People who have started their dreads with neglect, and used no wax, find the same whiteness when their dreads begin to smell and they cut them. So what IS the white stuff really? While a small portion may be dead skin cells, the majority is soap residue.
The best method is to perform a dread detox in order to dissolve the product buildup and residue that has accumulated in your locs. First mix 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts distilled water, pouring the solution into a spray bottle. Saturate the hair and use it a pre-treatment.
To remove buildup, you can try using a clarifying shampoo or try an apple cider vinegar rinse to bring your hair back to life. Establishing a great cleansing routine by properly cleaning your hair every two to three weeks, you will be able to fight against any type of buildup to give you healthy, hydrated locs.
One common myth about dreadlocks is that they are dirty. But dreadlocks — like any hair — are clean if properly washed and maintained. In fact, many people with dreadlocks keep their locs exceptionally clean because clean hair knots faster and better than dirty hair.
Mold can grow in your dreadlocks (i.e., dread rot) if your hair isn't properly dried after washing. It produces a mildew-like smell that's really tough to get rid of. Environmental odors. Odors out of your control, like air pollution, scents from food, and smoke, can also settle in your dreads and produce an odor.
Can I You Get Dreads Wet? The answer is yes! You can do anything you would do normally, including swimming and showering. If you swim in a chlorine pool, just make sure to rinse the chlorine out afterward.
You will want to regularly (every two to three weeks) wash and detox hair to remove any products, oil, or debris trapped in the strands and scalp. Of course, if you workout a lot, you might want to wash more frequently than every two to three weeks.
Buildup on the other hand, is a common consequence of unnatural, waxy, or heavy products used to twist, loc, clean, or condition locs.
The Smell is a Dead Giveaway
If there is a foul odor coming out of your locs, then chances are there's mold in there. If you're still not sure, the smell is comparable to how a wet towel that isn't laid out to dry properly smells after a few days.
Your hair will also get thicker and heavier as the dreads mature. There are some cases where people's dreads get so thick that their thin roots could no longer hold the added weight, leading to breaking off.
However, when dreads mature throughout the stages, they will get thinner and thicker at different points. In addition, the length and thickness will fluctuate during the first couple of years as your hair becomes matted. Healthy dreadlocks are typically a little thicker when they mature than when you started them.
There is no need to introduce moisture to your locs every single day, especially if your hair doesn't need it. You should only do it on a need-to basis, meaning when they start to feel dry or brittle.
Give Your Locs a Break
They shampoo and groom their locs, including palm rolling or interlocking far too often, resulting in tighter, slimmer locs. If you want to grow thicker locs, you'll have to groom them far less frequently. Your locs don't need to be retwisted any more often than every six weeks (at least).
traditional locs. freeform locs. two-strand twist dreads/locs.
Pritchett says this happens either because dead skin cells, sebum or dust become trapped at the root, or because the style is too tight and the follicles are inflamed. “If the locs are unclean or if there is mildew due to spotty drying, there will be an odor and itchiness,” says Pritchett.
Keep hair moisturized
That said, you'll still need to moisturize on a daily basis if you want the protective style to do its job. Be sure to spritz a leave-in conditioner over your hair daily and use hair oil on your scalp to keep your hair soft and healthy.
That being said, a typical retwist should/could last anywhere from 4-6 weeks. But again, it will depend on how you take care of your locs. Your retwist can last longer, it can even last for months, if you make all the right moves to make your retwist last longer.
Because dreadlocks are matted hair, they have the potential to trap odors more than other hairstyles. However, that doesn't mean that dreads always smell bad (or that your locs are doomed to smell bad at one point). If you don't properly care for your dreads, then you could end up with locs that smell bad.
Should you cover your dreadlocks when you sleep? We recommend covering your dreadlocks while you sleep. You'll minimize the risk of breakage. If you toss and turn while sleeping but your dreadlocks are exposed, you might accidentally pull them during the night.
Unfortunately, dreadlocks do not clean themselves - a myth likely created by somebody too lazy to wash their own. Dreads should be washed at least twice per week. Having said that; hair within a dreadlock can often be in fantastic condition, protected by the sebum (skin oil) that covers them.
Once your locs are mature, we recommend you deep condition every 1-2 weeks to keep your locs healthy, strong, and moisturized. NaturAll's Fresh Frozé Treatment Deep Conditioners not only keep your locs moisturized, but consistent use will keep your locs strong, healthy, and vibrant.
Thinning dreads can be a result of many different factors such as health challenges, medications, hormonal changes, stress, excessive hair products, tension, chemical hair coloring, dryness/dehydration, over manipulation or neglect.
The five stages of locs are: starter, budding, teen, mature, and rooted. While your loc journey can take between 18-24 months, some loc-wearers find the beginning and end phases to be the easiest, because the middle stages present their own set of challenges.