I have dreads...Now What???
So you have dreads….how exciting!!! Welcome to the dread community.
Here are a few things to keep in mind now you are on your dread journey. Keeping them clean and maintenance.
Settling In
Its is best to let the dreads/dread extensions settle in. Let them do there thing for about 2 weeks. The scalp and hair has been through trauma and needs time to settle down. Do not tie them up with normal hair elastics, this will cause weak spots, use large soft elastics, scrunchies or a spirolock. Try not to bunch them up in the same place: messy bun look, as this will cause the baby dreads to buckle and bumps occur. For the settling in, keep them long and held softly.
Wash & Dry : Yes you wash dreads …
2 weeks after installation, wash dreads with a residue free shampoo and no conditioner, EVER. Conditioner will detangle dreads and that's not what we want.
Dreads take quite a while to dry all the way through. It is best to wash in the morning and avoid sleeping on wet dreads. Wet dreads can cause dread rot and become smelly ( like a wet towel smell) and no one wants that.
Sitting in the sun and using a hair drier is best after you have squeezed out all excess water.
I like to use Redwin Tee Tree Shampoo/ Coal Tar shampoo for dry scalps. Its cheap at supermarkets and protects your dreads from nasties like nits.
I also stock Dreadlocks Naturally and Dread Empire shampoo. Both Australian-made, women run small businesses. All these products are excellent quality and smell delicious.
https://lokktologydreads.com.au/collections/dread-empire-dreadlock-care
https://lokktologydreads.com.au/collections/dreadlocks-naturally
Wash when you feel you have the time to dry properly. I wash once a week. Other times I use an extra large shower cap.
When the dreads have nearly dried through it is a good idea to run your hands through the dreads and separate any that are linking together. Be gentle.
Dreads are wild beings: Kink & Fuzz
Dreads will do their own thing, they will never be the perfect ones you had on day one. They will mature, thicken, kink and extensions can slip. That is where a good maintenance routine especially in the first year, is advised. Pic below is install and 24 months later. Dreads are a journey .
Image courtesy https://sistasystem.com
Dreads are fuzzy, my advise, learn to enjoy the perfectly imperfect and be friends with fuzz. All dreads have fuzz its just how it is.
Trying to rid fuzz by over doing the maintenance, where the loose hair is pulled back into the dread at the base, only weakens new hair, causing breakages and creates more fuzz. You will see less fuzz the more mature the dreads become. Maintenance for new dread babies is recommended 6 weekly or 3 monthly depending on how loose you like them.
To smooth and soften, use a small amount of dread oil on completely dry dreads. This also gives them dreads a gorgeous smell and can be used on body and beard.
https://lokktologydreads.com.au/products/quench-conditioning-oil-for-dreadlocks-scalp-body
https://lokktologydreads.com.au/products/dread-nectar-oil-elixir
Dread Soak : Pampering those Dreads
2 or 3 times a year, for full head of dreads, it is great to do a deep cleanse and soak the dreads in a dread soak blend for half an hour. The colour of the water will have you horrified, but your dreads will love you for it and smell divine.
Dread Soak Pampering in salon: From $90 2 hrs.
Relax as you soak with a head, hand and foot massage or beard and hot towel facial. Dreads rinsed and dried.
FYI:
Things to also be aware of, swimming in chlorine will loosen and damage dreads. Swimming in the ocean whilst the dreads will love the big salt hit, this can dry out the dreads and they can become brittle. So remember to wash after a big day in the water, or buy an extra large swimming cap.
And if all else fails dreads can be brushed out. It is a long, long process, but achievable.
Most of all enjoy your dread journey, they are as unique and ever changing as you are. Please contact me if you need any questions answered, maintenance, creations, extensions and dread care.
Much love , Connie
Lokktology Dreads
M:0431516219
facebook/lokktologydreads