Adornments
Beads too tight can create a bulking of dreadlock above or below it. Charms can be added to locs below loose beads to stop them falling off. Cotton/yarn can be added around locs. Avoid decorating locs while maturing to avoid interfering with the maturing process. Once locs are denser to squeeze decorating them will not interfere with the process. This can take 4 months or so.
Palm Rolling
Palm rolling helps to relax the strands of hair inside the locs. This will reduce shrinkage also the creation and appearance of kinks. The more palm rolling that is done, the less chance of shrinkage & kinks forming. Hair that is damaged (sun exposure/chemicals) are more susceptible to shrinkage and forming kinks. Locs can become flat near the root of the loc and along the body. This can happen from wearing hats, pressure from your headrest when driving and sleeping on moist locs. Palm rolling locs when wet can help fix this.
Joining of Roots
Due to rubbing of the head from wearing headwear/sleeping/driving while your locs are immature can cause locs to start to join at section base. When locs are dry they can be pulled apart to separate. If this is painful the hair can be cut. It is a good habit to check root joining on your wash day. Mature locs don't tend to join at the roots as much, although sometimes may need a helping hand with separating.
Contact With Water
Do not wet freshly installed locs for the first 2 weeks. This helps with the locking process. The more locs are exposed to water the fluffier they will get. Leaving the salt in the hair temporarily can be beneficial to help locs mature, especially thick virgin hair types. Towel dry locs by squeezing a dry towel around them. Use hairdryer on no heat. It is recommended to avoid leaving salt in your hair. Rinse out salt after swim or after the hair is dried. Shampoo hair after exposure to chlorine water. Rinse hair in shower before exposure to chlorine water to minimize chemical damage.
Friction
HAT/BEANIE/HELMET wear can increase stray hairs on the crown. To avoid friction wear a durag or line your headwear with silk/satin fabric.
Elastics
Avoid tight hairbands, this can create indents in the locs.. The elastic pulls on the singular hair strands and causes kinks. If indents are spotted in the same position on multiple locs this is from the hair band, rotate different hairstyles and change to a looser hairband. Use a wide band stretchy hair tie or scrunchie. Alternatively dreadlock tie accessories can be found online.
Shampoo
It is recommended to shampoo once every 5-7 days. Shampoo the scalp and let it sit for a minute. It’s not necessary to shampoo the body of the locs. Avoid friction (rubbing) to the body of the loc. Do not use shampoo with parabens and sulfates. These chemicals will build up in your loc.
Use paraben + sulphate + silicon free products always.
Conditioner
Avoid conditioning in the first 3ish months unless hair is very damaged. Introduce conditioning with diluted conditioner leaving in for 20 seconds applying into the ends of your locs roughly. Squeeze conditioner out of locs under the running water. Slowly build up to deeper conditioning with time. Mature locs can get dry depending on lifestyle and hair type, incorporating conditioning into hair care routine will help. It is recommended to condition the loose ends of the locs weekly will keep them healthy and reduce breakage.
Itchiness
Upon loc installation it is normal to feel itchiness. This is the scalp adjusting to the different air flow (less) and from the hairs being pulled more. It is common to have some red dots appear on your scalp. This is irritation and will go away on its own. It is common to have increased dandruff at first while the scalp gets used to the locs and due to reduced exposure to water. This can be treated with a conditioning/anti-itch essential oil spray or chamomile tea rinses.
Products
Always used NATURALLY DERIVED products. Do not use wax as this will stay in the loc and may retain moisture leading to the growth of mold. What products are necessary for dreadlcoks? Naturally derived shampoo + conditioner. Anti-itch/ conditioning spray and root hair oil. Anything that goes onto locs should be able to be washed out. Products that don't wash out will build up in your locs and can promote mold growth.
Essential Oils Great for Itchy Scalp.
Mix approximately 2-3 drops of essential oil for every tablespoon of carrier oil.
Extensions
Over time extension joins can get weak. Hair from a hair brush and extension hair can be used to patch the weak spot. If a loc becomes detached it can be reattached. The better care that is given to dreadlock extensions the longer they'll last. Light conditioning is recommended from 1/2 months from install.
Extreme Shrinkage
High exposure to water within the first 2/3 months can cause the hair to blow out.
Do not use on dreadlocks.
Use wide soft elastics on dreadlocks.
Adornments
Beads too tight can create a bulking of dreadlock above or below it. Charms can be added to locs below loose beads to stop them falling off. Cotton/yarn can be added around locs. Avoid decorating locs while maturing to avoid interfering with the maturing process. Once locs are denser to squeeze decorating them will not interfere with the process. This can take 4 months or so.
Palm Rolling
Palm rolling helps to relax the strands of hair inside the locs. This will reduce shrinkage also the creation and appearance of kinks. The more palm rolling that is done, the less chance of shrinkage & kinks forming. Hair that is damaged (sun exposure/chemicals) are more susceptible to shrinkage and forming kinks. Locs can become flat near the root of the loc and along the body. This can happen from wearing hats, pressure from your headrest when driving and sleeping on moist locs. Palm rolling locs when wet can help fix this.
Joining of Roots
Due to rubbing of the head from wearing headwear/sleeping/driving while your locs are immature can cause locs to start to join at section base. When locs are dry they can be pulled apart to separate. If this is painful the hair can be cut. It is a good habit to check root joining on your wash day. Mature locs don't tend to join at the roots as much, although sometimes may need a helping hand with separating.
Contact With Water
Do not wet freshly installed locs for the first 2 weeks. This helps with the locking process. The more locs are exposed to water the fluffier they will get. Leaving the salt in the hair temporarily can be beneficial to help locs mature, especially thick virgin hair types. Towel dry locs by squeezing a dry towel around them. Use hairdryer on no heat. It is recommended to avoid leaving salt in your hair. Rinse out salt after swim or after the hair is dried. Shampoo hair after exposure to chlorine water. Rinse hair in shower before exposure to chlorine water to minimize chemical damage.
Friction
HAT/BEANIE/HELMET wear can increase stray hairs on the crown. To avoid friction wear a durag or line your headwear with silk/satin fabric.
Elastics
Avoid tight hairbands, this can create indents in the locs.. The elastic pulls on the singular hair strands and causes kinks. If indents are spotted in the same position on multiple locs this is from the hair band, rotate different hairstyles and change to a looser hairband. Use a wide band stretchy hair tie or scrunchie. Alternatively dreadlock tie accessories can be found online.
Shampoo
It is recommended to shampoo once every 5-7 days. Shampoo the scalp and let it sit for a minute. It’s not necessary to shampoo the body of the locs. Avoid friction (rubbing) to the body of the loc. Do not use shampoo with parabens and sulfates. These chemicals will build up in your loc.
Use paraben + sulphate + silicon free products always.
Conditioner
Avoid conditioning in the first 3ish months unless hair is very damaged. Introduce conditioning with diluted conditioner leaving in for 20 seconds applying into the ends of your locs roughly. Squeeze conditioner out of locs under the running water. Slowly build up to deeper conditioning with time. Mature locs can get dry depending on lifestyle and hair type, incorporating conditioning into hair care routine will help. It is recommended to condition the loose ends of the locs weekly will keep them healthy and reduce breakage.
Itchiness
Upon loc installation it is normal to feel itchiness. This is the scalp adjusting to the different air flow (less) and from the hairs being pulled more. It is common to have some red dots appear on your scalp. This is irritation and will go away on its own. It is common to have increased dandruff at first while the scalp gets used to the locs and due to reduced exposure to water. This can be treated with a conditioning/anti-itch essential oil spray or chamomile tea rinses.
Products
Always used NATURALLY DERIVED products. Do not use wax as this will stay in the loc and may retain moisture leading to the growth of mold. What products are necessary for dreadlcoks? Naturally derived shampoo + conditioner. Anti-itch/ conditioning spray and root hair oil. Anything that goes onto locs should be able to be washed out. Products that don't wash out will build up in your locs and can promote mold growth.
Essential Oils Great for Itchy Scalp.
Mix approximately 2-3 drops of essential oil for every tablespoon of carrier oil.
Extensions
Over time extension joins can get weak. Hair from a hair brush and extension hair can be used to patch the weak spot. If a loc becomes detached it can be reattached. The better care that is given to dreadlock extensions the longer they'll last. Light conditioning is recommended from 1/2 months from install.
Extreme Shrinkage
High exposure to water within the first 2/3 months can cause the hair to blow out.
Do not use on dreadlocks.
Use wide soft elastics on dreadlocks.
