Rocking dreadlocks doesn't mean you can't have fun and get your hair dyed to a different color. However, it usually requires a more intense formula for the dye to stick to your hair strands if you have dreadlocks than what regular hair would normally need.

Colored Locs

This means that your hair would also have the potential to expose to more damage. So if you have not had your dreadlocks yet, it’s best to dye it prior to installation of your locs.. If you currently have dreadlocks and are planning to color your hair, fret not. Follow these hair care tips for more moisturized, revitalized, and healthy color treated dreads.

Tips

  • Prepare your hair beforehand. Do several hot oil treatments on your dreadlocks (at least four) before having your hair dyed at the salon. Coconut oil is proven to be beneficial to hair and helps strengthen it.
  • If you can, avoid permanent hair dye, as it uses a stronger chemical that bleaches your hair, and therefore causing, even more, damage than necessary. You can opt for henna or vegetable dyes.
  • If you want to lighten your hair, you can do it naturally! Put some lemon juice onto your dreadlocks and bask in the sun. You have to be very careful though, as lemon is acidic and causes photosensitivity, so make sure it doesn’t touch your skin.
  • You can do this if you want to save money from going to the salon or you want lighter hair but don’t want to risk the damage from strong, permanent dyes. Of course, this has its own set of consequences.
  • Right after dyeing your locks, make sure to rinse off all traces of hair dye, or else you will risk serious hair fall and breakage because of the damage.
  • Use a shampoo and conditioner that will not mess with your colored hair and drain it of the dye. A good suggestion would be Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Hydrating-Clarifying Shampoo.

  • Always keep your dreadlocks moisturized and keep it from getting too dried out. Your hair would be prone to this after dyeing it. Dr. Locs YaYa Oil and Jinan Leave in Conditioner serve as an excellent source of oisturiztion for your ocs.

  • Cover your dreadlocks with a silk scarf or an old cotton t-shirt to prevent this dryness.
  • Use silk or satin pillowcases instead of the other common materials.
  • Remember to moisturize often since color-treated hair, whether regular or hair or dreads, are much more prone to being dry, brittle, and weak. Do hot oil treatments at least once a month to prevent breakage. Mist your hair with a hair mist made of a mix of glycerin and rose water for added hydration.
  • Include lots of protein in your diet. Protein is an important ingredient in strengthening your hair, and it can be found in so vegetables, meat, and fish.
  • If you are a vegetarian, beans and leafy, green vegetables are rich with protein and iron, plus Omega 3 and saturated fats (good fats) to boost the health and strength of your hair.
  • Keep your color treated dreadlocks clean. It goes without saying that cleansing your hair on a regular basis is important when maintaining dreadlocks--colored or not.