In the early stages of wearing locks, one has to be very gentle and careful in the washing process. To protect the young locks, many locticians recommend wearing a nylon cap or hair net when washing the hair. After several months, however, the locks will be tight and secure enough to clean them with minimal problems.
When locks become long, washing and maintenance can be a huge concern. Following are several tips for cleaning long locks.
How Often to Wash Long Dreadlocks
Each individual has to assess the needs of their own hair when determining how often to wash their locks.
- What is the type and texture of the hair? Clearly, softer, thinner hair will need to be washed more often than coarser and thicker hair. On average, African Americans with long locks typically wash their hair 2-3 times per month. Other ethnicities may find it necessary to wash their hair as often as 2-3 times per week.
- How oily is the scalp? Oily scalps can become scaly and nasty if not washed often. Thus, those with oily scalps should be sure to wash their hair more often.
- What season is it? Long locks should be washed more often in the warmer months, and less often in the winter months. In the warmer months, one can wash their dreads and spend a few hours outdoors and the hair will be completely dry. Not so easy in the winter months.
- Very active individuals will find it necessary to wash their locks more often.
Choosing a Shampoo for Long Dreadlocks
When choosing hair care products for locks, one should choose products created for dreads. When choosing the type of shampoo, the type and texture of hair should first be considered. Softer, finer hair will benefit most from a shampoo bar. Others may find a liquid shampoo to be best for them. If dread shampoo is not available in your community, consider cleaners such as castile soap or a mild, clear and residue free shampoo.
Tips for Washing Long Dreadlocks
- Separate the hair to ensure a thorough cleaning. Start by dividing the hair into quarters. Place a rubber band at the end of each quarter to make it easier to wash and control the hair.
- Focus upon cleaning the scalp first, then work shampoo down through the hair and to the ends.
- Once finish with the wash, rinse and then repeat.
- Squeeze excess water from locks and wrap them in either a sheet or extra large towel (lint free preferably).
Using a conditioner on locks is typically not recommended; nonetheless, this should also be an individual decision based upon the type and condition of the hair. If conditioning is needed, one should consider a leave in conditioning spray. Another option is to use the conditioner on the middle of the hair to ends of the locks before washing, this way residue will be better removed when washing.
