Dreadlocks is a highly misunderstood hairstyle that has over time generated many ridiculous rumors and beliefs. The significance and reasons for wearing dreadlocks differ from person to person.
But are dreadlocks really dirty? No, Dreads are not dirty. Provided you are washing your dreadlocks regularly and caring for them as required, there is no reason for dreads to be dirty. The locking technique of dreads allows for low maintenance, but when it comes to cleaning them, the schedule is no different from people with free hair.
Growing dreadlocks often have something to do with the individual’s history, culture, political affiliations, ideologies or could just be a fashion statement. The acceptance of dreadlocks also varies across communities depending on how they choose to interpret the hairstyle.
For most people, especially those that have never worn it, it is regarded with so much negativity. A popular reason for disliking the hairstyle is the thought that dreadlocks are ever dirty. It represents the wearer as someone with poor personal hygiene and that they put no effort at all in their personal grooming.
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What would make dreadlocks dirty?
Dreadlocks are not characteristically different from unlocked hair. Just like unlocked hair, a few things can cause them to become dirty. These include:
Build-up
Lint, environmental materials, biological substances, debris, and products are some of the common buildups you will find in dreaded hair. This is however not to mean that all dreads have to experience all these types of buildup.
Lint is the most common and is a result of exposing your locks to wool, cotton, or any kind of fabric that sheds fibers. It easily gets trapped in locks and if not removed will intertwine within the locks.
To avoid this, wear a satin scary to bed and even under winter coats and hats. Also, make sure to use a lint-free towel after washing your dreads.
- Pocket feature protects long tresses, natural styles, locs, twist and braids.
- Satin material prevents frizz and breakage for healthy hair growth
- Non-abrasive, High quality satin bonnet for nightime use.
- Edge-control headband keeps edges smooth
The environmental buildup is also common and comes from things floating around in the air. It includes dirt and dust and the only way to avoid this is but cleaning the dreadlocks regularly and also, ensuring your wear a protective cap or scarf when working in dusty areas.
- Seamless Ultra-Stretch
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- Lightweight Cotton Spandex
- Size: Approximately 19 x 9-1/2 Laying Flat
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As the dreads get longer, you will find debris from food, make-up, and even lotion getting stuck in your locks. You can simply avoid this by pulling your hair back while eating, getting dressed, or when applying makeup.
Biological factors like sebum and dandruff can also cause buildup in your dreads. Not many people consider this but it still affects lots of people with dreadlocks.
The sure way to avoid this kind of buildup is to take time to understand your scalp and hair. Doing so helps you determine a care routine such as when to moisturize and when to shampoo. It also helps you in getting the right products to suit your specific type of hair and scalp.
Product buildup is perhaps the biggest challenge in caring for dreadlocks. You see, for people with unlocked hair, cleaning out build-up from using too much or many products is quite simple.
However, due to the nature of locks, washing out product buildup is not so easy. The hair strands in locks are woven together and this makes it difficult to rub each strand in order to get rid of the buildup.
You can avoid this kind of buildup by using lightweight products that are specifically formulated for locks. A clarifying shampoo will also help remove build-up as opposed to repeated use of a moisturizing shampoo.
Sleeping with wet/damp locks
When you consistently sleep with your dreads wet, you risk developing an odor and mold. Some people actually think that they are being smart by washing their locks in the evening and allowing them to dry overnight.
But while pillows and bedding might help suck out some of the moisture in the locks, it will only do so on the outside but leave the inside of the loc still wet. And we know that anything that holds moisture in for a long-time, risks growing mold.
To avoid this, wash your hair in the morning to allow it more time to dry during the day. However, if you must wash in the evening, use a blow-dryer or a drying cap to dry it up to 90% and then sleep on a satin pillowcase with the hair uncovered and the locks spread out to prevent moisture from holding in. also always wear a shower cap on days you do not intend to wash your locks.
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- 4 heat/speed settings including a cool setting for maximum styling versatility
- Bonus Hot Air Vent Brush attachment for smooth, straight styles
- Extra-large soft bonnet fits over jumbo rollers; Drawstring secures bonnet in place (soft bonnet hair dryer does not include rollers)
- Compact storage case with handle saves space and is great for travel
- Extra-long 4-foot flexible hose with Easy Lock feature
Misinformation
As mentioned earlier, there are a ton of myths surrounding dreadlocks as a hairstyle. If you lack the right information on how to care for your locks, you might end up with a dreadful head of dread that is both dirty and unsightly.
A common misconception is that for your hair to properly dread, you need to start the dreads on dirty hair. This is however not true. Clean hair will dread better and faster than dirty hair as it is less grimy and greasy.
Also, failing to moisturize or not doing it properly is a common mistake that can make lead to build-up. Most people think of oil as a moisturizer and proceed to slather it on their scalp as well as on the dreads themselves.
However, a good moisturizer needs to hydrate, meaning it has to contain some water. Also, applying moisturizer or oil on the dread is not recommended as it only weighs them down and causes build-up which results in dirty dreads.
Also, know your products really well. Usually, cream-based products, shea butter, and wax are not recommended on dreadlocks since they could be too thick or are not water-soluble.
This means that removing these products from your hair with a simple wash may not be easy. Get products that are light and go easy on them: a little always goes a long way.
Conclusion
To keep your dreadlocks looking healthy and clean, you will need to invest in learning more about how to care for locks. It takes some level of commitment to rock the style with elegance but you will definitely enjoy this practical hairstyle once you have the hang of it.
Frequently Asked Question
Why are dreadlocks dirty? As mentioned above dreadlocks are dirty due to build-up caused by lint, environmental materials, biological substances, debris and products, and Sleeping with Wet/Damp Locs.
Can dreads be clean? Yes, dreads can be clean, if you wash your dreads at least once a week, use residue-free products and observe the good hygiene practices your dreads can be clean.
Do dreads smell? Yes, dirty dreads can smell, while clean dreads are not smelly dreads follow the advice given above and your dreads will only smell of freshness.
