Washing dreads is more important than you think...

It is very common that people think that you don`t need to wash your dreads very often. In fact, if you do not wash them, they will hold the dust, dirt and they will smell. Dreadlocks need to be washed regularly just like un-dreaded hair. Clean dreads will lock up faster than dirty or oily hair. Unfortunatelly, nearly every soap and shampoo on the market contains residues (conditioners, moisterizers, builders and fragrance holders) that prevent hair from locking up. This is why we reccommend washing your dreads only with a residue free soap/shampoo. In the first three weeks your dreadlocks will be very delicate. Select a residue free and organic shampoo/soap bar and stick to it for the first month. The consistency ( every 4-7 days) will help your scalp adjust. If your scalp itch, go ahead and wash your dreads earlier. It may get a little messy, but at worst you'll have a little more loose hair to put in, it`s a part of the process. After they have had a chance to mature and establish themselves, usually by the start of the second month, you can begin washing them as often as you like. Not only it will help them mature faster, but also to dry quickly. Residues, dust and dirt can also build up inside dreads, increasing the time it takes for them to dry. This can eventually lead to dread rot (mildew growing) inside the dreads. Growing mildew is unhealthy and it smells like you're wearing a sour gym bag on your head. Fortunately it's easy to avoid!

By Natty Dreadlocks