Natural Hair Dreadlocks (no extensions)
These locks are 6 months old. Here’s a comparison photo of the newer VS the locks now.
Over time your baby locks will mature, get more shape to them and find there spot to sit. They won’t always stick up after maintenance, they get comfortable and relax down!
INTRODUCTION
New dreadlocks can be very different than having loose hair. In this blog post we will break down all the considerations you may have when transitioning to having dreadlocks.
Dreadlock install with human hair extensions added
WASHING
After install & maintenance appointments it's best to try to wait 3 weeks after the appointment to wash or wet your locks.
Use shampoo only when you're washing your locks and primarily focus on your scalp.
It's extremely important to ensure ALL shampoo is rinsed from your dreadlocks. If it's not, it could cause built up product which isn't ideal.
Photo of built up shampoo. Shampoo usually builds up at the dreaded section closest to the scalp.
A great tip - Dilute your shampoo with water to make it a thinner product to apply to your dreadlocks. As long as your scalp is still sudding up you're using enough shampoo in the mixture!
Washing your scalp every 1-2 weeks will ensure your scalp stays healthy and can breathe. Those who don't produce much oils or experience dandruff may be able to have a 3 weekly washing routines.
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When having dreadlocks we no longer use conditioner or other moisturising products, over time this could lead to brittle ends and breakage. To avoid this be sure to be thoughtful about the products you use!
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Lunalockshop shampoo is organic and has hemp seed oil added into the mixture which means it will add a moisture component to your hair when washing
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Lunalockshop Hair Repair Spray is a natural dreadlock safe hydrating spray which will help hold moisture in the ends of your hair keeping them strong and healthy.
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MAINTENANCE ROUTINE
First maintenance appointment on new natural dreadlocks. (no extensions)
First maintenance will come around 4-6 weeks after install, the time frame will depend on the type of install you have had. For example - Someone with extensions will require maintenance sooner.The first maintenance at lunalockshop is like a check up appointment, I will tidy your locks and be able to tell you what you can likely expect over the upcoming months. I will also give you my recommendation for your next maintenance time frame.
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Second maintenance likely be a following 8-12 weeks. This will likely be a full root to tip maintenance.
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The third maintenance will likely be 12 weeks after the second.
After the third maintenance I encourage my clients to follow a maintenance routine personalised to them.
On average this is between 2-6 months for maintenance appointments
or just leaving for 'when it's needed'.
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It is extremely important to wash your dreadlocks before attending an appointment with your loctician. There are a couple reasons -
- If your locks are unclean they will not benefit as much from maintenance. Unclean locks won't lock as tightly and the maintenance will not last as long. If your dreadlocks aren't clean when you get maintenance it is quite possible that when you first wash your locks after the appointment that the work done might quickly unravel.
- Oil Scalp - If your scalp is excessively oily during maintenance appointments it can actually lead to injury for your loctician. Scalp oils coat the professionals hands and hook which makes for a very slippery process for the loctician. This means the locticians hands are at more risk of being stabbed or cut by the hook during the appointment and it will also mean that your locks wont be maintained as tightly.
- It is recommended that you wait 3 weeks after maintenance sessions before wetting or washing your locks/scalp. Due to this it is absolutely best to wash your hair as close to your maintenance appointment as possible.
Find out why maintenance is necessary in the below blog post!
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GENERAL CARE
- Avoid having them up too tightly for long periods of time (the hair tie too tight) to avoid causing weak spots.
- Know that all up-dos will cause loops and bumps. This can be maintained during an appointment or at home by palm rolling.
- Run your fingers along the section lines of your scalp frequently to ensure no locks are matting together (this is most important after being washed). Be sure to pull dreadlocks apart if they begin to matt together.
- If you’re worried about them making loops or bumps you can palm roll your locks when they’re wet to help keep them cylindrical. Wearing them down as often as possible will also help them form less loops. If they start to get very bendy than you can hold the base of your lock with 1 hand and with the other hand you can pull on your lock to encourage it to straighten out. This is called wet stretching.
- Adding beads or wraps directly to new locks will cause bumps, loops and/or weakened spots if they’re too tight on your dreadlock, this is because the dreadlock is still maturing and very pliable.. If we haven’t discussed beads then I highly recommend wearing root-based products such as the dread wraps or synthetic extensions if you’re worried about your dreadlocks not looking perfectly straight. Feel free to message me to discuss the best option for yourself.
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COMMON CONCERNS
- Loose hairs poking or falling out of the locks or extension join - In the first months of your dreadlock journey it is definitely expected that hairs will come loose, this is why a maintenance routine is so important in the beginning to help the dreadlocks form neatly during their maturing process.
- Irritated scalp - it is very common that your scalp will feel some form of irritation during the settling period of getting your dreadlocks. The irritation will likely be an itchy scalp which is caused from a reduced washing routine. your scalp over time will climatize to your new dreadlock routine. For more information about scalp irritation you can visit the below blog post!
- Loops - During the maturing process your dreadlocks are very susceptible to loops, bumps, wiggly locks and all kinds of shape changes. This is a reason for concern at all I promise! This actually means your locks are definitely maturing.
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