Locs, Dreadlocks, or Dreads— they are the same and are loved by men and women both and allow you to wear iconic hairstyles, bringing out your true beauty. However, thin dreadlocks can look bad and ruin your overall appearance. Hair loss, breakage, thinning, etc., are the major problems with locks.
Thinning dreadlocks is one of the most common conditions and can be a real struggle. If you are facing this problem, you can visit salons like Dreadlocks Salon, the best natural Hair Salon Oakland, CA. However, you must learn the causes of thinning locs. Only then can you get rid of this problem permanently and carry on with fascinating styles. In this blog, we are discussing the causes of thinning dreadlocks. So, this blog must not avoid them.
1. Wrong Sleeping Style
Wrong sleeping style can be the first reason of thinning dreadlocks. Sleeping on cotton sheets or pillowcases can result in traction alopecia (a form of hair loss), one common reason for thinning dreadlocks. Instead, you can use a satin pillowcase to sleep and protect your locs against traction. Covering your dreadlocks with a durag while sleeping is another effective way to protect your locs.
2. Styling Locs Too Tight
Most dreadlocks wearers like intricate styles, but such styles require tightening the dreadlocks, which can cause damage. It can result in traction alopecia, one common reason for thinning dreadlocks. Such styles can help wigs last longer, but your natural hair edges will likely suffer. So, you must not wear too tight styles.
3. Excess Stress
When we talk about thinning locks, we must consider stress, which causes all kinds of hair loss. Stress will damage your locs and badly affect your overall health. Telogen effluvium is a temporary yet severe hair loss condition caused by excess stress. Hence, you must reduce stress from your life. You can opt for yoga, meditation, reading books, journaling, or watching comedy movies to alleviate stress.
4. Hair Coloring
Hair color will affect hair texture, weakening strands and eventually thinning out. It contains harmful elements like chromium, lead, cadmium, ammonia, etc. These chemicals can thin dreadlocks that are vulnerable to breakage. Already, thin hair is affected by dyes quicker than thick dreadlocks. Even if you color your dreadlocks, you must do it rarely and opt for a professional colorist. You should also use natural colors to ensure minimum damage.
5. Wrong Hair Products
You must use specific products for your locs. Oil-based products, like heavy creams, waxes, and hair butter, can leave remains on your dreadlocks and scalp. These remains can prevent new hair growth, resulting in thinning dreadlocks and loss. It would be better to consult a dermatologist, who will guide you on which product is best for your locks.
6. Scalp Infection
If you are taking care of all the above points and your dreads are still thinning, it could be because of a scalp infection. It can happen to anyone and can slow hair growth and cause it to fall out. Folliculitis is a scalp infection that causes inflammation in hair follicles and looks like acne or itchy bumps. If you experience such a condition, you must visit a dermatologist for accurate treatment.
7. Low Maintenance
Wearing locs is not easy and requires consistent care and maintenance. However, currently, everybody is busy; hence they can’t maintain their dreadlocks, which leaves them vulnerable to environmental stressors. Hence, they get damaged and start thinning and falling out. Regular moisturization, cleaning scalps, and trimming ends are some tips to maintain dreadlocks.
8. Vitamin Deficiency
What we eat has a lot to do with thinning dreads. Vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, B12, folic acid, and vitamins C, D, and E are vital for the healthy growth of dreadlocks. A poor diet can lead to vitamin deficiency, resulting in weak dreadlocks. Ultimately, this leads to thinning dreadlocks, so you must maintain a healthy diet. Salmon, eggs, spinach, guava, and sweet potatoes are foods you should add to your diet for the growth of dreadlocks.
There are several factors that damage locs and cause them to thin out. It could be a scalp infection, vitamin deficiency, lack of maintenance, coloring hairs, etc. Whatever the reason, it can turn your locks’ journey upside-down and ruin your hair. Hence, you must learn the cause of thinning dreadlocks. This will not only help you to find effective solutions but will also help you grow healthier dreadlocks.