How to Clean Dreadlocks at Home

Having dreadlocks is one thing, but keeping them in good condition is challenging. Suppose you are a beginner struggling with cleaning dreadlocks at home. This is the guide for you, and we will try our best to provide complete dreadlock cleaning process steps and essential ingredients. 

Dailystyle Magazine shares vast knowledge about the lifestyle of dreadlocks, how to carry dreadlocks, how to make different types of dreads, and the steps to start dreadlocks. Follow our blog to learn more about the latest news and tips to maintain locs at home.

What Causes Dirt Buildup in Dreadlocks?

Keeping dreadlocks neat and clean is essential for your hair health. Several factors make the dreadlocks dirty and cause buildup. If you face itching in your dreads, make sure you prevent your dreads from this cause. 

1: Air particles

The particles from the surroundings leave particles in your hair, such as dust, dirt, chemicals, and other pollutants. The only way to keep your locs clean from environmental pollutants is detox, which you can do at home.

2: Product residues

Hair care product residues are stuck in the dreadlocks easily and cause buildup over time. Some products, such as conditioners and holding sprays, cause sticky and damp dreadlocks. Excessive buildup in the locs causes conditions and environments for bacterial and fungal growth, which can cause later infections. 

3: Lint

Lint is the textile fiber that sticks to the locs and accumulates on the scalp. It is easily visible on the hair and is not easy to remove. Mostly, the link comes on your head from the beddings such as pillows, blankets, and other fabrics that come in contact with your locs. 

How to Clean Dreadlocks At Home?

Using natural ingredients, the locs are easier to clean at home without splurging. With some essential kitchen ingredients, you can remove the buildup from locs. Now, let’s look at how you can clean dirty dreadlocks easily. 

1: Clean dreadlocks with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a common ingredient for cleaning the dreadlocks. It is a powerful disinfectant that removes oils directly and help balance pH. Make sure to use this product correctly to achieve good results.

If you are thinking of applying this ingredient, add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar to the water spray bottle and mix well. Spray this mixture into your dreads and massage your scalp. After leaving it in your hair for some time, wash your dreads in a general manner with shampoo and repeat this after a week for good results. 

2: Lemon juice

Lime is another primary ingredient you can easily extract from lemons to clean your dreads. It removes excessive oil from the scalp. One drawback is that using this frequently dries your scalp and leaves hair into brittle strands. So, be very mindful of its use. 

Mix lemon juice with four parts of water and mix well. Spray this mixture into your locs and leave for a few hours. Wash with normal water and shampoo and let locs air dry. 

3: Papaya extract 

Papaya extract is another ingredient that helps get rid of residues from dreadlocks. It helps remove excess oil from the scalp and breaks down residues. You can use this as paste and then wash it like normal. 

4: Baking soda 

Baking soda is another excellent ingredient that cleanses the dreadlocks. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste and then massage into your scalp to use it for your locs. Leave it for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse the locs with shampoo and plain water. 

To keep your locks light and lint-free, keep repeating this process for several weeks. If needed, you can mix baking soda with vinegar for excellent results. Although it helps in cleaning the hair, science doesn’t support it. 

How Often Should Locks Be Washed? 

To keep the locs clean, you need to clean your locs every week. Most people share from their experience that washing locs twice a week is a healthy practice to keep them in good condition. 

Additionally, to keep the locs free from environmental pollutants such as residues, lint, and other chemicals, they regularly detox them monthly. On the other hand, if you have just started your dreadlock journey, let them sit for a while. 

How To Wash Locks?

To clean your locks, it is essential to wash your locks properly. When you wash your locs, it often leaves shampoo and conditioner residues on the scalp. It creates product buildup that closes the scalp’s pores and provides space for bacterial growth. 

So, to avoid such issues, it is necessary to wash the dreads rightly. Here is how you should wash your dreads:

• Wet your locks entirely before applying any product. 
• Pour a little shampoo and make a foam. Use enough shampoo that it covers all your dreads and scalp. 
• Massage into your scalp well for 3-5 minutes. 
• After shampooing, rinse your locs with excess water. 
• Use plenty of water to rinse your head’s sides, front, and back so that there is no bubbling and all product is drained. 
• Use a conditioner afterward on the length of locs. 
• Avoid massaging conditioner on your scalp. 
• Now, leave the conditioner for a few minutes. 
• Rinse your dreads again. Perform a rise several times to prevent any product buildup. 

5 Tips to Keep Your Dreadlocks Clean & Health

Although washing and detoxing the dreads at home is relatively easy, there are still some tips that most beginners need to learn. Here, we share some tips to level up your dreadlock detox experience. 

1: Use warm water while wetting your dreads for the first time, as it will loosen up all the gunk in the dreads. 

2: Use a clarifying shampoo that cleanses the scalp efficiently. 

3: Choose dreadlock cleaning products according to your hair type. 

4: A cleaning brush increases the removal of buildup as it clears dirt from deep down. 

5: Remember to moisturize your locs after detoxing. 

Take Away

Cleaning the dreadlocks regularly prevents buildup, reduces odor and improves appearance. If you are new in the loss journey, you must learn how to clean dreadlocks early to keep them neat in the future. 

Although you can also get dreadlocks cleaning services from professionals, they charge a lot. So, the best advice is to clean dreadlocks at home using vinegar and baking soda with excessive rinse. 

FAQs

What is the best way to wash dreadlocks?

The best way to clean locs is by using a shampoo and leaving it in the conditioner. A shampoo cleanses the scalp from dirt, build, and other residues, while a conditioner moisturizes them. 

Can you wash dreadlocks with water?

Yes, it is standard to wear dreadlocks with water. But, if you don’t want to use a shampoo, use any other detox ingredient, such as mixing it with water. For example, you can choose from vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. 

Is conditioner good for dreadlocks?

A conditioner helps moisturize the locs and prevent them from tangling during the wash. When cleaning the locs with baking soda, they may dry up teh hair, so a conditioner keeps them soft.