A product called African Black Soap works wonders for blemishes, & African American hair. It comes in liquid form and black soap bars. Use as the daily soap for all over! She will get much use out of this product.
I have used this twice in 1 year and it does wonders if not overused. I don't mind the smell that others talk about, perhaps they've improved it. I do not recommend mixing it with baking soda. If anything, dilute it in a small jug of water to pour over dreads and let sit. Rinse it out over and over until you are sure it is completely out of your dreads, you will be surprised at the colour water if you do have residue.
KnotLady said:
i have been noticing something similar in mine. i think i may be due for a anti residue shampooing. nutrogena makes one. only use once or twice a yea. i hear its really strong. i think i might delute it with some baking soda rinse personally. i hope that helps.
Hi Kvetka. How old are the dreads that you took apart with the black stuff inside?
Your shampoo is low residue, which means it still has residue in it, not good to use. Whenever washing, rinse, rinse & rinse again, perhaps you are not getting everything out of the dread. Make sure your hair is dry before going to bed or wearing a tam, as mold can set in, could it be that?
I use a towel the same colour as my hair, that way I won't notice the fluff as much. Also, I use a micro fiber towel, like a ShamWow, to absorb lots of water out of my dreads to encourage faster drying.
Crazy things will begin to happen now. The shrinkage has begun. They will soon change in appearance, loosening, looping and zig zagging. You want all this crazy stuff to happen. The dreads will shrink to become fatter and lock up, and will eventually become the width of the section at your scalp. Do not despair when it all looks a mess, this happens to some of us, especially me. All you need to do is keep them clean, separate any sections that try to join together when needed and sit back with a cup of tea to enjoy the ride. Have fun on it.
Shrinking is a great sign that they are well on their journey. They need to shrink and loop in order to become mature locks, so yep, you sure do want that.
Great pic Soaring Eagle. Thanks for sharing
Hi Spencer, never wash wool in hot water or it will shrink, as SE said, also never put in dry, this will have the same effect. Peace
The great thing in life is that we are all different. Our dreads have their own fingerprints, their own look. We have different hair textures and so we have our own journey, our own time in which we dreads. Natty, you will be fine and wake up one morning and go WOW, look what happened. Just make sure you stay away from regular shampoos, as many have ingredients to soften the hair which slows down the knotting process. Enjoy your Journey, it will be a blast for ya!
For the baking soda wash, I use an empty orange juice bottle which has a large opening & is smaller than a gallon. I fill it with 5 cups of water 1/2 cup of baking soda. I only use about 10 drops of essential oil in the baking soda, some people use up to 30 drops, I want my oils to last longer. I use the same jug after rinsing it well and use 1-2 capfuls of Apple Cider Vinegar to 5 cups water and leave on for only a minute.
All hair is different, so try 20-30 drops in a spray bottle with water & see how that works, You can adjust however your dreads need it.
Peace
Sorry to hear about the funk. When showering, make sure that you rinse well, sometimes have a bath and float your hair in the tub for awhile, letting any residue work its way out.
Any smells may be from residue build up, or also from dreads being wet when going to sleep or wet underneath a tam / hat.
