How to rid your locks of lint and build up
- Reeta Baker
- May 14, 2015
- 3 min read
At some point during your loc'd life, lint may appear on top or inside of the lock. Why does this happen? Well it can happen for a few reasons. During the winter months, our hair is very dry. This dryness causes a static electricity which can attract those little particles to your hair strands and binds them in place.
There are many ways that lint finds its way into locs, and there are just as many ways of removing lint from locs. Here are a few of the best solutions for those of you who have asked "How can I get lint out of my locs?"
Its Possible to Remove the Lint
1. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Rinse - The classic apple cider vinegar rinse is one of the most popular solutions if you're looking to find out how to quickly get lint out of your dreadlocks. There is a really simple solution to creating an ACV rinse. You would combine 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. The natural hair cleanser is great for removing stubborn lint and should be applied right after shampooing for best results. Find a big bucket or stop up your sink at home or use something that will allow all of your locks to be immersed in the solution. You'll repeat the process of dipping and squeezing and soon you'll start to see the residue dissolve into the bucket. When the water in the bucket is sufficiently sullied, empty the bucket and do it again. This time the water should be less cloudy. Rinse your hair thoroughly with water afterwards.
2. Clarifying Hair Mask - Bentonite clay is a real wonder for even lint-less locks, as it absorbs all kinds of build-up with ease. Clay has a lot of minerals and nutirents that benefit the body like magnesium, calcium and potassium. Clay also has antibacterial properties, drawing out toxins and it is great for getting out stubborn lint and buildup from the multitude of hair products that we try in search of the Holy Grail of hair care.
This natural clay should be mixed with equal parts apple cider vinegar (water works too) in a glass bowl using a wooden spoon. DO NOT USE METAL!!!. You might see bubbles or a hear a little sizzle as you stir if the using the ACV, but this is normal. Smooth the clay onto your locs and let is rest for up to 30 minutes. Have a plastic grocery bag handy to wrap your locs in while you wait. Then rinse well. Extremely well. Then the lint will be easy to remove.
3. A Good Shampoo Comb - If you have only a small amount of lint, just using a shampoo comb made especially for dreadlock maintenance when you groom your dreads can help to remove the fuzz without thinning out your locs. I prefer using the tip of a rat tail comb for this method. And if the lint is trapped at the very tip of the loc, I'll gently coax it out and tightly recoil the tip with the comb.
I DO NOT SUGGEST USING A PAIR OF TWEEZERS. Using tweezers to remove lint from the locks will thin the lock out and it will eventually break off. Once lint is embedded in the lock, and has been in there for some time, it is difficult to remove using tweezers. You will be pulling hair and lint at the same time. Sometimes lint has been in the lock so long that it has become part of the lock. If tweezers are used to pull the lint out you will cause the lock to weaken. In this case you will want to do the ACV rinse or the Clay Hair Mask treatment.
Lint can come from using products with the following: Petroleum, Parabens, Parrafins, Sulfates or phthalates. It can also come from bedding, everyday use of soaps in the shower, other peoples sweaters and coats, or just from pollen blowing around outside. Be careful when using shampoos and conditioners and various hair oils as they can cause a build up. Make sure to wrap your locks every single night to prevent lint from being trapped in your locks.
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