My Filthy nasty dreads

What's up guys, I've been having this problem for quite some time now... my dreads are really filthy.... like, there's visible dust and grime in them, lots of it... one dread in particular is turning grey from all the crap in it.

I don't wash them very often at all, I suppose that might be the problem. But, in any case, I'd like to know if there are any of you who could give me some advice, apart from washing that is.

If you want, I could take a pic, too.

Cheers :mickey:

 

Step 1) Wash that shit
Step 2) Repeat step 1 frequently

Use a soap like Dr. Bronners that won't loosen up your knots. All that dirt and grime can actually be counter productive to the locking process.

 

If you want advice apart from washing your hair, i think there is no advice to be given

 

i wash once a week and use Dr. Bronners mine r doing great

 

I wash like 2-3 times a week, maybe, and I have this issue too, sort of.

Make sure you rinse thoroughly, and then rinse again. Do a deep cleansing too.

 

You need to do a deep clean. Just a regular wash will not work.

Recipe:

1. Large bowl of warm water
2. 3/4 c of baking soda
3. 20 drops of tea tree oil
4. 4T of lemon juice
5. 2T of salt
6. Stir until all is well dissolved
7. Dunk all dreads in until completely saturated, then wrap in a plastic bag to keep the mixture in and let sit for 1/2 hour to 1 hour
8. RINSE, RINSE, RINSE, RINSE AND RINSE SOME MORE.

To make life easier for the soaking bit, don't wrap your head in a plastic bag, instead just let the dreads soak in this bed shampooer:

 

Thanks for the replies!

About the washing... how do I make it not smell terrible when washed? And how do I dry them properly (mine are wet for about 2 days after washing)?

 

THAT'S your problem. You got molding issues. 2 days is entirely too long for dreads to be wet.... so are you sure?
Honestly I would use a hair dryer over having it wet for that long

 

...
Wash your hair
Blow Dry
Do this often
Like 2-4 times a month at least.

 

Your dreads smell bad when washed because they're wet waaaaaaay too long after you've washed them.

I'd highly recommend you wash your hair with dish soap and scrub it VERY WELL, then soak your hair first in a vinegar solution and then in a baking soda solution, then rinse it super well, and after that you spray it down with a dilute sea salt EVERY time you wet it (or at least almost every time).

The first part will hopefully kill all the mildew, and wash most of it out, though you will have to soak and scrub for a long time. The sea salt will help prevent it from reoccurring. Mildew doesn't like salt much.

Also, if your dreads are thicker and dense, you may want to get the hairdryer and bag attachment to help dry them. You can pick one up for real cheap at Sallys Beauty Store or any beauty store really.

 

wrap a towel around them for 30 mins then use a blow dryer that's what i do and they are dry in a couple of hours

 

They're slightly damp after 2 days, yeah

How do I make the vinegar solution?

Maaaan, I'm in deep shit aren't I :dizzy2:

Just a quick check... do you mean blow dry through the towel or after having them wrapped? ;D

 

after having them wrapped

 

If your still having odor issues try using a mild natural extract like a little bit of peppermint oil or tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil will also help keep away bugs, i once spent a week with 16 people in one cottage and to my dismay 2 of them had gotten lice right before coming up. I put on tea tree oil after i showered and my hair was safe and sound from biting little critters.

 

You're either a really dirty person or a recycling troll...

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=368795

Need some new material.

 

+......:2thumbsup:



Cheers Glen.

 

History repeats itself...

learn!!

 

Dr bronners is awesome. I use a mix of two of them the tea tree and peppermint. Tea tree oil is awesome stuff one of the few things that can even kill viruses. Peppermint has great qualities as well as smelling great. I wash 2-3 times a week, I work in an auto shop so lots of dirts and oils, I also don't have to worry about 2 days to dry, in the summer here it hits 110+ with 0-10 percent humidity. I would def use a blow dryer on your locks. Good luck.

 

That was about the smell though? Are you implying I'm trolling? I'll post pics of my shit if you want. Jeez.

I've just had really bad luck with me locks is all... and i'm lazy T_T

 

i use the dr bronners tea tree and it's awesome the one bottle lasted me a year, i only was once a week