To dread shampoo or not to dread shampoo?

That is the question…right? It must be. Clients ask me often if they should use shampoo designed for dreadlocks on their hair, especially right after the get new locks.
There are quite a few specially made dread shampoos on the market—I’ve personally used Knotty Boy’s dreadlock shampoo bar—that claim that they are the best way to cleanse dreads. Most of their claims are founded in sound common sense—Knotty Boy’s bar and most of the shampoos I’ve seen contain very basic, stripped down cleaning ingredients that don’t leave much residue in the hair. Knotty Boy’s also contains peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree oils which are good natural oils to cleanse the scalp and give relief from the itches that sometimes accompany new dreads (and smell really nice). The bar works really well, too, gives a nice lather, clean feeling, and having shampoo in a bar form really is convenient for travelling.
But are using these special shampoos necessary?
I think the answer lies in your individual hair and whether buying something special for your dreadlocks gives you pleasure. Dread shampoos are designed to really strip out as much natural oil from the hair as possible, as oil—your hair’s natural conditioner—can help new knots slip or loosen. If you have normal to oily hair, or you like special dread treats, then by all means, go for a dread shampoo.
But if you have dry hair and scalp, on a budget, or don’t live someplace where getting or ordering dread shampoos is quick and easy, then there are perfectly good shampooing solutions available on your local drugstore shelf.
If you have extremely dry hair or scalp to begin with, these soaps can actually make your scalp feel tight and uncomfortable—and if you had bouts of dandruff before you had dreads, they can actually seem to cause more flakes (they really don’t cause them, per se, but drying your scalp changes its pH and encourages flaking). For dry hair/scalp, I recommend using a baby or dandruff shampoo—any brand, really, as long as you buy the kinds that don’t say “conditioning” or “2 in 1.” When you shampoo, work the shampoo into your scalp and let the suds drip down your dreads for cleansing, then rinse well.
For the budget conscious or the dreadie who needs a local source, using a shampoo that says “clarifying” is usually fine. Really. In fact, I’ve used Suave clarifying shampoo on and off for years on my dreads (and it costs less than 2 bucks a bottle) and my dreads have done just fine. Clarifying shampoos don’t contain added conditioners and are usually gentle enough for every day cleansing.
Some dreadies swear by using a pure castile soap as a shampoo (Dr. Bronners is a common brand), and I’ve found that castile soaps, bar or liquid, are a great choice for those of us with sensitive skin , eczema, psoriasis, or some other skin condition that can be aggravated by harsh cleansers. Castile soap is gentle, cleanses well, and as a plus, can be used all over your body—not just your head.
No matter which shampoo you choose, the key to remember is to clean your scalp, rinse well, then rinse again. Clean dreads make healthy dreads.

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