Your locs are thirsty, and they need moisture to be and look their best. During the winter, you’ll especially need to give them some loving care - otherwise, they’ll be unnaturally dry, dull, and stiff. These conditions can lead to unnecessary breakage. Moisturizing your locs isn’t difficult, but you need to understand what quenches their thirst and how to bring out their best.
Related: How to Stop Your Scalp From Itching if You Have Locs
Why Your Locs Are Dry
You may be wondering why your locs are feeling and looking dry and dull:
- You have colored-treated or bleached your locs too often. These harsh chemicals can be hard on your locs, and sometimes, despite your best efforts, the chemicals can leave a residue. Permanent colors penetrate the hair cuticle and enter the hair cortex. Once there, they act on the pigment of your hair. The lighter the color, the more detrimental it is to your hair - hence the great damage bleach causes.
- Your shampoo may contain harsh detergents. Some shampoos contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), which strip your locs of their natural oil. If you use these shampoos regularly, dryness will occur. Only use these shampoos when you need to clarify your locs, and otherwise, use a residue-free shampoo.
- Your locs have too much build-up. If you use too many hair products in your locs and don’t intentionally clean the residue, you will be left with build-up. You’ll know you have build-up because it looks like white-ish color bits in your locs. Also, build-up creates a barrier to moisture, which leaves your locs stiff and dry.
- You haven’t moisturized your locs in a long time. Moisturizing your locs has to be an intentional practice. The environment will strip your locs of moisture, and you have to replace it. If you don’t, they will be dry.
4 Ways to Moisturize Your Locs
Here are four ways to moisturize your dreadlocks:
1 Shampoo Regularly
Your locs encounter environmental conditions that dry them out and leave debris and chemicals on your hair every day. If you shampoo regularly with a residue-free shampoo, you can gently clear away the dirt and debris, allowing your locs to feel soft, clean, and hydrated. Now that the hair is clean, your chosen moisturizer can penetrate the hair shaft.
2 Use Natural Oils
After you shampoo your locs, and while they’re still hydrated, you can apply natural oils to lock in the water. Oil alone won’t moisturize your hair. It can give your locs sheen, but its best use is to lock in moisture after your hair’s been hydrated.
You can also use oils to massage your scalp. Some of the oils will make their way down the length of the locs.
Excellent oils to use:
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Essential oils
- Vitamin E
Are you looking for high-quality loc hair products? Our products are healthy, organic, and residue-free. Check out Lion Locs to see our whole product line.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Residue-Free Shampoo
3 Leave-In Conditioner
In between shampoos, you can use a water-based leave-in conditioner to moisturize your locs. Find one that is specially formulated for locs so it won’t leave residue in your hair. Build-up will make your hair even drier than it was before. Ensure that the products you use are high-quality and all-natural.
Make Your Own
Make your own leave-in treatment with rosewater and Vitamin E oil. Rosewater has many benefits for your hair:
- It balances your hair pH.
- It stimulates circulation, hence is good for hair growth and health.
- It can treat scalp conditions like dry scalp and irritations.
- It conditions, moisturizes, and hydrates your hair.
Vitamin E is nutrient-rich and benefits your hair in several ways:
- It improves circulation to your scalp.
- Research shows it may prevent hair loss.
- It adds shine to your hair.
- It balances oil production in your scalp.
- It supports a healthy scalp.
Mix two portions of rosewater with one portion of vitamin E oil together in a spray bottle. Spritz your locs from roots to tips as much as every other day. Your locs will maintain moisture and shine.
4 Use Aloe Vera Gel
A final way to moisturize your locs is with aloe vera gel. Aloe is an excellent replacement for alcohol, mineral, and petroleum-based hair products, with an abundance of protein and amino acids. It is water-soluble and leaves no residue on your hair.
Aloe vera also:
- Cleans your scalp. It can remove oils and leave your hair roots soft and shiny.
- Moisturizes and strengthens your hair and scalp.
- Soothes scalp irritation and is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
Use aloe vera gel on your scalp every week or so. It will lock in moisture at the point of your new growth.
What Not to Do
Here are a few things to avoid to keep your locs in their best shape:
1 Don’t Over-Shampoo Your Locs
Although shampooing your locs can be moisturizing, you don’t want to do it too often. You can strip your locs of their natural moisture, leaving them even drier than it was before. This can also lead to dry scalp, thinning locs, and breakage.
2 Avoid Heat Treatments
Using heat on your locs in excess will over-dry them. So limit the amount of time and frequency of using hair dryers and blow dryers.
3 Keep it Simple
With all the loc hair care products on the market, it’s tough to be conservative about how much you’re using in your hair. Whatever you put in your locs, you will have to be intentional about clearing it out regularly. Hair product residue can build-up, resulting in drier, duller, more brittle locs. Ironically, the very products you use for moisturizing can make your hair drier.
Related: The Benefits of Aloe Vera for Locs
Final Thoughts on Moisturizing Your Locs
Your locs need to be moisturized to look their best. You can accomplish this by hydrating them and locking in that moisture or by using high-quality loc care products. With a small amount of effort on your part, your locs can look and feel fabulous!
Is taking care of your locs becoming a hassle? We don’t believe it should. We create high-quality, vegan, residue-free products your hair will love! Check out Lions Locs today.