How to Maintain Thin Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks are tightly twisted sections of hair that form solid pieces that hang freely around the head. There are common misconceptions that dreadlocks are dirty and scruffy looking, but proper maintenance will ensure your dreads are clean, tight and ready to be styled however you want. You can maintain thin dreadlocks by washing your hair correctly and taking measures to protect your hair while you sleep. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shampoo
- Dreadlock conditioning spray
- Old tshirt
- Silk scarf
- Bobby pins
- Lemon juice
- Cotton ball
Instructions
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Rub a regular clarifying shampoo between your palms and squeeze the wet dreads from root to tip. Rinse thoroughly. Wash the dreadlocks once a week. If you exercise daily or are extremely active, you may need to wash up to three times a week to ensure the dreads stay clean and don't smell like sweat.
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Squeeze the dreadlocks dry using an old tshirt to soak up all excess moisture. It's very important to dry each dreadlock thoroughly to avoid mildew build up, which causes an unpleasant odor.
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3
Spray the dried dreadlocks with dreadlock conditioning spray and twist the dreads clockwise at the root to keep the sections nice and tight. Although there are a wide variety of products you can use on dreads to keep them styled, they can cause lots of build up and are not very good for your hair. For this reason, avoid using hair waxes and pomades to make your dreads hold their shape.
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4
Wrap a silk scarf around your dreadlocks every night before sleeping, securing the scarf with bobby pins. The silk will be able to rub against your dreadlocks without causing broken ends and will protect them from your pillow.
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Dip a cotton ball into a half and half mixture of fresh lemon juice and water and dab it over any areas on the scalp that feel itchy. This will stop the itching without requiring you to scratch the scalp and disturb the roots of your hair.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
