It has become apparent to me that the locking process is greatly complimented by the washing of dreads. Washing Massaging the dreads and scalp with shampoo/just water, aids the locking of the hairs. This has been proven by the craft technique "felting". Although when you massage your hair with shampoo it may *feel* slippery and as if the hairs are falling away from knotting- in fact the opposite happens. The slipperyness helps those hairs get into knooks and crannies. Shampoo Certain shampoos will help the hair dread. Shampoos that dry the hair out (that are make for oily hair) will create more friction between the hairs, therefore, when dry, the hairs will stay locked for longer. I have recently used a shampoo that is very lathery and slippery whilst wet and massging the hair, but also when dry, has made my hair non-conditioned and slightly drier. This mix is advantageous for dreads. Obviously you don't want a shampoo so dry that it gives you dandruff. You need a find a good balance for *your* hair. Drying ***When the hair itself dries, it constricts and contracts. This is exactly what we want when we are wanting our dreads to lock up.*** Towel Drying with a towel will mimick the "wool hat" theory- the motions on the scalp will help lock those hairs up. Hairdryer The hairdryer will help dry your hair out of it's natural oils and moisture, due to the heat. After drying with a towel, you may want to give your hair a once over with the hairdryer to have even drier hair. This may also help the locking process. Try it yourself. See how much progress your dreads make in a week after not washing. Then wash. See how much tighter they feel! :2thumbsup:
Agreed, washing is good. I like my dreads much better when they're freshly washed. My scalp is honking at the moment. Time for a wash.
I like mine best the day after washing, but I think it has a lot to do with them being wet for most of the first day. England is too humid for dreads!
Hmm...I usually don't use a towel, just allow it to air-dry. I think I will use the towel today and maybe the hair dryer, not sure, I usually only use those if I have to.
I always use a towel and then my hair needs some serious separation! But it's definitely worth it with the results
I have to really plan out washing my locks...thinking a few days ahead as its cold as shit outside and it takes at least 4 hours to dry...and i must be inside during that time...
Where d'ya live? I always think mine will freeze if I go outside with them damp. Not so much in England, but in Norway. It's never happened though. I actually have more trouble in summer when it's humid.
Part of why I'm such a T-gel fan is that is has a nice tightening effect from being a stronger dandruff shampoo.
Now i feel like i need to wash my hair. With ramen broth. Its what knottyboy has been holding back from you guys. Fa'reals. Next time you wanna slurp that last bit of soupy flavoring down, nah man. Put it onn ya noggin and ding.....! Forealforeal, day after washing where the knots happenin. For the last 3 years i washed with bronnerstgelheadnshoulderslushbkingsodarosemaryandanythingelseicouldfindatyourhouse. All that shit works. Clean dreads = not mean dreads. - Drugs
All yalls and ya nappy heads! Lets post more and stuff. I like when i check back here and things seem to be a moving.
Even after the 4 hours they are still not fully dry..maybe 70%.. After i wash i usually wrap them in a towel for 15 mins, then get a new towel and wrap them again for another 15 mins at least...then just air dry... In the winter if im going to be outside at all that day, i most likely wont wash.
luckily a few of my first months were in Arizona summer and I could wash my hair and sit outside for 5 minutes and it would be so frizzy it looked like I just got electrocuted. having that resource for drying my hair made a big difference.
I have used so many products when it comes to my dreads. From t gel and dermatogilist perscribed shampoo to all organic shampoo bars. But This product called Alaffia its the scalp recovery shampoo with neem & shea butter i belive. This stuff is amazing for dandruff and it makes ur dreads feel very tight once dry. I always love the way my dreads look the day after showering. I also put dr. bronners in the base of the dreads aswell! Very good combo for a a nasty scalp with alotta dandruff!
No hairdryer? If I hit my locks every 15 mins with a dryer, I can really cut down on my air dry time.
Naa no hair dryer, i had one years ago before i had locks and all it did was make my hair a crazy frizz mess.