The only thing I knew about dreadlocks before I made the transition was that the biggest no-no was traditional shampoo. Instead, I had to use special “dreadlock shampoo”.
I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but once I was ready to start my locs, I looked into it.
Traditional shampoos, I found out, are full of harsh chemicals that are terrible for anyone to use, and especially harmful for dreads. Most of them contain sulfates (usually either sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate), parabens, and non-natural fragrances (synthetic).
Most of those chemicals are known for causing issues like skin irritation, clogged pores, and disrupting the scalp’s pH balance. They also contribute to product build-up, which is the enemy of dreadlocks.
As we know, a healthy scalp will lead to healthy hair growth, which will lead to strong and vibrant locs. And that’s precisely what we want to achieve! This means that choosing the right products is a must.
In this article, you’ll find a list of the best products for washing your locs. There are hundreds of products out on the market, and of course, I haven’t tried all of them. From the ones I have tried, I’m only listing my top picks.
If you don’t see the one you like listed below, I recommend you do a thorough research of the ingredients before committing to it.
Be aware that even the so-called “natural products” may contain hidden ingredients. If you need a reference for which common ingredients are not loc-friendly, look here.
What to wash your dreads with
There are two main types of shampoos you want to use for your locs.
- Regular shampoo: When I say regular, I’m speaking of a natural shampoo with plant-based ingredients (no chemicals!). It is all you need to get rid of the excess oil on your scalp and hair strands. This is the best product to use on your weekly wash day.
The shampoos I use regularly are Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo (liquid shampoo) and Trader Joe’s Peppermint and Tea Tree Bar (shampoo bar).
- Clarifying shampoo: This type of shampoo is much stronger than ordinary shampoos because it contains heavy surfactants. Its ingredients interact with both water and the oils, dirt, and build-up residue on your locs, making it easier to wash them off during rinsing.
Clarifying shampoos are powerful enough to also strip the natural oils off your hair and skin, leaving you with a dry scalp and dry locs. For this reason, you should only use it sporadically or when your locs need a deep cleanse.
The grand majority of clarifying shampoos on the market contain ingredients that are not loc-friendly. So as an alternative, you can wash your hair with baking soda and rinse it with apple cider vinegar. Continue reading for a better explanation of how it works.
Best shampoo for locs
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo
This is hands-down my favorite vegan shampoo ever! It has worked wonders for my locs.
Benefits:
- Natural ingredients: The shampoo is enriched with tea tree oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus leaf, rosemary, nettle, thyme, chamomile, clary sage, lavender, coltsfoot, yarrow, mallow, and horsetail extracts.
- Scalp nourishment: The ingredients have anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which promote a healthy scalp and hair growth.
- Tingling sensation: The combination of tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus extracts provides a refreshing and invigorating sensation during and after use.
- Sulfate-free formula: The shampoo is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and ensures a gentle cleanse without stripping the hair of its natural oils. For this reason, it is suitable for regular use.
- Cleanses and refreshes: Effectively cleanses the hair and scalp, leaving a clean and refreshed feeling.
- Lasts a long time: I get roughly 10 washes out of a bottle.
Where to buy it: If you live near Trader Joe’s, get it there. It’s cheaper at the store. Otherwise, you can buy it on Amazon.
Trader Joe’s Shampoo Bar
In terms of ingredients, convenience, and price, Trader Joe’s Shampoo Bar is the best dreadlock shampoo.
Benefits:
- Natural ingredients: Trader Joe’s Shampoo Bar contains coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, and essential oils including tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil.
- Travel-friendly: This is an excellent choice for traveling because it’s lightweight, you can pack it in your carry-on luggage, and you don’t have to worry about spills.
- Cruelty-free: Trader Joe’s does not test their products or ingredients on animals.
Where to buy it: Buying this at a Trader Joe’s is cheaper and more convenient, but if you live far from one, you’ll find it on Amazon too.
Other loc shampoo options
- Raw Roots – They sell a wide variety of organic products, not just loc shampoos. This company is based out of Denmark.
- Knotty Boy Natural Dreadlock Shampoo – They use a blend of saponified oils of olive, castor bean, and help seed. All of these are great alternatives to SLS and other saponifying agents.
- Natural Lemon Myrtle Shampoo from Lemon Myrtle Fragrances Australia – Their shampoo has great ingredients. They’re based out of Australia.
- Divine Dreadlocks Lemon Myrtle & Macadamia Loc Bloc – Their shampoo bar is 100% all-natural. They’re based out of Australia.
- Lion Locs Shampoo – The ingredients are good for locs, but the flowery fragrance is strong, so it might not appeal to all customers.
- Lush Shampoo – Lush makes a variety of natural soap bars. Out of their entire selection, the best ones for dreads are Jumping Juniper, NEW, Soak & Float, and Seanik. Those are made with sodium coco sulfate in place of SLS.
Clarifying shampoo for dreads
I have yet to find a clarifying shampoo that I’m satisfied with. When that day comes, I’ll update this page.
Meanwhile, let’s discuss some alternatives.
Castile Soap
Properties:
- Strong cleansing properties: Castile soap, like Dr.Bronners, can effectively remove dirt, excess oils, and product buildup. It is clarifying to an extreme extent.
- Lathers easily: This provides the soapy/ bubbly texture to shampoo that helps clean dreadlocks.
- Natural ingredients: Castile soap is made from plant-based oils.
- Versatility: Castile soap is versatile and can be used not only as a hair cleanser but also as a body wash or even for household cleaning purposes.
- Works best with soft water: I don’t know the science behind this but when used with hard water, it will leave residue on your hair, so having soft water is a must.
- Use it with caution: Depending on the concentration used, it can disrupt the pH balance of your scalp.
Castile soap needs to be diluted no matter what, and the effects will vary greatly with different hair types.
If this is a product you’re interested in using, do thorough research before. And if you figure out a recipe that works for you, please share! My recipe is still in the works…
Where to buy it: Click here!
Baking Soda and ACV
Benefits:
- Clarifying properties: Baking soda helps to remove product buildup, excess oils, and impurities from the hair and scalp.
- Natural exfoliant: It can help remove dead skin cells and promote a cleaner, healthier scalp.
- Cost-effective: Baking soda is an inexpensive household item.
- No Harsh Chemicals: Baking soda is free from many of the harsh chemicals found in commercial shampoos.
Benefits:
- Balances pH levels: ACV is acidic and can help balance the pH levels of the scalp, promoting a healthier environment for hair growth.
- Clarifying agent: Acts as a natural clarifying agent, helping to remove product buildup, excess oils, and residue.
- Shiny hair: Regular use of ACV is believed by some to impart a natural shine to the hair, leaving it looking glossy and healthy.
- Reduces frizz: The acidity of ACV is thought to help smooth the hair cuticle, reducing frizz and enhancing overall manageability.
- Anti-fungal and antibacterial properties: This is beneficial for those who are dealing with dandruff or other scalp issues.
- Reduced itching and irritation: The anti-inflammatory properties of ACV may help soothe an itchy scalp and reduce irritation.
- Natural detangler: If you have starter locs, only use ACV when necessary because its detangling properties will be counterproductive to the locking process. Once you have mature locs, it can be used more often.
Baking soda and Apple cider vinegar can be used to clean dreads in a couple of ways.
1. DIY Scalp scrub + rinse: Mix water and baking soda to create a paste for exfoliation. Gently scrub your scalp with it and leave it on for a couple of minutes. Then rinse it off completely. Follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse (diluted with water) to neutralize your scalp’s pH.
2. Detox your locs: In this article, I give you the step-by-step of deep cleansing locs. Apart from baking soda and ACV, you’ll need essential oils and a splash of lemon juice. In my opinion, this is better than any loc detox product on the market, but you can find those too if you’re searching for alternatives.
Where to buy baking soda: You can buy baking soda pretty much anywhere, but if you’re an Amazon shopper, you can find it here.
Where to buy ACV: Apple cider vinegar can be found at most grocery stores. The best kind is the one that still has the mother in it. The brand I like is Braggs Organic ACV, and it can be found here (Amazon). Better yet…if you have the means (and a lot of apples), make your own ACV!
Water Basin
If you’re doing a loc detox, you’ll need a large sink, bucket, or inflatable water basin where you can let your locs soak.
Benefits:
- Easy to store
- Comfortable
- Supports the head, neck, and shoulders
- Water can easily be taken out without spilling
Where to buy it: You can find it here!