The best practices before and after a dreadlock maintenance
This blog post is all about the best practices you can do before and after your dreadlock maintenance for the best results!
With now years of dreadlock maintenance and care under my belt, I have real experience on what I think is the best way to prep your dreadlocks prior to your appointment and things you can do in the weeks after. These small but effective processes will benefit your dreadlocks greatly and will allow you to get the best results with every maintenance!
How to prep your dreadlocks before a Dreadlock Maintenance:
1. Wash your hair a few days before your Dreadlock maintenance - this is important so that your hair is clean for your appointment (more on this below). You want to wash it a few days prior so that your hair is completely dry for your appointment.
2. Come with dry dreadlocks to your appointment – This is really important! When the hair follicle is wet, it is larger than when it is dry, meaning that when dreaded will move as the hair dry’s and won’t be as tight of a maintenance. Dreadlock Maintenance on wet hair can also cause excessive breakage.
3. Mist dreadlocks with a salt spray – Mist your hair with the salt spray after you wash your dreadlocks and recommended not rinse out. The salt with create the perfect conditions when you arrive with dry and salty dreadlocks for your maintenance.
What to do after a dreadlock maintenance:
1. Don’t wash your dreadlocks for at least 4 – 7 days MINIMUM – This is why it is so important to wash your hair before your Dreadlock Maintenance. We want your fresh dreadlocks to really lock and set after the maintenance. Water moves hair as well as makes the hair follicles expand which will move your hair and loosen the new maintenance. Once the new maintenance settled and locked in its fine to wash!
2. Be gentle for your first wash - Try to section your dreadlocks and pat the shampoo into the scalp. The key is to gently massage it without being too rough and heavy handed.
3. Salt is your friend – Mist your hair with a salt spray to help keep your dreadlocks salty which will help keep them locked. Don’t rinse out.
4. Palm rolling – The more consistent you are with palm rolling the tighter, more consistent your dreadlocks will be! I know it’s a pain but it really works, trust me, I know when you have and have not been palm rolling. For best results, palm roll when dreadlocks are still damp after washing and misting with salt spray.
5. Sleeping with a Silk or Satin pillow case or hair bonnet - Highly effective to help with friction while you sleep. A silk or satin pillow case or bonnet will make it a smoother experience while you sleep, creating less friction and fuzzy loose hair.
It’s impossible to know when and how often someone should get a dreadlock maintenance! With every dread head being different, every dreadlock is also so individually different to the others on the same head! Some clients come every 2 – 3 Months and some come every 6 – 8 months, this is really up to you, your hair type and your lifestyle.
For any other question please done hesitate to contact me.
Peace
S