If you have locs, it’s likely that you’ve heard of the term “dread detox.” It’s a tried and tested way to clean your dreads really well.
However, there is a lot of conflicting information out there about how to deep clean your dreads by detoxing, so we’d like to clear things up!
In this article You’ll learn everything you need to know about different dread detox recipe options.
Best Dread Detox For Your Locs
Image | Product | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
| Check Price | ||
| Check Price | ||
| Check Price | ||
| Check Price | ||
| Check Price | ||
MAJESTIC PURE Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Avocado Coconut Conditioner Set |
| Check Price | |
| Check Price |
What Is a Dread Detox?
A dread detox is a procedure for deep-cleansing dreadlocks with an acid such as apple cider vinegar, a base such as baking soda, or a mix of the two ingredients to eliminate “nasties” from locs. During a dread detox, you cleanse each loc to its core to remove dirt, oil, product buildup, dead skin cells, trapped odors, bacteria, and even mold.
Since dreadlocks consist of tightly curled and matted hair, it is too easy for products, water, scents, and filth to penetrate deeply into locs and resist normal cleansing. However, a total dread detox can save the day! Everyone with dreadlocks will eventually require a complete dread cleanse. And most people may benefit from a dread detox once or twice a year.
Detoxing your dreads does not indicate that you have poor dread hygiene or that you are not keeping your locs clean. It’s merely part of proper dread maintenance!
Dread Lemon Juice Detox Recipe
To prepare this recipe, you will need:
Ingredient List
- A large bowel to fit the length of all of your dreads.
- Fresh lemon juice
- Oil of your choice
- Water
Step 1
Fill the dish with enough hot water to completely submerge your dreadlocks. Then, add 5 tablespoons of your preferred oil and enough lemon juice until you feel the fragrance.
You can add the oil to the solution as you prefer, but a 2:1 oil-to-lemon juice ratio is required to lessen the stripping effects of the lemon juice. Use freshly squeezed lemons, as the processed variety contains hair-damaging ingredients.
After that, separate the pulp from the lemon juice before applying it to your dreadlocks. That is because if you put pulp on your dreads, later it will be impossible for you to remove the pulp from your hair.
Step 2
Allow your dreadlocks to soak for thirty to forty-five minutes in the mixture while the water is still hot. Follow up by rinsing your locs with shampoo to remove the mixture you just applied and any remaining residue entirely.
Step 3
Do not leave the mixture on your dreadlocks overnight, because the constant exposure to lemon’s acidity can cause structural damage to your dreads. You may also observe that after rinsing the solution from your locs, they appear lighter. This is because the acidic qualities of lemon can remove melanin from hair, causing it to become lighter.
Dread Baking Soda Detox Recipe
Most of the time, baking soda is added to other detoxing solutions to lessen their effects, but you can also make a paste-like detoxing with just baking soda. To make this recipe, all you need:
Ingredient List
- A bowl big enough to hold all of your dreadlocks
- Baking soda
- Oils of your choice to make your hair shine and feel smoother
- Water
Step 1
All you have to do is mix the oils you choose with hot water and baking soda. You can make this detox even better by adding a little lemon juice. Leave the mixture on dreads for up to a day but make sure to soak and scrub your hair. A little piece of advice, if you have added lemon juice, leave this mixture on dreads for only 30 minutes to 2 hours to avoid the stripping effects of lemon juice.
Additionally, if you find it easier to use a paste, this mixture doesn’t have to be a liquid solution. Instead, put the water in first and then add the baking soda. But keep in mind that this will make the detox stripping more intense, so you can only leave it on for about an hour.
Step 2
After using this method, You can rinse your dreads with apple cider vinegar to balance your hair’s pH and then wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo for the best clean. But make sure not to put baking soda and apple cider vinegar in the same solution, because their detoxifying effects will cancel each other out.
So, after shampooing, use a deep conditioner to put back the moisture that was lost when you washed your hair.
Detox Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe
This is probably the most popular and effective detoxification recipe for dreadlocks. To prepare this recipe, you will need
Ingredient list
- A bowl big enough to hold all of your dreadlocks
- Regular Apple cider vinegar
- Oils of your choice to make your hair shine and feel smoother
- Water
Step 1
You may need to strain apple cider vinegar first to remove any floating particles that might be difficult to remove from your locs later, depending on the apple cider vinegar you use.
Step 2
Fill your bowl with hot water, approximately two cups of apple cider vinegar, and three to five tablespoons of your desired oil/s.
Step 3
Again, the amount of oil added is up to you. The purpose of these ingredients is to reduce the stripping effects of the apple cider vinegar and provide luster and softness to your locs afterward. After preparing your detox solution, soak your dreadlocks in it for thirty minutes to one hour; you can even leave it on overnight.
Simply tie a plastic bag around your locs to keep heat circulating and wear a bonnet; You may wash the solution after a day.
Step 4
When soaking, which you should do regardless of whether you leave it on overnight or not, be sure to rake through your hair as if you were washing your dreadlocks. After soaking, wash the hair twice with a clarifying shampoo to verify that all of the solutions have been removed, and then apply a deep conditioner to restore moisture.
Or you can Pour 1/4 cup pure baking soda and 3/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar into a sink full of hot water. Soak dreadlocks for 30 to 45 minutes or longer, depending on their length and how long you’ve had them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Use Regular Vinegar To Detox Dreads?
Yes, you can! Fill your half bottle with apple cider vinegar and the other half with water. Shake vigorously to blend the ingredients. Apply the mixture to your dreadlocks and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Wash everything out!
What Is The Best Detox For Dreads?
Pour 1/4 cup pure baking soda and 3/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar into a sink full of hot water. Soak dreadlocks for 30 to 45 minutes or longer, depending on their length and how long you’ve had them.
Does Baking Soda And Vinegar Clean Dreadlocks?
Typically, dread detoxes involve either apple cider vinegar (ACV) or baking soda, or both. See how these natural ingredients can “scrub” your locs chemically, leaving them cleaner and far fresher than ever before.
Now it is your Turn
Detoxing dreadlocks is an excellent approach to thoroughly cleanse your locs in order to promote the healthy development of your dreads and ward off dread mold, which may occasionally appear.
We hope this post has provided you with a better understanding of what a dread detox is and the different options to do a dread detox. Do share your experience, if you try following dreadlocks recipes.
Read Related Articles:
- Best Starter Dreads Styles for 2022
- Budding Locs: Everything you Need to Know!
- Starter Dreads: Everything You Need to Know!
- How Long Does it Take for Starter Locs to Lock
- Thick Dreads vs Thin Dreads: Which is Better?
- Hot Oil Treatment for Locs: The Ultimate Guide!
- 3 Strand Twist Dreads: The Ultimate how-to Guide!
- Dry Shampoo on Locs: All you Need to Know [+ Top Picks]
- Dreads Thinning at Crown: X Common Cause and Solutions
- How Many Dreads Should I Have? Locs Number + Size Chart
- How to Start Wicks With Rubber Bands: Step-by-Step Guide!
- Wicks Dreads: Everything You Need to Know about this Hairstyle!
- Hard Locs: X Common Mistakes & Maintenance Tips for Soft Locs
- How to Lock Dreads Faster With Sea Salt Spray + Other Alternatives
- Are Dreadlocks Dirty? Why Locs Look Dirty & How to Keep Yours Clean