp before going to bed to prevent your locks from flattening out, and worse, becoming mildewed.
Shampoo Suggestions
Here are a few shampoo's I personally enjoy and recommend for both my locked and "unlocked" friends:
- Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat: safe for daily/weekly/bi-weekly washes
- Malibu C Hard Water Wellness: great for those who have well-water or excess calcium/magnesium/rust in their city water
- Giovanni 50/50 Blend: great for those who have chemically treated, graying, or dry brittle hair
- Giovanni Golden Wheat: fantastic for monthly or quarterly deep cleaning
- Nizoral: my preferred dandruff shampoo for locked hair
Sometimes people can find Giovanni Shampoos at Kroger, Target, or Whole Foods -- but I tend to just buy mine through Amazon because it seems to be the easiest (and cheapest) option for me. I personally don't carry products here because I don't like product-pushing my guests into something they may not want to try (maybe one day I will, who knows). I do like to note that all of these shampoos are Vegan/Vegetarian, and Cruelty Free but utilize plant-based detergents instead of soap, which can often leave film and residue behind due to the amount of calcium and magnesium in our water. The Midwest having some of the hardest water in the nation means I often find that most shampoos, including castile soap and dreadlock specific shampoos, don't mix well with our water.
To learn more about the ingredients in the Giovanni shampoos:
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