I never knew the importance of moisturizing my hair until I had dreadlocks. 

When I had loose hair, I would wash my hair every day (sometimes every other) and my hair looked fine. 

Once I got locs, I could no longer wash it daily so it stopped receiving the hydration it was used to. For the first 10 months or so, my locs were dry and opaque. They felt like velcro and they itched my neck. 

Moisturizing my locs daily has made a huge difference in their appearance and feel. It also helps to keep them smelling nice.

Why should I make my own spray? Isn’t it better just to buy one?

You have control over the ingredients. 

I’ve always been a DIY type of gal, and a bit skeptical of product labels to be honest, so that’s why I prefer to make my own moisturizing spritzers. I’m very careful about what I put in my hair, so this is the only way for me to be sure of what I’m putting in it. I use trusted brands and 100% pure essential oils because I know there are no hidden ingredients added.

The recipes listed in this post will leave NO residue, NO build-up, and NO sticky-feeling. 

It’s cost-effective.

Another reason I make my own spray is that it’s WAY cheaper. Essential oils are expensive upfront, but they last a very long time. My essential oils last me several months because I only use a teeny bit at a time- they’re so strong that a few drops are all you really need.

I spray my locs at least once a day (sometimes twice) so I have to make a new moisturizing spray blend just about every week. If I had to buy it, it would probably cost me $10 or more, per bottle. Over the course of a six month period, I’d be spending approximately $260 on moisturizing spritzers alone. On the other hand, a set of 5 essential oils costs anywhere between $40 and $75 but they’ll last me for the next 6 months.

I’m certain that there are a lot of moisturizing sprays on the market but I haven’t tested any of them out so I can’t give you my personal review. If you would rather buy yours, read the label first and make sure there are no unwanted ingredients. Here’s a list of 33 things that I recommend you never put in your locs– numbers 23 through 31 are commonly found in hair and skincare products. Steer clear from those!

Six Easy Dreadlock Moisturizer Recipes

Ok, let’s get to it!

For all of these sprays, you will need a 10 oz spray bottle, distilled water, and a funnel if you want to make less of a mess.

I recommend you use 100% pure Essential Oils (NOT fragrance oils- there’s a difference!) and organic oils whenever possible. Click on the name of the oils mentioned to see my preferred options.

P.S. Download all six recipes at the end of this article!

1. Into The Woods

• 10 oz distilled water
• 10 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil 
• 5 drops Patchouli Essential Oil 
• 5 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil
• 5 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
• 5 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
• 5 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil 
• 3 drops Lime Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix together the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY: 

This spray smells amazing, especially if you’re not too into the fruity/ sweet scents. 

This spray will help improve skin sensitivity and heal scalp conditions, such as inflammation, irritation, infection, and dandruff. It helps to reduce oiliness and improves blood circulation throughout the scalp, thereby promoting hair growth, stronger hair follicles, and the regeneration of hair in thinning or balding areas. It helps to repel bugs too.

2. Citrus Blast

• 10 oz distilled water 
• 5 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 3 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
• 3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
• 3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix together the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray reminds me of the tropics for some reason. It smells tangy and fresh.

This spray has antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It strengthens the hair follicles, thereby producing stronger roots and preventing future breakage. Ylang Ylang promotes sebum production, so blending it with lemon and sweet orange can help tame the oiliness. This spray helps to repel lice.

**KEEP IN MIND! This spray might lighten your hair if used prior to going out in the sun.

3. A Hint of Mint

• 10 oz distilled water
• 1 tablespoon Rosemary leaves (fresh or dried)
• 15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
• 10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
• 5 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

TO MAKE: 

Bring 10 oz of water to a boil and prepare a tea with 1 tablespoon of rosemary leaves. Steep the tea for 5 to 8 minutes, and then strain it. Allow the tea to cool. Then, pour it into your spray bottle.

Add the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

If you don’t have peppermint essential oil, add a few mint leaves to your rosemary tea.

If you don’t have rosemary, use distilled water and 15 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil instead.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray will leave your scalp feeling tingly and refreshed. 

This spray has soothing and healing properties. It’s ideal for those who have an irritated or infected scalp. It also has cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing properties that help to control the odor of your dreads, especially if you’ve experienced dread rot or mold in the past. It improves scalp health, thereby producing stronger hair follicles and preventing hair loss, such as alopecia. It has insect repelling properties, especially lice. It’s ideal for those who work closely with or have small school children at home.

If you have scalp sensitivity, I recommend you spot-test this spray before using it all over your scalp. The tingling sensation might be overwhelming for some, yet relieving for others.

4. Flower Power

• 10 oz distilled water
• 1 Chamomile tea bag (or 1 tablespoon dried flowers)
• 8 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 5 drops Geranium Essential Oil
• 5 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

Bring 10 oz of water to a boil steep a bag of chamomile tea for 5 to 8 minutes. Strain it and allow it to cool down. Pour it into your spray bottle.

Add the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

If you don’t have chamomile tea or leaves, use distilled water and 5 drops of Chamomile Essential Oil instead.

Alternatively, you can use rose water tea. Use the same procedure but substitute the chamomile for 1 tablespoon of dried rose flowers. 

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray is all around fruity. If you like sweet scents, this is the perfect spray for you! 

This spray has soothing and healing properties, especially for those who have an itchy scalp. It helps to add shine to your hair while restoring softness and reducing the velcro/ dry-like feeling. It nourishes and strengthens the hair follicles, thereby promoting hair regeneration. It helps restore the hair from any damage that was done due to harsh weather or previous chemical treatments. It helps to restore shine. This spray promotes scalp health by balancing the skin’s pH. The strong scent also helps control odors. 

**KEEP IN MIND! This spray might lighten your hair if used prior to going out in the sun. Also, the chamomile and rose tea might leave a slight color stain behind. Be careful not to spray it on any fabric, such as clothing.

5. Manly Man

• 10 oz distilled water
• 10 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil 
• 5 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
• 5 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
• 2 drops Cardamom Essential Oil
• 2 drops Clove Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix together the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray is all-around manly. The scents blend perfectly together.

This spray has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. It promotes blood circulation in the scalp, thereby producing stronger hair follicles, encouraging hair growth, and the regeneration of hair in thinning and balding areas. This spray has insect repelling properties as well, so it’s a great option for those who are going camping or traveling to places with a lot of bugs. 

6. Spice It Up!

• 10 oz distilled water
• 12 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
• 3 drops Cardamom Essential Oil
• 3 drops Clove Essential Oil
• 2 drops Nutmeg Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix together the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY: 

This spray smells like autumn. It reminds me of my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. It’s no wonder that it’s one of my favorite sprays. 

This spray has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. It also has disinfectant properties, which help to treat conditions of the scalp as well as control bad odors. This spray improves the circulation of blood throughout the scalp, thereby encouraging hair growth and hair follicle strength. 

The essential oils in this spray are said to have pain-relieving properties, such as headaches. 

A few moisturizing tips! 

• There’s a misconception that moisturizing your locs requires carrier oils, like grapeseed, coconut, or castor oil. Carrier oils don’t moisturize, they LOCK IN moisture. In other words, any water-based solution (like all the sprays mentioned above) will moisturize your hair, and carrier oils will retain that moisture.
  
  I don’t use carrier oils on my dreads because they’re more prone to become sticky and attract dirt or lint. I only use carrier oils on my scalp to retain moisture around the base of the hair follicle. To prevent build-up, I only use a pea size of oil to cover my entire head.
  
  For a guide on which carrier oil will work best for your hair type, check out this post!

• When used properly, essential oils can work wonders on your scalp and skin. I encourage you to create your own moisturizing spray blend with your favorite oils or experiment with new ones. I wrote a guide with the best essential oils for dreadlocks, which you can read right here.

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Download the recipes!

Please fill out the form below to receive the download link in your inbox.

If there’s an error or the download doesn’t come through, send me a message at book@dreadlockulture.com and I will happily send it to you. 🙂

I hope this article was helpful to you!

Let me know if you try any of these sprays, and which recipe is your favorite!! 

Do your locs need a pick-me-up? Check out these 39 DIY all-natural recipes to revitalize your dreads!