Services

Before we get into how to wash, it is important to note that dreadlocks must be kept dry unless it’s dread washing day. The reason for this is if your dreadlocks become wet or damp on a regular basis they may not have the opportunity to dry right through to the centre of the lock. If this problem occurs you can end up with dread rot (mould growing inside the dread). This is where the old school term ‘smelly dreads’ comes from. It is rare but can happen. On the odd occasion you are having a beach day or going to the pools don’t stress, dread rot will only occur if the dreads are wet often. Going to bed with wet dreadlocks is a massive no no. So, with that said, tie your dreads up into a high bun and cover with a shower cap when showering each day. It’s not hard to do and always worth the effort. Make sure they are dry before bed. You can test the dryness of your dreads by squeezing one, it should not feel damp or wet.

And on the opposite end of the scale some people think they don’t have to wash their dreads at all, this is also a big no no. It is important that good hygiene and a clean healthy scalp is maintained throughout your dreadlock journey. Your scalp is skin, and it sheds just like the rest of your body, so it should be cleaned with the correct shampoo on a weekly basis and taken care of. If you are a bit of a gym junkie, go ahead and wash twice a week. If a bit of a homebody and if your scalp agrees with it, go ahead and push it out to 10 days if you can. It is important to note that while having dreadlocks the oils in your hair will usually diminish, so it may feel like you don’t have to wash your hair so much. Every dreadlock journey is slightly different, and every scalp requires different care. I will always check the health of your scalp in your session and let you know if there are any issues or if you need to make any changes to your routine. You can also ask a family member or friend to check your scalp for you. If you struggle with serious Seborrheic Dermatitis or Scalp Psoriasis, then dreadlocks are probably not for you.

As a sidenote, on non washing days ensure that you give your scalp an opportunity to breathe. You don’t want to have your dreadlocks tied together or covered up all the time. This can cause excess unwanted matting, unnecessary sweating, and scalp irritation. If you want to have them tied up during the day or wear a beanie/hat during the day, let your dreadlocks down and free at night or vice versa.

Stay away from silicones, you’ll often see it in brands like Head and Shoulders. Silicones leave a coating on the hair follicles making it harder to keep the dreads clean and locked. Stay away from any shampoo that contains a softening element. Softening/conditioning your dreadlocks (depending on the age of the dreadlock) can undo the work we have done and make the dreadlocks soft and fluffy.

My very inexpensive go-to is Redwin shampoo for just $6, if it agrees with your scalp, you’re a winner. They offer a tea tree or coal tar for itchy scalps. If this isn’t a match for you or you prefer something more indulgent, some other brands you may like are Dollylocks, Raw Roots, Dr. Bronners (an old school favourite) and The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo (not ideal for new dreadlocks but great for those with sensitive scalps). Most of the more natural/low tox/organic shampoos in Go Vita stores are also an option, and there are many other fabulous shampoos specifically made for dreadlocks online. You just have to go on a little adventure to find one that doesn’t irritate your scalp and feels right for you. With or without dreads, the correct shampoo should leave your scalp feeling good, with no itchiness and minimal dandruff.

Dreadlock shampoo bars are also a popular choice and are available online. Bars are fabulous; they lather up well, smell great, generally low tox and no plastic…love it! Unfortunately shampoo bars are not the correct PH for hair follicles, leaving them open to damage. After using your bar rinse with apple cider vinegar, this will correct the PH, rebalance your hair and close the hair follicles off.

My specially formulated liquid shampoo and shampoo bars will launch in 2026, stay tuned for updates.

 Conditioning dreadlocks younger than 2 years old is not advised. Conditioning new dreadlocks can undo the work we have done, create fluffiness, softness and slow down the establishing process. We need the hair dry and coarse for it to form into dreadlocks. If your dreadlocks become too dry over 2 years old and they feel uncomfortable or too coarse, you can totally go ahead and use a specially formulated dreadlock conditioner or products like argon oil to soften them again, staying away from supermarket conditioners, as these contain unwanted constituents. Do not condition on a regular basis, just when needed.

There are lots of delicious dreadlock products on the market that are professionally developed for every stage of your dreadlock journey. Feel free to explore these and try them. Some small businesses even offer sample packs which are good for newbies. If you want to keep costs down you can also DIY essential oil sprays and lockup sprays, just don’t use too much essential oil as it can irritate the scalp, just a few drops are sufficient.

Select a dread washing day each week. A non-workday is better suited and remember to only ever wash them in the morning.

Washing your scalp and dreadlocks in the morning allows them to dry all day long so by bedtime they should be dry right through. Wet your scalp thoroughly and then begin to part your dreadlocks while simultaneously pouring your shampoo through the parted sections. Once you feel you have enough shampoo on your scalp, scrub thoroughly getting under and around the dreads. You can also take the shampoo down the dreads but there is no need to push the shampoo into the dreadlocks. The most important thing here is to keep a clean healthy scalp. Once you have finished, rinse thoroughly making sure all shampoo suds are removed from the scalp and dreadlocks. You can give the dreads a squeeze to make sure the shampoo is out. Do not apply any further product and refrain from using anything with a conditioning element as this will soften your dreads and can leave you fluffy and too soft.

Once complete, you can wrap your dreads in a towel for a few minutes to get some of the water out, but you do want them still quite damp for the next step. After 5 or so minutes remove the towel and get palm rolling. Tie your wet dreads up gently with a big scrunchie and pull one out at a time so you know which ones you’ve palm rolled (you don’t want to miss one). Start from the root and palm roll down the dreadlock to the tip, the remaining water should flick off while you do this step. Palm rolling while wet will help get all the little loose hairs back in to keep your dreads tight and uniform, support maintenance, and overall assist with the establishing phase. If you have established dreadlocks older than two years this step is not necessary for every wash.

Do not palm roll your dreadlocks when they are dry.

Do not use wax! Wax is completely unnecessary and can retain water inside the dreadlock causing dread rot. Now let them down for the day to dry, do not tie them up in a bun or a ponytail and do not wear a beanie or a hat. Let them down to air out and dry, and by bedtime they should be dry right through to the centre. Congrats!

Dread baths or dreadlock soaking is a popular way to deep clean your dreadlocks. It’s not something you need to do on a regular basis. It really is a personal choice when to do these, some people don’t do them at all. I personally enjoyed doing them after a camping trip or if I had been working outdoors for long lengths. There was a short period of time where I did them monthly. To begin you will need a sink, bucket or inflatable basin. There are a couple of ways to do this:

Add warm water, bicarbonate soda and apple cider vinegar into your vessel of choice. Lie back and place your dreads into the mixture. Allow your dreads to soak for around 15 minutes.

If you prefer not to soak you can speed up the process by doing this over the bath or in the shower. Sprinkle the bicarbonate soda over your dreads and then pour the apple cider vinegar over the top, no need to soak, just let it sit for 10 minutes on your dreads before rinsing or washing out. You will hear a fizzing sound. It’s a perfectly safe, natural and a harmless way of deep cleaning your dreads. You can also use bespoke dreadlock products such as a cleansing bomb or detoxifying soak, just add the product into your inflatable basin with water and soak.

My dreadlock soak kits drop in 2026!