Simple DIY Natural Remedies For Growing Beautiful Dreads

Deciding to grow dreads is a big commitment, but the outcome can be a beautiful thing, especially when you care for them holistically. My husband and oldest daughter have dreadlocks, both receiving them at different stages.

He got them with a mini fro and I locked my daughter’s when her hair was already to her shoulders. However, both came out beautifully. Today, my daughter’s hair is to the middle of her back and my husband’s is almost to his waist.

This was my first time maintaining dreads and I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way. If I had kinkier hair, I think I’d get them myself (I personally think dreads look the best on 4 type hair).

I started off using store-bought products for their hair, including bees wax and moisturizers and shampoos, but I’ve strayed from that path and have gone au naturale with my approach to dread maintenance.

For the sake of this article, I’m going to focus on the maintenance of dreads that have already been locked.

Cleansing and conditioning your dreads

Since we are veering away from commercial products, I’m going to share with you my preferred cleansing and conditioning treatment for my family’s dreads.

If you’re familiar with my other posts, then you already know that it’s shikakai*, amla*, brahmi*, reetha and bhringraj. These are herbs that have been used for centuries to cleanse and condition the hair and scalp.

This blend is synergistic in that it gives you all-around healthy hair. It focuses on promoting the natural oils* in your hair and scalp, thickens your hair, prevents hair fall and increases circulation for growth. I also notice that it adds natural shine to their hair. It’s nature’s 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner.

There are different ways you can make the concoction, depending on your level of comfort. But for me, I either use the shampoo bar*, which I found on eBay for cheap, or purchase the powders to make a liquid “tea” out of it and use that.

Either way, you want to clean the hair in sections, making sure to massage the scalp. I do this 2-3 times, since I wash their hair every 2 weeks. If you want more sudsing action, just add more of the reetha (double or triple the dose).

Just bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then set it aside. Pour in 1 TB of each of the herbs and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes — the longer the better. Strain it and put it into a squeeze bottle or spray bottle.

Of course, the best deep conditioning* treatment I recommend is extra virgin coconut oil*, which can be done once or twice monthly.

Oiling your dreads for nutrients and shine

Don’t be too consumed by the notion that your dreads are supposed to be shiny. Shine doesn’t equal health. What you should be worried about is excessive drying and dandruff, which can resort to hair thinning and hair fall.

The great thing about oils* is that they can help give your hair added sheen and tons of nourishment. The latter is what you should be mainly concerned about. Giving your scalp nourishment can help to deter and prevent problems with dandruff and thinning, which in some cases can lead to entire dreads falling out (I’ve seen it happen before!)

There are oils* that are I think are better than others, and of course, I like to add special ingredients to make them even better. Here’s what I mean…

• Calendula infused olive oil*, which helps to stop and prevent eczema and dry scalp issues
• Rosemary oil* to help add shine, kill germs and alleviate dandruff
• Marula oil for nutrients
• Horsetail for stimulating growth and strength

I mix these all together and use them as a regular “moisturizer”. I like to spritz their hair with water when doing this because it seems to soak in better. But doing it on dry hair may work best for you. I also find placing this concoction inside of a spray bottle makes it easier to apply. I like to apply this from root to tip and directly into the scalp, while retwisting their hair. Then throughout the week, I will just apply it generously all over.

Re twisting your dreads without wax

I’ve done away with the waxes years ago and have resorted to only using aloe vera gel*/juice and castor oil*. I mix equal parts of each and shake up the bottle.

This does get messy since it can sometimes get drippy. But the amount of hold that it has on the twists is impeccable and once dried (air or under a dryer), it proves to be just as great as any wax.

Also, it lasts for a very long time when you tie your hair up at night with a satin or silk scarf*/doo-rag (why I only have to do their hair twice monthly).

Using this mix also doesn’t create that nasty buildup that locking waxes and creams tend to have. I battled with that at the beginning and struggled with cleaning their hair.

It made me regret convincing them to get dreads! But I’ve found this to be thee solution. Caring for their hair is minimal now, since their hair holds up longer and the amount of nutrients their scalp and dreads are getting keeps it looking live and well.

So how are you currently caring for your dreadlocks? Do you use your own natural concoctions?