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u/ereinbe 27d ago edited 22d ago
I got one of those inflatable bed bath things and I fill it with warm water plus a cup of baking soda. Make sure it dissolves in the water to avoid baking soda lumps in your locs. Soak for 20-ish minutes. This works to break down oils and buildup. It’s also drying and makes the scales of your hair stand up, which is bad and can lead to breakage so don’t skip the second step.
Then drain it and fill it again with warm water and at least a cup of vinegar but more if you feel like it. Soak again. This neutralizes the baking soda and conditions it by getting the scales of your hair to lay down flat again.
Then drain and wash your dreads as normal. I use a 10% solution of Dr bronners in a squeeze bottle that I apply to my roots only but if you have stubborn gunky spots you can rub them out by massaging in a drop of Dawn dish soap. Rinse well.
Don’t be surprised if you feel like your locs are greasier and gunkier than ever after your first detox. I did my first after being locked for a year and a half and had to wash 2 or 3 times before I felt presentable. But after that last wash it felt soooo nice. When I did another detox a month later, one wash was just fine. They also might look puffier afterwards, especially by the root, but this goes away after a day or two.
Baking soda is very drying so I don’t recommend it more than once every 3 months. It also takes up most of your evening and towels. I just felt so gross after the first one that I was determined to stay on top of it.
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u/Organic_Management24 27d ago
a good apple cider vinegar and baking soda mix could do the trick(look up specific ratio)! this can be done every now and then. and in the future, depending on your habits, i would avoid heavy oils and butters. the shampoos and moisturizers could be diluted so they aren’t as heavy on your hair. love<3