Dreads are a popular way for people to wear their hair, as it has many benefits when compared to other hairstyles. Dreads are very convenient and easy to care for. You don’t have to wake up every morning worrying about styling your hair, as your hairstyle is already intact. You can simply pull them back in a ponytail if they’re long enough, and be on your way.
If you’ve been wearing your hair in dreads, yet you have been struggling with getting them to look neat upon retwisting them, you may not be using the best locking gel. The purpose of locking gel is to firmly hold your dreads together, locking them in place and keeping them looking neat and clean.
Choosing a locking gel
Choosing an adequate locking gel might seem daunting with so many currently on the market, but it doesn’t have to be. First, you need to identify your specific needs, as everyone’s hair is different. If you have extremely dry hair, then you need to seek a locking gel that provides moisturization.
Some people with dreads have hair that is too oily, and if that’s the case with you, then you need to determine which locking gels are especially for preventing excess oil. There are other aspects of your hair that you need to take into consideration when choosing a locking gel, as well.
The importance of avoiding potentially harmful chemicals
Another thing to consider when looking for the best locking gel is that some products contain potentially harmful chemicals that can not only pose a threat to your health, but that can also cause damage to your hair. This damage could lead to thinning, excessive dryness, hair loss, and more. It’s easy to avoid these chemicals as long as you take the time to carefully read the ingredients on labels before choosing a product. Some chemicals that you should avoid when choosing a locking gel are sulphites, sulphates, parabens, benezene, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, and more.
Growing your dread
Many people start out with very short dreads but have the intention of growing them very long. The proper locking gel can help you grow your dreads as quickly as possible. Here are some ingredients to look for in a locking gel that might accelerate your hair growth:
- Almond oil – this oil strengthens the hair shaft, promoting growth in the process
- Aloe Vera – this wonder ingredient prevents dry scalp and hair loss, and provides stimulation to the scalp
- Honey – seals in moisture, which contributes to hair growth
- Moringa seed oil – this ingredient promotes keratin production, and therefore, hair growth
- Lime juice – lime juice contains vitamin C, which treats baldness and thinning, as it accelerates hair growth
Aside from using a specific locking oil, if your goal is to quickly grow your dreads long, you need to stimulate your scalp through regular scalp massages. There are special scalp massagers, or you can simply use your fingers. Regardless of how you perform the massage on your scalp, it’s going to stimulate bloodflow to the scalp, which promotes growth.
You should also ensure that you’re consuming a healthy diet and taking hair vitamins. The healthier you are, the quicker your hair will grow. You should also seek a locking gel that specializes in hair growth, and as long as the other ingredients are safe and meet your needs, it should contain various ingredients that work together to grow your dreads fast.
Keeping your dreads shiny and moisturized
Shiny and moisturized dreads equal healthy hair, so you want to ensure that your locks are well moisturized. When purchasing a locking gel, be sure to choose one that is not only all-natural or even organic, if possible, but one that contains ingredients like honey, beeswax, aloe vera, and more. These ingredients lock in moisture and provide immense shine, so your dreads will look their absolute best.
It’s also important to wash your dreads regularly in order to maintain shine and proper moisturization. Once a week or more often is sufficient, but waiting more than one week between washings can lead to dull dread, and itchy scalp, and otherwise unclean hair. There are special shampoos specifically made for dreads that will benefit your hair the most. These special shampoos do not contain ingredients that regular shampoos do, and they cater to dreadlocks to ensure they’re healthy and clean. You can find a good shampoo for your dreads wherever you find your locking gel.
Avoiding nasty buildup
Many locking gels contain potentially unhealthy ingredients, but they also cause scalp buildup that may also be present on the locks themselves. This certainly isn’t something that you want to contend with, as buildup on the scalp prevents the scalp from breathing properly. When the scalp can’t breathe, your hair won’t grow and you can experience redness in your scalp, irritation, itchiness and more. To avoid buildup on your scalp and dreads, you should avoid locking gels that contain ingredients like Vaseline and mineral oil, which can lead to buildup.
How often to re-twist dread
Whether you’re going to be re-twisting your dreads yourself or having them done professionally, you should have them done about every 4-6 weeks. If you have them re-twisted any sooner, then they may fail to re-lock, regardless of the products that you use. You also want to be sure not to go too long in-between re-twists, because this will result in frizzy, unruly locks that may appear to be in need of some attention.
So, if you’re ready to have the healthiest looking dreads ever, you need to start looking for the best locking gel the right way. You can’t simply go into a store and mindlessly choose a locking gel that is the cheapest price or that looks like it might be effective, as you need to take the time to read ingredients as well as reviews, so your locks can be attractive, healthy, and free of buildup.