Dreadlocks, or locs as they’re called in the community, go back centuries and can be traced back to multiple ancient cultures and religions all over the world. In the modern-day, though, they’ve been closely associated with freedom. For something that signifies a free spirit as strongly as dreads do, it is surprising that the best locs are those that have been developed with stability and control.
In fact, dreads that haven’t been kept under control in the initial stages rarely ever turn out well. The problem that most people starting on their dreadlock journey face is the distinct lack of support and knowledge. They not only have to contend with a lot of misinformation about locs but also the absence of the right tools and products.
While you can always get knowledge from friends further along their dreadlock journeys, the lack of the right products is a major problem. As you must have noticed, despite how much more popular dreadlocks are these days, the hair care industry has still not come to grips with it.
There are very few shampoos, moisturizers, and other hair care products designed specifically for the dreadlock community. This can make twisting, retwisting, and maintaining locs very difficult for independent individuals. This is why we’ve created this guide to the best products for dreadlocks.
| Shampoo |
|---|
 |
| GIOVANNI Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo |
| xx/5.0 |
| Product Type: Shampoo |
| Volume: 8.5 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $1.29 |
| An organic but very strong clarifying shampoo that is perfect for dreadlocks because it doesn’t leave behind much residue. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Gel |
|---|
 |
| African Pride Black Castor Miracle Extra Hold Braid, Loc, Twist Gel |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Product Type: Gel |
| Volume: 3 x 8 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $0.88 |
| The best tightening gel for dreadlocks that not only keeps dreads from unwinding but also adds moisture to the scalp. |
| Check Amazon |
| Moisturizer |
|---|
 |
| Locsanity Rosewater & Peppermint Daily Spray |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Product Type: Moisturizer |
| Volume: 8 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $1.68 |
| A completely organic moisturizing spray that will not only condition dreads without residue but also prevent scalp itching and irritation. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Spray |
|---|
 |
| Dollylocks Coconut Lime Dreadlock Tightening Spray |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Product Type: Spray |
| Volume: 8 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $2.24 |
| A two-in-one product that is equally effective at locking in dreads and moisturizing them without leaving behind any residue. |
| Check Amazon |
On this page, we’ll focus specifically on the best hair care products you can find for your dreadlocks. We will also quickly explain some fundamentals of locing in case you are yet to begin your journey. Here’s everything you’ll find in this guide laid out in a neat and easy to click navigation panel.
- How to Maintain Dreadlocks
- Choosing Products for Dreadlocks
- Top 10 Products for Dreadlocks Comparison Table
- Top 3 Shampoos for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Gels for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
- Top 2 Moisturizers for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
- 2 Other Excellent Products for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
How to Maintain Dreadlocks
Ask anyone with mature locs about the biggest challenge of making or having dreadlocks and they’ll tell you one of the two following things – dryness and residue. While both these problems are connected, they are caused by different things.
Dreads are made with matted hair. The idea is to allow your hair to get tangled in a controlled manner into individual dreads. In fact, whether you’re backcombing, twisting and ripping, or free-forming, you’re essentially trying to get your hair to clump together.
This can only happen with dry hair because conditioners and oils cause slip which results in the hair getting detangled. You not only have to avoid such products but also work doubly hard to free your hair of the oils that your scalp produces. This means washing your hair thoroughly and ensuring that the natural oils are stripped away.
However, while you’re trying to ensure that your hair sections are oil-free, your scalp also goes along for the ride. Invariably, most people trying to loc their hair find their scalps getting irritated and itchy because of excessive dryness. This dryness can also end up causing other problems such as frizz and breakage.
All these dryness-related problems are genuinely distressing and can create long term issues. Therefore, you need to find ways of moisturizing your scalp while keeping your locs tight and avoiding not only slip but also residue.
Unfortunately, the physical texture of your locs makes it easier for them to trap things such as dust, sebum, lint, and anything else that they come into contact with. Moreover, if you use some hair products, then they can cause buildup in your locs too. Therefore, the typical locing dilemma is to either moisturize your scalp or deal with future buildup.
To deal with the almost inevitable buildup, you’ll have to clarify your locs regularly which will, in turn, cause more dryness. As a result, to deal with the dryness, you’ll have to try to moisturize scalp regularly too, which will lead to buildup.
As you can see, this is a vicious circle that can be quite difficult to break but the fact that so many people rock dreads these days shows that it is possible. You just have to be careful about what you put in your hair.
Choosing Products for Dreadlocks
The products you choose for your dreads need to help you deal with the two challenges we explained above – residue and dryness.
When choosing a shampoo or cleanser for your dreads, you need to remember that it needs to be strong enough to cut through any buildup and residue you may have in your hair. This will push you towards stronger shampoos with many clarifying shampoos coming into play.
However, you can’t use all of them because you also need to protect your dreads. This means choosing shampoos that are natural and free of any harsh, synthetic chemicals and compounds. As a result, you need to avoid shampoos that contain sulfates and parabens.
To counter dryness, you’ll want hair products that can moisturize your dreads. In the majority of cases, products that moisturize dreads also help tighten or loc the dreads in place. These kinds of products come in various formats including gels, sprays, and waxes.
Most purists would tell you to avoid these tightening products and be patient with your locs. However, many people these days use these products to not only deal with dryness but also speed up the locing process.
Top 10 Products for Dreadlocks Comparison Table
| Product Name | Product Type | Volume | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Organics Clarifying Shampoo | Shampoo | 11 ounces | $0.65 per ounce | Check Price |
| Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo | Shampoo | 2 x 16 ounces | $0.66 per ounce | Check Price |
| GIOVANNI Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo | Shampoo | 8.5 ounces | $1.29 per ounce | Check Price |
| Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Twist & Lock Gel | Gel | 13 ounces | $0.38 per ounce | Check Price |
| Murray’s Gel Loc-Lock | Gel | 8 ounces | $0.67 per ounce | Check Price |
| African Pride Black Castor Miracle Extra Hold Braid, Loc, Twist Gel | Gel | 3 x 8 ounces | $0.88 per ounce | Check Price |
| Jamaican Mango & Lime No More Itch Gro Spray | Moisturizer | 16 ounces | $0.75 per ounce | Check Price |
| Locsanity Rosewater & Peppermint Daily Moisturizing Spray | Moisturizer | 8 ounces | $1.68 per ounce | Check Price |
| YANIBEST Hair Cover Bonnet Satin Sleep Cap | Beanie Cap | 3 ounces | NA | Check Price |
| Dollylocks Coconut Lime Dreadlock Tightening Spray | Spray | 8 ounces | $2.24 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 3 Shampoos for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
1. Avalon Organics Clarifying Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Locing is a long-term process, and you can’t even make many mistakes. For instance, if you use one wrong product, you can end up with a lot of residue in your hair.
Maybe you used a traditional conditioner because you were too groggy to check the bottle in the morning or you couldn’t avoid being in a place full of dust, smoke, and pollution. It doesn’t matter how the residue came, if it ended up in your dreads, then you’ll need to take some strong steps to remove it.
The only problem is that the majority of non-sulfate shampoos cannot cope with severe buildup problems and you can’t have sulfates in your dry dreads. If you’re stuck in this situation, you have two options.
The first is that you do multiple apple cider vinegar washes and the other is that you get this Clarifying Shampoo from Avalon Organics. It is one of the strongest clarifying shampoos in the market right now that is also certified organic.
The reason why it is such a strong cleanser is that it contains sodium coco-sulfate. Sodium coco-sulfate is the natural version of the synthetic sulfates you find in most mainstream shampoos. Instead of being artificially created, it is derived from the fatty acids found in coconut oil.
When it comes to performance, though, it is quite similar to synthetic sulfates which is why it can remove severe buildup problems in dreads. At the same time, because it has the same stripping capabilities as synthetic sulfates, we suggest not using this shampoo too often. Once in a week or two is all that you should try.
You should also note that these two types of sulfates are different when it comes to lather which is why this shampoo doesn’t produce a lot.
As mentioned earlier, this is a certified organic shampoo. It only contains natural ingredients and is free of things like parabens or phthalates. In fact, it doesn’t even contain animal-derived products and is completely vegan. It is also a cruelty-free product.
The headline ingredient in this clarifying shampoo is aloe vera but it also contains quinoa protein and vitamin E.
The smell of this shampoo is citrus and clean owing to essential oils drawn from multiple citrus sources. However, if you don’t like the citrus smell, you can get other variants of this clarifying shampoo too. Your available options will be lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and rosemary.
This shampoo is very competitively priced and would fit easily in most people’s budgets. While its thin, watery consistency means that it finishes fast, it is cheap enough for this to not matter much.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an organic shampoo that is very strong at removing residue from dreads, get this one from Avalon Organics.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Shampoo |
| Product weight: 11 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Aloe vera leaf juice, coconut derived cleansers, atlas cedar bark oil, lime oil, orange peel oil, lemon peel oil, grapefruit peel oil, aromatic litsea fruit oil, pot marigold flower extract, matricaria flower extract, quinoa seed, lemon peel extract, gum Benjamin resin extract, vitamin E, and babassu oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Removes residue well |
| Smooths and shines hair as well |
| Has a certified organic formula |
| Has a clean, citrus scent |
| Five different variants available |
| Doesn’t contain traditional sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A vegan and cruelty-free product |
| Incredibly pocket-friendly |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains sodium coco-sulfate |
| Doesn’t produce sufficient lather |
| Has a very thin consistency |
2. Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
The Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo from Trader Joe’s is the go-to option in the locing community. It is not only recommended to starters but also used devotedly by people with mature dreads. The reason is simple. It is almost perfect, and only has a few minor flaws that it shares with all other clarifying shampoos and solutions.
This shampoo is based on tea tree oil, which is known for its antimicrobial qualities. However, it contains multiple other organic botanical essential oils that add their respective benefits to the mix. Notable essential oils you’ll find in this shampoo are peppermint, nettle, thyme, and eucalyptus amongst others.
All these ingredients combine to not only give this shampoo good cleansing and antimicrobial powers but also other capabilities. For instance, in addition to being good for dreads, this shampoo also gives them a wonderful shine. Further, this shampoo makes the scalp tingle, which is a very nice sensation to have while you’re trying to clean your scalp.
The tingle, though, is on the lighter side. It comes from this shampoo’s tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil content. The scent of this shampoo is also derived from these ingredients. It has a very minty smell but you’ll also be able to sense a hint of eucalyptus in it. As a result, the smell is very refreshing and invigorating.
This shampoo is particularly great for dreads because it doesn’t contain any artificial or harmful substances such as sulfates and parabens. In fact, it is even rated to be cruelty-free and vegan.
Further, this shampoo doesn’t really have any flaws other than those that all organic clarifying shampoos possess. For instance, since it doesn’t contain sulfates or even coconut-derived cleansers, it doesn’t produce a lot of lather. This doesn’t mean that its cleansing powers are limited, though. On the contrary, it cleanses the scalp very well.
In fact, it is so effective at cleansing that you may find your hair getting a bit too dry after a few washes. This can be seen as a slight flaw but it is something you should expect if you’re trying to deep cleanse your scalp. To counter this problem, we suggest moisturizing your hair with a no-residue product regularly.
To ensure that this shampoo doesn’t leave behind any residue, it doesn’t contain any thickening agents. This means that its consistency is thin and watery. This can push you into taking too much of it in every wash. This poses two problems.
If you wash your dreads with too much of this shampoo, the chances of your locs getting too dry quicker will be higher. The other problem is that you’ll finish this shampoo much faster than you should ideally.
Fortunately, this shampoo is cheap enough for you to not worry about wastage too much. Even if you have to replace the bottle more frequently, it shouldn’t burn a hole in your pockets.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a natural clarifying shampoo that is loved by most locing veterans, get this one from Trader Joe’s.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Shampoo |
| Product weight: 2 x 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Tea tree oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, nettle oil, thyme oil, birch leaf oil, chamomile oil, clary oil, coltsfoot leaf oil, yarrow oil, mallow, horsetail oil, soybean protein, vitamin E, and grapefruit seed |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Removes residue well |
| Smooths and shines hair as well |
| Has a clean, minty scent |
| Makes the scalp tingle too |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A vegan and cruelty-free product |
| Incredibly pocket-friendly |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t produce sufficient lather |
| Can be a bit too drying |
| Has a very thin consistency |
3. GIOVANNI Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo (Best Shampoo)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
Giovanni’s Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo may not be as popular in the locing circles as the tea tree shampoo from Trader Joe’s but it is equally good. The formula of the two shampoos are, in fact, are quite similar too. This one, however, contains more botanical essential oils than the one from Trader Joe’s.
Effectively, the results of this shampoo are a bit more intense than the other one. In other words, it is stronger. The biggest proof of this is that this shampoo makes the scalp tingle intensely while the tingle produced by the other one is subtle.
This shampoo is also more suited to people with oilier dreads or dreads with more buildup. It can cut through the toughest of buildup, can handle dandruff, and even gives the hair a good shine.
The primary reason for this is that this clarifying shampoo contains coconut-derived cleansers. These cleansers make this shampoo powerful enough that it can leave some people’s dreads too dry.
This shampoo’s formula is also clean because it doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients such as parabens and sulfates. The coconut-derived cleansers replace sulfates well and produce sufficient lather to satisfy most people.
Other ingredients this shampoo’s formula incorporates include rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, aloe vera leaf juice, safflower oil, yarrow extract, matricaria flower extract, horsetail extract, and lavender leaf extract. It even contains provitamin B5 which is proven to be very strengthening for hair.
The smell of this shampoo is minty because it contains multiple essential oils with that kind of scents such as peppermint oil, menthol, and tea tree oil. This shampoo will also be a good choice for animal lovers because of its cruelty-free rating.
This product is competitively priced without being too expensive or too cheap. It does have a watery consistency which means that if you’re not careful your bottle can finish fast. The only solution is to make sure that you don’t take too much of the shampoo in every wash.
Who’s it for: If you want an effective organic clarifying shampoo that lathers well and tingles intensely, get this one from Giovanni.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Shampoo |
| Product weight: 8.5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut derived cleansers, provitamin B5, menthol, peppermint oil, aloe vera leaf juice, safflower oil, yarrow extract, matricaria flower extract, horsetail extract, eucalyptus oil, lavender leaf extract, tea tree leaf oil, rosemary leaf extract, sage leaf extract, thyme extract, coltsfoot flower extract, and nettle extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Removes residue well |
| Smooths and shines hair as well |
| Has a clean, minty scent |
| Makes the scalp tingle intensely |
| Lathers sufficiently |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A cruelty-free product |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Has a very thin consistency |
| Can be a bit too drying |
Top 3 Gels for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
4. Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Twist & Lock Gel
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Dreads can take a long time to become stable. While the purists will always counsel for patience, it is possible to speed up the process by using a good tightening or locking gel. These gels, however, need to be chosen very carefully.
If you buy a heavy gel for light hair types, then you’ll end up with residue because the gel won’t be absorbed properly. This Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Twist & Lock Gel from Cantu, however, will be perfect for such hair types.
It is particularly a great option for people with light hair types trying to employ the twisting retwisting technique to get dreads. It offers soft to medium hold which is more than enough for lighter hair types.
However, the best part about this tightening gel is that it will moisturize your locs while tightening them. Further, it will counter frizz and give your hair a shiny appearance. On the other hand, this means that this gel may not be a good choice for you if you have thick or coarse hair.
On thicker hair types, this gel will be ineffective because it doesn’t offer a firm hold. This will push the user to use more of this gel, which will, in turn, result in more residue. When used in large quantities, this gel will not only leave a residue but the residue will gradually build up.
The ingredients list of this gel is also quite exhaustive. All the ingredients in this gel are natural and plant-based, though. It is even a cruelty-free rated product. While it contains multiple ingredients, this gel is primarily based on coconut. As a result of this, it smells distinctly of coconut. Even though most people end up liking the tropical coconut scent, we suggest making sure that you’re okay with this kind of a smell before buying this product.
This is one of the cheaper options in the market when it comes to the tightening gel market.
Who’s it for: If your hair is not very thick or coarse and you’re looking for a tightening gel that also adds moisture, get this one from Cantu.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Gel |
| Product weight: 13 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut extract, shea butter, soybean oil, coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, olive fruit oil, mango seed butter, argan kernel oil, neem seed oil, carrot seed oil, honeysuckle flower extract, sea kelp extract, sage leaf extract, grape seed extract, nettle extract, silk amino acids, and hydrolyzed silk |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Good for twisting and retwisting dreads |
| Leaves locs moisturized too |
| Defeats frizz |
| Has a coconut smell |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A vegan and cruelty-free product |
| An incredibly pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can leave behind some residue |
| Only offers soft to medium hold |
5. Murray’s Gel Loc-Lock
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Hair full of residue is a big problem for people trying to develop their dreads. This is especially true for beginners because they’re still discovering which ingredients and substances are suitable for their hair type.
It doesn’t even matter if you know your hair inside out. The moment you start building your locs, your hair will start behaving differently from when it was not locked. This means that you need to be particularly careful about which products you use on your hair.
Murray’s Gel Loc-Lock is ideal for someone who wants a locking gel to speed up the process but is still exploring how their dreads behave. The primary reason for this is that this product has a very simple formula.
It doesn’t contain multiple types of essential oils. Instead, it is based on three basic oils supplemented with some amino acids to strengthen the hair. The ingredients you’ll find in this gel are Soybean oil, olive fruit oil, and sweet almond oil. These ingredients combine to not only tighten dreads but also moisturize them to a certain extent.
The hold this gel offers, however, is soft to medium which only makes it suitable for starter dreads. At the same time, this gel can penetrate deep into the dreads because of its thin, watery consistency.
The thin consistency, though, can result in the product getting finished very quickly. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a problem because this gel is very cheap and pocket-friendly.
The formula of this gel is designed explicitly to be water-soluble. This prevents residues from forming in the dreads and keeps the dreads clean. However, if you attempt to use a lot of this gel, you can expect buildup in your locs.
In terms of smell, most people describe this gel’s scent to be tropical. Typically, this means coconut but that isn’t true for this gel. Its scent is, instead, a mix of almonds and olives.
Owing to its simple formula, this gel is not very expensive. Its pocket-friendly pricing means that it will appeal to the vast majority of dread novices out there.
Who’s it for: If you’re beginning your locing journey and want a soft hold tightening gel that can penetrate deep into your dreads, get this one from Murray’s.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Gel |
| Product weight: 8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Soybean oil, olive fruit oil, sweet almond oil, and keratin amino acids |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Good for starting dreads |
| Fairly simple, water-soluble formula |
| Defeats frizz and moisturizes |
| Has a tropical smell |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| An incredibly pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can leave behind some residue in large quantities |
| Only offers soft to medium hold |
| Has a very thin consistency |
6. African Pride Black Castor Miracle Extra Hold Braid, Loc, Twist Gel (Best Gel)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
The Black Castor Miracle Extra Hold Braid, Loc, Twist from African Pride is the best locking gel you can buy for your locs. We consider it to be the best in the market right now simply because it doesn’t have any real flaws.
In fact, it is so perfect that it is suitable for starter and mature dreads alike. Even the formula of this tightening gel is clean and simplistic. It doesn’t contain multiple essential oils and is, instead, based on two oils only.
The first is coconut oil and the other is black castor oil. Both these oils combine really well to hydrate the hair while nourishing and repairing damaged strands. Further, they also make the hair shine. The hold of this locking gel is also quite impressive, especially since it doesn’t leave behind any residue.
Apart from the two ingredients mentioned above, this product doesn’t contain anything else. It is completely free of harmful and artificial substances such as sulfates, parabens, or even mineral oil. This is partially the reason why it doesn’t cause buildup on the scalp.
To be residue-free, it needs to be used in the right quantities. If used in larger quantities, it can cause some flaking in the dreads. However, this is something that is true for all the locking and tightening gels out there.
This locking gel smells wonderful too. Most people who have used it agree that it has a very pleasant and likable scent.
The best part is that this tightening gel is priced very competitively. You can even get it in two differently sized packs. The first one contains a single jar while the second one contains three. Each jar, itself, contains eight ounces of the product. While the product is generally affordable, the bigger pack turns out to be incredibly cheap.
Who’s it for: If you want the simplest and the best locking gel for dreadlocks, get this one from African Pride.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Gel |
| Product weight: 3 x 8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut oil, hydrogenated castor oil, and castor seed oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Good for starting, twisting, and retwisting dreads |
| Leaves locs moisturized too |
| Defeats frizz |
| Offers excellent hold |
| Has a very likable smell |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Available in two sizes |
| An incredibly pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can leave behind flakes when used in large quantities |
Top 2 Moisturizers for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
7. Jamaican Mango & Lime No More Itch Gro Spray
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
One of the problems that most people growing dreads face is itchiness and irritation in the scalp. These problems are associated directly with dryness. Dryness occurs because conditioning dreads is not recommended by most experts. The reason for this is that when you condition your dreads, the additional slip can end up in your locs getting detangled.
The workaround to this problem is usually to find a way to moisturize the scalp without inadvertently detangling the dreads. Because finding this balance is so difficult, there aren’t many products in the market capable of moisturizing locs and relieving itchy scalps.
The Jamaican Mango & Lime No More Itch Gro Spray is an exception. It deals with irritation in the scalp and relieves itching by ensuring that the scalp is well moisturized. Since dryness can also cause breakage, this spray also manages to counter that problem.
While this spray is very effective, it can still fail to provide results for some people. However, this only happens of the irritation and itchiness in the scalp is caused by something other than dryness.
A much bigger problem with this spray is its ingredients. It contains both mineral oil and parabens. Both these substances have been found to be detrimental to hair and scalp health. An even more serious problem is that this spray can leave behind some residue in the hair when used regularly. The only way around both these problems is to use the spray sparingly and infrequently.
It is important to consciously avoid overuse because this spray will tempt you to use it more often. It has an amazing fresh smell and makes the scalp tingle. The tingling and scent combine to be quite invigorating and irresistible.
You can get this spray in two differently sized bottles – eight and 16 ounces. You can go for either of these bottles since both of them are very cheap.
Who’s it for: If you’re growing dreads but are having to deal with itchiness and irritation in the scalp, get this moisturizer from Jamaican Mango & Lime.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Moisturizer |
| Product weight: 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Mineral oil, olive oil, parabens, and menthol |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Stops itching by moisturizing scalp |
| Has a fresh smell |
| Makes the scalp tingle |
| Available in two sizes |
| An incredibly pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains parabens |
| Doesn’t work for everyone |
| Can leave behind some residue |
8. Locsanity Rosewater & Peppermint Daily Moisturizing Spray (Best Moisturizer)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
This is another moisturizing spray that was developed specifically for people on their locing journey. The Rosewater & Peppermint Daily Moisturizing Spray from Locsanity is an exceptional product because it has a completely natural formula.
As the name shows, the formula is based on rosewater and peppermint oil. However, it contains a slew of other essential oils that contribute to its moisturizing action as well. In fact, this spray’s formula is so elaborate that it seems like it is trying to incorporate all oils known to be beneficial for hair. It even contains hair strengthening ingredients such as wheat protein and provitamin B5.
All its ingredients give this spray many qualities. For instance, it strengthens and nourishes the hair while moisturizing the scalp and preventing dandruff. It even combats frizz and flyaways. At the same time, though, because it contains so many ingredients, the spray is a bit on the heavier side. Resultantly, it can leave your hair sticky and oily.
This is also the reason why we don’t recommend using this spray daily like the company says. Instead, we think using it once a week or every few days is a better option. Similarly, if you don’t have thick and coarse hair, we suggest staying away from this product and most other moisturizing products.
Fortunately, the formula is completely natural which means that it doesn’t contain things like parabens or silicones. Therefore, even if you get some buildup, it would be easy for you to use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of it. Further, you can always adjust your use of this product to minimize buildup later. This spray is also vegan.
In terms of smell, you can expect it to smell of rose and mint. The smell is refreshing and quite pleasing. At the same time, be warned that the smell is strong. If you’re one of those people who prefer subtle, light scents, this product is not for you.
Since it contains peppermint, you can also expect this spray to make your scalp tingle. The tingling sensation dovetails quite well with this spray’s scent.
While not the cheapest, this spray is affordably priced. You’ll also have two bottle sizes to choose from. The smaller one will contain eight ounces of the spray while the larger one will have a capacity of 12 ounces.
Both bottles come with very useful dispensing pumps that can be locked. The locking mechanism means that it is very easy to travel with these bottles.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a natural way to moisturize your locs, get this nice blend from Locsanity.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Moisturizer |
| Product weight: 8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Rosewater, hydrolyzed wheat protein, provitamin B5, grapefruit seed extract, vitamin C, aloe vera, olive oil, almond oil, black castor oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, vitamin E, coconut essential oil, peppermint essential oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Stops itching by moisturizing scalp |
| Has a fresh smell |
| Makes the scalp tingle |
| Smells of rose and mint |
| Makes the scalp tingle lightly |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A vegan product |
| Comes with a lockable pump |
| Available in two sizes |
| An affordably priced product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can leave hair sticky and oily |
| Its smell may be a bit too strong |
2 Other Excellent Products for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
9. YANIBEST Hair Cover Bonnet Satin Sleep Cap
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
The key to getting good dreads is stability. The longer you can keep the locs in the right shape and form, the better they’ll turn out in the end. This means minimizing how often they’re put under physical stress.
Unfortunately, everyone needs to sleep every day, and when you are sleeping, you’re not taking care of your dreads. While you are sleeping, your dreads are not only pressed between your head and your pillow but also dragged around when you switch positions. This can end up affecting not only the shape of your dreads but also your hair in general, causing breaks and split ends.
One of the ways you can protect your dreads and hair while sleeping is to sleep on silk or satin and avoiding cotton altogether. The reason for this is that cotton tends to snag and pull individual hair strands. However, while this will prevent breakage, it will not prevent your dreads and hair from getting squished.
The solution is to use headgear. People use all types of headgears to protect their dreads including scarves, towels, and bonnet or beanie caps. While wrapping your dreads in scarves or towels helps greatly, it will require a lot of effort on your part daily.
In contrast, bonnet or beanie caps offer a quicker, simpler, and much more convenient solution. They are easy to put on and often designed specifically to protect dreads.
This Hair Cover Bonnet Satin Sleep Cap from Yanibest is the best proof of how effective such caps can be. It is an excellent option for protecting dreads for two reasons.
The first is that the inside of this cap is lined with 100 percent satin. Satin is like silk, which means that it doesn’t snag hair. This means that when you stuff your dreads inside the cap, the locs remain stable and unaffected, regardless of how much you toss and turn in your sleep.
On the outside, the company says its caps are made up of 95 percent pure cotton that allows the exchange of heat and air. The balance five percent of the outer portion of this cap is spandex to make it stretchable and comfortable to wear.
However, irrespective of how breathable this material is, you should be aware that it can still make your scalp hot and uncomfortable. This makes this cap superb for colder regions and climates but less than perfect for warm or hot environments.
The biggest problem with using beanie caps is that they can come off while you’re sleeping. Yanibest has solved that problem with their caps by using a unique patent-pending adjustment system. Their system features a combination of elastic and buckle.
It has an elastic strap measuring 0.6 inches across which is looped through a side-release buckle. The buckle isn’t very prominent which means that it doesn’t stand out and ruin the look of the cap. As a result, this isn’t just a sleep cap. It is fashionable enough to wear outside.
It is even available in 19 different colors and patterns. Your options include patterned black, pure black, patterned blue, brown, dark blue, dark grey, flower grey, patterned grey, hot pink, khaki, patterned navy blue, navy blue, olive green, orange purple, light pink, pure grey, patterned purple, wine red, and yellow. Many people even buy more than one of these caps to match with different ensembles for different occasions.
The most important thing, however, is that the adjustment system makes this cap suitable for all kinds of head shapes and sizes. It also ensures that the cap doesn’t come off while you’re sleeping.
While they’re very effective at protecting dreads, they have one huge, glaring flaw. This is the fact that they bleed dyes. There are far too many users who say that the caps left their pillows and bedsheets colored. While this isn’t true for all colors and patterns of this cap, sufficient variants show this problem for us to tell you to be careful.
The only way around this problem is to wash the cap you’ve purchased before using it straight out of the package. This will allow the dye to bleed in advance and keep your dreads and linen clean. The company specifies that their caps need to be washed gently.
This means either washing them manually or using the lower settings on your washing machine. It would also be advisable to use cool water to wash this cap as warm water tends to cause more bleeding.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an easy way to protect your locs while sleeping or outdoors, get this beanie cap from Yanibest.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Beanie cap |
| Product weight: 3 ounces |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very good for protecting dreads |
| Lined with satin inside |
| Boasts of a patent-pending adjustment system |
| Available in 19 different colors |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can be a bit too warm for summers |
| Some colors tend to bleed |
10. Dollylocks Coconut Lime Dreadlock Tightening Spray (Best Spray)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
Tightening sprays perform the same tasks that tightening gels do. They only differ and qualify for a different category because of their format. We’ve included them in a separate category particularly because there are many people out there who don’t like putting gels in their locs.
The Coconut Lime Dreadlock Tightening Spray deserves to be in a separate category for another reason as well. This is the fact that it is much more than a tightening spray. It not only tightens locs but also moisturizes the scalp. From that perspective, it is a two-in-one product, even though Dollylocks calls it “all-in-one”.
This spray is very effective and well worth the investment it requires. It delivers on both its promises in an accomplished manner. This means that it tightens the locs and moisturizes the scalp in practice as well as in theory. It performs these tasks due to three primary ingredients – coconut water, aloe vera, and sea salt.
Each of these ingredients performs both the functions of tightening and moisturizing. Along the way, they also take care of frizz, irritation, and dullness in hair and scalp. The best part is that this entire formula is water-based. This means that the spray is water-soluble and will not stay stuck in your dreads for too long.
Initially, though, be ready for some residue when you apply the spray. This residue comes from this spray’s sea salt content and stays till it is absorbed by the hair. Typically, this means till your hair dries.
If the residue doesn’t go away, then you should know that you applied too much of this spray. This shouldn’t happen too often. It is very difficult to apply too much of this spray because every bottle comes with a dispensing pump. You’ll have to pump the bottle a few times to get too much of the spray in your hair.
We suggest starting with one or two pumps before considering increasing the number. As soon as you pump the spray into your hair, a tropical smell will spread around you. It is a fairly likable smell that appeals to most people. The smell will be a mix of coconut and lime.
This is not the cheapest tightening spray in the market but that is understandable because there aren’t many two-in-one sprays like this in the market either. Considering the fact that it doesn’t have many flaws and performs two tasks at the same time, we reiterate that it is well worth an investment.
Who’s it for: If you want a product that will tighten your dreads while moisturizing your scalp, get this two-in-one spray from Dollylocks.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Spray |
| Product weight: 8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut fruit powder, aloe vera leaf juice, sea salt, witch hazel water, lime oil, grapefruit seed extract, avocado oil, vitamin C, jojoba seed oil, oat kernel protein, and cannabis sativa seed oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Good tightening spray for dreads |
| Helps moisturize too |
| Water-soluble formula |
| Has a tropical smell of coconut and lime |
| Comes with a dispensing pump |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An expensively priced product |
| Hair remains sticky till it is completely dry |
Contents
- How to Maintain Dreadlocks
- Choosing Products for Dreadlocks
- Top 10 Products for Dreadlocks Comparison Table
- Top 3 Shampoos for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Gels for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
- Top 2 Moisturizers for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
- 2 Other Excellent Products for Dreadlocks: Detailed Reviews
