People do wash their dreadlocks

Wash Day: The Steps to Wash, Condition, & Groom Your Locs-

If you’re going to take on the task of grooming your locs, the first thing to know is that having the right supplies on hand will make the process much smoother.

Toolkit
• Shampoo (cleansing & moisturizing)
• Herbal rinse or conditioner ( Apple cider rinse will do)
• Towel(s)
• Holding product (loc butter or gel)-no wax or alcohol based products
• Holding clips, comb, wrap strips
• Oil or finishing spray
• Hair dryer

Preparation
First decide whether you will work best in the shower, sink, or tub. Before shampooing your hair, examine your locs and remove any lint that you see. Thoroughly rinse your hair of any topical dirt/debris, oils, or flakes. Note: Good water pressure will make the process much better.

Shampoo
After the hair is saturated with water, pour shampoo on the scalp and continue down the length of the locs. Massage the entire scalp and scrub the locs for several minutes (if they are long enough). Rinse well. The second shampoo should be a moisturizing shampoo. Note: You can also use shampoo for color treated, gray, or a medicated product if required due to a scalp issue. Be sure to put dandruff shampoo directly on the scalp (as it can dry out the hair) and use a moisturizing shampoo on the locs. Let the shampoo stay on the hair for a few minutes before rinsing.

Young Locs
If your locs are in the baby or beginner stage, wash your locs very gently. Concentrate on the scalp and manipulate the locs as little as possible. One wash should be sufficient.

Mature Locs
For mature locs, you will most likely need at least two thorough washes. The first shampoo should be a cleansing shampoo. The main purpose is to rid the hair and scalp of dirt and oils.

Clarify
Periodically, you should use a clarifying or detoxifying shampoo to rid the scalp and hair of product, dirt, lint, debris buildup. Use this regularly if you swim in chlorinated water.

Condition
After your final shampoo, condition the locs with an herbal rinse blend, a liquid leave in conditioner or a thin consistency conditioner that can be rinsed out easily. Towel dry and squeeze out as much water as possible along the length of the locs. Drape yourself with an extra towel to protect your clothing.

Moisturize
Moisturize the hair with a loc butter or use a loc gel if you’re not a fan of butters like shea. Be sure to evenly distribute the product all over your hair and scalp. If your locs tend to tangle, you should separate them before continuing on to the next step.

Touch Up
Palm roll or finger roll the loc, being sure to wrap in loose hairs. You can define the parts with a comb or end of a long clip for a more manicured look. Roll with tight even tension and use clips to hold down the root of the locs. Depending on the size of the locs, you can put from 2-4 locs in each clip. If your hair dries out as you work your way up, take your spray bottle and wet the root only. You can also add more product if necessary.

Dry
When you are finished twisting your locs, use a wrap strip to help lay the edges down and to shield your scalp/forehead from the dryer heat. Sit under a hard bonnet dryer for about 30 minutes to an hour. It’s important to dry your locs, as water left in your locs can become molded and leave a very unpleasant smell. The final steps are to remove the clips and oil your hair/scalp or use a finishing spray.