Keeping dreadlocks clean is easy as long as you are willing to wash and treat them regularly.
Avoid dirty and unkempt dreads by cleaning them with a shampoo or bar specially formulated for locked hair:
Wet Your Dreads With Warm Water
Get your locs lightly wet by running water over them in the shower. Use warm water for best results.
Use A Special Dread Shampoo Or Shampoo Bar
Squeeze a dime-sized amount of shampoo into your hands, and rub it around your palms to generate lather. It is better to use a small portion of shampoo so you can control the amount of soap that goes into your locs.
If you prefer using a solid bar shampoo, first create a rich lather by rubbing it between your palms.
Always use a shampoo or soap bar that is free of residue.
Work The Lather Into Your Scalp
Using the tips of your fingers, work the lather into your scalp, giving it a good scrub to remove excess sebum and dead skin. Distribute the shampoo in the spaces between the roots of your dreads.
Rinse The Shampoo Out Of Your Locs
Allow the shampoo to work its way through your dreads and rinse it out after 2 minutes. Tilt your head down to let the lather run through the length of your locks as you rinse it out with warm water.
Make sure there is no residue remaining in your dreadlocks when you’re finished washing.
Dry your dreads completely after you get out of the shower. Any moisture that remains in the locks will cause them to come undone and smell, or even grow mold.