Best products from r/Dreadlocks

I look for a shampoo that has no additives... here's a small list of what I look out for initially

• no sulfates
  
• no parabens
  
• no waxes/butters
  
• no PEGs/PPGs
  
• no "cones" (silicone, dimethicone, etc...)
  
  Now, this NOT exhaustive... and it's pretty much impossible to find a shampoo that doesn't have one or two of these. I use a brand called Bröö from Wal-mart. It's about as crunchy granola bar hippy as I'd like to go, but it smells amazing and a little goes a really long way... I use the invigorating one with peppermint (and they all have beer in them. I'm still getting used to that idea). The Wal-mart in my area has started to carry natural hair and skin products, which is where I found this. I looked in a few different areas and ended up finding our section near the makeup/skincare area. There were masks, hair care, lotions, etc in the same area as I found the shampoo so look around a lil!
  
  My Wal-mart, and I'm assuming others, started carrying Giovanni's Tea Tree Tingle, which I have heard WONDERS about. When my Bröö is out I'm getting some of that. What I have currently was a little over $5. The Giovanni is a little over $6 I think. This is all relative to area and your store might not have it though...
  
  My feelings on Shea Moisture are tainted because it is absolutely not for my hair. I used it once and my dreads and loose hair (I have my fringe straight) felt heavy and strange. I've got wickedly thin, easily aggravated hair and scalp so it just wasn't for me....
  
  Another 'poo I've had luck with was Acure brand Lemongrass Clarifying. Smells amazing but it's around $11 a bottle for 8 oz from Target... that's a treat to myself every here and there!
  
  A resource I deeply treasure is [Raging Roots Studio "Shampoos & Soaps" page] (http://ragingrootsstudio.com/shampoos-soaps/). I love the whole site and have learned a lot from the folks over there but to each their own with product usage and what info you gather from whom.
  
  Here's links to the Bröö and the Acure just for reference. Amazon has the former for more expensive, and the latter for cheaper, but I know you don't like online shopping so it's just to see what they look like.
  
  My hair isn't like yours, so everyone will be different. Mine is starkly straight, thin, and OILY!!! I haven't done this long either. My first set was 1.5 yrs old and my current set is 6 months old... so take with a grain of salt :)
  
  so, good luck on your journey. Looking forward to pics.
  
  
  EDIT: also I love that call your fave an Arby's curly fry... haha! I want to see! I've got... furry noddles haha

You don't need a special "dreadlock" shampoo. I've never bought a single dreadlock-oriented product and I just hit the two year mark a month ago.

Look for "residue-free" shampoos. I mostly use Dr. Bronner's (I dilute 2-4 drops in a water bottle before I apply it). Neutrogena makes a residue-free shampoo, but it smells like Egyptian perfume so it's not everyone's cup of tea.

I also really like african black soap but it isn't technically residue free. It makes my hair feel amazing though so I use it every week or two. It also comes in a bar form like Dr. Bronners but I feel like the bars are difficult to manage how much soap you're using and I will always end up using way more than I need to.

I also did the twist and rip method and my locs are now a few inches past my shoulders. I wash with shampoo every other wash. The washes in between I use just straight water to scrub my scalp and rinse my dreads really well. I try to be very cautious of what I put in my locs and I pay most attention to rinsing well and drying completely.

Ninja edit: Forgot to add, I have been using argan oil to help hydrate my hair after washes. I usually spray some in while I'm drying my hair. There are a few different brands and mixes you can get, but this is the one I have been using. I looked for the one that didn't mention anything about detangling when I bought it (some of the others mentioned they help detangle, so I just avoided those but I'm not really sure how good/bad they are for dreads).

I actually used Head & Shoulders (not sure of the difference, really, though) but honestly, using a good clarifying shampoo has worked better than any dandruff shampoo has. I currently use this and I really like it.

I vote no on the latch hooks. Most of them are rounded at the tip and too wide. Dreadheadhq has a pointy one that's ok. I bought one years ago and still have it around but never use it. With young, loose dreads, it works great. But once they're nice and tight even the pointy latch hook is too thick to push through. I prefer to use an upholstery needle like this. The medium sized one on the left. I use this with a piece of thread for pulling in loosies near the roots. Here's a tutorial on how I do it. She starts the "sewing" part at 2:00. It's pretty much the same concept as a latch hook, except it's much thinner and pushes through without loosening/weakening the dreads.

For loosies further down, I pull them in with a size 12 crochet hook. Well, I used to. After my dreads reached about 5 years old and were obviously done tightening up, I shaved up and down the length of them with electric sheers. 10/10 would do again! But I won't have to, since they're fully locked, nothing is going to slip out any more.

I started off using the Easy Loc tool, then graduated onto the Nappy Loc tool. I believe the Nappy Loc micro sized tool will be perfect for your loc size. I took mine's and bent it into a curve so that it catches even easier.

Nappy Loc: https://www.nappynhappy.com/products/nappy-locs-tool?variant=15815756841017

Easy Loc: https://www.amazon.com/EasyLoc-Hair-Tool/dp/B00TO0ZV5Q

For styling try braiding, French branding specifically. A bun may be to heavy on your head. And as for drying try a bonnet hair dryer. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IGMWVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nW5gyb4VNVVHD have not used one myself but it seems many people love them. But it may also be time for you to say goodbye to your locks. If you keep finding reasons not to have them sometimes it's good to let them go.

I would get occasionally itchy even with mature dreads, which had to do with being in a fairly dry house. Humidifiers can be a friendly solution.

But yeah, the first few weeks can be a bit tortuous. I got some Knotty boy peppermint cooling spray and that turned the itch into a tingle, which did feel better.

Ok, so for your ear, my daughter's pediatrician has recommended to us in the past a garlic goldenseal oil

https://www.amazon.com/Michaels-Naturopathic-Progams-Garlic-Goldenseal/dp/B00014JXW6


Hope that helps!

Every dreadhead should own an inflatable hairwashing basin. It's perfect for deep-cleaning -- you can just lie down on the floor for 30 mins and read a book while your locks soak. I used an old rolled towel under my neck for additional comfort, then when the 30 mins were up I'd use the towel as a headwrap so I wouldn't drip all over the floor while walking to the shower. :-)

I can't speak for ALL bar soaps but I have used one kind before.

The one kind that I have used is Kirk's Castile Soap Bars

I usually use Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap (Diluted)

Hope that helps a little.

Their really isn't much to it, residue free and cost effective, 2 bottles for 10 bucks, I typically get some through Amazon, here's the exact one I've been using for years, http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Ultra-Dishwashing-Liquid-Original/dp/B001XQ7LOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373341739&sr=8-1&keywords=dawn+dish+soap

I bought two of these in the .5mm. One for work, one for home. I love it and it has a little metal cap in case you need to store it or carry it with you somewhere and it won't stab through fabric:
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013AG9OC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I always wear an elastic unless it's a wash day. But I use those long ones just doubled up once and it's not so tight. If I forget it in the morning I just tie it back with the 2 back most center dreads, but not as comfy as the long elastic. I also like those hair tube things, like these: https://www.amazon.com/Toes-Home-Headbands-Resistence-Multifunction/dp/B071GBFPWK/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=hair+tube&qid=1563375255&s=gateway&sr=8-4

It's an attachment that goes on the end of a hair dryer!


Deluxe Pink Softhood Bonnet Hair Dryer Attachment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L42LD5E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_T8GRzbKNFGP1Z

Oh, I understand. I use this one. If I put all my hair in at once I occasionally get airflow blocked, so I leave some portion out and then readjust my dreads halfway through drying to get the damp areas. You might have to spend longer under the dryer to make sure all your hair gets dry. See what I mean? You might have to do it in portions like me, which will take longer.