How I dress my Dreads

Since ancient times, women have obsessed over how to make their hair look beautiful, healthy and strong. The Ancient Egyptian women kept their hair long and natural, even when the hot desert sun was beating down on their scalps. The geisha women of Japan would wash their hair only once every two or three weeks. A slave to her beauty, a geisha woman would sleep on a wooden neck pedestal rather than a pillow, for fear that sleeping on a pillow ruin their intricate hair styles.

Even today, we are constantly blasted with images of Perfect Hair. But all the commercials and products are sending the wrong message to the young women of this world. When it comes to your dreads more is not necessarily good.

In the last few months, thanks to two of my favorite Blondies, (and you know who you are), and a bit of my own exploration, I have begun working on perfecting the beauty, health and strength of my brunette locks.

*The Secret*

The key to long, beautiful, healthy, strong hair is minimalism. In five simple steps...

Step One - Don't wash your hair everyday
When we wash our hair everyday, it drys our hair out. Dry hair is not shiny, and tends to break. Who wants that?

Step Two - When I do wash, don't wash I hair, I wash my scalp.
The thing with shampoo and conditioner is that one removes oils and the other moisturizes. Shampoo is good for your scalp, because it washes away the oil which weighs your hair down and makes it look flat. Your hair is what craves moisture. Keep the conditioner away from the roots of your hair, focusing on mainly the tips, and then split ends will be less common. Makes sense right? You can buy some dry shampoo for the days in between when your roots might get a little oily.

Step Three - Invest in Organic Product
Sure, Pantene Pro-V may make your hair shine like California sun, but that is because it contains wax and plastics. Who cares though if your hair looks good? Well, both plastic and wax contribute to breakage and split ends. So go to Trader Joes and buy one of their Organic shampoo/conditioner combos for $3.50 a bottle. More money to spend on shoes or shows or whatever your head of beautiful, healthy, strong, organic hair wants you to do!

Step Four - Stay Away From Heat and Styling Product
Put down the blow dryer! Unplug the curling iron! And don't even think about turning on that straightener! Honestly, letting your hair dry naturally will give it natural body, which is sexier than anything a blow dryer could give you! And styling product just makes your hair stiff, or oily, or sticky, etc. So unless I have a very specific style for a special occasion, I keep the hair electronics and products under the sink.

Step Five - Don't Brush your Hair
Unless you are working through real dreadlocks, keep the brush away from your beautiful tresses. Use your fingers to work through knots gently, but over brushing your hair with thin your hair out. Just don't do it. I don't think I have brushed through my hair with an actually brush in almost three weeks.


Obviously, I am not a hair stylist and I haven't been to beauty school, but I am just saying what has worked for me. My hair is looks so much healthier now that I don't blow dry it, or run the straightener through it daily.

Hope my hair quest can help someone on theirs!

<3
The Brunette