How To Prepare For Dreadlocks

Mature brown Dreadlocks. Picture by Fauxels

Preparing for Dreadlocks - Before and Aftercare

There are a lot of ideas out there about dreadlocks. How to look after them? If they are clean? If they are high maintenance or easy to look after? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions and there is no one simple answer. No dreadlock journey is the same and every Dreadlock Technician will have a different way of installing dreads and different recommendations for looking after them. What it comes down to is how you want your dreads to look and feel. This will determine how much maintenance you will need, how often you will wash them, and what everyday habits and rituals you will have.

So what do you actually need to do to prepare for your dreadlocks? Below are the homecare instructions De Ville House gives to our clients coming to see us for maintenance or for new dread installations.

Before

1.      Before your appointment, it is important to wash your hair well to remove debris and excess oil from your hair and scalp. A build-up of debris and oil will impact the locs ability to mature, encourage itchiness, and will become uncomfortable. Cleaning will allow cuticles on your hair to lift and lock up after your appointment, creating stable, mature dreads.  Do not use any conditioners, oils, or masks on your hair two weeks before your installation appointment. Not only will these products leave residue on the hair, but conditioners and treatments will also close the cuticles, and reset the ionic charge in your hair which makes your hair feel smooth and makes the hair harder and slower to lock. Instead, use a residue-free shampoo, bi-card soda and apple cider vinegar paste, or dreadlock shampoo.  Focus on cleaning the scalp and the roots of your hair and rinse thoroughly, squeezing the water out of the dreadlocks.  Repeat as many times as required.

2.    Make sure your hair is completely dry for your appointment.  Wet and damp hair is more likely to break or snap than dry hair.  If your locs take 24 hours to dry, make sure you wash them well ahead of your session.  Consider blow drying your locs if you think they could still be damp on the inside

After

3.      After your appointment you can expect to feel a tight pulling on your scalp for a few days which will ease as the dreads settle into place. It is recommended to refrain from washing your dreads for two weeks.  This helps lock the hairs into place more securely. However, the general rule with dreadlocks is to wash your hair if your scalp itches.  Washing dreads can encourage fluffiness and loose hairs, these can easily be pulled back in if this happens.  Scalp health is important, wash your dreads if you get itchy.  Use tightening spray twice daily then as needed or directed.

4.      Baby dreads are more sensitive to being straggled or squashed by hair-ties, hats, and helmets.  There are a variety of dread accessories that you can get to manage your dreads without damaging them.  But the general rule is loose and wide restraints are best to reduce the dreads from being strangled or squashed.  Avoid overuse of tight ties and playing with them while they are maturing.  Mature dreads are a lot more robust and can handle almost anything.

If you have any questions on how you can prepare for your own dreadlock journey, please feel free to get in touch. We are always happy to answer any questions you might have.