Recently, I went out with some friends and met new people. We had a great conversation and talked about many controversial topics. One thing that we talked about though that created a lot of tension was dreadlocks. I did not realize that someone in our group was from the West Indies, and being the opinionated person that I am, I made a comment that dreads are not very hygienic and clean. This person got offended and insisted that what I said was not true. She said that you can wash and clean dreadlocks, so I decided to research dreads more and debunk any faulty rumors and lies about them.

It is possible that some faulty rumors about dreadlocks may be circulating because of tension between Africans and American Blacks in the United States. It is also possible that dreadlocks are treated differently today than they were in the past. So today, I am going to talk about the health issues concerning dreadlocks, such as problems washing them, lice, rot, balding, and alopecia. Today, you will learn the truth about dreadlocks: The good, the bad, and the ugly. 

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Are Dreadlocks Clean? Can You Wash Dreads?

The woman I met recently was right: You can wash dreadlocks, but there are still some health concerns about washing them. When people wash their dreads, they soak them in a bath bomb that is made for dreads, they wash them the way everyone else washes their hair with shampoo, or they use a cleanser made specifically for dreadlocks, which will leave no buildup behind. 

The problem comes with the buildup and drying process. I can see how dreadlocks got a bad reputation because I can see salons telling people to infrequently wash their dreads to avoid buildup in them. Almost any shampoo, conditioner, or hair product has the potential to create some buildup. However, there are many products available today that did not exist years ago. Today, there are cleansers specifically designed for dreadlocks and products that do not leave buildup behind. Some of these hair products may not have existed in previous generations or were hard to come by. 

There is also still an issue with how infrequently people choose to wash their dreadlocks. Some websites I found online recommend keeping dreads clean and washing them weekly, but many people will not wash their dreadlocks weekly. Instead, they may choose to wash them every two weeks, once a month, every couple of months, or even once a year. My grandmother met people who wore dreadlocks in the past who said they washed their dreads yearly or every six months, so this is where hygiene becomes a problem and dreadlocks gain a bad reputation. 

The reason that people do not want to wash their dreadlocks often is because it is inconvenient and time-consuming. The longer your dreads are, the longer they will take to dry. The drying process gets longer also when the dreads are not new, so I can understand how some people may skimp on washing their dreads. So, in the end, whether or not someone’s dreadlocks are clean will vary from person-to-person. Cleanliness will depend on the person’s priorities, how much free time they have, how long and how old their dreadlocks are, and their views on hygiene and health. 

Lice

If someone chooses not to wash their hair at least once a week, whether they have dreads or normal hair, their hair can become a breeding ground for lice, mites, and other parasites. These bugs can easily be passed to those around us when we place our head next to someone else’s head. The eggs can also be on a person’s clothes, bag, or other possessions, so they can be left wherever we go. 

Rot

All the hair on our bodies is dead, but one big health issue that people have with dreadlocks is the fact that they can rot. Our natural hair does not often rot when left to air dry, but dreads will if they stay wet or air dry. Natural hair can grow mold or mildew, which is what dread rot is essentially, but it is far easier for dreads to grow mold than natural hair. You are far more likely to see dreads rot than natural hair. 

Natural hair dries much more easily on its own, but dreads do not, so if you do not take the time to maintain your dreads well, rot can come quickly. This aspect of dreads can make them a health hazard, but if they are properly taken care of, rot can be avoided. We live in a time where everyone is in a hurry and time seems short, so I can see how people may neglect their dreadlocks when things get really busy.

Balding and Alopecia

Hygiene aside, another reason I do not recommend dreads is because they can cause traction alopecia. Alopecia is not just an issue for dreads though: any tight hairstyle can cause alopecia. Places that sell dreads will sometimes tell you this is not true, but they are not being honest with you. If you really think about it, it makes sense. Dreadlocks should not be loose; they need to be very tight to look the way they are supposed to and to stay in place, so when you wear a tight hairstyle like this, it pulls on the hair at the roots and puts tension and friction on the hair and scalp. This will make the hair come out, there will be hair loss, and there will be balding in patches near the front and base of the hairline.

“There can be a downside to these classic braids, and if you’re not careful with how much pressure you’re putting on your scalp, you can end up with hair loss as well as bald patches…Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss that’s caused by force being applied to the roots of the hair. The hair weakens over time and can either snap off or be pulled out and usually affects the hair around the temples or behind the ears, however, dreadlocks can damage the crown and sides of the head as well. At its worst, traction alopecia can cause scarring and permanent damage to the hair follicles, resulting in bald patches where the hair never grows back…in extreme cases, this could lead to a visit to a hair transplant clinic” (Men’s Health Can Dreadlocks Cause Hair Loss? The Idle Man)!

Final Thoughts

The fact that dreads can rot much more easily than natural hair and can cause balding and hair loss/alopecia, makes the health concerns surrounding them valid in my opinion. However, I do feel more comfortable with dreads now, but I do not think that people wearing dreads should work without a hairnet in food and drink establishments because you do not know how often the person is washing their dreads and dreadlocks are just big, bulky, and long. Anyone, with dreads or otherwise, should wear a hairnet while working around food and drinks if they have long, big hair that takes up a lot of space. This is for hygiene purposes and to prevent contamination of food and drinks. 

If you choose to wear dreadlocks, I think they work best under these circumstances:

1. Dreads are best for people who do not have thin or fine hair because these hair types are far more fragile than thicker hair. These hair types can experience breakage more easily. 


2. Dreadlocks should be washed weekly like normal hair usually is; this will make them more hygienic.

3. If you attach dreadlocks to your hair, it is better to attach them towards the middle or ends of your hair, rather than at the very roots because this will put a little less tension on the roots of the hair. This will make your dreads a little less heavy and help reduce breakage at the forehead and base of the hair. 

What do you think of dreadlocks? Have you ever worn them? What were you experiences with dreads?

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