Sleeping With Dreads and Washing

Hi Everyone! I just started on my dreadlock journey and I've had twists in my hair (by hand) for about 3 days now. Today I took the opinions of several nice members of this forum and I sprayed my hair with sea salt, then rinsed a few hours later because I used a gel-locking substance (and a bit of wax) that didn't do much for me because of the type of hair-texture I have (curly/thin).Then I put some Aloe Vera Gel on the twists and they're actually looking much better. From here on out I'm going to let my hair be (well, most of the time).My Question is, since my (soon to be) dreads are sooo new should I sleep with a nylon cap, a wave cap, or anything on my head?Also, when I rinsed my hair I had a wave cap on and just let the water drip. Any pointers?
updated by @joelr: 02/14/15 02:04:37PM

Hey Makarov,I've stopped using the Gel-Locking substance..I used the sea salt to rinse that stuff out Ok thanks! Makarov said:

Wearing a wool tam at night definitely helps the hair lock up faster. At least it has been working with mine. I think the gel-locking stuff that you're using is the opposite of sea salt but I'm not sure. Good luck and don't use wax that's nasty, lol.

If you want to sleep with a tam on your head feel free to do so. I took an old wool sweater and put that over my pillow as if it were a pillow case.

Thanks Makarov,That's a big help...but just to get it straight you're telling me that washing my hair without ANY cap or anything in it (even though the dreads are so new) will help lock?I know washing it helps to lock, but someone told me I should wear a nylon cap so that the dreads don't fall apart..misinformation I guess. Makarov said:

I edited it my first post because I forgot to mention the washing thing. =) But yeah, if you wash it right without a cap on then it should help it lock up.

Joel Reyes said:

Hey Makarov,

I've stopped using the Gel-Locking substance..I used the sea salt to rinse that stuff out Ok thanks!

Makarov said:

Wearing a wool tam at night definitely helps the hair lock up faster. At least it has been working with mine. I think the gel-locking stuff that you're using is the opposite of sea salt but I'm not sure. Good luck and don't use wax that's nasty, lol.

Many thanks for the tip! I think I have a wool sweater around here somewhere..lol GoldenEagle said:

If you want to sleep with a tam on your head feel free to do so. I took an old wool sweater and put that over my pillow as if it were a pillow case.

This is going to be your first wash I see, you can wash when you feel ready, I waited 5days, (heard of people going up to a month, but that is unnecessary and unsanitary.)I showered with a cap the first few days or just avoided soaking my head, but you should know regardless of what you do you will soon notice loose hairs,as for what you sleep on I wouldn't bother wearing the cap there. (or anywhere out of the shower till you finally wash) or even a hat if you have wax/gels in it(don't want that stuff on your hat)just sleep like normally, (if you have a wool tam, great) let em move around some, seems like most the real locking happens when you sleep anyway.an just make sure you let your locks dry be4 going to bed

Great tips Iain! I'm going to buy an anti residue shampoo soon. I just wet my hair today (only rinsed) so I'm going to wait about 3-4 days for my first real wash. Then I'll go to washing about 2wice a week.

I'll try to find one of those two to wash my hair. Awesome info Makarov said:

That sounds good but yes washing without the cap IF you scrub your scalp right will help it lock up, it won't look like it's helping but over time it will. I massage my scalp with the tips of my fingers and I ball my fist up and scrub it gently, both of those methods seem to work although if your hair is short or isn't naturally dreading on it's own yet then it might seem like it's not working. Dreadlocks are very different type of hairstyle so it's very unique for all of us but your hair will definitely end up dreading and it helps if you try to ignore it. What do you use to wash your hair? Dr. Bronners or SE's baking soda mix works the best. Regular namebrand shampoos and conditioners can really slow down or completely stop the dreading process.

Joel Reyes said:

Great tips Iain! I'm going to buy an anti residue shampoo soon. I just wet my hair today (only rinsed) so I'm going to wait about 3-4 days for my first real wash. Then I'll go to washing about 2wice a week.

Thanks! Will do, I'll try to start one tomorrow Makarov said:

Washing your hair with the right soap is probably one of the most important and main things to get dreadlocks so yeah, definitely use the right stuff. Good luck. You should make a timeline as well so we can see your progress, I made one yesterday.

Joel Reyes said:

I'll try to find one of those two to wash my hair. Awesome info

Makarov said:

That sounds good but yes washing without the cap IF you scrub your scalp right will help it lock up, it won't look like it's helping but over time it will. I massage my scalp with the tips of my fingers and I ball my fist up and scrub it gently, both of those methods seem to work although if your hair is short or isn't naturally dreading on it's own yet then it might seem like it's not working. Dreadlocks are very different type of hairstyle so it's very unique for all of us but your hair will definitely end up dreading and it helps if you try to ignore it. What do you use to wash your hair? Dr. Bronners or SE's baking soda mix works the best. Regular namebrand shampoos and conditioners can really slow down or completely stop the dreading process.

Joel Reyes said:

Great tips Iain! I'm going to buy an anti residue shampoo soon. I just wet my hair today (only rinsed) so I'm going to wait about 3-4 days for my first real wash. Then I'll go to washing about 2wice a week.

Thank you too bro Makarov said:

Alright man, good luck. I'm gonna go work out. Take it easy.

Joel Reyes said:

Thanks! Will do, I'll try to start one tomorrow

Makarov said:

Washing your hair with the right soap is probably one of the most important and main things to get dreadlocks so yeah, definitely use the right stuff. Good luck. You should make a timeline as well so we can see your progress, I made one yesterday.

Joel Reyes said:

I'll try to find one of those two to wash my hair. Awesome info

Makarov said:

That sounds good but yes washing without the cap IF you scrub your scalp right will help it lock up, it won't look like it's helping but over time it will. I massage my scalp with the tips of my fingers and I ball my fist up and scrub it gently, both of those methods seem to work although if your hair is short or isn't naturally dreading on it's own yet then it might seem like it's not working. Dreadlocks are very different type of hairstyle so it's very unique for all of us but your hair will definitely end up dreading and it helps if you try to ignore it. What do you use to wash your hair? Dr. Bronners or SE's baking soda mix works the best. Regular namebrand shampoos and conditioners can really slow down or completely stop the dreading process.

Joel Reyes said:

Great tips Iain! I'm going to buy an anti residue shampoo soon. I just wet my hair today (only rinsed) so I'm going to wait about 3-4 days for my first real wash. Then I'll go to washing about 2wice a week.