Locs Maintenance: 6 Tips for Successfully Deep Conditioning Dreads

deep conditioning heat cap
Heat Cap

If your hair is starting to feel dry and brittle, it could be because you are not deep conditioning your dreadlocks. This is an important hair care regimen that should not be overlooked. Here are some top tips to keep your dreads moisturized all year round.

Should You Use Conditioners on Locs?

Many people who are new to locs or even those who’ve had them for years, have stayed away from deep conditioning because they heard that conditioners are bad for their hair. However, this is not necessarily true, unless you have new locs and they are not yet mature.

Starter Locs and Conditioners

If you have starter locs or locs that are not fully matured, deep conditioning can do more harm than good, which means it would soften your hair, causing your locs to unravel. This would even be worse for people who have softer, silkier hair texture. Other than that, there’s no known damage that conditioners can do to your hair.

In fact, before I knew much about locs, when I had starter locs, I used conditioners, but didn’t let it stay too long in my hair. I mostly concentrated on my scalp, then rinsed it out gently.

Deep Conditioning Locs

Apply the SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Intensive Strengthening Masque to your locs. If you don’t have this, you can use whatever conditioner you have available. Put a generous amount of conditioner, starting from roots to ends. Massage it in, then cover with a shower cap.

Why Use Heat When Deep Conditioning Locs?

Applying heat when deep conditioning your locs, is an important step you don’t want to skip. The heat will open up the cuticles of the hair, allowing the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft, which helps to retain moisture.

Best Way to Apply Heat When Deep Conditioning

You can use a deep conditioning heat cap to apply heat to your locs. This is a more convenient way to get the job done. These caps are cordless, so you don’t have to sit one place. You can walk around and multi-task. For best results, leave the deep conditioner in for 15-30 minutes.

How to Retain Moisture After Deep Conditioning

After deep conditioning your locs, closing the hair shaft is necessary in order to lock in moisture. The way you do this, is to rinse your hair with cold water. Rinsing with cold water not only closes the hair shaft, locking in the moisture, but also prevents frizzy hair