How to Remove Product Build-Ups on Your Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks are great if you are looking for a low-maintenance hairstyle. However, you have to ensure optimal hair hygiene to keep your mane healthy.
Heavy hairstyling products like hairspray and wax are not recommended for dreadlocks. This is because they lead to severe build-up, and cleaning it all can be quite a task.
If you have been using these products, you need to take extra care of your locks to ensure they stay healthy. Fortunately, we have just the right tips on how to remove product build-ups on your dreadlocks.
Build-up Causes
You need to understand what causes build-up so you can take appropriate preventative measures. If you know the source, cleaning the build-up also becomes easier.
Shampoos and conditioners are the number one cause of build-up. These products have saponified oils derived from vegetable and animal fats.
The saponified oils are hard to clean with plain water. A good part of these oils sticks to the locs, attracting lint and dirt over time.
Homemade soaps, shampoos, and conditioners are not any better.
Just like their store-bought counterparts, they contain lye and fats. These fats are converted into free fatty acids when the products mix with water, and removing these deposits from your hair is quite a task.
Going for prolonged durations without washing the locs is the second cause of build-up. Most people do not think it is necessary to maintain a weekly hair-cleaning routine when they have dreadlocks.
This is not right. Like any other hairstyle, the scalp keeps producing dandruff and sebum, which will attract dirt.
In such a case, the build-up will arise when the sebum, dandruff, and skin mix with dirt from the environment.
Styling products are also notorious for causing build-up. Wax tops the list of such styling products.
Be careful to avoid using wax to start, maintain, or style your dreadlocks. Using wax on your hair will lead to caked build-up, which will attract lint and dust, and your locs may turn white and even begin to smell.
Removing Build-up from your Dreadlocks
Now that you know what will lead to build-up, you must learn ways of removing it from your locs.
The first step would be to eliminate shampoos and conditioners from your hair care routine. You can not work towards eliminating build-up when you are continuing with the same unhealthy routine.
Instead of these oil-laden shampoos and conditioners, use a clarifying shampoo. Unlike the creamy products, the clarifying shampoo is specifically designed to remove heavy build-up and leave your locs looking and feeling like new.
Wash My Dreads Shampoo by LOVE LOCS NATURAL is among the best clarifying shampoos available on the market. This detox shampoo is made of natural products that are sure to remove any build-up and get rid of excess sebum while leaving the hair nourished and healthy.
This LOVE LOCS detox shampoo also comes with organic apple-cider vinegar know to purify the scalp leaving it well-balanced and healthy. The fact that the shampoo is fragrance, vegetable oil, and essential oils free makes it the perfect product for a pure detox.
The LOVE LOCS shampoo will work with all hair types and ensure that your locs are clean and flourishing.
Natural Solutions perfect for Removing Build-ups on Dreadlocks
If you would like to go the natural way, there are more than enough tried-and-tested solutions for removing build-up. These include:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Dilute apple cider vinegar in some warm water and use this solution to wash your locs. Many swear by this method, quoting it as the best if you have caked residue that will not come off despite all efforts.
Apple cider vinegar works so well because the acid in it dissolves the build-up without harming the hair.
Baking Soda
This is another excellent natural solution for removing build-up. Baking soda works just like Apple Cider vinegar in dissolving the build-up.
To clean your locks, dissolve some baking soda in warm water and use this solution to wash your hair.
You can substitute the ordinary bicarbonate soda with Detox My Dreads Himalayan Salt from LOVE LOCS NATURALS.
The Himalayan salt is mixed with bicarbonate soda, and these two products work to remove all residue from the dreadlocks. It also has organic apple-cider vinegar for balancing the hair PH and some soothing lavender, spearmint, and juniper berries essential oils for your scalp.
Lemon Juice
You can squeeze some juice from a few lemons and use it on its own to clean your locs. You can also dilute the juice in water, and the solution will get rid of the wax, build-up, and excess oils on the scalp.
While these are natural products that are quite effective and work without damaging the hair, you need to be careful when using them. Keep them off your eyes and avoid using any of these acidic substances if you have open wounds or a sensitive scalp.
Homemade Build-up Removal on Dreadlocks Recipe
Ingredients
- Apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons
- Half to three quarter cup baking soda
- One to one and a half cup witch hazel
- Lavender essential oil, 20 drops
- Orange essential oil 20 drops
- Warm mater
- A large non-metallic bowl for soaking your dreadlocks
Please note that you can substitute the two essential oils highlighted above with any other option of your choice. The essential oils work to soothe the scalp, add some fragrance, and cover the vinegar smell.
Recipe
- Mix the baking soda and half of the witch hazel, lavender oil, and orange oil in a bowl.
- Pour some warm water into the bowl until half of the bowl is covered with water.
- Mix the contents in the bowl well with your hands until everything is well blended.
- Soak your locs in this solution for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Rinse the locks using some warm water.
- Empty the bowl off its contents and pour some apple cider vinegar and the other half of the ingredients that you added in the first step.
- Put some warm water in the bowl until you are halfway through and use this solution to soak your locs for 30 minutes or so.
- Rinse the locs once again and dry them as necessary.
After following these steps, your hair should be clean and free of build-up. Because of the witch hazel and orange essential oils, it should also be smelling awesome.
How about you? Do you need some tips on how to maintain your locs, or do you want more info on how to remove product build-ups on your dreadlocks? If so, get in touch with us through 02 8001 6456 or email us at sydneydreadlocks@gmail.com.