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The Best Shampoo for Dreads
Recently a customer asked me if my Natural Old-fashioned Soap-based Rosemary Shampoo was good for dreads. I think a shampoo bar is a great solution for dreads because you have more control over what is being cleansed. You can focus on cleansing your scalp while avoiding overly-cleaning your dreads.
However, there is a huge difference between shampoo bars which I talk about more here. The best shampoo for dreads is gentle and does not leave a build-up on your hair. So I recommend that the best shampoo for dreads is either my liquid Yucca Shampoo, Yucca Oat Shampoo Bar or, for flakey scalp and dandruff, my Salon Quality Pine Tar Shampoo.
Using Old-Fashioned Lye based Shampoos on Dreads
So I do not recommend using old-fashioned shampoo bar for dreads like my Rosemary Shampoo. It is an old-fashioned shampoo bars made using lye and not modern detergents. Old-fashioned shampoos are wonderful for some people but they don’t work well with hard water and leave mineral deposits. Additionally, lye-based shampoos are always too alkaline for dreads and will do damage.
If you really want to use a lye-based shampoo (like Dr Bronner’s) you can offset the undesirable build-up and high pH by adding a little Apple Cider Vinegar to soft water and rinse your dreads after shampooing.
These kinds of old-fashioned soap-based shampoo bars work best with soft water. In times past, people would collect rainwater to wash their hair with this kind of shampoo. Using a distilled water with Apple Cider Vinegar rinse will offset many of the limitations of a natural soap-based shampoo. Important especially if you have hard water. I use and recommend a gallon of distilled water or rainwater with 3/4 to 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar. This will balance the high pH of the soap. Pour about a cup or two over your hair after washing with soap-based shampoos.
The best shampoo for dreads use a select group of gentle synthetic detergents. My shampoos are made with high-end synthetic detergents that are extraordinarily gentle and environmentally safe. Surprisingly, combining several synthetic detergents (surfactants) together makes my shampoo even more gentle.
Look for Sodium Cocyl Isethionate in your Shampoo
When it comes to synthetic detergents, there’s no doubt that sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) is one of the best choices for shampoo. It is commonly referred to as Baby Foam due to its gentle surfactant nature, make it an ideal choice for children and anyone seeking a mild option. It is also sulfate-free. Additionally, SCI, unlike natural soap-based shampoos, is easy to balance the pH, works very well with hard water, and doesn’t leave any film or mineral deposits. It is an expensive ingredients and that is why is isn’t found in mass-produced shampoos.
If you want to keep your dreadlocks healthy and looking their best, minimizing build-up is crucial. Once your dreads are established, it’s important to avoid excessive product build-up. This will not only help your dreads look and feel cleaner, but it will also help keep them strong and healthy over time.
I hope this answers your question.
All my best,
Brenda
