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Unraveled dreadlocks can make your funky style look messy and unkempt. Growing your dreads can take months, but it will only take a few days for them to unravel if not properly cared for. They need to be sealed completely and retwisted occasionally to keep them looking fresh and to allow any new hair to comply with the dread process.

Wash your dreads with a specialty dread shampoo or a residue-free clarifying shampoo to get rid of any grime and dirt that may have built up in your hair. Wash twice so all the gunk is completely out. Concentrate on the roots and ends first, and then the rest of the hair on the second washing. Apply a conditioner only to the ends to prevent any rough ends from breaking off.

Towel-dry your dreads. Squeeze out any excess moisture with the towel, and allow the dreads to dry completely before using any styling products. Putting any wax or gel in your dreads while they are still wet can leave them smelling bad and attract more dirt and possibly mold.

Grip any loose hair at the roots after the hair dries, and wrap it around the nearest dread. Use a small amount of dread wax to hold the loose hair, and secure it to the dread. Take a bit more wax, and apply it to your dreads by rolling the hair back and forth between your palms. Repeat this process for the rest of the dreads.

Secure each dread with a heavy-duty elastic hair band at least 1/2 inch from the tips. Tighten the band as much as possible; in most dreads, this will not harm or break the hair.

Blow-dry your dreads on high heat to seal in the wax. Grab each dread, and pull it away from the rest of your hair, moving the blow dryer from the roots to the tips. Do this until every dread has been blasted with heat.

Tip

Only wash your dreads once a week. Too much stimulation can cause fuzziness and unraveling.

Keep your scalp fresh and itch-free by using a peppermint hair spray to cool and soothe it.