Can you wash your dreadlocks?
Absolutely! In fact, it is important that you keep your dreadlocks clean and dry, to insure proper tightening. No one likes smelly dreadlocks!
Do I need to use wax in my dreadlocks?
No! All hair types will dread without the use of any products. Many people will try to sell you products for your locks, but you don't need any of them. We specialize in completely natural, product free dreadlocks. Wax can actually slow the locking process, and will embed itself into the core of your locks and cause mold, mildew, and other residue problems.
Do dreadlocks require much upkeep?
This one is purely personal preference. Some folks like to have very tidy, neat, uniform locks, and come for maintenance every six weeks, which is the most we will do, as too much maintenance leads to weakened dreadlocks. Others never do maintenance. There are pros and cons to each path. The only thing you MUST do is separate, regularly, or your dreadlocks will eat each other. The neglect methods leads to stronger, more natural looking dreads, but takes longer for them to mature, sometimes years longer. Maintained dreads look nicer during the maturing process, with less loose hairs, but too much can cause breakage. All dreadlocks will mature eventually, and no one is going to walk out of a shop with fully mature dreads. It takes as little as a year up to as much as three years for locks to mature. What we do is set the foundation, so you can begin your journey in your chosen manner, and accelerate the process by several months.
What is residue and how do I avoid it?
Residue happens when you use products like wax, certain shampoos, gels, and other items that cannot be cleanly washed out with water and get trapped inside the core of the locks. You can avoid it by only using water soluble products on your locks and rinsing fully when washing. You can find full information on what we recommend in our aftercare instructions.
How often can I get my dreadlocks wet?
While we only recommend washing a couple times a week, you can wash more, or swim more, or in general, get your dreadlocks wet as often as you'd like. However, to avoid issues, we recommend that your hair be thoroughly dry before gettting it wet again. They do make special dreadlock swim caps that will keep your locks dry, and special blow dryer caps that can get even the most mature of locks dry fairly quickly.