#drying dreads

You gotta wash your hair, yes even dreadlocks need a good scrub once or twice a week. But while plenty of people have talked about what to wash with, how frequently to soap up, and even washing techniques I don't see as much information on drying dreadlocks which is just as important as washing them.

Here are a few quick tips on drying your dreads:

1. Don't rewash if your hair is still wet

Mold forms in your dreads when moisture is suspended in them without a chance to dry out completely. Since dreads can take anywhere from four to eight hours to dry on average it isn't recommended that you wash them every day. Have a good two or three days with no moisture to be sure mold doesn't set in.

2. Don't use a blow dryer unless you no other choice

Gone are the days where you can apply liberal amounts of moisturizer or conditioner to your hair after the damaging process of blow drying and straightening and culling and whatever else we can put our hair through. All that hot hair on your dreads with no aftercare makes for unhealthy hair. Try and let your hair air dry, or lay out in the sun to dry them out, rather than blow drying your hair. It will take longer but your hair will be better off in the long run.

3. Be smart about taking a dip

Spring is here in the states and summer is well on her way, Beach season, pool season, swimming season, camp season, whatever you want to call it the time is here to take a dip. There's nothing wrong with swimming around but if you're going swimming every day try and put your hair up every other day if you can. Lay out in the sun for a nap and let your hair dry quickly that way. 

4. Don't put up your hair

While drying your hair don't put it up in a pony tail or bun this just keeps the moisture in your dreads longer which is more likely to lead to dread rot and mold.