Do/Can people with dreadlocks/dreds wash their hair?

[Dari]

Is it even possible? If not, how do they maintain hygiene?

 

[Rakehellion]

Welp.

 

[Agent11]

When I was in grade school dreds were in fashion and the kids would wash their hair with irish spring bar soap and let it dry without rinsing all the soap out, causing them to have dreds. Real hippies just douse themselves with patchouli* oil to keep the reek down.. I'm sure they can rinse off their hair somewhat, but they cannot wash it in the traditional way without breaking up the matts of hair that create the dreadlocks.

 

[Soundmanred]

petuli oil

 

[Markbnj]

Lived in the Caribbean for almost a year, working on various boats, and my impression of the rastas was that they don't wash anything, least of all their hair.

This was thirty years ago, though.

 

[Nintendesert]

GROSS.

Just gross. BARF.

 

[Dari]

Lived in the Caribbean for almost a year, working on various boats, and my impression of the rastas was that they don't wash anything, least of all their hair.

This was thirty years ago, though.

Cause the wife is complaining of a new hire whose hair does not smell right.

 

[NutBucket]

Lived in the Caribbean for almost a year, working on various boats, and my impression of the rastas was that they don't wash anything, least of all their hair.

This was thirty years ago, though.

I doubt much has changed.

 

[Rakehellion]

White people can't because their hair isn't curly enough to naturally dread.
Black people can't do it because they're probably Rastas.

 

[Greenman]

Dreads are dirty hair, with all of the associated smells and filth you would expect.

 

[Codewiz]

Dreads are dirty hair, with all of the associated smells and filth you would expect.

That is total BS.

Complete generalization. There are people with dreads that wash them every day. You can get matted hair while washing it. It just takes more effort to start the dreads.

There are people with dreads that are clean and don't smell.......

And there are people with stinky, dirty, nasty dreads......

 

[zinfamous]

not if you want real dreads.

You can make "fake" dreads, though, and keep them clean.

 

[Hugo Drax]

I wonder if women who have dreads also have it between their legs as well. Anyone care to report?

 

[ZaneNBK]

I wonder if women who have dreads also have it between their legs as well. Anyone care to report?

 

[Pardus]

used to work with a guy who had dreads, he had a very powerful body odor.

 

[HumblePie]

Something I have been told by a few black friends. That many of my friends do not produce the same amount of oil for their hair like white people do. That most have to add oil and washing daily is very bad for their hair and scalp. None of my friends have dreads though.

 

[waggy]

Is it even possible? If not, how do they maintain hygiene?

this seems like a stupid question. but you know what? i wondered that myself..:biggrin:

 

[Codewiz]

not if you want real dreads.

You can make "fake" dreads, though, and keep them clean.

Mind enlightening us on "fake" vs "real".

Dreads are matted hair. Yes, you can get dreads by not combing and not washing your hair. That is the "natural" way but you are also likely not to have good looking dreads. If that is "real" to you then sure, by your dumb definition, sure.

There are three primary methods of growing dreads.

Backcombing
Wool Sweater
Neglect

The first two methods can be done with clean hair. Neglect takes like 3 years to make dreads that look like dreads.

The first two can make dreads once your grow out your hair and dread it.

If you want the best looking dreads, you backcomb it because you have exact control over shape and size.....

Most people backcomb.

 

[alkemyst]

he is probably talking about just big braids. Easy and clean dread look.

 

[SheHateMe]

Yes, they can wash them. Why wouldn't they?

 

[Nintendesert]

Yes, they can wash them. Why wouldn't they?

I don't know, why don't they?

 

[Leros]

This was referenced on the Wikipedia article about dredlocks concerning hygeine. http://www.dreadlocks.com/facts_rumors.html

 

[Greenman]

There are people with dreads that are clean and don't smell.......

I'll take your word for it, but I've never met one.